Day of destiny as Bo’ness Utd set for Lowland League place

SFA committee men are expected to ratify a Lowland League licence for the East of Scotland Premier Division champions today (Thursday), putting Bo’ness up into the fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid.

Muirhead (44) told the Journal and Gazette: “Getting into the Lowland League represents a remarkable rise for Bo’ness United. It’s phenomenal.

“It would be great for the town, for the club, the community. It’s somewhere we want to be. We were always classed as a big junior club.

“I would never have thought five years ago we would be playing in the Lowland League.

“I thought we would still have been a big junior club, challenging for the Superleague title and a Scottish Junior Cup.

“But, if we do go up to the Lowland League, we are one promotion away – probably a couple of play-off games, right enough – from being in League Two.”

Iain – who has been chairman for over three years after previously serving on the committee – has Bo’ness United in his blood, as his late parents John and Irene were formerly BU chairman and treasurer respectively.

The chairman, pictured above with main BU sponsors James and AndrewBuchanan of Express Taxis, said: “I’ve supported Bo’ness and have been going along to the park since I was two years old.”

Iain who was born and raised in the Bo’ness area and still lives in the town.

“When I was two, my mum and dad were both on the committee at that time.

“They used to run jumble sales and nearly new sales.

“I used to go to games with my mum and dad and went on the team bus right up until I was 16 or 17.

“I used to take my dad to away games because he had to leave the committee due to illness. Then George Samson (ex-BU chairman) came to me and said: ‘How would you like to get involved with the club?’

“I split up with my partner and she’s Irish, so my kids are in Ireland with her.

“So I thought I had a bit of time on my hands and I’d accept his offer.

“Bo’ness United is through my blood. I know nothing else.”