Its not often that clubs win back to back league titles, but that’s exactly what’s happened in the McBookie.com East Premier League South, as Pumpherston Juniors FC, who won their first league title in the 2017-18 season, have claimed the 2018-19 title too.
The original Pumpherston formed in 1896, joined the Linlithgowshire Junior League for the 1911–12 season and success followed for the next three seasons with two East of Scotland Junior League titles, two Renton cup wins, two Leith Burgh Cup wins and a Dalmeny Cup. World War I intervened but they won the Renton Cup again in 1919 when football resumed.
However, at the end of 1927–28 season with league re-organisation and the amount of West Lothian clubs dwindling, they decided to turn amateur and leave the Juniors. It wasn’t until 26 years later than Pumpherston Juniors joined the Edinburgh & District League for season 1954–55, returning to Junior football.
They were a solid mid table side for many years after this, with only a couple of shock cup results to write home about. The early 1970s however saw erratic form, 1971–72 saw them finish third, the following season they were 15th and bottom, and the season after that, with the leagues re-organised into A and B Divisions they missed out on promotion by a single goal.
Things at this time happened to be erratic off the pitch also, with the financial situation at the club was deteriorating and midway through season 1976–77 they folded.
The club was re-formed and joined the East Region in 1990–91, once again bringing Junior football back to Recreation Park. The venue for football in Pumpherston since the club was originally brought to life in 1896.
From everyone here at ‘ClimbingTheLadder’ we’d like to wish everyone at Recreation Park all the best for next season and congratulations for the last two!
