From a Pitch Crisis to Fan Ownership: Inside Bonnyrigg Rose

About this episode

Episode 5 of the Wheaton Wanderers FC Podcast. John sits down with Ian, chairman of Bonnyrigg Rose, the fan-owned club from Bonnyrigg, Midlothian. Ian covers the club's history since 1881, Scottish Junior Cup wins in 1966 and 1978, the climb up the pyramid into the SPFL, a pitch crisis and six-point deduction, becoming a fan-owned company, and stories about his father, Sean Connery and club legends.

00:00 Welcome: meet Ian, chairman of Bonnyrigg Rose

00:31 Club history since 1881 and the town of Bonnyrigg

05:23 Scottish Junior Cup glory (1966, 1978)

07:44 Hibs at Tynecastle, the pyramid and promotion to the SPFL

11:09 Pitch crisis, six-point deduction and fundraising

16:13 Bonnyrigg Rose Community Football Club and the first-team squad

21:14 Club shop, lottery and sponsors

24:35 Becoming a fan-owned limited company

27:59 What the club means to the community, and its ambitions

31:08 Budgets and finances

35:12 Untold stories: Ian's father, Sean Connery and club legends

40:52 Fans, families and engagement

44:01 Fun games: dream XI and the GOAT this-or-that

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