A wee' history lesson
05 Jul 2011

                       ELLON UNITED   --  Potted history
     
     Origins of club unknown – oldest team photograph 1901
     
Played in local competitions until 1947 when attended the inaugural meeting of the Aberdeenshire Amateur F. A. – founding members,
     Played major roll in the A.A.F.A. with their most successful period in the early 60`s when they achieved league and cup successes under the principal guidance of a strong committee lead by the late Bob Gauld and Tom Downie, Lyndsay Halliday, Douglas Scott and others.
     Fortunes waned in the late 60`s and went into abeyance for part of a season before being reformed in season 1970-71 under the leadership of local businessman Alan Wallace and his committee , dropping down into the 2nd division of the A.A.F.A.

     In 71-72 gained promotion back into the top league where they stayed until joining the North Region Junior F. A. in season 74 – 75, playing out of The Modley Field , the same field which the club had tried unsuccessfully to purchase back in 1961. Pat Nicol from Inverurie was in charge of the team which entered the Junior ranks and their first competitive Junior fixture was a 2 – 1 defeat away to Turriff United. Highlight of the first season was the appearance at Pittodrie in the final of the McLennan Cup where they lost to Sunnybank. Sunnybank also denied the club a trophy in their second season , this time in the final of the Dryborough Cup. The following year the club reached Pittodrie again where they lost to Muggiemoss thanks in no small part to the display of ex- Aberdeen keeper and former Formartine United manager John Gardiner.

     Had to wait until season 77 – 78 for first silverware when won both the Morrison Trophy and the McLennan Cup under team boss Jim Crawford who is now on the community coaching staff at Pittodrie.
     Had to move away from Modley Field which is now the site of a housing scheme and were homeless for a spell having to play out of the Council playing fields at Gordon Park then Auchterellon.

     In season 83 – 84 the team won the second division championship under former Highland League stalwart Colin Middler but suffered relegation three seasons late.
     The club received a huge boost in 1990 following all their searching for a new home when they moved to their current home at the new sports complex at The Meadows built by The Ellon and District Sports Development Trust of which United were founder members.

      Eventually won promotion to the superleague in season 2003- 04 when finished up in 2nd place behind Maud after a great run in under the guidance of Steve King and Scott Brown. Scott Anderson and Stuart Glennie took over the management reins at the end of season 2006-7 following  two turbulent seasons. Just escaped relegation but went on to have a relatively successful league campaign in 2007 - 8, finishing in fifth place on the same points as Maud in 4th spot. The season finished on a high when won The ATR Group cup with a 3-2 win over Sunnybank in the last game of the season.