AN EXHIBITION celebrating the history of Musselburgh Athletic Football Club has kicked off at the town’s museum as it continues to forge stronger links with the community.

The display was officially opened by Billy Brown, a former Hearts and Bradford City manager, who comes from Musselburgh and is a former Musselburgh Athletic manager, at a reception in the Old Town Hall.

On show at the High Street museum is a variety of memorabilia relating to ‘The Burgh’, including trophies, medals, strips, pennants and photographs. New information boards by graphic designer Hazel Allison, of New Street, and local company Eastern make easy reading for visitors.

Football stars featured in the exhibition, which runs until June 8, include former Scotland manager Willie Ormond, who lived in Musselburgh.

Players and managers past and present joined other guests, including Councillor John McMillan, Provost of East Lothian; Irene Tait, chair of Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council; representatives from the Honest Toun’s Association; and the 2018 Honest Lad Conor Scott and Honest Lass Katie McLaren at the official opening last week.

They included 83-year-old Musselburgh man Bobby Wilson, the holder of a Scottish League Cup winners medal from 1955, who had travelled from his home in Carnoustie. He went on to play for Aberdeen after leaving Musselburgh Athletic.

Club chairman Karl Cleghorn praised the support given by Simon Fairnie, of Musselburgh Museum and Heritage Group, and other volunteers at Musselburgh Museum, adding that it was hoped that local schoolchildren would visit the exhibition to learn more about the club, which was formed in 1934.

Its history in the Honest Toun goes back a lot further and its links to earlier clubs, such as Musselburgh Fern and Musselburgh Bruntonians, can be traced back to 1889.

Over the years, Burgh have had a good number of league title and cup wins, including in recent times the St Michael’s Cup, League Cup and Brown Cup. The team have been finalists in the Scottish Junior Cup twice in the last eight years.

Having played in the junior football leagues for more than 80 years, Burgh are now a member of the East of Scotland League.

Mr Cleghorn said the move had been a “huge transition” for the club.

“Very pleasingly, by a lot of hard work by the team, previous manager and new manager, we have got into the top five of our league, which qualifies us for the big league next season,” he said.

“Every other week at Olive Bank we are going to have a big team like Linlithgow, Bo’ness, Broxburn, Newtongrange, Tranent, Dunbar and Bonnyrigg.

“These are big things for the towns and communities – we have got some numbers coming back to the football and the quality on the park is really good.”

The club has applied for membership of the Scottish Football Association and there are many improvements under way at their stadium.

“This is an equal club – a community club,” stressed Mr Cleghorn.

Norman Murray, a member of the club’s committee, said children from Campie Primary School were making use of the ground at Olive Bank for recreation and sports, and it was hoped to open the facility up to others in June and July for events such as concerts.

Mr Cleghorn added: “Once the club gets the SFA licence, they can play in the Scottish Cup then.

“We will be continuing to look to support Musselburgh Windsor and bring up ladies football teams.”