CROSSGATES Primrose are blooming on and off the park after entering a new era in its proud history.

The club ended its long association with junior football this summer when they decided to switch to the East of Scotland League and a crack at competing in the senior pyramid in Scottish football.

It is a long way from when they faced an uncertain future in November 2015, when they withdrew from the junior ranks and were placed in abeyance.

However, after a new committee came together, the club re-emerged for the 2016/2017 campaign.

Alan Campbell took the reigns towards the end of that season and, last term, led Primrose to a seventh-place finish after they won more than half of their games.

They have continued that promise into the new campaign where, having been drawn alongside three teams that competed in last season’s Super League, they progressed from their Qualifying League section.

Draws with Linlithgow Rose and Penicuik Athletic was followed by a fine victory at Sauchie, earning them second place in the group.

A 9-2 hammering of Eyemouth United secured a second round place in the Alex Jack Cup, but they lost their league opener to Dundonald Bluebell before being knocked out of the Football Nation Qualifying Cup by Bo’ness United in extra-time.

Their East of Scotland League journey represents another chapter in Crossgates’ rollercoaster history, which began in 1926.

After folding in 1960, they re-emerged in 1983 and finished third in the Fife Junior League in 1989/90.

Primrose are, arguably, most famous for producing Scotland and Rangers legend Jim Baxter, who began his career at Humbug before moving to Raith Rovers in 1957.

As well as enjoying two spells at Ibrox, Baxter won 34 Scotland caps and his most iconic moment came at Wembley in 1967 where, during a 3-2 victory over world champions England, Baxter famously played “keepie-uppie” as the Scots tormented their opponents.

Humbug Park, which derives its unusual name from a disused pit of the former Cuttlehill Colliery on which the ground is located, attracted its record attendance of 7,600 for a sixth round Junior Cup tie with Auchinleck Talbot in season 1952/53.