LOCHGELLY Albert enjoyed a strong South Division campaign last season with a top six finish that wasn’t too far off a promotion place.  

The Albert decided to stay in the junior ranks and have a new manager in Barry Coburn looking to steer the Berts into the top half of the South Division.

He has had to totally re-shape the Gardiner's Park squad with only five players being signed when he joined the club.

But that he has done and the Berts look to be tough opponents for anyone in the 'South'.

One of the recruits, Stan Chitemere looks a really dangerous customer and is capable of shooting the Albert into a challenging position.  

The Albert story began on July 29, 1933 away to Kirkford Juniors, where Pat Finnerty’s 88th minute goal handed them a 1-0 win. Their first trophy (the Fife Cup) arrived in 1934-35 beating Rosslyn Juniors at Stark’s Park 2-0. The Albert were followed into the junior ranks by another in 1935, Lochgelly Violet, and their first game on July 29, 1935 was at Albert’s Gardiner’s Park. A crowd of 2,000 watched the hosts defeat the new boys 2-0. 

The record crowd (still a record for a Fife junior league ground) was set in season 1947-48 when 11,600 fans took in a Scottish Cup sixth round tie against Bo’ness United.