Can Linlithgow Rose achieve what Juventus couldn't?

They are a football team made up of storemen, scaffolders and bank workers. But now the squad of Linlithgow Rose is on course to match the legendary Arsenal team of Thierry Henry, Sol Campbell and Patrick Vieira – known as the Invincibles – who went an entire season unbeaten.


The Rose line up against Auchinleck Talbot this Sunday in the Scottish Junior Cup Final on the back of a 49-game unbeaten run stretching into last season – and one more win will see them pip the Premier League giants who completed the season unbeaten in 2003-4.

However, unlike their multi-millionaire counterparts, Rose players have a working week to see off before facing their cup opposition – goalkeeper David Hay works in a bank, while midfielders Stuart McArthur and Andrew Shirra work as a storeman and scaffolder respectively, while fellow players Ruairi and Roddy MacLennan are both college students.

It will be hard to avoid the cup fever sweeping through the West Lothian town, with team-inspired cakes being baked and promises of free sausage rolls for a week should they win.

More than 4000 fans are expected to travel to the game at Livingston’s Braidwood Motor Company Stadium, and the rest of the town will be glued to the action on BBC Alba in bars along the High Street.

Oliphants Bakers has arranged a special cake and window display for the occasion, and owners Alice and David Gibson have offered free sausage rolls to the team if they bring the cup home.

Mr Gibson said: “It would be fantastic if they were to win it on Sunday. I’m sure they will.”

David Paterson, of The Football & Cricketers Arms, said: “We have the flags and bunting up and the whole town is hoping for them to do it. There’s a great buzz around the place about them winning and continuing their unbeaten streak.”

The Rose previously won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1964-5, 2001-2, 2006-7 and 2009-10. This year they have already won the league and the East of Scotland League Cup, but as an added incentive they have been offered an extra £5000 on top of the usual £8000 Scottish Junior Cup prize money by online bookmaker and league sponsor McBookie.com.

However, the pressure is somewhat eased on the players as, given their league-winning season, West Lothian Council and club officials have announced they will parade on an open-top bus and get a civic reception on Sunday evening whether they win or lose.

The side’s strikeforce of Tommy Coyne and Colin Strickland have a combined total of 50 goals between them for the season and club secretary Jim Harkins is hopeful they can fire the side to victory.

He said: “The whole town is confident they will win and continue this streak. If we see off Auchinleck Talbot and also win our remaining league games then we can draw level with Fauldhouse United on 49 games unbeaten in one single season – a record which has stood since the war.”

SOME FACTS ABOUT LINLITHGOW ROSE

• Linlithgow Rose were formed in 1889 and often referred as The Rose or Rosey Posey.
  
  
• They regularly attract 500 supporters to Prestonfield Park, rising to as many as 1500 for cup games.
  
  
• Annuel turnover of Linlithgow Rose is £150,000
  
  
• Their most expensive transfer(both IN & OUT) is Brian Carrigan.He left for Hamilton Academicals in a £15,000 deal in August 2008 and returned just four months later for £7500
  
  

Even if this takes place in some Blue Square League or whatever, these kinds of "success stories" always cheer me up and make you realize how important football is for people.

The New and Improved Invincibles.

Nice story, but there's only one...

Linlithgow rose lol