Craig Meikle

Craig Meikle (born 16 October 1979 in Penicuik, Scotland) is a Scottish Junior footballer/manager who plays as a Defender for SJFA East Premier League club Penicuik Athletic.

Career

Meikle joined Musselburgh Athletic in 2000 and spent four years there before joining Bonnyrigg Rose in 2004, with a short spell at Penicuik Athletic in between.

While at Bonnyrigg, Meikle was part of the team who beat Penicuik Athletic 6-0 in the Brown Cup Final^[1] in 2006/07.

Meikle rejoined Penicuik in 2008 as a player, and in 2010, filled the vacant manager position alongside former team-mate Bryan Ryrie as player/co-manager.

Under Meikle and Ryrie, and despite losing their first match in charge, sufficient points were gained from the remaining league fixtures to claim seventh spot in the league, finishing clear of the three relegation spots. There were second round exits in both the East of Scotland and Fife & Lothians Cup. The St. Michael's and Brown Cups went uncontested because of the length of the break for the bad weather.

Their first full season in charge saw several changes made to the playing squad and the league position showed an improvement with fifth place being achieved. A missed penalty in the last minute, when the scores were level,^[2] proved costly in the first round Scottish Junior cup tie at Kilwinning as the home replay was lost.^[3] Penicuik did not progress from their league cup section but enjoyed good runs to the semi finals of both the East of Scotland and Fife and Lothians Cup, losing to Newtongrange Star and Bo'ness United respectively. Meikle was also voted as Committee Player of the Year.

Promotion to the Super League was the target for season 2011/12 and it went right down to the wire. Penicuik went in to their last league game of the season at Broxburn Athletic needing a win to gain the second promotion spot but lost out^[4] to the home side who were promoted in their place. Penicuik finished fourth in a very tight finish. Broxburn were also Penicuik's downfall in the League Cup where Penicuik topped the section but were pipped by Broxburn who successfully appealed against Livingston fielding an ineligible player in their tie, and as a result progressed to the knock out stages. Early exits were suffered in both the East of Scotland and Fife and Lothians Cup. After first and second round Scottish Junior Cup wins against Glenrothes and Glasgow Perthshire, eventual runners-up and Junior giants, Auchinleck Talbot proved too strong in the third round, handing out a six goal defeat at Auchinleck.^[5]

Season 2012/13 was a stop-start one, with Penicuik only having played nine competitive games, following the pre-season League Cup, due to weather and the postponement of their Junior Cup tie against Kelty Hearts, by January. Promotion went to the last day of the season again with Penicuik in a three-way battle with Bathgate Thistle and Armadale Thistle. Despite Penicuik winning 2-0 against Broughty, Armadale were promoted after their victory at the same time. Penicuik's Scottish Junior Cup run consisted of four games, a 4-4 draw at Dunbar United and a 3-1 win at Penicuik in the 1st Round, a 3-0 victory away to Girvan before finally crashing out in the third round to Kelty Hearts 2-1 in a match held at Oakley's Blairwood Park due to drainage problems at Kelty's ground. Penicuik didn't fare well in the other cup competitions, losing 5-3 to Newburgh in the Fife and Lothians and losing 5-2 to Ballingry Rovers in the East of Scotland 2nd Round following a 3-1 win against Forfar West End in the first round.

Co-manager Bryan Ryrie resigned from his position^[6] at the end of season 2012-13.

Meikle was appointed as sole manager ahead of season 2013-14 and won six of his first eight league games.

References