The 1940s

When football resumed after the war Mr. William Robson, who had been acting as Secretary, resigned in 1946 to let Mr. Sanderson, who had returned from war service, resume the position.

Following the postponement of the East of Scotland League during 1939-40, a new league was set up for the rest of that season consisting of nine army teams, with Netherdale No. 2 of the Light Infantry winning the championship. The first season after the resumption of football, in 1945-46, saw five sides – 11th Holding Battalion, Duns, Eyemouth United, Gala Fairydean and Peebles Rovers – contesting the East of Scotland League, with Peebles Rovers winning by a comfortable margin.

More sides came back on board for season 1946-47 as clubs started up again after their enforced period of inactivity, although the season was hampered by an exceedingly bad winter. In many ways it was like reforming the football club and the Vale team was made up of local players, with a few from Peebles, and featured names such as Doherty, Currie, Eckford, Neil, McGinn, Tulloch, Keddie, Rathie, Cockburn, McLennan, Brunton, Lawrie, Haddow, Henderson, Aitken and Jackson.

At this time Vale decide to have direct representation on the East of Scotland Football Association and East of Scotland League Committee and Mr William Murray was appointed to take over from Mr. D Liddle who had served for a number of years. Membership of the East of Scotland League once again began to grow, with Scottish League club Hibernian, followed by fellow Edinburgh giants Heart of Midlothian starting to field youth teams, the ‘Colts’, in the league. Perhaps not surprisingly, they began to dominate the competition. East of Scotland stalwarts Berwick Rangers were also elected to the Scottish League after winning their first East of Scotland championship in 1946-47, but left their 2nd XI in their place.

Post-war, Vale found the going tough with an almost entirely local team and tended to feature in the lower positions of the league. The club did have a good season in 1948-49, finishing fourth in the league and winning of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup. It was the only success of the 40s during which football competition had been severely disrupted, but kept up Vale’s record of winning a trophy in every decade.

Tables from the 1940s
1946-47 East of Scotland League
Pos
 Team
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goals For
Goals Against
Goal Difference
Points
1
 Berwick Rangers (Champions)
16
12
1
3
45
27
+18
25
2
 Coldstream
15
9
2
4
41
22
+19
20
3
 Gala Fairydean
16
7
4
5
45
37
+8
18
4
 Duns
15
7
2
6
57
43
+14
16
5
 Eyemouth United
17
5
6
6
60
52
+8
16
6
 Chirnside United
17
5
5
7
40
47
-7
15
7
 Murrayfield Amateurs
15
6
2
7
31
42
-11
14
8
 Selkirk
14
5
2
7
44
58
-14
12
9
 Vale of Leithen
15
3
5
7
32
47
-15
11
10
 Peebles Rovers
14
3
1
10
29
50
-21
7
1946-47 East of Scotland League
Pos
Team
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goals For
Goals Against
Goal Difference
Points
1
Berwick Rangers (Champions)
16
12
1
3
45
27
+18
25
2
Coldstream
15
9
2
4
41
22
+19
20
3
Gala Fairydean
16
7
4
5
45
37
+8
18
4
Duns
15
7
2
6
57
43
+14
16
5
Eyemouth United
17
5
6
6
60
52
+8
16
6
Chirnside United
17
5
5
7
40
47
-7
15
7
Murrayfield Amateurs
15
6
2
7
31
42
-11
14
8
Selkirk
14
5
2
7
44
58
-14
12
9
Vale of Leithen
15
3
5
7
32
47
-15
11
10
Peebles Rovers
14
3
1
10
29
50
-21
7
1946-47 East of Scotland League
Pos
Team
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goals For
Goals Against
Goal Difference
Points
1
Berwick Rangers (Champions)
16
12
1
3
45
27
+18
25
2
Coldstream
15
9
2
4
41
22
+19
20
3
Gala Fairydean
16
7
4
5
45
37
+8
18
4
Duns
15
7
2
6
57
43
+14
16
5
Eyemouth United
17
5
6
6
60
52
+8
16
6
Chirnside United
17
5
5
7
40
47
-7
15
7
Murrayfield Amateurs
15
6
2
7
31
42
-11
14
8
Selkirk
14
5
2
7
44
58
-14
12
9
Vale of Leithen
15
3
5
7
32
47
-15
11
10
Peebles Rovers
14
3
1
10
29
50
-21
7
1947-48 East of Scotland League
Pos
 Team
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goals For
Goals Against
Goal Difference
Points
1
 Hibernian ‘B’ (Champions)
24
22
1
1
136
28
+108
45
2
 Eyemouth United
23
16
2
5
85
47
+38
34
3
 Gala Fairydean
20
16
1
3
78
49
+29
33
4
 Berwick Rangers
23
14
0
9
80
65
+15
28
5
 Chirnside United
20
9
3
8
64
61
+3
21
6
 Selkirk
21
7
4
10
55
65
-10
18
7
 Kelso United
23
7
3
13
64
95
-31
17
8
 Edinburgh University
16
6
4
6
55
42
+13
16
9
 Duns
20
7
2
11
47
60
-13
16
10
 Coldstream
21
7
2
12
44
62
-18
16
11
 Peebles Rovers
24
7
2
15
61
97
-36
16
12
 Vale of Leithen
25
5
2
18
42
79
-37
12
13
 Civil Service Strollers
19
4
3
12
50
75
-25
11
14
 Murrayfield Amateurs
15
4
3
8
43
59
-16
11
1947-48 East of Scotland League
Pos
Team
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goals For
Goals Against
Goal Difference
Points
1
Hibernian ‘B’ (Champions)
24
22
1
1
136
28
+108
45
2
Eyemouth United
23
16
2
5
85
47
+38
34
3
Gala Fairydean
20
16
1
3
78
49
+29
33
4
Berwick Rangers
23
14
0
9
80
65
+15
28
5
Chirnside United
20
9
3
8
64
61
+3
21
6
Selkirk
21
7
4
10
55
65
-10
18
7
Kelso United
23
7
3
13
64
95
-31
17
8
Edinburgh University
16
6
4
6
55
42
+13
16
9
Duns
20
7
2
11
47
60
-13
16
10
Coldstream
21
7
2
12
44
62
-18
16
11
Peebles Rovers
24
7
2
15
61
97
-36
16
12
Vale of Leithen
25
5
2
18
42
79
-37
12
13
Civil Service Strollers
19
4
3
12
50
75
-25
11
14
Murrayfield Amateurs
15
4
3
8
43
59
-16
11
1947-48 East of Scotland League
Pos
Team
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goals For
Goals Against
Goal Difference
Points
1
Hibernian ‘B’ (Champions)
24
22
1
1
136
28
+108
45
2
Eyemouth United
23
16
2
5
85
47
+38
34
3
Gala Fairydean
20
16
1
3
78
49
+29
33
4
Berwick Rangers
23
14
0
9
80
65
+15
28
5
Chirnside United
20
9
3
8
64
61
+3
21
6
Selkirk
21
7
4
10
55
65
-10
18
7
Kelso United
23
7
3
13
64
95
-31
17
8
Edinburgh University
16
6
4
6
55
42
+13
16
9
Duns
20
7
2
11
47
60
-13
16
10
Coldstream
21
7
2
12
44
62
-18
16
11
Peebles Rovers
24
7
2
15
61
97
-36
16
12
Vale of Leithen
25
5
2
18
42
79
-37
12
13
Civil Service Strollers
19
4
3
12
50
75
-25
11
14
Murrayfield Amateurs
15
4
3
8
43
59
-16
11
1948-49 East of Scotland League
Pos
 Team
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goals For
Goals Against
Goal Difference
Points
1
 Hibernian ‘B’ (Champions)
28
22
4
2
122
20
+102
48
2
 Peebles Rovers
28
19
5
4
91
46
+45
43
3
 Gala Fairydean
26
16
5
5
82
47
+35
37
4
 Vale of Leithen
25
15
4
6
79
49
+30
34
5
 Berwick Rangers
25
10
5
10
72
65
+7
25
6
 Penicuik Athletic
26
11
2
13
54
74
-20
24
7
 Murrayfield Amateurs
26
11
2
13
54
58
-4
24
8
 Chirnside United
20
10
3
7
64
54
+10
23
9
 Eyemouth United
23
9
5
9
58
52
+6
23
10
 Selkirk
26
10
2
14
54
59
-5
22
11
 Kelso United
24
9
2
13
57
71
-14
20
12
 Duns
27
6
5
16
56
91
-35
17
13
 Edinburgh University
25
5
4
16
41
75
-34
14
14
 Civil Service Strollers
21
4
4
13
27
70
-43
12
15
 Coldstream
25
4
2
19
33
75
-42
10
1948-49 East of Scotland League
Pos
Team
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goals For
Goals Against
Goal Difference
Points
1
Hibernian ‘B’ (Champions)
28
22
4
2
122
20
+102
48
2
Peebles Rovers
28
19
5
4
91
46
+45
43
3
Gala Fairydean
26
16
5
5
82
47
+35
37
4
Vale of Leithen
25
15
4
6
79
49
+30
34
5
Berwick Rangers
25
10
5
10
72
65
+7
25
6
Penicuik Athletic
26
11
2
13
54
74
-20
24
7
Murrayfield Amateurs
26
11
2
13
54
58
-4
24
8
Chirnside United
20
10
3
7
64
54
+10
23
9
Eyemouth United
23
9
5
9
58
52
+6
23
10
Selkirk
26
10
2
14
54
59
-5
22
11
Kelso United
24
9
2
13
57
71
-14
20
12
Duns
27
6
5
16
56
91
-35
17
13
Edinburgh University
25
5
4
16
41
75
-34
14
14
Civil Service Strollers
21
4
4
13
27
70
-43
12
15
Coldstream
25
4
2
19
33
75
-42
10
1948-49 East of Scotland League
Pos
Team
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goals For
Goals Against
Goal Difference
Points
1
Hibernian ‘B’ (Champions)
28
22
4
2
122
20
+102
48
2
Peebles Rovers
28
19
5
4
91
46
+45
43
3
Gala Fairydean
26
16
5
5
82
47
+35
37
4
Vale of Leithen
25
15
4
6
79
49
+30
34
5
Berwick Rangers
25
10
5
10
72
65
+7
25
6
Penicuik Athletic
26
11
2
13
54
74
-20
24
7
Murrayfield Amateurs
26
11
2
13
54
58
-4
24
8
Chirnside United
20
10
3
7
64
54
+10
23
9
Eyemouth United
23
9
5
9
58
52
+6
23
10
Selkirk
26
10
2
14
54
59
-5
22
11
Kelso United
24
9
2
13
57
71
-14
20
12
Duns
27
6
5
16
56
91
-35
17
13
Edinburgh University
25
5
4
16
41
75
-34
14
14
Civil Service Strollers
21
4
4
13
27
70
-43
12
15
Coldstream
25
4
2
19
33
75
-42
10
1949-50 East of Scotland League
Pos
 Team
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goals For
Goals Against
Goal Difference
Points
1
 Heart of Midlothian ‘B’ (Champions)
30
27
2
1
129
36
+93
56
2
 Hibernian ‘B’
30
26
1
3
138
30
+108
53
3
 Eyemouth United
30
19
2
9
85
52
+33
40
4
 Chirnside United
29
15
2
12
69
56
+13
32
5
 Gala Fairydean
29
16
0
13
73
61
+12
32
6
 Berwick Rangers
30
14
3
13
76
79
-3
31
7
 Penicuik Athletic
30
13
4
13
59
64
-5
30
8
 Civil Service Strollers
29
13
2
14
67
77
-10
28
9
 Selkirk
29
12
3
14
72
95
-23
27
10
 Peebles Rovers
27
11
4
12
64
58
+6
26
11
 Murrayfield Amateurs
28
11
3
14
62
82
-20
25
12
 Edinburgh University
28
10
2
16
56
72
-16
22
13
 Coldstream
30
9
2
19
46
102
-56
20
14
 Kelso United
30
7
5
18
69
105
-36
19
15
 Duns
29
8
1
20
63
101
-38
17
16
 Vale of Leithen
30
4
2
24
52
110
-58
10
1949-50 East of Scotland League
Pos
Team
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goals For
Goals Against
Goal Difference
Points
1
Heart of Midlothian ‘B’ (Champions)
30
27
2
1
129
36
+93
56
2
Hibernian ‘B’
30
26
1
3
138
30
+108
53
3
Eyemouth United
30
19
2
9
85
52
+33
40
4
Chirnside United
29
15
2
12
69
56
+13
32
5
Gala Fairydean
29
16
0
13
73
61
+12
32
6
Berwick Rangers
30
14
3
13
76
79
-3
31
7
Penicuik Athletic
30
13
4
13
59
64
-5
30
8
Civil Service Strollers
29
13
2
14
67
77
-10
28
9
Selkirk
29
12
3
14
72
95
-23
27
10
Peebles Rovers
27
11
4
12
64
58
+6
26
11
Murrayfield Amateurs
28
11
3
14
62
82
-20
25
12
Edinburgh University
28
10
2
16
56
72
-16
22
13
Coldstream
30
9
2
19
46
102
-56
20
14
Kelso United
30
7
5
18
69
105
-36
19
15
Duns
29
8
1
20
63
101
-38
17
16
Vale of Leithen
30
4
2
24
52
110
-58
10
1949-50 East of Scotland League
Pos
Team
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goals For
Goals Against
Goal Difference
Points
1
Heart of Midlothian ‘B’ (Champions)
30
27
2
1
129
36
+93
56
2
Hibernian ‘B’
30
26
1
3
138
30
+108
53
3
Eyemouth United
30
19
2
9
85
52
+33
40
4
Chirnside United
29
15
2
12
69
56
+13
32
5
Gala Fairydean
29
16
0
13
73
61
+12
32
6
Berwick Rangers
30
14
3
13
76
79
-3
31
7
Penicuik Athletic
30
13
4
13
59
64
-5
30
8
Civil Service Strollers
29
13
2
14
67
77
-10
28
9
Selkirk
29
12
3
14
72
95
-23
27
10
Peebles Rovers
27
11
4
12
64
58
+6
26
11
Murrayfield Amateurs
28
11
3
14
62
82
-20
25
12
Edinburgh University
28
10
2
16
56
72
-16
22
13
Coldstream
30
9
2
19
46
102
-56
20
14
Kelso United
30
7
5
18
69
105
-36
19
15
Duns
29
8
1
20
63
101
-38
17
16
Vale of Leithen
30
4
2
24
52
110
-58
10