Club History

The following season the club left the Berwickshire Junior League for the Midlothian Junior League and they have remained with this association until May 2018 (although the name of the league has changed on numerous occasions).

Early success followed when they won the league in season 1927/28 and in the following season 1928/29 won the East Lothian Cup after beating Linlithgow Rose 3-2 in a replayed final at Meadowbank after the first game at Easter Road ended 1-1.

The only other success, before the second world war, was winning the Thornton Shield in 1938/39 after beating Ormiston Primrose 2-0 in the final.

However, the greatest moment in the history of the club came in May 1961 when Cambuslang Rangers were defeated 2-0 in the final of the Scottish Junior Cup.

After an incredible 2-2 draw in the final at Hampden at the first time of asking, over 23,000 turned up to watch the replay with Dunbar United this time convincing 2-0 winners over five time Scottish Junior Cup winners Cambuslang Rangers.

The scenes that followed live long in the memories, with Dunbar remaining the last East Lothian side to win the Scottish Junior Cup.

The East of Scotland Cup was added to the honours for that season and with confidence high it was no surprise when the league title was won the following season. 1962/63 saw the Brown Cup won for the first time the following season the East of Scotland cup was won a second time after beating Bo’ness United 6-1 in the twice replayed final after the previous games both ended in draws.

A barren spell followed until the ‘B’ league was won in season 1975/76 thus winning the Thistle Trophy.

The club appointed Gordon Haig as their first-ever manager in 1977 (until this time the committee had chosen the team). However, a lapse of 14 years emerged before the East of Scotland Cup was won, for a third time, in season 1989/90 beating Whitburn 2-1 in the final under the management of Jim Milne, who remains to this day as the clubs longest serving manager (1981-1991).

Again, success in the second division followed in season 1993/94 under Alex McLaren but after relegation three seasons later the club bounced back straight away winning promotion as champions in season 1997/98 only to be relegated the following season (both times under Tony McLaren’s reign as Dunbar United manager). The Brown Cup was won for a second time in June 2000, under co-managers Jocky Miller and Michael Wojtowycz, defeating Haddington Athletic 2-1 in the final at Bonnyrigg and after moving to New Countess Park in 2001 the club had mixed fortunes under manager Willie Pearson winning promotion to the First Division at the end of season 2002/03 before being relegated at the end of season 2004/05 despite an enjoyable run to the last 16 of the Scottish Junior Cup only losing out to Lugar Boswell Thistle on penalties after two drawn games.

After some resurgence in Season 2016/17 the club won the East Region South Division and gained promotion to the Premier Division under the management of Geoff Jones where they consolidated for one season before the decision was taken to withdraw from the Scottish Junior Football Association at the end of season 2017/18 and enter the East of Scotland League Conference A with the lure of entering into the Scottish Football Association pyramid system.

A fifth-place finish in season 2018/19, when the East of Scotland leagues reconstructed, was enough to ensure promotion to the East of Scotland Premier League where the club still competes today.