Fever Pitch

The Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Amateur Cup

Saturday 1st February 2014
Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Amateur Cup 4th Round
Giffnock North AAC AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Northolm Sports Complex, Braidbar Farm Road, Giffnock, Glasgow G46 6HU
Kick Off 1.30pm
Referee Mr Iain Hamilton

Last Time Out

On Saturday 18th January Saints endured another fruitless journey south when for the second time this season their match was called off at the eleventh hour due to an unplayable pitch. This time the cancellation was at John Brown's, Clydebank where Saints were due to play Kilbowie Union in a SAFL Premier Division match. The pitch having been played on in the morning was unable to withstand a torrential downpour just before Saints arrived and the referee Mr Matt Stanley correctly called the match off. Despite there being no blame attributable to their hosts in either cancellation it is still deeply frustrating for the players and officials to travel such a distance for no game. The Saints management and players were therefore very appreciative of the early decision by Giffnock North to postpone last Saturday's scheduled match. Heavy rain throughout the week and more of the same forecast for Saturday gave the hosts an easy decision to make and the match was called off on Friday afternoon.

Both clubs will be hoping that the recent improvement in the weather continues and that the heavy rain and snow currently forecast for Friday and Saturday fails to materialise.

This Saturday Saints are on the road again when they travel to the Northolm Sports Complex to face Giffnock North of the Caledonian Premier League in the West of Scotland Cup 4th round. Saints reached the 4th round courtesy of a narrow 2-1 win over Glasgow Harp also of the Caledonian Premier League and can expect a similarly tight match against the North. Giffnock North qualified for the 4th round last Saturday with a 3-1 win away at Jordanhill Campus.

Giffnock North's progress in the West of Scotland Cup this season:-

Round 2 7th December 2013 Giffnock North    6 - 1 Glentyan
Round 3 18th January 2014 Jordanhill Campus 1 - 3 Giffnock North


Unfortunately for the North they exited the Scottish Cup on the previous Saturday with an away defeat at Bank Street Athletic of the Midlands Amateur Football Association Premier League.

Giffnock North's Scottish Cup exploits this season:-

Round 2 26th October 2013                    Hillside 1 - 3 Giffnock North
Round 3 9th November 2013      Giffnock North 5 - 1 Queensferry Athletic
Round 4 30th November 2013    Giffnock North 3 - 1 Beith Amateurs
Round 5 11th January 2014 Bank Street Athletic 3 - 2 Giffnock North

Giffnock North Caledonian Premier League Winners 2012 - 13

Fever Pitch Moment for Giffnock North

Giffnock North are the defending Caledonian Premier League champions having narrowly pipped Westerlands and Glasgow Harp to the league title last season. The league was won in dramatic fashion with virtually the last kick of the last game of the season. An injury time penalty from Nani (no, not that Nani but he is very good by all accounts) won the match 2-1 for the North lifting them above Westerlands and Glasgow Harp by just one point and consigning their opponents on the night Dalziel High School Former Pupils to relegation. This gave the North a league and cup double the William Turner Challenge Cup having been secured earlier in the season.

Giffnock North have stuttered slightly in defence of their title having already lost more league games this season than in the entire title winning campaign. The North are currently eighth in the Caledonian Premier League with 12 points from 10 games, 10 points behind league leaders Milton.

Giffnock North's title defence so far:-

10th August 2013              St Mungo's 3 - 2 Giffnock North
13th August 2013       Giffnock North 1 - 2 East Kilbride Whitehills
21st August 2013       Giffnock North 2 - 1 Glasgow Harp
24th August 2013       Giffnock North 3 - 1 Gartcosh United
28th August 2013            Westerlands 1 - 0 Giffnock North
31st August 2013                   Cambria 3 - 4 Giffnock North
7th September 2013       Doune Castle 2 - 1 Giffnock North
21st September 2013 Gartcosh United 1 - 2 Giffnock North
5th October 2013        Giffnock North 1 - 2 Dumbarton Academy Former Pupils
16th November 2013  Giffnock North 0 - 1 Westerlands

 Double Winners 2012 - 13

Giffnock North are a long established and highly respected club now in their 71st year. They can boast may trophies from spells in the East Renfrewshire Amateur League, Scottish Amateur Football League, Greater Glasgow Premier league and Caledonian League. Their most notable success is undoubtedly the Scottish Amateur Cup win in 1957.

Allan MacKay's penalty makes it Oban Saints 2 - 1 Glasgow Harp in round 3

Saints go into this match on an unbeaten run in all competitions this season and desperate to make up for the three trophies which slipped agonisingly from their grasp last season. With the heat building in the battle for glory in the national cup competitions these two evenly matched sides should serve up a cracker of a cup tie. The match will be played to a finish with extra time and penalties if required. The winners will face double Scottish Amateur Cup winners Eddlewood in round 5 with another home tie against either St Mungo's. South Camlachie, Broomhouse or Arthurlie United awaiting the winners in round 6.

It's Up For Grabs Now

Saints enjoyed their own Fever Pitch moment at Northolm in 2002 in a last game of the season winner takes all match similar to Arsenal's 1989 title winning triumph against Liverpool at Anfield. In an amazing Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division One season Saints and Shamrock from Greenock finished level on points, goal difference and goals scored. The 18 game season saw both teams amass 39 points, score 51 goals and concede 27 therefore the SAFL ruled that a play-off match at a neutral venue should decide the league winners. The match was played at Northolm on Friday 7th June 2002 with a 7.00pm kick off in front of a good number of supporters from both sides as well as some interested neutrals.

Saints started strongly and were soon in front thanks to a wonderful 25 yard shot from veteran midfielder Donald MacLennan which flew past the despairing dive of the Shamrock keeper into the top left hand corner of the net. This was Donald's last game for Saints and a fitting way to bow out after a long and illustrious career. Shamrock recovered from this early set back and as the half wore on came more and more into the game. Two quick goals on the brink of half time gave Shamrock a 2-1 lead at the interval. Saints began the second half in a similar fashion to the first and were soon on level terms courtesy of a neat finish from inside the box by young midfielder and future Saints captain Keith Millar. The game then developed into an end to end battle with both sets of players giving their all in an attempt to avoid a penalty shoot-out. Chances came and went but nobody was able to find the net and with time rapidly running out and the light beginning to fade penalties looked inevitable.

In the 90th minute Shamrock launched one final attack down the right wing, the Shamrock winger skipped past Saints full back Colin Campbell but his cross was easily collected by Saints keeper David Dunlop. With every outfield player now in the Saints half David kicked from hand high into the night sky. The ball feel kindly at the feet of Saints centre forward Kenny "Tanno" MacDonald whose neat turn left his marker sprawling on the turf and left him a clear path to the Shamrock goal. With the Shamrock defence in hot pursuit Tanno bore down on the Shamrock goal. The keeper advanced but committed himself too soon allowing Tanno to take the ball round him and roll it into the empty net. Cue pandemonium amongst the Saints players, officials and fans. There was barely any time left and the referee blew for full time almost immediately after the re-start. A most dramatic end to an unbelievably close league season.

After enjoying the excellent facilities of the Northolm Sports Pavilion and stopping off at the local Victoria Wine shop for some essential supplies, it was a deliriously happy Saints bus that headed back to Oban where the party continued well into the next day week month.

The most dramatic finish in the history of the Football League

 

 

 

Scottish Amateur Football Association UEFA Regions Preparatory Match

 

 



 

 

 

Saints players Donald Campbell, Myles McAuley and Marc MacCallum were in a SAFA South West Select team who took on the SAFA international team in a UEFA Regions preparatory match at Ravenscraig Sports Centre on Sunday 19th January. Despite having never played before as a team the select acquitted themselves well in a 4 - 1 defeat against their well drilled opponents. The select players can be pleased with their efforts but now face an anxious wait before discovering whether their exploits were enough earn them a call up to the international squad.

 

 

 

Nick Hornby's debut novel inspired by Arsenal's league title win at Anfield



 

 

 

 

 

#monthesaints

 

 

 

Down By The River

 

 

Saturday 18th January 2014
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Kilbowie Union AFC v Oban Saints AFC
John Brown's Pitches, Barns Street, Clydebank G81 1AA
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Alan Lamb

Dennistoun Vale

Last Saturday Saints progressed to the sixth round of the Foster's Scottish Amateur Cup for the fifth time in eight years with a hard fought win over Dennistoun Vale of the Strathclyde Saturday Morning League. An Allan MacKay penalty in the 80th minute after substitute Colin Tindall was fouled in the box gave Saints the narrowest of victories over a very good Vale side. Saints have a home tie in the sixth round but must wait on the outcome of the Thorn Athletic v Drumchapel Amateurs fifth round tie before discovering their opponents. Whoever eventually provides the opposition this promises to be a cracking cup tie and Saints will be glad to have home advantage.

 

John Brown's Pitches, Clydebank

 

 

This Saturday Saints return to league business with an away fixture at bottom of the table Kilbowie Union. Saints won the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season 4 - 0 with two goals from Allan MacKay and one a-piece from Donald Campbell and Mattie Rippon. Union last tasted top flight football in season 2011/12 when Saints recorded 7 - 1 home and 5 - 1 away victories. Union eventually finished 9th and were relegated.

 

 

 

 

 

Kilbowie Union's recent record in the SAFL:-

 

2006 - 07 Premier Division One 7th

2007 - 08 Premier Division One 10th (relegated)

2008 - 09 Premier Division Two 7th

2009 - 10 Premier Division Two  2nd (promoted)

2010 - 11 Premier Division One 4th (promoted)

2011 - 12 Premier Division 9th (relegated)

2012 - 13 Premier Division One 3rd (promoted)

 

Kilbowie Union Honours:-

 

2000 Premier Division Two Champions

2001 Premier Division One Champions

2002 Centenary Cup Winners

 

Kilbowie Union League Matches this season:-

 

17th August 2013 Oban Saints 4 - 0 Kilbowie Union

21st August 2013 Kilbowie Union 4 - 4 Castlemilk

24th August 2013 Kilbowie Union 1 - 2 Busby

31st August 2013 Alba Thistle 3 - 1 Kilbowie Union

14th September 2013 Inverclyde 5 - 4 Kilbowie Union

21st September 2013 Kilbowie Union 1 - 3 Finnart

5th October 2013 Kilbowie Union 1 - 2 Thorn Athletic

9th November 2013 Finnart 4 - 4 Kilbowie Union

16th November 2013 Kilbowie Union 3 - 2 Alba Thistle

23rd November 2013 Castlemilk 6 - 3 Kilbowie Union

11th January 2014 Busby 2 - 0 Kilbowie Union

 

Kilbowie Union have already exited all of the cup competitions this season losing out to Finnart in the third round of the Centenary Cup; East Kilbride in the first round of the Jimmy Marshall Trophy; Arkleston Athletic in the second round of the West of Scotland Cup and Redbrae Athletic in the second round of the Scottish Amateur Cup.

 

 

Donald Campbell puts Saints 2 - 0 up against Kilbowie Union earlier this season

 

 

With current league leaders Finnart on West of Scotland Cup duty against Strathclyde University, Saints know that a win on Saturday will take them to the top of the league. Kilbowie Union are already fighting for their Premier League status so Saints can take nothing for granted if they are to maintain their unbeaten run.

 

 

Change of Referee



 

In an unprecedented move the referee originally allocated to this match made a special request for a change of fixture and will now take charge of the Wellhouse v Leven United Scottish Amateur Cup 5th round replay with Mr Alan Lamb now taking this fixture. It seems that referee Mr James Gallacher particularly enjoys players moaning at him and, upon learning that chief moaner Willie Gemmell had left Oban Saints, felt that Saints moaning was no longer up to the standard he prefers. Saints have moved swiftly to address the situation by employing Mrs Doyle as a moaning coach. Mrs Doyle is an expert in exhorting men dressed in black to change their minds and should therefore

prove a valuable addition to the coaching staff. 

 

 



 





Saints will be without current second top goal scorer Craig MacEwan following an accident on his recent snowboarding holiday. Craig suffered a fractured collar bone and a broken rib and will be out of action for some time. Good luck to Craig for a speedy recovery.

UEFA Regions Preparatory Match

 

Donald Campbell will join Myles McAuley in the SAFA select squad for Sunday's Central West v South West practice match. The match will now be played at Ravenscraig with a 2pm kick off. Good luck to Donald and Myles and all the other hopefuls as they strive to catch the eye of National Squad Manager Bruce McNaught.

 

 

Donald Campbell

 

 

 

Myles McAuley

 

 

 

Donald Campbell looks on as fellow SAFA Squad member Ryan Halpin of Kilbowie Union is tackled by Paul Kerr

 

 

John Brown's

 

The Titan Crane

 

 

The venue for Saturday's match, John Brown's pitches is situated on or near to the ground occupied by the former shipyard of the same name. The name John Brown is synonymous with Clydebank is probably the most famous of all the Clyde ship yards.

 

Some of the famous ships built at John Brown's:-

 

 

HMS Hood

 

 

 

RMS Lusitania

 

 

 

RMS Queen Mary

 

 

 

RMS Queen Elizabeth

 

 

 

RMS QE2

 

 

 

HM Yacht Britannia

 

 

 

#monthesaints





In With A Shout

Saturday 11th January 2014
Foster's Scottish Amateur Cup 5th Round
Dennistoun Vale AFC -v- Oban Saints AFC
Whitehill Secondary School 3G, 280 Onslow Drive, Glasgow G31 2QF
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr John Quinn, Motherwell

Foster's Scottish Amateur Cup

 

 

Without a fixture since 7th December Saints return to action this Saturday with a very difficult Scottish Cup tie away at Dennistoun Vale. The long lay off has severely hampered Saints build up to their biggest match of the season so far. Despite the stop/start nature of the season so far Saints are on an excellent run but they will have to dig deep if they are to keep their unbeaten run going on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dennistoun Vale AFC

 

Dennistoun Vale play their football in the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Football League Premier Division having got there on the back of two successive Championship winning seasons. 2011/12 saw them win Division 2A and an undefeated campaign in 2012/13 resulted in them winning Division One scoring 101 goals along the way. Vale also found success in cup competitions winning the Tommy Marshall Trophy in 2011/12 and the Strathclyde Cup in 2012/13. Their start to life in the top flight has also been impressive winning five of their eight matches which has lifted them to fourth place with sixteen points. Vale's only league defeats this season have come away from home at runaway leaders Tynecastle and last season's league winners Blochairn Star.

 

Dennistoun Vale's league campaign so far:-

 

7th September 2013   Tyncastle            5 - 3 Dennistoun Vale

14th September 2013 Dennistoun Vale 3 - 1 Cresswell Lane

21st September 2013  Yoker                  2 - 4 Dennistoun Vale

5th October 2013        I.C.C.                  1 - 1 Dennistoun Vale

12th October 2013     Dennistoun Vale  3 - 1 Shawbridge

26th October 2013     Dennistoun Vale  3 - 2 Victoria Croftfoot

2nd November 2013  Dennistoun Vale  2 - 1 East Dunbartonshire

16th November 2013 Blochairn Star      2 - 1 Dennistoun Vale 

 

Dennistoun Vale's progress in the Scottish Amateur Cup:-

 

Round 2 19th October 2013     Glasgow Deaf Athletic 0 - 5 Dennistoun Vale

Round 3 9th November 2013   Dennistoun Vale           6 - 1 Dundee City

Round 4 30th November 2013 Neilston                         0 - 2 Dennistoun Vale

 

 

 

 

Allan MacKay scores from spot against Glasgow Harp

 

 

On their last outing Saints produced an excellent performance to knock top Caledonian Premier League side Glasgow Harp out of the West of Scotland Cup. A second half equaliser from Craig MacEwan and an extra time penalty gave Saints a deserved 2 - 1 victory.

 

 

Saints progress in the Scottish Amateur Cup:-

 

Round 2 19th October 2013     Oban Saints 3 - 3 Independent

Replay 26th October 2013       Independent 2 - 8 Oban Saints

Round 3 9th November 2013   Oban Saints 6 - 1 Rosyth

Round 4 30th November 2013 Oban Saints 6 - 0 Ellon Amateurs  

 

 

This will be an extremely difficult match for Saints against one of the rising stars of the amateur game. Definitely missing for Saints are Mattie Rippon and joint top scorer Craig MacEwan, otherwise Manager Iain Jackson has a full squad available for selection. Dennistoun Vale will hope that home advantage will give them the edge but Saints away record is excellent and an enthralling encounter is in prospect.

 

 

 

 

Some of Dennistoun's famous sons and daughters:-

 

Alexander Dennistoun founder of the district of Dennistoun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Architect and Designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh

 

 

 

 

 

Actress Dorothy Paul

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay Stirling, oot the car

 

 

In off the field news Saints goalkeeper Graham Douglas has joined Oban Athletic until the end of the season. Graham, a Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division winner with Saints in 2010, had taken some time out from football after the 2011/12 season but interrupted his sabbatical to deputise for Daniel Cassells when he received a serious shoulder injury at the end of last season. Graham's outstanding performances when back in the Saints starting eleven have clearly re-ignited his passion for the game and hopefully it won't be too long before he appears in a Saints shirt again.

 

 

 

Graham "Sugar" Douglas

 

 

 

 

 

Myles McAuley in action against Haldane United last season

 

 

Saints midfielder Myles McAuley has been called up to the Scottish Amateur Football Association select squad for a UEFA Regions Cup preparatory match. Myles will play for the South West Select against the Central West Select. This practice match has been arranged to give Scotland Manager Bruce McNaught another opportunity to assess some of the players on the fringes of the national squad in the build-up to the UEFA Regions Cup group stage matches which will take place in June. The match is to be played on Sunday 19th January at Colville Park Country Club. Good luck to Myles and all of the other hopefuls.

 

 

 

#monthesaints