Snow More Heroes

Coach and Driving Force Peter MacCallum

Saturday 29th March 2014
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Alba Thistle v Oban Saints
Seedhill Park, Lacy Street, Paisley PA1 1QR
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Andrew Seymour

Last Time Out

 

 

 

 

Saints played their first league match since 12th October at the 3G Oban Community Pitch last Saturday afternoon. The game had been scheduled for the grass park at Glencruitten which was in remarkably good condition the previous Saturday for Oban Athletic's West of Scotland Amateur Football League Challenge Cup match against Lochfyneside. However heavy rain during the week followed by snow on Friday rendered Glencruitten unplayable. The game would therefore be switched to the 3G pitch but only if the snow could be removed from the playing surface. Thanks to the efforts of a small band of players, club officials and volunteers the snow was cleared from the pitch and the game was given the green light.
Saints started the match brightly with a third minute shot from Craig MacEwan forcing a good save from Castlemilk keeper Craig Lowe. Just one minute later Saints survived what looked like a decent shout for a penalty when Jamie Graham found himself on the wrong side of Castlemilk striker Jono Spence. The Milk striker's run into the box was halted by Saints keeper Daniel Cassells but with the Milk bench and coaching staff screaming for a penalty referee Gary Logan signalled for a corner. Clear cut chances were few and far between for both teams in an even first half. Saints best efforts came from a Craig MacEwan shot which flew past the keeper's right hand post and a Ross Maitland left foot shot from the edge of box, well held by the Castlemilk keeper, following a good knock down by Allan MacKay. Castlemilk were making good use of their long throw-ins into the box, a weapon missing from the Saints armoury with the departure of Willie Gemmell, and came close to opening the scoring on a couple of occasions. In the 43rd minute Castlemilk did just that when Jono Spence repeated his earlier feat of getting in behind the Saints defence and dispatched an excellent shot low past Daniel Cassells' outstretched right hand and into the net for a slightly flattering 1 - 0 half time lead.
Saints started the second half strongly and were on level terms within the first two minutes. Castlemilk keeper Craig Lowe spilled a weak Lewis Cameron shot straight to the feet of Ross Maitland who gleefully snapped up the chance to score his second goal of the season. Saints continued to press forward but struggled to get any change out of an experienced and well marshalled Castlemilk defence. The Milk continued to threaten on the counter attack and but for an excellent save from Daniel Cassells would have doubled their goal tally. Saints best opportunity of the second half came in the 88th minute when Donald Campbell was played onside by the Castlemilk right full back and found himself through one on one with goal keeper. Normally lethal in those situations Donald beat the keeper easily but somehow squeezed his shot past the keeper's right hand post.
The match finished 1- 1 with both teams feeling they could have won so a draw was most probably the correct result.

Ross Maitland scorer of Saints equalising goal against Castlemilk

Next up for saints is a first away trip to Premier Division new boys Alba Thistle of Paisley. Alba are currently in 8th place in the SAFL Premier Division with 12 points from 14 games. With only four league fixtures remaining the Paisley side have a fight on their hands to avoid an immediate return to the Premier Division One which they won in such convincing style last season. Thistle recorded a welcome 2 - 0 victory over Haldane United last weekend and will be desperate to build on that result against Saints.

Alba Thistle's league season thus far:-

17th August 2013 Alba Thistle 1 - 2 St Josephs
21st August 2013 Haldane United 5 - 2 Alba Thistle
24th August 2013 Alba Thistle 1 - 0 Thorn Athletic
31st August 2013 Alba Thistle 3 - 1 Kilbowie Union
14th September 2013 Busby 3 - 1 Alba Thistle
12th October 2013 Oban Saints 2 - 0 Alba Thistle
2nd November 2013 St Josephs 5 - 1 Alba Thistle
16th November 2013 Kilbowie Union 3 - 2 Alba Thistle
30th November 2013 Alba Thistle 3 - 6 Castlemilk
11th January 2014 Castlemilk 1 - 2 Alba Thistle
8th February 2014 Alba Thistle 0 - 2 Busby
22nd February 2014Inverclyde 8 - 2 Alba Thistle
15th March 2014 Alba Thistle 2 - 4 Finnart
22nd March 2014 Alba Thistle 2 - 0 Haldane United

Alba Thistle's recent league history:-

2007/08 Paisley and District Division Two Champions (Promoted)
2008/09 Paisley and District Division One Champions
2009/10 Paisley and District Division One Champions (Undefeated)
2010/11 SAFL Division Three Champions (Promoted)
2011/12 SAFL Division Two Champions (Promoted) (Undefeated)
2012/13 SAFL Division One Champions (Promoted)

 

Saints lost last season's Centenary Cup Final to Alba Thistle 5 - 4 on penalties following a 0 - 0 draw after 120 minutes

Alba Thistle have had early exits in the cup competitions going out of the Jimmy Marshall Trophy, the Scottish Amateur Cup and the West of Scotland Cup at the first, second and third round stages respectively. The defence of the their Centenary Cup title, secured thanks to a penalty shoot-out victory over Saints in last season's final, stalled in the second round thanks to a 4 - 2 defeat away at Shawlands FP of Division 1A.

Saints main rivals for the Premier Division title this season are the very impressive St Josephs and Finnart. Although Saints remain unbeaten in the league this season their good early season form seems to have deserted them recently and a return to winning ways is essential if they are remain in the hunt for the Premier Division title. Saints will be without Captain Marc MacCallum, who is still nursing an injury picked up in the West of Scotland Cup defeat at Giffnock North, and Dene Cassells serving the last of his four match suspension from Scottish Amateur Cup tie against Thorn Athletic.

No Kicks On The A816

Saints Jimmy Marshall Trophy Second Round match against Lochgilphead Red Star due to be played on Sunday 23rd March was postponed when a Saturday morning pitch inspection found the pitch to be unplayable. A new fixture date has yet to be set.

The Ropework Park, Lochgilphead

 

 

 

Scottish Amateur Football League Select Squad

 

 

Saints midfielders Donald Campbell and Myles McAuley have been included in the SAFL Select squad to play Stranraer in a friendly match at Ralston Sports Centre, Paisley. The match takes place on Tuesday 1st April with a 7.45pm kick off. Saints captain Marc MacCallum was also selected however injury is almost certain to rule him out.

 

 

 

Donald Campbell, Myles McAuley and Marc MacCallum at a SAFA trials match in January

 

 

A small selection of Paisley's famous son's:-

 

 

 

 



 

Willie Gemmill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Fulton Beith MacKay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

#monthesaints

 



Get Your Kicks On The A816

Saturday 22nd March 2014
SAFL Premier Division
Oban Saints v Castlemilk
Glencruitten, Oban
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Gary Logan

Sunday 23rd March 2014
Jimmy Marshall Trophy
Lochgilphead Red Star v Oban Saints
Ropework Park, Lochgilphead
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr John Scott

Lewis Cameron

Last Time Out

Saints crashed out of the West of Scotland Cup at Northolm, Giffnock last Saturday when their penalty shoot-out hoodoo struck again. During the ninety minutes plus thirty minutes extra time Saints acquitted themselves well against last season's Caledonian League Premier Division Champions displaying plenty of "bouncebackability" following the previous weekend's Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Eastfield. Saints fell behind midway through the first half when Myles McAuley miss-hit an attempted clearance from a Giffnock North free kick into his own net. A headed goal by Captain Marc MacCallum from a Craig MacEwan corner and a fantastic solo effort from Lewis Cameron gave Saints a well deserved lead. Alas the lead was short lived and Scottish Amateur International midfielder Gary Dickson drew the North level with twenty eight minutes of the ninety still to play.
Despite giving their all for what remained of the match, including extra time, neither team could find the net again and penalty kicks were required to decide the winner. Saints penalty shoot-out misery continued where it left off at the end of last season where the Centenary Cup and Jimmy Marshall Trophy finals were both lost on penalties. Despite starting well with successful kicks from Mattie Rippon and Allan MacKay Saints once again crumbled under pressure. Donald Campbell saw his penalty saved and Craig MacEwan and Lewis Cameron both failed to hit the target giving Giffnock North a 3 - 2 shoot-out win.
Although disappointed at going out of the cup in such a cruel manner Saints can take heart from a good performance against a top quality Giffnock North side which will hopefully be a springboard to a successful SAFL Premier Division campaign.


Saints rather dubious reward for flying the flag for the SAFL in the premier cup competitions this season is to be immediately flung into a Saturday/Sunday fixture double header. Saturday sees Saints play host to Castlemilk in the league followed by a Sunday trip down the A816 to take on Argyll rivals Lochgilphead Red Star in the second round of the Jimmy Marshall Trophy.

Saturday's visitors Castlemilk began the season with high hopes of improving upon last season's 4th place finish but unfortunately for the "Milk" a serious league challenge has failed to emerge. Currently lying in 6th place with 14 points from 14 games the Milk have just four games left in which to influence the outcome of the league race. Two of those fixtures are against Saints so the Oban boys will be hoping that Castlemilk can't repeat their feat of last season when they recorded their first league victory over Saints in eight attempts delivering a serious blow to Saints title hopes into the bargain.

League meetings between the clubs:-

2009/10
Oban Saints 4 - 0 Castlemilk
Castlemilk 1 - 4 Oban Saints

2010/11
Castlemilk 0 - 4 Oban Saints
Oban Saints 2 - 1 Castlemilk

2011/12
Oban Saints 3 - 2 Castlemilk
Castlemilk 0 - 1 Oban Saints

2012/13
Oban Saints 1 - 0 Castlemilk
Castlemilk 2 - 1 Oban Saints


Castlemilk's league campaign so far:-

17th August 2013 Castlemilk 3 - 3 Haldane United
21st August 2013 Kilbowie Union 4 - 4 Castlemilk
24th August 2013 St Joseph's 3 - 3 Castlemilk
31st August 2013 Castlemilk 3 - 0 Inverclyde
5th October 2013 Castlemilk 2 - 6 Finnart
9th November 2013 Thorn Athletic 1 - 0 Castlemilk
23rd November 2013 Castlemilk 6 - 3 Kilbowie Union
30th November 2013 Alba Thistle 3 - 6 Castlemilk
11th January 2014 Castlemilk 1 - 2 Alba Thistle
18th January 2014 Castlemilk 2 - 4 Busby
1st February 2014 Finnart 1 - 1 Castlemilk
22nd February 2014 Busby 7 - 1 Castlemilk
1st March 2014 Castlemilk 1 - 3 St Joseph's
15th March 2014 Inverclyde 1 - 1 Castlemilk

 

The Milk

The Milk have also struggled to make an impact in the cup competitions going out of the Jimmy Marshall Trophy, West of Scotland Cup and Scottish Amateur Cup at the first, second and third round stages respectively. They have however fared better in the Centenary Cup where convincing victories over Whitehill FP and Centre, followed by penalty shoot-out victories over Finnart and Haldane United have seen them through to the final where they will face St Joseph's. Maybe the Saints boys can ask for a few spot kick tips on Saturday!

 

The Singing Milkman (ask your father or maybe even your grandfather!)

Without a league fixture since 12th October, Saints now have a lot of ground to make up on leaders St Joseph's. The current top five, St Joseph's, Busby, Finnart, Haldane United and Saints, are all in serious contention to secure the Premier Division Championship therefore Saturday's match is a must win for Saints if they are to realise their title ambitions this season.

Saints take to the road on Sunday to face Argyll rivals Lochgilphead Red Star in the second round of the Jimmy Marshall Trophy at the Ropework Park, Lochgilphead. Red Star are currently 4th in the SAFL Premier Division 2 with 22 points from 14 games. Red Star went into this season targeting league survival, however with only one defeat in their last five matches, including last week's 4 - 3 victory over strongly fancied Jamestown, the Lochgilphead side have forced their way into the promotion reckoning. Red Star's four remaining league fixtures are at home which must give them an excellent chance of securing second place behind title favourites East Kilbride and with it a second consecutive promotion.

Lochgilphead Red Star's league campaign so far:-

17th August 2013 Port Glasgow AFC 0 - 1 Lochgilphead Red Star
24th August 2013 East Kilbride 2 - 2 Lochgilphead Red Star
31st August 2013 Glencastle Sparta 1 - 4 Lochgilphead Red Star
7th September 2013 Jamestown 3 - 1 Lochgilphead Red Star
14th September 2013 Clydebank 0 - 4 Lochgilphead Red Star
21st September 2013 Port Glasgow United 2 - 2 Lochgilphead Red Star
19th October 2013 Lochgilphead Red Star 1 - 1 Clydebank
9th November 2013 Goldenhill 5 - 2 Lochgilphead Red Star
23rd November 2013 Lochgilphead Red Star 1 - 3 East Kilbride
30th November 2013 Lochgilphead Red Star 5 - 2 Dunoon Athletic
11th January 2014 Lochgilphead Red Star 1 - 4 Port Glasgow
8th February 2014 Easthall Star 2 - 2 Lochgilphead Red Star
8th March 2014 Dunoon Athletic 2 - 4 Lochgilphead Red Star
15th March 2014 Lochgilphead Red Star 4 - 3 Jamestown

 

Lochgilphead Red Star

Saints and Red Star met in a pre-season friendly at Glencruitten on 10th August which Saints won comfortably 3 - 0 with the goals coming from Craig MacEwan, Donald Campbell and Mattie Rippon. Sunday's cup tie will be an entirely different affair with the home side desperate to put one over on their Premier Division opponents. This match has been eagerly anticipated by players and supporters of both sides ever since the draw was made away back in December. A good crowd is therefore expected for what promises to be an enthralling match. The tie must be decided on the day with the chilling possibility of yet another penalty shoot-out if the sides can't be separated after 90 minutes. The winners will be away from home in the quarter finals against either East Kilbride, Jamestown or Kings Park Rangers.

Dougie Moore (back row, middle) has served both clubs with distinction

Saints were victorious in the Argyll & Bute Cup at the Ropework Park in 1996

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Saints team bus on the way back from Lochgilphead some years ago

 

 

 

#monthesaints

Third Time Lucky

The Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Amateur Cup

 

 

 

Saturday 15th March 2014

Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Amateur Cup 4th Round

Giffnock North AFC v Oban Saints AFC

Northolm Sports Complex, Braidbar Farm Road, Giffnock, Glasgow G46 6HU

OR

Nethercraigs Sports Complex, 355 Corkerhill Road, Glasgow G52 1RR

Kick Off 2pm

Referee Mr Ian Hamilton

 

 

Last Time Out

 

Saints surrendered their unbeaten record and with it their hopes of Scottish Cup glory for another season against Eastfield last Saturday. A large crowd of supporters had turned up to cheer on the local team against their Central Scottish Premier League opponents however their favourites were unable to rise to the occasion and produced their worst performance of the season so far. Goals in the 3rd and 88th minutes capitalising on concentration lapses in the Saints defence gave Eastfield a deserved 2 - 0 victory sending them through to face Carluke Baptist in their first ever Scottish Amateur Cup Quarter Final.

 

 Myles McAuley and Eastfield's Martyn Shields battle it out in the Scottish Cup 7th round

 

 

 

 

Third Time Lucky

This Saturday Giffnock North and Saints will hope to make it third time lucky when they attempt to play this twice postponed West of Scotland Cup fourth round tie. Originally scheduled for 25th January and re-scheduled for 1st February, this tie should definitely be completed this Saturday as the "North" have been able to secure a 3G pitch as back-up should the grass at Northholm be once again deemed unplayable. Saints extended run in the Scottish Cup coupled with numerous fixture postponements have accounted for the subsequent six week delay. With both teams now out of the Scottish Cup the West of Scotland Cup will take priority in the fixture schedules over the next few weeks and both teams will be desperate to make further progress in this competition.

The winners of this tie have been drawn at home in the fifth round against Eddlewood of the Greater Glasgow Premier League. A home tie against Caledonian Premier League St Mungo's awaits in the sixth round.

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

Saints progress in the West of Scotland Cup this season:-

Round 2 12th October 2013   Oban Saints v Dalmilling - Walkover to Saints
Round 3 7th December 2013 Oban Saints 2 - 1 Glasgow Harp (AET 1 - 1 after 90 mins)

Allan MacKay slots home a 105th minute penalty to edge out Glasgow Harp at Glencruitten

Giffnock North Caledonian Premier League Winners 2012 - 13

 

 

Giffnock North are the defending Caledonian Premier League champions but have stuttered slightly in defence of their title having already lost more games than in their title winning season. The North are currently in 10th place in the Caledonian Premier League with 13 points from 11 games.

 

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

1st March 2014                        Milton 1 -  1 Giffnock North


Saturday's fixture against Giffnock North gives Saints an ideal opportunity to get straight back "in the saddle" after last weeks Scottish Cup exit. The tie will be played to a finish with extra time and penalties to decide the winner if necessary. The North are sure to provide yet another stiff test for Saints but that is exactly what every ambitious club desires. Due to their cup competition exploits and numerous fixture cancellations Saints last played a league fixture on the 12th of October and still have eleven league matches left to play. An extended West of Scotland Cup run would add to the fixture congestion but would still be welcomed with open arms by Saints Manager Iain Jackson.

 

Iain Jackson

 

 

 

 

 

 Northolm

 

 

Northolm holds special memories for Saints as they clinched the SAFL Premier Division One title there in 2002. This feat, together with Giffnock North's sensational last gasp league title win last season are featured in the "Fever Pitch" post which first previewed this fixture. The post can be found in January's Blog Archive.

 

 

Giffnock's famous sons:-

 

 

 

The Right Honourable Gordon Brown MP

 

 

 

 



 



Mr Pop Master

 

 

The Quarrymen

 

Giffnock was once famous for it's building stone and stone was quarried there between 1835 and 1912. The Giffnock "Liver Rock" Blonde Sandstone quarries provided stone for many fine buildings in Glasgow. The popular building stone was also exported to America, South Africa and Australia.

 

 

 

 

 



Some of Glasgow's famous buildings built of Giffnock sandstone:-

The University of Glasgow

 

The Post Office Building in George Square

 

 

 

 

 



The interior of Kelvingrove Art Gallery

 

Glasgow Savings Bank, Ingram Street

 

 

 

Hess Drops In

 

On 10th May 1941 Giffnock had an unexpected visitor in the person of Rudolph Hess the deputy leader of Nazi Germany. Hess has flown solo to Scotland in an attempt to negotiate peace with Britain. The plane crashed near Giffnock but Hess managed to parachute to safety. He was detained by the Home Guard at Giffnock Scout Hall before being transferred to Maryhill Barracks in Glasgow the following day.

 

 

 

 The wreckage of the Messerschmitt Bf 110D flown by Hess

 

 

 

 

Don't tell him Pike

 

 

 

#monthesaints