Winning In The Rain: Time For A Break

Summer Is A Comin' - Merry Hell

Saturday 30th May 2015
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v Campbeltown Pupils AFC
Glencruitten 2, Mossfield Avenue, Oban, Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Gary Logan

Last Weekend

Saints had no fixture last weekend.

Time For A Break

This Saturday Saints welcome Argyll rivals Campbeltown Pupils to Glencruitten for what is widely considered to be the biggest of all the Argyll derbies. As derby matches go Pupils v Saints is not exactly local but the 88 or so miles between the two clubs does nothing to diminish their fierce rivalry. The battle for football supremacy in Argyll has raged long and hard since Saints gained admission to the Scottish Amateur Football League in 1976 paving the way for the other Argyll teams. Saints and Pupils have been by far the most successful of the Argyll clubs with both enjoying spells as "top dogs". Saints may have been first to join the SAFL but it was Pupils who were first to fulfill the criteria for admission to the Premier Divison. Similarly it was Pupils who were the first Argyll club to be crowned SAFL Premier Division Champions beating their Oban rivals to this prestigious accolade by 10 years. Since then the balance of power has swung towards Saints with the Oban club now in it's 13th consecutive season in the top flight during which time Pupils have yo-yo'd between the three divisions in the Premier League set-up.

After an absence of five seasons Pupils returned to the Premier Division on the back of two consecutive league championships, the foundation for this resurgence being a phenomenal home record of just two defeats in three seasons. Unfortunately for Pupils they have been unable to continue that excellent home record in the Premier Division and have lost six of their nine home games including last September's 1 - 0 defeat against Saints. Pupils have fared slightly better on the road and have picked up eleven of their eighteen points on their travels.

This will be the final match of the season for both clubs and presents a decent chance for both to end their season on a high as a local derby win is always one to savour. Saints have the added pressure of trying to secure a win for Manager Iain Jackson on what will be his final game in charge. After nearly a quarter of a century at the club as player Player/Manager and Manager Iain has elected call time on his football career and will be a sad loss to the Club. Saints have Dougal Graham, Jamie Graham and Lewis Cameron all unavailable for selection so Iain will have some interesting selection choices to make for what is sure to be a full blooded affair for local bragging rights.

Campbeltown Pupils league fixtures so far:-

16th August 2014 Campbeltown Pupils 2 - 6 St Joseph's FP

30th August 2014 Busby 0 - 2 Campbeltown Pupils

6th September 2014 Campbeltown Pupils 2 - 7 Haldane United

13th September 2014 Campbeltown Pupils 0 - 1 Oban Saints

11th October 2014 Kings Park Rangers 0 - 3 Campbeltown Pupils

18th October 2014 Campbeltown Pupils 3 - 6 Finnart

25th October 2014 Eaglesham 1 - Campbeltown Pupils

15th November 2014 Haldane United 0 - 0 Campbeltown Pupils

22nd November 2104 Campbeltown Pupils 3 - 1 Thorn Athletic

13th December 2014 Campbeltown Pupils 3 - 0 Busby

7th February 2015 Finnart 2 - 3 Campbeltown Pupils

14th February 2015 Alba Thistle 2 - 2 Campbeltown Pupils

28th February 2015 Campbeltown Pupils 1 - 2 Alba Thistle

14th March 2015 Campbeltown Pupils 0 - 1 Kings Park Rangers

21st March 2015 Thorn Athletic 2 - 1 Campbeltown Pupils

11th April 2015 Campbeltown Pupils 0 - 0 Eaglesham

25th April 2015 St Joseph's FP 4 - 1 Campbeltown Pupils

Campbeltown Pupils' recent record in the SAFL:-

2013/14 Premier Division One Champions Promoted
2012/13 Premier Division Two Champions Promoted
2011/12 Premier Division Two 4th
2010/11 Premier Division One 9th Relegated
2009/10 Premier Division One 7th
2008/09 Premier Division 10th Relegated
2007/08 Premier Division One 3rd Promoted
2006/07 Premier Division One 5th