Under New Management

Last Saturday Oban Saints AFC announced that club stalwart Alex Craik had agreed to accept the post of Team Manager with immediate effect. After a long and illustrious career in amateur football, the majority of which was spent at the heart of the Saints defence, Alex has finally decided to hang up his boots. After a couple of weeks of deliberation from Alex, the veteran defender's decision to continue his involvement with the club and make the transition from pitch to dug-out is a major boost for Saints as they begin their preparations for the new season. Alex will be assisted by Donald Campbell who will assume the role of Player/Assistant Manager. Marc Maccallum will continue as Club Captain and will also assist Alex in team affairs. The coaching staff will also be bolstered with Peter MacCallum being joined by Jamie Graham and former club captain Keith Millar.  Keith makes a welcome return to the club after two seasons playing in the Highland League with Fort William FC and his vast experience and boundless energy will provide added depth to the squad. Jamie will also continue as a valued member of the playing staff.

Pre-season training starts at 6.30pm on Monday 29th June at Oban Lorne Rugby Club and will continue on Monday and Wednesday nights until the new season kicks off on Saturday 15th August. Saints pre-season fixtures begin with the D&K Lafferty Cup and include visits from Vale of Leven Juniors and East Kilbride. Also on the itinenary are the Rhu Amateurs tournament celebrating their 120th year and a trip to Lochgilphead for the Argyll and Bute Cup. The new Management and coaching staff are all keen students of the game and are bound to have a one or two tactical and line-up surprises in store which should keep things interesting for players and fans alike in the build-up to the season ahead.

The Management Team

New Manager Alex Craik

Player/Assistant Manager Donald Campbell

Club Captain Marc Maccallum 

The Coaching Staff

Coach Peter MacCallum

Player/Coach Jamie Graham

Player/Coach Keith Millar

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League Formation 2015-16

Situation Vacant

Due to the sudden and unexpected departure of current post holder ***** ******** (name omitted on legal advice) Saints now have a vacancy for the role of BITTER RIVAL. Saints have employed the services of the Scottish Amateur Football League to produce a short list of nine candidates for this challenging role. 

The short list:-

Alba Thistle AFC

Campbeltown Pupils AFC

East Kilbride AFC

East Kilbride Rolls Royce AFC

Finnart AFC

Goldenhill AFC

Inverclyde AFC

Shawlands FP AFC

St Joseph's FP AFC

A series of 90 minute interviews will commence on Saturday 15th August and will continue until 28th May 2016. Each candidate will be expected to attend at least one interview in Oban with a further interview to be arranged at the candidate's own premises. 

If no suitable candidate can be found a further short list will be drawn up by the Scottish Amateur Football League and the whole process will begin again in August 2016.

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Pre-Season Fixtures

Saturday 11th July 2015
D&K Lafferty Cup Tournament
Mossfield & Glencruitten, Oban

Saints begin their programme of pre-season fixtures with the 22nd staging of their own highly regarded friendly tournament. Making the trip to Oban this year are cup holders Hamilton Accademical, three time winners and last year's runners-up Alloa Athletic, three time winners Dundee United, tournament regulars St Johnstone and, making a return after a three year absence three time winners Heart of Midlothian. Saints are grateful to D&K Lafferty Contractors for their sponsorship of this event and to the visiting clubs and their travelling fans for their continued support. The anticipated large crowd will have the opportunity of examining at close quarters the first team squads of Alloa Athletic, Hamilton Accademical and Heart of Midlothian as well as the rising stars of Dundee United and St Johnstone's under 20's. Not forgetting of course tournament hosts the mighty Oban Saints.






Saturday 18th July 2015
Glencruitten, Oban

Saints welcome Vale of Leven Juniors of the Scottish Junior Football Association Stagecoach West of Scotland League Central District Second Division to Oban for the very first time. Saints are no strangers to the Vale's Millburn Park where they have contested numerous Scottish Amateur Football League cup semi-finals and finals. Given Saints woeful record at Millburn Park it is perhaps a good thing that this first meeting between the clubs will take place in Oban.

Saturday 25th July 2015
Glencruitten, Oban

The last of Saints home friendlies is against Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division One Champions and McAvoy and McIntyre Cup winners East Kilbride AFC.




Saturday 1st August 2015
Rhu Amateur Football Club Tournament
Ardenconnel Park, Rhu

Saints will pit their wits against hosts Rhu Amateurs of the Caledonian League Division 1B, Dumbarton Academy FP of the Caledonian League Premier Division and old friends and last season's West of Scotland Amateur Cup winners Greenock High School FP.






Saturday 8th August 2015
Lochgilphead

Dunoon Athletic

Rothesay Brandane

Following a long absence the Argyll & Bute Cup makes a welcome return to the fixture calendar with Lochgilphead Red Star taking on the duties of hosting the event. Scottish Amateur Football League representatives Campbeltown Pupils, Dunoon Amateurs, Dunoon Athletic, Lochgilphead Red Star, Oban Saints and Tarbert are joined by Rothesay Brandane of the Caledonian League and Oban Athletic of the West of Scotland Amateur Football League. With eight teams taking part and local rivalries aplenty this should be a cracking tournament which should provide a fitting climax to the pre-season schedules of all the participants.

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