Saturday 25th July 2015
Pre-Season Friendly
Oban Saints AFC v East Kilbride AFC
Glencruitten 1, Glencruitten Drive, Oban PA34 4EB
Kick off 1.30pm
Referee Mr James Litster
Saints continue their preparations for the new season this Saturday with the welcome return to Oban after a four year absence of regular pre-season opponents East Kilbride AFC. Newly elevated to the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division East Kilbride secured their promotion to the top flight in convincing style last season winning 16 of their twenty league fixtures and losing just one. The solitary reverse came during the first month of the season against Electric after which East Kilbride embarked on a fifteen match unbeaten run which eventually saw them crowned Division 1A winners. In the Central League set-up the winners of Divisions 1A and 1B are both promoted to the Premier Division but they must play-off for the title of Division 1 Champions. East Kilbride took that award in emphatic style defeating Division 1B and East of Scotland Cup winners Steins Thistle 4 - 0. This win completed an impressive league and cup double after the previous Saturday's 3 - 0 victory over Possil YM to lift the McAvoy and McIntyre Cup. In a season to savour East Kilbride also recorded good runs in the major cup competitions reaching round five of both the Scottish and the West of Scotland Cups before losing out to Stenhousemuir Community and Broomhouse respectively. Amongst the notable cup scalps were last season's Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions St Joseph's FP who were thrashed 5 - 1 by East Kilbride in the fourth round of the West of Scotland Cup.
Saturday's match will provide another stiff test for Saints against high quality opposition just what Manager Alex Craik wants with the kick off for the new league season now just three weeks away. East Kilbride begin their league campaign one week earlier with a home match against Saints old Scottish Amateur Football League adversaries St Patricks FP and are therefore likely to be slightly ahead of Saints in their preparations.The usual mixture of holidays, injuries and work commitments will have a major bearing on the Saints squad selection but home fans can expect three or four additions to last weeks squad which defeated Vale of Leven Juniors 3 - 1.
This will be Saints last home pre-season match before they embark on their travels to participate in the Rhu Amateurs tournament and the Argyll & Bute Cup.
East Kilbride AFC recent Central Scottish Amateur Football League finishes:-
2014-15 Division 1A Champions (Promoted)
2013-14 Division 1A 11th
2012-13 Division 1A 8th
2011-12 Division 1A 10th
2010-11 Division 1A 8th
2009-10 Division 1A 11th
2008-09 Division 1A 11th
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| East Kilbride AFC with their new home and away kits for season 2015-16 |
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| A young East Kilbride team at Glencruitten in 2009 |
In Other News
Saints received a boost on the injury front this week when Dougal Graham came out of plaster following his ankle break sustained in a five-a-side game during the close season. Hopefully it won't be too long before Dougal is back in training and pushing for a place in the team.
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