Winning In The Rain: Step It Up

Stereo MC's - Step It Up

Saturday 6th August 2016

Argyll & Bute Cup Tournament

Ropework Park

Campbell Street

Lochgilphead

Argyll

PA31 8JU

and

Lochgilphead Joint Campus

Kilmory

Lochgilphead

Argyll

PA31 8AA

Kick Off 10am

Oban Saints 2015 Argyll & Bute Cup winning squad

With a return to competitive action just one week away the pre-season preparations are stepped up another notch for the enduringly popular Argyll & Bute Cup. This year's tournament will once again be hosted by Lochgilphead Red Star who made an excellent job of staging last year's event after a seven year absence from the amateur football calendar. The hosts and current cup holders Oban Saints are joined in this year's line-up by fellow Scottish Amateur Football League sides Dunoon and Tarbert, Carradale of the West of Scotland Amateur Football League, Rothesay Brandane of the Caledonian League, Glasgow Islay of the Glasgow and District Saturday Morning League and Kilchoman of the Islay Football League. Always keenly contested the Argyll & Bute Cup throws up ties that the league positions of the respective clubs never could which contributes enormously towards the unpredictability of the final outcome. Missing from this year's line up are Campbeltown Pupils who have opted out in favour of a trip to Rhu to face the local amateurs and Greenock High School Former Pupils. However Campbeltown's absence is more than adequately compensated by the first time inclusion of their near neighbours Carradale and fellow new boys Glasgow Islay and Kilchoman. The return to the fold of one of Argyll & Bute's longest established clubs, Rothesay Brandane, gives another boost to an already impressive line up.

Group One, consisting of Carradale, Kilchoman, Lochgilphead Red Star and Rothesay Brandane commences on the grass park at the Ropework before relocating to the all weather surface at Lochgilphead Joint Campus for the final three group stage matches.

Group Two consists of holders Oban Saints, tournament regulars Dunoon and Tarbert and, making their debut, Glasgow Islay. Saints and Tarbert will get the action underway at Lochgilphead Joint Campus, however, as is the case with group one, the venue will change after the first three matches and conclude on the grass at the Ropework Park.

The all day event commences at 10.00 am with simultaneous kick offs at the Ropework and the Joint Campus and concludes with the final at the Ropework at 5.00pm. Each match will last 40 minutes and every team is guaranteed at least four matches affording all players a decent amount of game time. Unfortunately the weather forecast doesn't look very promising but hopefully the expected rain will not dampen the spirits of what is expected to be a healthy number of spectators.

The Contenders

Carradale's recent record in the West of Scotland Amateur Football League:-

2013/14 Division One 3rd Promoted
2014/15 Premier Division (Pre-split) 8th
2014/15 Division One (Post split) Champions
2015/16 Premier Division 6th

Carradale AFC Season 2014-15

Dunoon's recent record in the Scottish Amateur Football League:-

2006/07 Premier Division Two 2nd Promoted
2007/08 Premier Division One 7th

2008/09 Premier Division One 9th Relegated

2009/10 Premier Division Two 8th

2010/11 Premier Division Two 6th

2011/12 Premier Division Two 7th

2012/13 Premier Division Two 6th Promoted

2013/14 Premier Division One 6th

2014/15 Premier Division One 6th
2015/16 Premier Division One 4th

Dunoon AFC

Dunoon AFC Argyll & Bute Cup Winners 2006

Glasgow Islay's recent record in the Glasgow and District Saturday Morning League:-

2011/12 Premier Division 7th
2012/13 Premier Division 8th
2013/14 Premier Division 7th
2014/15 Premier Division 9th Relegated
2015/16 Division One 5th Promoted

Glasgow Islay - Islay Football League Easter Tournament Winners 2016

Kilchoman FC 2015-16

Lochgilphead Red Star's recent record in the Scottish Amateur Football League:-

2006/07 Division One 7th
2007/08 Division One 2nd
2008/09 Division One 4th

2009/10 Division One 8th
2010/11 Division One 3rd
2011/12 Division One 5th & Coronation Cup Winners
2012/13 Division One B 4th Promoted
2013/14 Premier Division Two 4th
2014/15 Premier Division Two 6th Promoted
2015/16 Premier Division One 10th Relegated

Lochgilphead Red Star AFC

The Victorious Lochgilphead Red Star Squad of 2008

Rothesay Brandane AFC

Rothesay Brandane's recent record in the Caledonian League:-

2014/15 Division 1B 7th
2015/16 Division 1B 10th

Tarbert's recent record in the SAFL:-

2006/07 Division One 4th
2007/08 Division One 3rd

2008/09 Division One Champions Promoted

2009/10 Premier Division Two 5th

2010/11 Premier Division Two 10th Relegated

2011/12 Division One 2nd

2012/13 Division One 6th

2013/14 Division One 4th

2014/15 Division One A Promoted
2015/16 Premier Division Two 9th

Tarbert AFC

Oban Saint' recent record in the SAFL:-

2006/07 Premier Division 6th
2007/08 Premier Division 3rd
2008/09 Premier Division 5th
2009/10 Premier Division Champions
2010/11 Premier Division 2nd
2011/12 Premier Division 2nd

2012/13 Premier Division 3rd

2013/14 Premier Division Champions & Jimmy Marshall Trophy Winners
2014/15 Premier Division 3rd

2015/16 Premier Division 4th & Jimmy Marshall Trophy Winners