Winning In The Rain: Sure and Steadfast

Saturday 10th December 2016
Scottish Amateur Football League
Jimmy Marshall Trophy
Second Round Tie
Port Glasgow Old Boys Union AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Parklea Playing Fields
Greenock Road
Port Glasgow
G14 6TR
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Don Flanigan

This Saturday Saints begin their defence of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy secured at Millburn Park, Alexandria last May in an absorbing 2 - 1 final win over then holders St Joseph's FP. This season's campaign kicks off with an away tie against one of the stalwarts of the Scottish Amateur Football League Port Glasgow Old Boy's Union AFC. Port Glasgow OBU celebrated their 110th anniversary this year which is a fantastic achievement, particularly in the current climate of long established clubs having to fold. True to their motto, Port Glasgow OBU have remained Sure and Steadfast throughout their history and have a long and happy association with the Scottish Amateur Football League. OBU have admirably chosen not to follow the well worn path to other leagues taken by many long standing SAFL member clubs including close neighbours Greenock High School Former Pupils and Gourock Athletic, electing instead to stay with the Scottish Amateur Football League and battle on in search of that elusive promotion to the Premier Division.

OBU's last Scottish Amateur Football League honour was the 1996 - 97 Premier Division Two title and any hopes of adding this season's Premier Division 2A title to their list of honours are already fading fast after a faltering run of two draws and four defeats from their opening six matches which leaves them in eighth place trailing undefeated league leaders Rossvale Amateurs by fifteen points. Encouragingly for OBU their best performances of the season so far have come against the league leaders holding them to a 2 -2 draw at Bishopbriggs on the opening day of the league season and losing out by the odd goal in five at Parklea three weeks ago.

After a bright start in the Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup group sections which saw them win three out four matches losing out only to Premier Division Goldenhill, OBU have unfortunately found the going in the major cup competitions to be extremely tough. A second round Scottish Amateur Cup home defeat to reigning Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions East Kilbride FC Amateurs was quickly followed by an eleven goal hammering in the West of Scotland Amateur Cup at Kilbirnie of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association First Division.

Saints and Port Glasgow OBU have met many times over the past forty or so years with the most recent encounters coming in the Jimmy Marshall Trophy. Saints came out on top in the 2007 quarter finals tie at Glencruitten before eventually finishing as runners-up to Pollock. Saints repeated the feat in the 2012 first round en-route to another cup final defeat this time at the hands of Hillington.

Awaiting the winner of Saturday's second round match is an away tie againt either Arkleston, Rosehill Star or Shawlands FP.

Port Glasgow OBU results so far this season:-

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division 2a

17th August 2016 Rossvale 2 - 2 Port Glasgow OBU
3rd September 2016 Port Glasgow OBU 4 - 6 Broomhill
15th October 2016 East Kilbride YMCA 3 - 2 Port Glasgow OBU
29th October 2016 Houston 1 - 0 Port Glasgow OBU
5th November 2016 Port Glasgow OBU 4 - 4 Castlemilk
19th November 2016 Port Glasgow OBU 2 - 3 Rossvale

Scottish Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
8th October 2016 Port Glasgow OBU 1 - 4 East Kilbride FC Amateurs

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
22nd October 2016 Kilbirnie AFC 11 - 0 Port Glasgow OBU

Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup

Group Section 3

13th August 2016 Port Glasgow OBU 3 - 2 Milton of Colquhoun
22nd August 2016 Port Glasgow OBU 2 - 1 Port Glasgow
24th August 2016 Goldenhill 7 - 0 Port Glasgow OBU
27th August 2016 FC Argyle 0 - 2 Port Glasgow OBU

Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy

1st Round
Bye

Port Glasgow OBU recent Scottish Amateur Football League finishes:-

2006 - 07 Premier Division One 10th Relegated
2007 - 08 Premier Division Two 7th
2008 - 09 Premier Division Two 5th

2009 - 10 Premier Division Two 6th

2010 - 11 Premier Division Two 5th
2011 - 12 Premier Division Two 8th
2012 - 13 Premier Division Two 9th Relegated
2013 - 14 Division 1B 2nd Promoted
2014 - 15 Division 1A 4th Promoted
2015 - 16 Premier Division Two 8th