This Saturday Saints welcome first time visitors Ferguslie Star to Glencruitten in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division. Formed in 2012 after the demise of Ferguslie AFC the Star have made a rapid rise to the Premier Division winning three successive promotions losing just ten out of sixty two league games and scoring 265 goals in the process. In this their first season in the top flight the boys from Paisley's Ferguslie Park currently occupy sixth place in the highly competitive Premier Division where they have already made their mark. In last October's encounter Star became the first of only three teams so far in all competitions to inflict defeat upon Saints taking full advantage of an uncharacteristically sloppy defensive performance from Alex Craik's men. A man of the match performance from Martin Stewart together with a goal from Derek McGrory and braces from Andrew Turner and inspirational Skipper David Edwards saw Star prevail in a nine goal thriller at Seedhill. In their four league matches since that win Star have returned mixed results with an away draw at Campbeltown Pupils and a home win against Inverclyde being overshadowed by a narrow away defeat at Shawlands FP and a home hammering from defending Champions East Kilbride FC Amateurs. Ferguslie Star's cup showings this season have also been a bit of a mixed bag with good early promise petering out to leave them now with just their Premier Division campaign to concentrate on.

The Star have gone through a number of personnel changes in recent months both on and off the field. Significant absentees from their first trip to Oban are former team Manager club stalwart Tam Kerr who has decided to take a back seat, and former Captain David "Buster" Edwards who has signed for Neilston Juniors. Both will be big losses for the club however with a new Management structure in place and David Brown taking the Captain's armband the club look still to be very much in safe hands.

Saints will be desperate to exact some revenge for the 5 - 4 defeat at Seedhill in October but in order to do so will first have to overcome what is sure to be a very determined Star side. The Glencruitten faithful can look forward to what promises to be a interesting struggle for three precious league points.

Ferguslie Star AFC results so far this season:-

SAFL Premier Division

20th August 2016 Goldenhill 4 - 3 Ferguslie Star
3rd September 2016 Ferguslie Star 1 - 0 Shawlands FP
8th October 2016 Ferguslie Star 5 - 4 Oban Saints
15th October 2016 Campbeltown Pupils 2 - 2 Ferguslie Star
29th October 2016 Ferguslie Star 4 - 3 Inverclyde
17th December 2016 Shawlands FP 2 - 1 Ferguslie Star
7th January 2017 Ferguslie Star 0 - 8 East Kilbride FC Amateurs

SAFL Centenary Cup

Group Section 4

13th August 2016 Neilston 1 - 2 Ferguslie Star
17th August 2016 Ferguslie Star 7 - 1 Paisley
24th August 2016 Ferguslie Star 6 - 2 Houston
27th August 2016 Rosehill Star 1 - 6 Ferguslie Star

Quarter Final

17th September 2016 Ferguslie Star 1 - 3 Alba Thistle

SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy

1st Round

Bye

2nd Round

26th November 2016 Claremont 3 - 3 Ferguslie Star
Ferguslie Star win 3 - 1 on penalty kicks

3rd Round

21st January 2017 Ferguslie Star 4 - 4 Hillington
Hillington win 4 - 2 on penalty kicks

Scottish Amateur Cup

1st Round

Bye

2nd Round

1st October 2016 Ferguslie Star 12 - 0 Bargeddie Amateurs

3rd Round

5th November 2016 Tayside Fire Brigade 3 - 4 Ferguslie Star

4th Round

3rd December 2016 FC Kettledrum 5 - 4 Ferguslie Star

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

1st Round

Bye

2nd Round

22nd October 2016 Cambusnethan Talbot Community 1 - 2 Ferguslie Star

3rd Round

19th November 2016 Ferguslie Star 6 - 1 Westercommon Star

4th Round

10th December 2016 Ferguslie Star 1 - 3 Harestanes

Ferguslie Star AFC SAFL finishes:-

2013 - 14 Division 1A 2nd Promoted
2014 - 15 Premier Division Two 3rd Promoted
2015 - 16 Premier Division One 2nd Promoted and Centenary Cup Winners