Down By The River

 

 

Saturday 18th January 2014
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Kilbowie Union AFC v Oban Saints AFC
John Brown's Pitches, Barns Street, Clydebank G81 1AA
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Alan Lamb

Dennistoun Vale

Last Saturday Saints progressed to the sixth round of the Foster's Scottish Amateur Cup for the fifth time in eight years with a hard fought win over Dennistoun Vale of the Strathclyde Saturday Morning League. An Allan MacKay penalty in the 80th minute after substitute Colin Tindall was fouled in the box gave Saints the narrowest of victories over a very good Vale side. Saints have a home tie in the sixth round but must wait on the outcome of the Thorn Athletic v Drumchapel Amateurs fifth round tie before discovering their opponents. Whoever eventually provides the opposition this promises to be a cracking cup tie and Saints will be glad to have home advantage.

 

John Brown's Pitches, Clydebank

 

 

This Saturday Saints return to league business with an away fixture at bottom of the table Kilbowie Union. Saints won the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season 4 - 0 with two goals from Allan MacKay and one a-piece from Donald Campbell and Mattie Rippon. Union last tasted top flight football in season 2011/12 when Saints recorded 7 - 1 home and 5 - 1 away victories. Union eventually finished 9th and were relegated.

 

 

 

 

 

Kilbowie Union's recent record in the SAFL:-

 

2006 - 07 Premier Division One 7th

2007 - 08 Premier Division One 10th (relegated)

2008 - 09 Premier Division Two 7th

2009 - 10 Premier Division Two  2nd (promoted)

2010 - 11 Premier Division One 4th (promoted)

2011 - 12 Premier Division 9th (relegated)

2012 - 13 Premier Division One 3rd (promoted)

 

Kilbowie Union Honours:-

 

2000 Premier Division Two Champions

2001 Premier Division One Champions

2002 Centenary Cup Winners

 

Kilbowie Union League Matches this season:-

 

17th August 2013 Oban Saints 4 - 0 Kilbowie Union

21st August 2013 Kilbowie Union 4 - 4 Castlemilk

24th August 2013 Kilbowie Union 1 - 2 Busby

31st August 2013 Alba Thistle 3 - 1 Kilbowie Union

14th September 2013 Inverclyde 5 - 4 Kilbowie Union

21st September 2013 Kilbowie Union 1 - 3 Finnart

5th October 2013 Kilbowie Union 1 - 2 Thorn Athletic

9th November 2013 Finnart 4 - 4 Kilbowie Union

16th November 2013 Kilbowie Union 3 - 2 Alba Thistle

23rd November 2013 Castlemilk 6 - 3 Kilbowie Union

11th January 2014 Busby 2 - 0 Kilbowie Union

 

Kilbowie Union have already exited all of the cup competitions this season losing out to Finnart in the third round of the Centenary Cup; East Kilbride in the first round of the Jimmy Marshall Trophy; Arkleston Athletic in the second round of the West of Scotland Cup and Redbrae Athletic in the second round of the Scottish Amateur Cup.

 

 

Donald Campbell puts Saints 2 - 0 up against Kilbowie Union earlier this season

 

 

With current league leaders Finnart on West of Scotland Cup duty against Strathclyde University, Saints know that a win on Saturday will take them to the top of the league. Kilbowie Union are already fighting for their Premier League status so Saints can take nothing for granted if they are to maintain their unbeaten run.

 

 

Change of Referee



 

In an unprecedented move the referee originally allocated to this match made a special request for a change of fixture and will now take charge of the Wellhouse v Leven United Scottish Amateur Cup 5th round replay with Mr Alan Lamb now taking this fixture. It seems that referee Mr James Gallacher particularly enjoys players moaning at him and, upon learning that chief moaner Willie Gemmell had left Oban Saints, felt that Saints moaning was no longer up to the standard he prefers. Saints have moved swiftly to address the situation by employing Mrs Doyle as a moaning coach. Mrs Doyle is an expert in exhorting men dressed in black to change their minds and should therefore

prove a valuable addition to the coaching staff. 

 

 



 





Saints will be without current second top goal scorer Craig MacEwan following an accident on his recent snowboarding holiday. Craig suffered a fractured collar bone and a broken rib and will be out of action for some time. Good luck to Craig for a speedy recovery.

UEFA Regions Preparatory Match

 

Donald Campbell will join Myles McAuley in the SAFA select squad for Sunday's Central West v South West practice match. The match will now be played at Ravenscraig with a 2pm kick off. Good luck to Donald and Myles and all the other hopefuls as they strive to catch the eye of National Squad Manager Bruce McNaught.

 

 

Donald Campbell

 

 

 

Myles McAuley

 

 

 

Donald Campbell looks on as fellow SAFA Squad member Ryan Halpin of Kilbowie Union is tackled by Paul Kerr

 

 

John Brown's

 

The Titan Crane

 

 

The venue for Saturday's match, John Brown's pitches is situated on or near to the ground occupied by the former shipyard of the same name. The name John Brown is synonymous with Clydebank is probably the most famous of all the Clyde ship yards.

 

Some of the famous ships built at John Brown's:-

 

 

HMS Hood

 

 

 

RMS Lusitania

 

 

 

RMS Queen Mary

 

 

 

RMS Queen Elizabeth

 

 

 

RMS QE2

 

 

 

HM Yacht Britannia

 

 

 

#monthesaints





In With A Shout

Saturday 11th January 2014
Foster's Scottish Amateur Cup 5th Round
Dennistoun Vale AFC -v- Oban Saints AFC
Whitehill Secondary School 3G, 280 Onslow Drive, Glasgow G31 2QF
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr John Quinn, Motherwell

Foster's Scottish Amateur Cup

 

 

Without a fixture since 7th December Saints return to action this Saturday with a very difficult Scottish Cup tie away at Dennistoun Vale. The long lay off has severely hampered Saints build up to their biggest match of the season so far. Despite the stop/start nature of the season so far Saints are on an excellent run but they will have to dig deep if they are to keep their unbeaten run going on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dennistoun Vale AFC

 

Dennistoun Vale play their football in the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Football League Premier Division having got there on the back of two successive Championship winning seasons. 2011/12 saw them win Division 2A and an undefeated campaign in 2012/13 resulted in them winning Division One scoring 101 goals along the way. Vale also found success in cup competitions winning the Tommy Marshall Trophy in 2011/12 and the Strathclyde Cup in 2012/13. Their start to life in the top flight has also been impressive winning five of their eight matches which has lifted them to fourth place with sixteen points. Vale's only league defeats this season have come away from home at runaway leaders Tynecastle and last season's league winners Blochairn Star.

 

Dennistoun Vale's league campaign so far:-

 

7th September 2013   Tyncastle            5 - 3 Dennistoun Vale

14th September 2013 Dennistoun Vale 3 - 1 Cresswell Lane

21st September 2013  Yoker                  2 - 4 Dennistoun Vale

5th October 2013        I.C.C.                  1 - 1 Dennistoun Vale

12th October 2013     Dennistoun Vale  3 - 1 Shawbridge

26th October 2013     Dennistoun Vale  3 - 2 Victoria Croftfoot

2nd November 2013  Dennistoun Vale  2 - 1 East Dunbartonshire

16th November 2013 Blochairn Star      2 - 1 Dennistoun Vale 

 

Dennistoun Vale's progress in the Scottish Amateur Cup:-

 

Round 2 19th October 2013     Glasgow Deaf Athletic 0 - 5 Dennistoun Vale

Round 3 9th November 2013   Dennistoun Vale           6 - 1 Dundee City

Round 4 30th November 2013 Neilston                         0 - 2 Dennistoun Vale

 

 

 

 

Allan MacKay scores from spot against Glasgow Harp

 

 

On their last outing Saints produced an excellent performance to knock top Caledonian Premier League side Glasgow Harp out of the West of Scotland Cup. A second half equaliser from Craig MacEwan and an extra time penalty gave Saints a deserved 2 - 1 victory.

 

 

Saints progress in the Scottish Amateur Cup:-

 

Round 2 19th October 2013     Oban Saints 3 - 3 Independent

Replay 26th October 2013       Independent 2 - 8 Oban Saints

Round 3 9th November 2013   Oban Saints 6 - 1 Rosyth

Round 4 30th November 2013 Oban Saints 6 - 0 Ellon Amateurs  

 

 

This will be an extremely difficult match for Saints against one of the rising stars of the amateur game. Definitely missing for Saints are Mattie Rippon and joint top scorer Craig MacEwan, otherwise Manager Iain Jackson has a full squad available for selection. Dennistoun Vale will hope that home advantage will give them the edge but Saints away record is excellent and an enthralling encounter is in prospect.

 

 

 

 

Some of Dennistoun's famous sons and daughters:-

 

Alexander Dennistoun founder of the district of Dennistoun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Architect and Designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh

 

 

 

 

 

Actress Dorothy Paul

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay Stirling, oot the car

 

 

In off the field news Saints goalkeeper Graham Douglas has joined Oban Athletic until the end of the season. Graham, a Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division winner with Saints in 2010, had taken some time out from football after the 2011/12 season but interrupted his sabbatical to deputise for Daniel Cassells when he received a serious shoulder injury at the end of last season. Graham's outstanding performances when back in the Saints starting eleven have clearly re-ignited his passion for the game and hopefully it won't be too long before he appears in a Saints shirt again.

 

 

 

Graham "Sugar" Douglas

 

 

 

 

 

Myles McAuley in action against Haldane United last season

 

 

Saints midfielder Myles McAuley has been called up to the Scottish Amateur Football Association select squad for a UEFA Regions Cup preparatory match. Myles will play for the South West Select against the Central West Select. This practice match has been arranged to give Scotland Manager Bruce McNaught another opportunity to assess some of the players on the fringes of the national squad in the build-up to the UEFA Regions Cup group stage matches which will take place in June. The match is to be played on Sunday 19th January at Colville Park Country Club. Good luck to Myles and all of the other hopefuls.

 

 

 

#monthesaints





Cabin Fever

Allan MacKay scores from the penalty spot to send Saints through against Glasgow Harp

 

 

Saturday 14th December 2013

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

Oban Saints AFC - v - Haldane United AFC

Glencruitten 2, Oban

Kick off 2pm

Referee Mr Gordon Hay

 

Last Saturday at Glencruitten Saints turned in an excellent performance against top Caledonian Premier League side Glasgow Harp to progress to the fourth round of the Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Amateur Cup. A goal a piece for this season's joint top goal scorers Craig MacEwan and Allan MacKay gave Saints a thoroughly deserved victory against the strongly fancied Bishopbriggs side who the season before last had reached the semi-finals of the Scottish Amateur Cup. This was a major scalp for Saints who must now await the outcome of the Jordanhill Campus versus Giffnock North third round tie before learning whom they must face in round four.

 

 

 

Foster's Scottish Amateur Cup

 

 

On Tuesday 10th December Saints were drawn away from home against Dennistoun Vale AFC in the fifth round of the Foster's Scottish Amateur Cup. This tie is due to be played on 11th January 2014. Dennistoun Vale are flying high in the Strathclyde Saturday Morning League and will provide another stern test of Saints Scottish Cup ambitions.

 

In other cup news Saints have been drawn away from home in the second round of the Jimmy Marshall Trophy against Argyll rivals Lochgilphead Red Star. A date has yet to be set for this fixture but it is already eagerly anticipated by players and supports of both sides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haldane United 2013 - 14 Squad

 

 

Saints return to league business this weekend with a tricky home match against Haldane United. Haldane have made a very impressive start to life in the SAFL top flight and are currently fifth in the Premier Division with eleven points from six games. An away defeat at St Joseph's has been the only black mark in a difficult run of fixtures which has seen them play all of the likely title contenders. 

 

Haldane United's SAFL Premier Division record so far:-

 

17th August Castlemilk 3 - 3 Haldane United

21st August Haldane United 5 - 2 Alba Thistle

24th August Haldane United 3 - 3 Oban Saints

31st August Finnart 1 - 2 Haldane United

14th September Thorn Athletic 1 - 3 Haldane United

5th October St Joseph's 3 - 0 Haldane United

 

Haldane are also still going strong in the Scottish Amateur Cup and have a massive fifth round tie to look forward to when they welcome last season's beaten finalists Colville Park to Inler Park. Saints took Colville Park to a replay in the seventh round of  last season's Scottish Cup before being losing out by three goals to one at Glencruitten against their more illustrious opponents. Haldane will hope to go one better than Saints and will carry the best wishes of all SAFL teams when they take on one of the biggest names in Scottish Amateur football.

 

 

Mattie Rippon about to slot Saints into a 3 - 0 lead at Inler Park in August

 



The Saints players will need no reminding of their only previous league encounter with Haldane United when they surrendered a three goal lead in thirty crazy second half minutes against ten men. Indeed had the match lasted any longer Saints would have probably lost all three points such was the momentum built up by Haldane in the closing stages. That match was played as recently as August of this year but Saints have already lost the services of Brian MacKay and Willie Gemmell from their starting line up that day. Both have subsequently decided to leave the Saints to go travelling. One in Australia and the other in the Scottish Highlands! 

 

Saturday's match presents Saints with an opportunity not only to atone for that slip-up but to leapfrog Finnart at the top of the league. A win for Haldane would bring them to within one point of Saints with a game in hand. An exciting match is therefore in prospect so come along and watch if you can.

 

 

 

 

Haldane United's excellent new facilities

 

 

Haldane have recently unveiled their new club house close to their home ground Inler Park. "The Cabin" as it's known is a wonderful new facility and is likely to be the envy of most of the teams that visit. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Manager's Office where a post match refreshment can be taken

 

 

 

 

 

 

The official opening ceremony!

 

 

 

#monthesaints 







Harping On A Bit

 

The Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Amateur Cup

 

 

Saturday 7th December 2013

Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Amateur Cup Third Round

Oban Saints AFC -v- Glasgow Harp AFC

Glencruitten 2, Oban. Kick Off 1.30pm

Referee - Mr James Litster

 

 

Oban's premier night spot the "Loch"

 

 

Last Saturday at Glencruitten Saints extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to seventeen matches with a convincing 6 - 0 win over Ellon Amateurs in the Foster's Scottish Cup fourth round. The Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Division One (East) side were slightly under strength for this tie and after sampling the delights of some of Oban's top night spots the night before the match may have been under the weather, or perhaps even still under the influence. Saints however were in unforgiving mood and turned in an excellent performance which could have been even more emphatic had this season's top scorer so far Allan MacKay had his shooting boots on.

 

 

 

 

 

This Saturday Saints face the toughest test of the season so far when they entertain Glasgow Harp of the Caledonian Premier League in the West of Scotland Cup. Glasgow Harp are based in Bishopbriggs and have an impressive haul of sixteen league and cup successes since 1995, the most recent of which was the Douglas Smith League Cup in October of this year. In addition to their trophy collection Glasgow Harp also have an admirable record in the "majors" having reached the semi-finals of the West of Scotland cup in 2002 and the quarter-finals in 2003 and semi-finals in 2012 of the Scottish Amateur Cup. 

 

 

 

Glasgow Harp celebrate victory over Cambusbarron Rovers in the Douglas Smith League Cup Final 2013 played at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld

 

Glasgow Harp in the Douglas Smith League Cup 2013:-

 

24th August Glasgow Harp 5 - 1 Cambria

31st August Dumbarton Academy FP 0 -4 Glasgow Harp

7th September Glasgow Harp 2 - 1 Milton

21st September Glasgow University 0 -1 Glasgow Harp

2nd October Cambusbarron Rovers 0 - 2 Glasgow Harp

 

Glasgow Harp are currently in sixth place in the Caledonian Premier League with 11 points from seven games played.

 

Glasgow Harp's league season so far:-

 

10th August Dumbarton Academy FP 0 - 1 Glasgow Harp

13th August Glasgow Harp 2 - 0 Cambria

17th August Cambusbarron Rovers 1 - 4 Glasgow Harp

21st August Giffnock North 2 - 1 Glasgow Harp

28th August Glasgow Harp 2 - 2 St. Mungo's

12th October Glasgow Harp 1 - 2 Milton

2nd November Doune Castle 2 - 2 Glasgow Harp

 

Glasgow Harp are also going strong in this season's Scottish Cup:-

 

Round Two 26th October Cumbernauld Rovers 0 - 10 Glasgow Harp

Round Three 9th November Glasgow Harp 3 - 1 Cambusbarron Rovers (sick of the sight of Harp?)

Round Four 30th November Glasgow Harp 3 - 0 Auchterarder Primrose 

 

Glasgow Harp reached the third round of the West of Scotland cup by beating Kelvin 3 - 0 at Bishopbriggs. Saints have yet to play in this competition this season having had no tie in round one a walkover in round two when Dalmilling of the Ayrshire Amateur Football League declined to fulfil the second round fixture.

 

Saturday's match promises to be a cracker between two formidable sides capable of excellent football. The match will be played to a finish with extra time and penalty shoot out if required. The winners will face either Giffnock North of the Caledonian League or Glentyan of the Paisley and District League in the fourth round. The tie is arguably the pick of the third round and should provide a welcome distraction from the delights of Christmas shopping. I certainly know where I'd rather be whatever the weather!

 

 

Winning In The Rain!

 

 

 

On Sunday 1st December Saints provided four players for the Scottish Amateur Football League Select which took on the Scottish Amateur International team at Colville Park Country Club. The SAFL Select turned in an impressive performance in a 5 - 1 defeat which flattered their international opponents.

 

 

 

SAFL Select:Donald Campbell (back left), Myles McAulay (back 4th from left), Marc MacCallum (front 4th from left) and Lewis Cameron (front 5th from left)

 

 

 

Donald Campbell in an unfamiliar right midfield role

 

 

 

 



 

 

Saints Secretary David Buchanan looks on

 

 

 

Finally,

 

 

One of my first ever drinking experiences. How it didn't put me off drink for life is a mystery.



 

 

#monthesaints



East is East

 

 



Saturday 30th November 2013

Foster's Scottish Amateur Cup 4th Round

Oban Saints AFC -v- Ellon Amateurs

Glencruitten 2, Oban. Kick off 2pm

Referee - Mr Allan Loch

 

Saints had yet another blank weekend last week, this time due to the withdrawal of Shawlands FP from the Jimmy Marshall Cup. Saints therefore progress to the second round by virtue of a walkover.

 

 

 

East is East

 

 

 

 

 

This Saturday will see Saints continue their Scottish Amateur Cup campaign with a home tie against Ellon Amateurs of the Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Division One (East). The town of Ellon lies on the river Ythan approximately sixteen miles north of Aberdeen, roughly half way between Aberdeen and Peterhead.

 

 

Ellon Amateurs 2010

 

 

Ellon Amateurs (not to be confused with Ellon Thistle) play their home fixtures at the Meadows Sports Centre, Ellon. They are currently in fourth place in the league having amassed seventeen points from their opening seven games, winning five and drawing two.

 

Despite their good league form Ellon have already exited all of their regional and league cup competitions with the exception of one league cup which has yet to commence. Their passage to the Scottish Cup fourth round includes the scalps of two Aberdeenshire Premier Division sides and an away win at Jimmy Johnstone Academy of the Glasgow Colleges Amateur Football Association.

 

Ellon Amateurs' passage to the fourth round:-

 

Round 1 - Ellon Amateurs 4 - 0 Rattrays XI

Round 2 - Ellon Amateurs 2 - 1 Alford

Round 3 - Jimmy Johnstone Academy 3 - 4 Ellon Amateurs

 

 

 

Ellon have featured in both North and East sections of the Aberdeenshire Amateur Football League

 

 

Ellon Amateurs in the Aberdeenshire AFA:-

 

2007/08 Division Two (East) 14th (of 15) Relegated

2008/09 Division Three 2nd Promoted

2009/10 Division Two (East) Champions Promoted

2010/11 Division One (East) 8th (of 14)

2011/12 Division One (North) 11th (of 14)

2012/13 Division One (North) 6th (of 13)

 

 

A reminder of Saints progress to the fourth round:-

 

Round 1 - Bye

Round 2 - Oban Saints 3 - 3 Independent

Round 2 Replay Independent 2 - 8 Oban Saints

Round 3 Oban Saints 6 - 1 Rosyth

 

 

 

Craig MacEwan and Allan MacKay celebrate Allan's goal in the 3 - 3 draw with Independent

 

 

 

 

Marc MacCallum's rampaging run ends with him being brought down for a penalty in Saints 6 - 1 win over Rosyth

 

 

Ellon's famous sons and daughters:-

 

 

 

 

 

 

World renowned percussionist Evelyn Glennie

 

 

 

 

Scottish International and former Arsenal Ladies player Natalie Ross

 

 

On Sunday 1st December Saints players Marc MacCallum, Donald Campbell and Lewis Cameron will join up with the Scottish Amateur Football League Select to play the Scottish Amateur Football Association Select at Colville Park Country Club. The very best of luck to boys!

 

#monthesaints