The big matches just keep coming, and it’s a return to the home comforts of Portland Park and a visit from our old friends from Glenafton for our 27th WOSFL Premier Division match of the season.
⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Glenafton Athletic ⚽️
Saturday 25th April 2026
WOSFL Premier Division
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 2pm
After an impeccable January, February was almost a disappointment by comparison but March was very much back with a bang. Five wins and a draw was a superb return and not only saw us back at the top of the table but into a WOSFL Cup Final in May as well!
Focus has re-shifted entirely to the league now for the next month and the challenges get tougher almost by each passing week, with a massive month in April. And it’s a case of “so far, so good” with wins against Hurlford, Pollok, Johnstone Burgh and a draw at Largs. Not only that, our season’s target of a top 8 finish & promotion was confirmed with 6 games to go, which is magnificent news! However, there is plenty of football still to play & now is no time for complacency.
Glenafton Athletic have endured a challenging season, which led to the departure of their Manager Paul Paton recently, so they are drinking in the last chance saloon regarding a top 9 finish which would see them promoted into the new Lowland League West. As an already SFA licenced club, they have been in a great position to take advantage of the doubt in other clubs above them & they will have been targeting 9th (or 11th, given Hurlford & Arthurlie’s omittance from the promotion spots). But with games running out, there is very real pressure to get the points on the board.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s match…
Very positive to see the queue for Darrell’s treatment table decreasing over the last few weeks, which could be vital ahead of a crucial run of games for the club.
Midfielder Callan Veitch sat out Wednesday night after he came off at half-time on Saturday with a knock, but he is expected to make a recovery in time for Saturday.
Most serious injury concern just now appears to be defender Jack Sherrie, who was helped from the pitch at Kilwinning in January with a worrying looking knee injury. He visited a consultant in March to determine the extent of the damage, but the results are yet to come back.
What a week of football we have ahead of us!
First we entertain Glenafton at home on Saturday, onto Wednesday, then onto a Cup Final on Sunday. Exactly what we are in football for is weeks like these, and they do not come around often at all. Something to be savoured. But we don’t want to just be a passenger in an amazing week of football, we want to turn up & make our mark. Great opportunity for everyone.
Delighted to secure the three points on Wednesday night against Johnstone Burgh, and a performance to be proud of as well. I unfortunately had to miss this week, but I was watching from afar & it sounded a resounding victory with a terrific showing from our lads. It’s of huge testament to Andy and Marty that the good work just carried on seamlessly, they deserve huge credit for that this week with Johnny, Perry & Darrell. It’s a great team we have here.
The great news following Wednesday’s 3 points is that a guaranteed 3rd place finish was earned. That officially makes this team the best league performing team in the club’s 80 year history! Never has Troon F.C. finished 3rd or above in the top flight of our grade of football, and that has now been secured with 4 matches remaining.
But we don’t stop there; far from it, Saturday’s match is massive.
And it will be just as big (if not bigger) for the guys at Glenafton, who really need to be chasing the 3 points for their own sake if they want to gain promotion to the new Lowland League West for next season. So this has all the makings of a classic on Saturday.
Get excited, get nervous, get aggressive but most of all let’s become winners!!
‘MON THE TROON!!
Jimmy Kirkwood (Manager)
| Full Name | Glenafton Athletic Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The Glens or The Afton |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Ground | Loch Park, New Cumnock |
| Capacity | 3,400 |
| Club Chairman | John Stewart |
| Caretaker Manager | Hugh Kerr |
| Captain | Lee Duncanson |
| 2024-25 | WOSFL Premier Division, 10th from 16 |
⚽️️ MICHAEL MULLEN ⚽️
The 23 year old was a big signing for Glenafton in the summer of 2024, departing Hurlford after two seasons at Blair Park after spending years in the Kilmarnock youth system, and he has really hit the ground running alongside Hugh Kerr.
Son of former Queen of the South, Stranraer & Stirling front man of the same name, Michael has an amazing goalscoring record of 51 goals in 70 starts since joining Glenafton, which puts him right up there with the deadliest forwards in the division.
Certainly one for our defenders to be watchful of.
⚽️️ LEON MURPHY ⚽️
The 27 year old was a vital deadline day loan signing to help the promotion push at Loch Park.
Leon was just one of the pricey recruits at Darvel in the summer of 2023 as part of Tony McInally’s rebuild, arriving from Glenafton. After taking some time to settle, his scintillating displays more than justified his price tag before he moved on to Johnstone Burgh last summer.
Began his career with Ayr United & enjoyed loan spells at Glenafton, Stranraer & St. Cadoc’s before cementing himself at Loch Park. Has all the ability to be the match winner.
© Thanks to our club photographer Graeme McKenzie for his photos – fantastic, as always!
Troon F.C.
| WON | DREW | WON | WON | WON |
| 0-2 | 1-1 | 1-0 | 4-1 | 1-6 |
| Johnstone Burgh (A) | Largs (A) | Pollok (H) | Hurlford (H) | Rutherglen (A) |
| Wed 22nd April | Sat 18th April | Sat 11th April | Weds 1st April | Sat 28th March |
| WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier |
Glenafton Athletic
| WON | LOST | LOST | DREW | LOST |
| 2-3 | 5-0 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-3 |
| Hurlford (A) | Kilwinning (A) | Renfrew (H) | Johnstone Burgh (A) | Largs (H) |
| Tues 21st April | Sat 18th April | Sat 11th April | Sat 4th April | Sat 28th March |
| WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier |
If you can’t make it along to the game , you can keep up to date with all the latest info via the club’s social media channels:
Live updates from the official Troon F.C. Twitter feed (nope, still not calling it X yet)
- Team news pre-match
- Goal alerts
- News flashes
- Real time alerts
Make sure you follow our NEW feed!
Match news via the official Troon F.C. Facebook page
- Team news pre-match
- Half-time score & update
- Full time results
All news on the club FIRST via the official Troon F.C. WhatsApp Supporter’s Group chat
- Vote for your Man of the Match
- Info on functions & events
- Book your seat on away buses
- Discuss the match with fellow Troon fans!
And whilst not an official Troon F.C. club channel, keep an eye out for clips & match footage on Craig’s @TheTroonKid TikTok feed
- Goals
- Match action
The New Cumnock side were unbeaten in our contests last season, boasting a win & a draw.
AWAY MATCH
| Saturday 9th November 2024 | Match Centre |
| GLENAFTON ATHLETIC | DREW | Loch Park |
| TROON FOOTBALL CLUB | 2-2 | WOSFL Premier |
The first encounter of 2024-25 was an entertaining affair at Loch Park.
Troon got off to a great start thanks to star man Leyton Dunlop just before the half hour mark & we were deserved leaders at the break.
The second half, Paul Paton was driving his men on & Michael Mullen got the equaliser after 69 minutes. Callan Veitch looked like he’d won the match with a minute of normal time to go, only for Hugh Kerr to snatch a point in the 94th minute and break travelling Seasiders hearts.
HOME MATCH
| Saturday 12th April 2025 | Match Centre |
| TROON FOOTBALL CLUB | LOST | Portland Park |
| GLENAFTON ATHLETIC | 1-2 | WOSFL Premier |
The return match in April was in the middle of a confident run of form for the home team, but that was soon shattered by a Glens side who were desperate for points to confirm their Premier Division status.
After a rip-roaring start to the match from the home side, Ollie Rowe popped up in the 25th minute to give the Glens the lead against the run of play. Michael Mullen doubled the lead just before half-time and that looked to be that after a slow start to the second half from Troon. Dario Viviani stepped forward in the 70th minute to slalom through the defence & smash home a goal of the season contender, but a late Troon push was too little too late and the 3 points headed back up the road.
(before this week’s matches)
| REFEREE: | ||
| Euan Birch | ||
| Assistant Referee 1: | Assistant Referee 2: | |
| Andrew Carbry | Jamie Shepherd |
| Referee Observer: | To be appointed |
Tickets are available at the cash turnstiles at Portland Park:
| Adult: | £10.00 |
| Concession: | £5.00 |
| Under-16: | FREE |
Season Tickets are valid for this match.
You can find out all about the match itself by visiting the match centre both before and after the game, with the team line-ups, scorers & bookings on the specific match page for the fixture.
To visit the match centre, CLICK HERE.
The social club at Portland Park will be open early from 12pm ahead of the 2pm kick-off, and supporters of both clubs are very welcome.
And, indeed, neutrals!
📺 Come early & enjoy the football on the big screen! 📺
| ⏰ 12.30pm | Fulham v Aston Villa | (FA Premier League) ⚽️ |
| ⏰ 5.30pm | Arsenal v Newcastle United | (FA Premier League) ⚽️ |
The bar close following the conclusion of the 5.30pm match.
Scott will be selling tickets for our half-time draw at the gate before kick-off, and inside the ground throughout the first half for just 50p a ticket.
Our local resident food truck, SCRAN have our hungry supporters covered with their own take on “Football Food” – highly recommended!
They will be open all day on Saturday & will be open til late, selling a variety of hot food & drinks as well as cold drinks.
If you’ve never been to SCRAN before, you really need to watch Blair McNally’s YouTube video after his visit to Portland Park…and SCRAN!
⚽️ Troon F.C. Development Team versus Johnstone Burgh U20s ⚽️
Friday 24th April 2026
Robbie Meiklem Cup (Semi-Final)
Belmont Academy, Ayr
Kick-off 7.30pm
Head along & support the Troon stars of tomorrow!
⚽️ Auchinleck Talbot versus Troon F.C. ⚽️
Wednesday 29th April 2026
WOSFL Premier Division
Beechwood Park, Auchinleck
Kick-off 7.30pm