It’s our 19th competitive match of the season, and our 3rd round match of the WOSFL Cup comes around with the visit of our old friends from Arthurlie to Portland Park this coming Saturday.
⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Arthurlie ⚽️
Saturday 6th December 2025
Strathclyde Demolition West of Scotland Cup 3rd Round
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 2pm
Saturday was our 18th competitive match of the season, and we boast a superb 15 wins from those 18 matches played so far. We may be a few matches ahead of Auchinleck Talbot at this stage, but 5 points in front at the top of the table is an excellent start to the season so far. But there is definitely a steely determination to prove that it is more than just a good start, as Jimmy & his coaching team pursue silverware this season.
The cups were the only source of disappointment in an otherwise fantastic season last time out, and that is therefore an area we are looking to improve on this season. But with the draws we have faced so far (Beith & Carnoustie away in the Scottish, Talbot in the South as well as both Cumnock & now Arthurlie in the West), we could hardly have been set any harder challenges. But to be the best, I guess you have to beat the best!
Arthurlie bounced straight back from relegation at the first attempt last season, lifting the First Division trophy under Kevin Rutkiewicz on the final day of the season following a thrilling promotion chase involving the ‘Lie, Rutherglen, Renfrew, Kilwinning & St. Roch’s. They have started their season really strongly under new Manager William Dyer and currently sit in 4th position in the Premier Division table, and are second top in the goalscoring charts only behind Auchinleck Talbot.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s match…
Kyle Faulds misses out this Saturday due to suspension, after his red card against Cumnock in the last round.
Jimmy has slimmed the squad down a little in the last few weeks, as planned, and we’ve waved goodbye to a few familiar faces. Kieran MacDonald joined Beith and Jaime Gallagher joined St. Roch’s on permanent transfers, whilst Ben Black and Sam McCloskey have joined the Brian Reid revolution at Whitletts Victoria on a temporary basis to get some match sharpness.
Midfielder Callan Veitch is on the way back after a few weeks out with a shoulder injury, which was sustained against Hall Russell United in October, and we’ll hopefully see him return to training soon. Luke Watt is still absent with a hip complaint which has kept him side-lined since the Talbot match in early September.
Captain Mark Morrison has seen a consultant about a hip issue, but he is back to light training and hopefully we’ll see him back on the park soon. Scott McLean is looking to return to the main training on Monday as he continues his rehab following knee reconstruction surgery. He is back running now & is eyeing a comeback around Christmas.
Massive month coming up for us in December, we have three really tough matches ahead of us & it doesn’t get much tougher than this week’s match.
Arthurlie are a club we know all about of course, and it’s great to see them back in the Premier Division this season. I know first hand all the hard work that Ger & all the guys have put in behind the scenes to get them back there & they deserve plenty of praise for that, and we look forward to welcoming them all down this weekend.
Last weekend was a Cup classic away day! From being delayed on the bus getting there & chasing our tail to get warmed-up & started, a real ding-dong encounter on the park against a very strong Carnoustie side & a late winner to put us into the next round when we were all preparing for penalties. A warm welcome from the Carnoustie guys on a not very warm day, and pretty much everything this famous Cup is all about. We look forward to another ding-dong encounter in the next round, away to Benburb on the 13th December.
Let’s focus on Saturday’s & here’s hoping the match lives up to the billing, I’m quite sure it will. We look forward to seeing a big support, as always between the teams!
Jimmy Kirkwood (Manager)
| Full Name | Arthurlie Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The ‘Lie |
| Founded | 1874 |
| Ground | Dunterlie Park, Barrhead |
| Capacity | 4,000 |
| Club Chairman | David Blakey |
| Manager | Willie Dyer |
| Captain | Michael MacNeil |
| 2024-25 | WOSFL First Division, 1st from 16 (Champions) |
⚽️️ MICHAEL MACNEIL ⚽️
The 27 year old is Barrhead born & bred, and as Club Captain he leads from the front when it comes to his hometown club.
Mick joined the Arthurlie youth pathway in 2013 from Barrhead United and progressed through the ranks to their Under 21 side, before spending the COVID season with near-neighbours Neilston. He returned to Dunterlie in 2021 by their then Manager Duncan Sinclair, and he is the clubs leader in the back line.
A real threat in both boxes.
⚽️️ AARON HEALY ⚽️
A young forward who is already in his second spell at the club, Aaron was a very welcome signing when he returned to the club last summer.
The 22 year old began his career in the youth system at Celtic before he moved to St. Mirren. He spent five years moving through the ranks there and was very highly rated, before he chose to step away from the Pro-Youth system & head for his hometown club of Barrhead United in November 2019.
He moved up the pathway to Arthurlie in February 2022 and he had a starring role in the talented young side who reached the Development League Cup Final alongside Kris Amponsah and Paul O’Hare, before progressing to the first team & catching the eye there. He certainly caught Queens Park’s eye & they made their move for him in January 2023 but, following a loan move to Dumbarton in early 2024, he was back at Dunterlie in June 2024.
Lightning quick, can beat his man & has a superb eye for goal, Aaron is easily one of the top talents at this level.
© Thanks to our club photographer Graeme McKenzie for his photos – fantastic, as always!
Troon F.C.
| WON | WON | WON | WON | WON |
| 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-0 | 2-2 (4-3 on pens) | 0-2 |
| Carnoustie (A) | St. Cadoc’s (A) | Largs Thistle (H) | Cumnock (H) | Hurlford United (A) |
| Sat 29th November | Sat 15th November | Sat 8th November | Sat 1st November | Sat 25th October |
| Scottish Communities Cup R4 | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Cup R2 | WOSFL Premier |
Arthurlie
| WON | LOST | WON | WON | WON |
| 3-0 | 3-2 | 2-2 (5-4 on pens) | 2-3 | 4-1 |
| Hurlford (H) | Cumnock (A) | Eglinton (H) | Shotts (A) | Drumchapel (H) |
| Sat 29th November | Sat 22nd November | Sat 15th November | Sat 8th November | Sat 25th October |
| Scottish Communities Cup R4 | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Cup R2 | 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!
Arthurlie had a real rollercoaster of a season last time out, but it all ended well – with them lifting the 1st Division Trophy in May!
They enjoyed a real barnstorming start to last season, and they were really hitting top form just as they rocked up at Portland Park in November for South Challenge Cup action. Their summer recruitment of Aaron Healy from Queens Park, Mark Taylor and Kieran Brophy to add to Tam McGaughey & Scott Anson gave them incredible firepower in what was essentially still a Premier Division squad, and they bounced straight back at the first time of asking to vindicate all of the committee’s actions.
Troon enjoyed an excellent season in the Premier Division last term, spending the majority of the season in the top three before eventually finishing 4th in the 16 team WOSFL Premier Division 2024-25. Cups were the only place we came short last season, defeats to Armadale Thistle in the Scottish Junior Cup 5th round, St. Cadoc’s in the WOSFL Cup and Arthurlie in the South Challenge Cup were a source of frustration.
CUP MATCH
| Saturday 16th November 2024 | Match Centre |
| TROON FOOTBALL CLUB | LOST | Portland Park, Troon |
| ARTHURLIE | 1-2 | FinestCarMats South Challenge Cup Round 4 |
This is the second time in successive seasons that the teams have faced each other in Cup action, and last season it was the Barrhead side who edged the contest and progressed to face Clydebank in the 5th round.
In pretty wild wintry conditions, Arthurlie took an early lead in the 9th minute thanks to talisman Lee Roulston and they rode the storm as Troon huffed and puffed a little. Roulston struck again just as Troon looked to be building some momentum just before half-time, before Nathan Baird halved the deficit on the 69th minute. But Arthurlie it was who progressed victorious.
(before this week’s matches)
| REFEREE: | ||
| Michael McCart | ||
| Assistant Referee 1: | Assistant Referee 2: | |
| Kevin Totten | Dale Johnston |
| Referee Observer: | Steven Kirkland |
Tickets are available at the cash turnstiles at Portland Park:
| Adult: | £10.00 |
| Concession: | £5.00 |
| Under-16: | FREE |
Season Tickets are NOT valid for this match, with it being a Cup 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 | Aston Villa v Arsenal | (FA Premier League) ⚽️ |
| ⏰ 5.30pm | Leeds United v Liverpool | (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 Bonnyton Thistle ⚽️
Friday 12th December 2025
WOSFDL Conference E
Kilwinning Sports Club
Kick-off 7.45pm
Head along & support the Troon stars of tomorrow!
⚽️ Benburb versus Troon F.C. ⚽️
Saturday 13th December 2025
3pillars Financial Planning Scottish Communities Cup Round 5
New Tinto Park, Govan
Kick-off 2pm