After four wins to kick start 2026, we’re on the road yet again for the third of four away matches in a row and it’s potentially our last ever visit to Dunterlie Park for our second match of the season against our old friends at Arthurlie and our 17th WOSFL Premier Division match of the season.
⚽️ Arthurlie versus Troon F.C. ⚽️
Saturday 7th February 2026
WOSFL Premier Division
Dunterlie Park, Barrhead
Kick-off 1.30pm
January comes to a close with an impeccable four wins from four, which sees us sitting top of the table and into the quarter-final of the West of Scotland Cup. The challenges get tougher almost by each passing week, and we begin February with a difficult trip to Barrhead & familiar opponents in Arthurlie. Last Friday against Kilwinning was our 25th competitive match of the season, and that was our 20th win from those 25 matches. An 80% win ratio isn’t bad, by anyone’s standards, but there is plenty of football still to be played.
Arthurlie have had a fantastic start to the season back in the Premier Division under new Manager Willie Dyer, and they sit 6th in the table coming into this weekend as well as second in the goalscoring charts. Last Saturday’s win over Auchinleck Talbot was no less than they deserved, so they are a side to be very wary of after bouncing straight back from relegation at the first attempt last season, lifting the First Division trophy under Kevin Rutkiewicz on the final day of last season following a thrilling promotion chase involving the ‘Lie, Rutherglen, Renfrew, Kilwinning & St. Roch’s.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s match…
Defender Jack Sherrie was helped from the pitch last weekend at Kilwinning with a worrying looking knee injury, after going down all on his own while chasing a through ball. He will be assessed once the swelling goes down & then his rehab will be planned from there with Darrell.
New signing Lewis Allan joins the squad for this weekend’s match, after featuring as a trialist at right-back, and his athleticism and versatility could be crucial during a tough run-in to the campaign.
Nathan Baird missed the Kilwinning match with a minor injury picked up at work, as did young Clayton Hood, but both are expected to be available this week. Kyle Faulds & Sam Jamieson both returned to the pitch last weekend following injury, which was great to see, and Evan Ferguson returned to the bench which was a welcome sight.
Scott McLean & Captain Mark Morrison are the only remaining long-term injuries, although both of them are on the road to recovery & will hopefully be donning the blue & black again before long.
Another fantastic win last weekend, another very tough one but one the boys ultimately negotiated very well. Kilwinning were as good a side as we expected them to be, and they had clearly done their homework on us, but that made it very satisfying to see the boys adapt our approach and find a way to cut through them. And once we got the opener, I thought we looked pretty comfortable. All in all, a very satisfying 3 points.
Arthurlie are a club we know all about of course, and it’s great to have 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 a day out at Dunterlie this weekend. Amazing to think this could be our last visit to this fantastic old ground, given the plans for Arthurlie’s new ground getting the green light. The old place will certainly be missed, but progress is inevitable and we look forward to seeing the new stadium break ground & our first match up there.
We took in their match at Auchinleck last Saturday, and we saw first-hand the threat they pose. Willie Dyer has them really firing this season, they were solid at the back & really aggressive up top so we have plenty of work to do this weekend.
Off the pitch, fantastic news this week as Richard and Jim had our Scottish FA Licensing audit at the park and it was no shock to find out we came through it with flying colours. So, pending the licensing meeting confirmation at the end of March, we can start to really focus on a potential promotion charge and also look forward to some amazing days at Portland Park in the senior Scottish Cup next season! Well done to Jim, Richard and everyone else who has put in so much work behind the scenes to get us to this stage. Fantastic effort!
Lets get another strong travelling support, plenty of noise & try to cheer us on to a vital 3 points. ‘Mon the Seasiders!
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) |
⚽️️ LEE ROULSTON ⚽️
A local hero returns!
The 27 year old is Barrhead born & bred, and after six months away at Cumnock he returned to his hometown club last week in a permanent transfer.
Versatile & comfortable in a number of positions, Lee has been most effective in the middle of the park where his energy & urgency can really drive his team on.
⚽️️ SEAN DOHERTY ⚽️
In the absence of Club captain Michael MacNeil, Manager Willie Dyer has really needed someone to step up & take command of the back-line: that man has been Sean Doherty.
The towering 32 year old has been outstanding this season, leading by example from the back & an excellent last line of defence in front of goalkeeper Marc Waters.
A real presence in both boxes.
© Thanks to our club photographer Graeme McKenzie for his photos – fantastic, as always!
Arthurlie
| WON | LOST | DREW | LOST | LOST |
| 1-2 | 2-3 | 5-5 | 3-0 | 0-2 |
| Auchinleck Talbot (A) | Beith (H) | St. Cadoc’s (A) | Pollok (A) | Kilwinning (H) |
| Sat 31st January 2026 | Sat 24th January | Sat 17th January | Sat 20th December | Sat 13th December |
| WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier |
Troon F.C.
| WON | WON | WON | WON | LOST |
| 0-3 | 3-4 | 2-1 | 0-0 (4-1 on pens) | 1-2 |
| Kilwinning (A) | Shotts (A) | Renfrew (H) | Beith (H) | Johnstone Burgh (H) |
| Fri 30th January 2026 | Sat 24th January | Sat 17th January | Sat 10th January | Sat 20th December |
| WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Cup R4 | 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 |
Despite being in different leagues last season, we 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: | ||
| Not yet appointed | ||
| Assistant Referee 1: | Assistant Referee 2: | |
| Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed |
| Referee Observer: | Not yet appointed |
🚌 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗕𝗨𝗦 🚌
Our supporter’s bus is booked and ready for the trip to Dunterlie on Saturday!
To confirm the bus, departing Portland at 12pm and priced at £15 per seat, you 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗧 reserve your place. Please contact Richard on: 07989 475597 to reserve your seat 💺
🚍 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝗕𝗬 𝗕𝗨𝗦 🚏
🔗 STAGECOACH.com
🚝 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝗕𝗬 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡 🚉
🔗 SCOTRAIL.co.uk
Tickets are available at the cash turnstiles at Dunterlie Park:
| Adult: | £10 |
| Concession: | £6 |
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.
⚽️ Troon F.C. Development Team versus Darvel ⚽️
Friday 6th February 2026
Robbie Meiklem Cup (Round 1)
Kilwinning Sports Club
Kick-off 7.45pm
Head along & support the Troon stars of tomorrow!
⚽️ Beith versus Troon F.C. ⚽️
Saturday 14th February 2026
WOSFL Premier Division
Bellsdale Park, Beith
Kick-off 2pm