It’s our 20th competitive match of the season, and itβs time for the big one yet again β the Scottish Communities Cup, the new name for the Scottish Junior Cup. And it’s a proper Scottish Cup away day, as our Supporter’s Bus heads to New Tinto Park and our friends at Benburb.
β½οΈ Benburb versus Troon F.C.Β β½οΈ
Saturday 13th December 2025
3pillars Financial Planning Scottish Communities Cup Round 5
New Tinto Park, Govan
Kick-off 2pm
Saturday against Arthurlie was our 19th competitive match of the season, and we boast a superb 16 wins from those 19 matches played so far. We may be a couple of matches ahead of Auchinleck Talbot at this stage, but 2 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 & 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!
Benburb have had a real up and down season so far, although they have seen a real resurgence of late. A poor start to the season saw the departure of brothers David & Robbie Winters, before former Yoker Manager Gordon Robertson was appointed in late August. Results have improved and the squad has been strengthened, and the club have gone on a rollercoaster of a ride in the Scottish Cup, including some well-publicised support from Sir Alex Ferguson.
Hereβs everything you need to know ahead of Saturdayβs matchβ¦
Kyle Faulds returns to the squad after missing last Saturday due to suspension, whilst midfielder Callan Veitch was a very welcome returnee to the matchday squad last weekend after a couple of months out with a shoulder injury, which was sustained against Hall Russell United in October.
Captain Mark Morrison has returned to training and is hopeful to return to the matchday squad in the next couple of weeks following a hip complaint that has kept him out since July, whilst Scott McLean has re-joined training as he continues his rehab following knee reconstruction surgery.
Luke Watt is still absent with a hip complaint which has kept him side-lined since the Talbot match in early September.
Itβs everyoneβs favourite again, Scottish Junior Cup weekend. And even better, we’ve got another bus away day! That’s the real magic of the Cup right there.
I was absolutely delighted with last weekend. Obviously it’s pleasing to progress in the Cup, but I thought the manner in which the boys won the game was very important. We know exactly how good Arthurlie are, their run of results tells you exactly how good they are, so to dominate them for so much of the match was a real sign of where we are just now. There are some huge challenges ahead of us this season still, but we have shown plenty this season so far to give cause for optimism.
December has a run of massively important matches, and that’s only 1 down so far. We got off to the perfect start last weekend, and we need to do everything we can to make sure we continue that run. Benburb will be an extremely tough adversary today, they are in excellent form & on their own patch they will be right up for the Cup. Gordon Robertson took his Yoker side right to the final of the competition a few years ago against Talbot, and we’ve seen this season he knows how to win Cup matches, so we have to be right on it this weekend.
The supporter’s bus is a sell-out, which gives the players a real boost, so let’s turn out to support the club & try to cheer us on to the Quarter-Finals. βMon the Seasiders!
Jimmy Kirkwood (Manager)
| Full Name | Benburb Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The Bens or The Chooky Hens |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Ground | New Tinto Park, Govan |
| Capacity | 1,000 |
| President | Frank Lovering |
| Manager | Gordon Robertson |
| Captain | Ryan McCrone |
| 2024-25 | WOSFL Premier Division, 14th from 16 |
β½οΈ DECLAN McDONALDΒ β½οΈ
An old-fashioned centre-forward, Declan certainly needs no introduction to the Troon defence after some strong performances against the Seasiders in the last few seasons.
The 24 year old began his career in the youth academy of Alloa Athletic, and he moved to Albion Rovers in 2019. A two year spell at Fauldhouse United followed, before Paul Lovering brought him to New Tinto Park in 2022. He was to prove a central figure in a very successful couple of seasons for the Chookie Hens.
Declan left the Bens to join Scottish Junior Cup Champions Darvel upon the expiry of his contract in July 2024, but he quickly re-joined the Bens in late August. The new management team will be expecting him to be crucial to their resurgence.
β½οΈοΈΒ JAMIE TAGGARTΒ β½οΈ
The 20 year old is a fantastic prospect for the Bens, and he leads the line with maturity and physicality which belies his years.
A product of the Partick Thistle youth academy, having joined them at a very young age, he has spent a fair bit of time on loan at WOSFL clubs with spells at Gartcairn, St. Cadoc’s and Glenafton but he is best remembered at Troon for a stunning display with Kirkintilloch Rob Roy at Portland Park which knocked us out the South Challenge Cup at the Quarter-Final stage in 2024.
Fast, direct and good for a goal or two, Jamie will need watching this weekend.
© Thanks to our club photographerΒ Graeme McKenzie for his photos β fantastic, as always!
Benburb
| LOST | LOST | WON | WON | WON |
| 4-3 | 0-3 | 2-1 | 0-4 | 4-1 |
| Kilbirnie (A) | Montrose (H) | Tayport (H) | Lanark Utd (A) | Gartcairn (H) |
| Sat 6th December | Sat 29th November | Sat 22nd November | Sat 15th November | Sat 8th November |
| WOSFL 1st Division | Scottish Cup R3 | Scottish Communities Cup R4 | WOSFL 1st Division | WOSFL 1st Division |
Troon F.C.
| WON | WON | WON | WON | WON |
| 2-0 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-0 | 2-2 (4-3 on pens) |
| Arthurlie (H) | Carnoustie (A) | St. Cadoc’s (A) | Largs Thistle (H) | Cumnock (H) |
| Sat 6th December | Sat 29th November | Sat 15th November | Sat 8th November | Sat 1st November |
| WOSFL Cup R3 | Scottish Communities Cup R4 | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Cup R2 |
Benburb
| 1st Round | Sat 30th August | BYE | |
| 2nd Round | Sat 20th September | Rothie Rovers (H) | 1-1 (5-3 on pens) |
| 3rd Round | Sat 18th October | St. Roch’s (H) | 1-1 (4-3 on pens) |
| 4th Round | Sat 22nd November | Tayport (H) | 2-1 |
Troon F.C.
| 1st Round | Sat 30th August | BYE | |
| 2nd Round | Sat 20th September | Beith Juniors (A) | 1-2 |
| 3rd Round | Sat 18th October | Hall Russell United (H) | 6-1 |
| 4th Round | Sat 29th November | Carnoustie Panmure (A) | 1-2 |
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!
It was two wins from two last season for the Seasiders in the WOSFL Premier Division, albeit in entirely different fashions!
HOME MATCH
| Saturday 28th September 2024 | Match Centre |
| TROON FOOTBALL CLUB | WON | Portland Park |
| BENBURB | 3-2 | WOSFL Premier |
The first encounter of 2024-25 was a real rollercoaster of emotions! The visiting Bens ran into an early 2-0 lead in the opening half hour thanks to goals from Sallu Turay and Olly Smith. Dean Fulton stemmed the tide in the 34th minute with a well-taken effort, but the dogged Chookie’s dug in & made life very tough for the home team.
A tousy & stop-start second half played out, before Manager Jimmy Kirkwood shuffled his pack. Sam McCloskey scored a thunderbolt to level the scores with 5 to play, before Sam Jamieson sent Portland Park into raptures with a late winner.
AWAY MATCH
| Saturday 22nd March 2025 | Match Centre |
| BENBURB | WON | New Tinto Park |
| TROON FOOTBALL CLUB | 0-3 | WOSFL Premier |
If the first match of the season was a tight affair, the return match was an unusually straightforward affair.
With Benburb under increasing pressure in the face of relegation, they started in determined fashion. But Troon stood firm & after Stephen Bronsky headed them into a 17th minute lead, there was only going to be one winner. Dean Fulton raced away to smash home on the hour mark, before Ben Black killed the contest with a well-taken third in the 73rd minute.
(before this week’s matches)
| REFEREE: | ||
| Luke McCauley | ||
| Assistant Referee 1: | Assistant Referee 2: | |
| Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed |
| Referee Observer: | Not yet appointed |
π π¦π¨π£π£π’π₯π§ππ₯π¦ ππ¨π¦ π
Our supporter’s bus is booked and ready for the trip to Govan on Saturday! The bus will depart Portland Park at 12pm.
To confirm the bus, priced at Β£15 per person, you π π¨π¦π§ reserve your place. Please contact Richard on: 07989 475597 to reserve your seat πΊ
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π STAGECOACH.com
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π SCOTRAIL.co.uk
Tickets are available at the cash turnstiles at New Tinto Park:
| Adult: | Β£8 |
| Concession: | Β£4 |
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.
β½οΈ Troon F.C. Development TeamΒ versus Bonnyton ThistleΒ β½οΈ
Friday 12th December 2025
WOSFDL Conference E
Kilwinning Sports Club
Kick-off 7.45pm
Head along & support the Troon stars of tomorrow!
β½οΈ Troon F.C. versus Johnstone Burgh β½οΈ
Saturday 20th December 2025
WOSFL Premier Division
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 2pm