It’s a return to home comforts for the Seasider’s this weekend, as we welcome the Lovering family & Benburb to Portland Park for our 19th WOSFL Premier Division match of the season.
⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Benburb⚽️
Saturday 24th February 2024
PDM Huws Gray WOSFL Premier Division
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 2pm
Inconsistency may have plagued Troon earlier in the season, but some delicate surgery to the squad has given Manager Jimmy Kirkwood cause for optimism with us now into the second half of the season. A run to the South Challenge Cup Quarter-Final has given the supporter’s a lift, likewise the players, but all focus shifts to the league now & securing the points that will push us up the table to safety.
Benburb have made an excellent return to the top flight after their promotion last season, alongside Champions Gartcairn & St. Cadoc’s. They had an excellent start, and are sitting comfortably mid-table coming into this weekend’s match. A very difficult team to play against, the team are the very embodiment of their Manager; give 100%, aggressive, work solidly for 90 minutes & don’t give up on anything. Whoever takes the points on Saturday will have earned them.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s match…
There’s a real feelgood atmosphere around the squad just now, with most of our missing players returning to training after injury and a number of our squad committing their future to the club with extended contracts.
Logan Smith joined Kyle Gilroy, Mark Shankland, Leyton Dunlop, Jack Sherrie, Ewan McLevy, Sam McCloskey, Ben Black & Dale Burgess in putting pen to paper on extended contracts, which is a massive boost for the side going into an important part of this season.
Ewan McLevy was the latest to make his return to the starting line-up at the weekend, leaving only Chris Millar (hamstring) and Nicky Docherty (knee) missing through injury, despite a few wee knocks & niggles.
What a game that was last weekend, it had everything in it. To be 3-0 down (and fearing the worst at that point as well, to be honest) to then come back and be disappointed to not win it in the end, that speaks volumes for our team. The character they showed was exceptional, at a difficult place to play & against a really good side who really did a job on us in the first half, and that has to be the primary take away from last weekend. I’m quite sure we will look back on that as a good point at the end of the season.
Great challenge this weekend, Benburb were a nightmare to play against two seasons ago & in September, so I expect every bit as difficult a game this week. Some really talented players in their side, and I’ve got a lot of time for the Lovering family, so all in all a game to look forward to.
What a support we’ve had at home the last few matches (and last week the travelling support was great), everyone can see the difference it’s made to us on the pitch. Very vocal & great seeing everyone getting together and fighting in the same direction. Fortress Portland!
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 |
| Chairman | Frank Lovering |
| Manager | Paul Lovering |
| Captain | Ryan McCrone |
| 2022-23 | WOSFL First Division, 3rd from 16 |
⚽️️ LEWIS LOVERING ⚽️
The third generation of the Lovering Benburb family, Lewis is well and truly forging his own path in the game.
The 24 year old began his career with Albion Rovers before spells with Neilston & Caledonian Braves, but he returned to New Tinto Park in 2020 and quickly became the “out-ball” for the side, with some electric displays from the left flank.
Benburb’s Player of the Year in 2021-22 and 2022-23, Lewis has a fantastic career ahead of him.
⚽️️ AARON BLACK ⚽️
23 year old forward Aaron was a young promotion hero at Blantyre, after their campaign in 2019/20 ended with the Vics controversially sharing the title with Darvel. He joined the Recreation Park side that summer, but returned to the KG Stadium on loan in October to get more game time before heading to Govan.
Quick & tricky, and with the ability to create something out of nothing, he’s certainly one for us to be wary of.
© Thanks to our club photographer Graeme McKenzie for his photos – fantastic, as always!
Troon F.C.
| DREW | WON | WON | DREW | LOST |
| 3-3 | 3-2 | 3-0 | 2-2 | 3-2 |
| Gartcairn (A) | Beith (H) | Caledonian Braves (H) | Cumnock (H) | Auchinleck Talbot (A) |
| Sat 17th February | Sat 10th February | Sat 3rd February | Sat 13th January | Sat 6th January |
| WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | South Challenge Cup | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier |
Benburb
| LOST | LOST | DREW | LOST | DREW |
| 3-0 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-3 | 3-3 |
| Auchinleck Talbot (A) | Cumnock (H) | Largs Thistle (H) | Darvel (H) | Gartcairn (A) |
| Sat 17th February | Sat 10th February | Sat 27th January | Sat 20th January | Sat 13th January |
| 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 (I’m not calling it X yet):
- Team news pre-match
- Goal alerts
- News flashes
- Real time alerts
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 channel
- Team news pre-match
- Half-time score & update
- Full time results
- Info on functions & events
- Book your seat on away buses
Benburb finished 3rd in the 16 team WOSFL First Division 2022-23, which saw them make an immediate return to the Premier Division, righting a perceived wrong from season 2021-22 when they were relegated (after the season had finished) from 14th place in a 20 team Premier Division.
Troon finished 11th in the 16 team WOSFL Premier Division 2022-23 last season; a great start was marred by a mid-season drop, before a strong finish secured safety & actually ended up in a little disappointment that we didn’t finish higher.
(before this week’s matches)
| REFEREE: | ||
| Jamie Wilkie | ||
| Assistant Referee 1: | Assistant Referee 2: | |
| Sean Welsh | James Hesketh |
| Referee Observer: | To be appointed |
Tickets are available at the turnstiles at Portland Park:
| Adult: | £8.00 |
| Concession: | £4.00 |
| Under-16: | FREE |
Season Tickets are valid for this game.
A detailed match report will be posted in the match centre 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 | Hull City v West Brom | (EFL Championship) ⚽️ |
| ⏰ 4.45pm | Scotland v England | (Guinness 6 Nations) 🏉 |
| ⏰ 5.30pm | Bournemouth v Man City | (FA Premier League) ⚽️ |
| ⏰ 8pm | Arsenal v Newcastle | (FA Premier League) ⚽️ |
The bar will close following the 5.30pm televised 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 from 10am on Saturday & will be open right through the match til the evening, selling a variety of hot food & drinks as well as cold drinks.
⚽️ Troon F.C. Development Team versus Cumnock ⚽️
Friday 23rd February 2024
WOSFDL Conference D
QMA, Ayr
Kick-off 8pm
Head along & support the Troon stars of tomorrow!
⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Kirkintilloch Rob Roy⚽️
Saturday 2nd March 2024
South Region Challenge Cup Quarter-Final
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 2pm