It’s back to the league action and back to home comforts this weekend, as we welcome Scottish Junior Cup Champions Johnstone Burgh to Portland Park for our 13th WOSFL Premier Division match of the season.
⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Johnstone Burgh ⚽️
Saturday 20th December 2025
WOSFL Premier Division
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 2pm
Saturday against Benburb was our 20th competitive match of the season, and we boast a superb 16 wins from those 20 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 plenty of football still to be played.
A long run in the Scottish Communities Cup was definitely a big target of ours this season, so last Saturday was a really sore one for any number of reasons. Missing out on the financial reward of the competition is undoubtedly a blow for the Chairman, given this season’s investment, and the opportunity for the supporters to enjoy a proper run is the real miss of last weekend. It’s still the big tournament for us all, it’s the grand day out at the end of the season & it would have been amazing to see some Troon scarves involved.
Anyway, we refocus on the rest of the season & that is primarily the league. And that starts today with the sternest of challenges.
Johnstone Burgh supporters have been taken on one hell of a ride since Jack Henderson & Scott Graham bought the club a few years ago. Last season was their first year back in the Premier Division since their relegation from the SJFA West Region Premiership at the end of 2005-06, and they finished a more than respectable position of 3rd behind Champions Clydebank and Auchinleck Talbot. They lifted the Scottish Junior Cup on that amazing day in June & they took part in the senior Scottish Cup for the first time this season, eventually bowing out in the second round proper against Camelon. But their focus now will be on the league, that is the next obvious target for their squad of stars and they will feel under pressure to catch-up & compete with Auchinleck Talbot for the title.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s match…
Kyle Faulds returned to the squad on Saturday after suspension, whilst midfielder Callan Veitch has been a very welcome returnee to the matchday squad 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.
Looking forward to this match this weekend, the last match before Christmas is always a right good occasion and hopefully we get a superb crowd for it.
Last weekend was absolutely gutting, to be honest, and one I took quite sore. It’s been a real focus of ours the last couple of years to get a good run in the big one, and to be in the position at half-time on Saturday that we were looking forward to a Quarter-Final appearance (which is the furthest Troon have ever got in the competition) and then toss it away was extremely disappointing; the performance in the second half was just so far from anything else we’ve seen from the boys this season. Richard does an awful lot of work with the Scottish Juniors & we have been at the last few finals, a fair few of the last few semi-finals & they are just amazing occasions. We would have absolutely loved to get that far, give an occasion like that to the Troon supporters, but I guess it was just not to be this season.
Anyway, we now have to concentrate on getting ourselves back on track & proving that was a blip, a one-off, and get back to showing what we have done all season. You don’t become a good player or team overnight, and you certainly don’t become a bad player overnight, so we just need to put last weekend behind us & use it as motivation for the second half of the season. A reminder that we can’t let our standards slip again.
Johnstone Burgh are a huge test for us, they’ve invested heavily and have a phenomenal group of individuals in the building. Murdie has a selection headache every single week which is a great position for him to be in. Cup action has kept them busy this season so far, so they are playing catch-up a little just now, but with the talent they have they will fancy their chances of doing that. Our challenge is to show what we are made of.
Come on down & give the boys your support, ‘Mon the Troon!!
Jimmy Kirkwood (Manager)
| Full Name | Johnstone Burgh Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The Burgh |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Ground | Keanie Park, Johnstone |
| Capacity | 3,000 |
| Club President | Brian Williams |
| Manager | Murdo MacKinnon |
| Captain | Del Esplin |
| 2024-25 | WOSFL Premier Division, 3rd from 16 |
⚽️️ DANNY O’NEILL ⚽️
25 year old Danny is Vice-Captain to Del Esplin at Keanie Park, and he leads the team by example from the heart of their defence.
Danny first came to prominence in the WOSFL when he made quite the impact at Beith as part of Chris Strain’s revolution at Bellsdale, with some stellar performances as they lifted back-to-back titles. He joined Beith from Harmony Row in June 2020, and he went from “one for the future” to a standout for today very quickly.
He was a big-money signing for Burgh in July 2024 and he made an instant impact, becoming a rock at the back, guiding the side to 3rd in the Premier Division & to victory in the Scottish Junior Cup Final against Tranent in June.
Solid at the back & a danger from set-plays, Danny will be one to watch this weekend for sure.
⚽️️ LUKE SCULLION ⚽️
Given the attacking riches on display at the Burgh, it is easy to overlook the contribution of their last line of defence; goalkeeper Luke Scullion.
Luke began his career in the Rangers Youth Academy at the age of 10, before spending 6 years in the academy at Partick Thistle. Two years at Stranraer followed before a year at Broomhill, and he joined Johnstone Burgh in April 2024.
The 23 year old has combined superbly with Danny O’Neill and Cameron Eadie to provide a really solid base for the side to work from.
© Thanks to our club photographer Graeme McKenzie for his photos
Troon F.C.
| LOST | WON | WON | WON | WON |
| 2-1 | 2-0 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-0 |
| Benburb (A) | Arthurlie (H) | Carnoustie (A) | St. Cadoc’s (A) | Largs Thistle (H) |
| Sat 13th December | Sat 6th December | Sat 29th November | Sat 15th November | Sat 8th November |
| Scottish Communities Cup R5 | WOSFL Cup R2 | Scottish Communities Cup R4 | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier |
Johnstone Burgh
| WON | WON | WON | LOST | WON |
| 2-0 | 1-4 | 1-2 | 3-2 | 4-1 |
| Renfrew (H) | Greenock (A) | Largs (A) | Glenafton (A) | Rutherglen (H) |
| Sat 13th December | Fri 5th December | Sat 29th November | Sat 15th November | Sat 8th November |
| Scottish Communities Cup R4 | WOSFL Cup R3 | WOSFL Premier | South Challenge 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!
It was maximum points for the eventual Scottish Junior Cup Champions last season, with a confident victory at Keanie Park in August followed by a far tighter contest down by the Seaside in February.
AWAY MATCH
| Saturday 10th August 2024 | Match Centre |
| JOHNSTONE BURGH | LOST | Keanie Park |
| TROON FOOTBALL CLUB | 3-0 | WOSFL Premier |
The first encounter of 2024-25 was a comfortable win for the home side, as the Burgh ran out 3-0 winners in the summer sunshine at Keanie Park.
Troon started the match well and had opportunities to open the scoring in the first half which were spurned, but a combination of good goalkeeping from Scullion & profligacy from Troon saw the opening 45 end up somehow goalless.
The second half saw a different bite from the home side, and after Danny O’Neill gave them a 52nd minute lead you could see them grow into the game. Troon failed to click into top gear & couldn’t get the goal that would level the contest, before Aaron Mason eventually secured the match with a 78th minute strike before Max Kerr rounded off the scoring with just four minutes to go.
HOME MATCH
| Saturday 15th February 2025 | Match Centre |
| TROON FOOTBALL CLUB | LOST | Portland Park |
| JOHNSTONE BURGH | 1-2 | WOSFL Premier |
The return match in February was to be another fantastic encounter, and saw a confident Troon side determined to make up for the frustration of August’s match.
The match followed a similar pattern initially to the earlier match, with Troon on the front foot & not quite capitalising with the first half ending goalless. Burgh made changes at the interval to try to get back into the match and introduced new signing Allan MacKenzie, but it was Troon who eventually broke the deadlock as Dario Viviani scored in the 64th minute. It was an instant reaction from the Burgh as MacKenzie netted a debut goal from a trademark header just two minutes later, before Max Kerr won the contest in the 74th minute from a MacKenzie assist.
(before this week’s matches)
| REFEREE: | ||
| Josh Hay | ||
| Assistant Referee 1: | Assistant Referee 2: | |
| Calum Haswell | Joseph Hefti |
| 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 | Newcastle v Chelsea | (FA Premier League) ⚽️ |
| ⏰ 5.30pm | Tottenham Hotspur 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!
⚽️ Ardrossan Winton Rovers versus Troon F.C. Development Team ⚽️
Friday 19th December 2025
WOSFDL Conference E
Winton Park, Ardrossan
Kick-off 8pm
Head along & support the Troon stars of tomorrow!
⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Girvan ⚽️
Saturday 27th December 2025
Festive Supporter’s Day
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 1pm