After four matches on the road, we return to home comforts for five home matches in a row at Portland Park, starting with the visit of league leaders Clydebank for our 24th WOSFL Premier Division match of the season.
⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Clydebank⚽️
Saturday 30th March 2024
PDM Huws Gray WOSFL Premier Division
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 2pm
There are now only 7 games to go for the Seasiders, so form goes out the window – it’s results that matter now, and that has to be the sole focus in the upcoming matches. Points are king. Last week was massive for the Seasider’s; 3 points at Arthurlie and 3 points at Irvine Meadow have dramatically improved our position at the bottom of the table, and the supporters will be hoping that will give us a bounce going into the final matches.
Clydebank have had an excellent season so far, and have led the way throughout most of the league campaign. It’s now what Sir Alex Ferguson famously called “squeaky bum time” and Gordon Moffat’s men will be looking to avoid any slip-ups in their final matches with St. Cadoc’s, Beith & now Auchinleck Talbot hot on their heels in pursuit of the title. The Bankies supporter’s have never hidden their desire to see the club higher up the pyramid, and there is the feeling this could be their year as they bid to lift their first league winners trophy since their inaugural season in 2003-04, when they won the Scottish Junior FA West Central League Division Two.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s match…
It’s reached that time of year where most players are carrying some kind of niggle & it’s about managing that til the end of the season.
New signing Grant Brennan came straight into the starting XI on Wednesday night after signing from Irvine Meadow, while fellow new signing Dario Viviani made his debut as a second half substitute in Saturday’s win after joining from Ayr United on Friday night.
Ben Black sat out the last few matches with a knock, although Nicky Docherty (knee) is still a long-term absentee.
Marc Fisher has joined Ardrossan Winton Rovers on loan until the end of the season, and Ben Strain has joined Lugar to get some game time alongside Jack Marks.
That was an absolute sickener on Wednesday night. We had worked really hard on a gameplan for the match, and had prepared the players well for the dangers to expect, but to be undone by a penalty decision that I just cannot agree with is very disappointing. St. Cadoc’s have been getting plenty of plaudits this season, and to be sitting 2nd in their first season in the Premier Division is to their credit, but we restricted them to very few chances & really had them on the rack in the first half in particular. Plenty of credit to take from the game, just (frustratingly) no points.
A very similar challenge this Saturday, Clydebank have been top for most of the season & have played some excellent football. We saw that first hand a few weeks ago unfortunately, we didn’t do ourselves justice at all that day, so we have to look to put that right this weekend.
Five consecutive home matches (immediately following four consecutive away fixtures) may not demonstrate top notch planning from the league, but we really need our home supporters to come out & cheer on the players in these matches. Bankies this week, Gartcairn next week then Pollok, Glenafton & Darvel are five top notch fixtures against really good teams, so plenty of entertainment to come. Let’s get a good crowd in & show what Troon are all about.
Jimmy Kirkwood (Manager)
| Full Name | Clydebank Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The ‘Bankies |
| Founded | 2003 (Original Clydebank 1888) |
| Ground | Holm Park, Yoker |
| Capacity | 1,200 |
| Chairman | Grace McGibbon |
| Manager | Gordon Moffat |
| Captain | Nicky Little |
| 2022-23 | WOSFL Premier Division, 4th of 16 |
⚽️️ NICKY LOW ⚽️
32 year old Nicky is the man who makes the Bankies tick in the middle of the park, providing the ammunition for Callum Graham, Ciaran Mulcahy & Nicky Little.
A product of the Aberdeen youth system, he made 39 appearances for the Dons before moving on for regular action, joining Dundee, Derry, Queen of the South, East Stirlingshire & Arbroath.
Joined the Bankies on loan in February 2023 before signing on permanently til 2026.
⚽️️ ALAN KELLY ⚽️
The 28 year old may fly under the radar a little in the star-studded squad at Holm Park, but he is a key component of Gordon Moffat’s side.
Joined Clydebank in the summer of 2022 from Drumchapel Amateurs, his drive, passion & goals are key elements in the team & frequently set the tempo for the Bankies midfield.
© Thanks to Clydebank FC for their photos
Clydebank
| WON | DREW | WON | LOST | LOST |
| 3-2 | 2-2 | 5-1 | 1-0 | 2-3 |
| Arthurlie (H) | St. Cadoc’s (A) | Troon (H) | Darvel (A) | Largs Thistle (H) |
| Sat 23rd March | Sat 16th March | Sat 9th March | Sat 2nd March | Sat 24th February |
| WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier |
Troon F.C.
| LOST | WON | WON | LOST | LOST |
| 1-0 | 0-2 | 1-2 | 5-1 | 1-2 |
| St. Cadoc’s (A) | Irvine Meadow (A) | Arthurlie (A) | Clydebank (A) | Rob Roy (H) |
| Wed 27th March | Sat 23rd March | Sat 16th March | Sat 9th March | Sat 2nd March |
| WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | South Challenge Cup |
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
Troon were the winners in the first encounter of last season, running out 3-1 winners in August with late goals from Sam McCloskey & Jaime Gallagher adding to Ben Black’s goal, after Creag Little had given the visitors a first half lead.
Clydebank were primed and ready for revenge when we visited in January, and were 2-0 up in 7 minutes thanks to goals from Larry McMahon & Alan Kelly. Ciaran Mulcahy made it three before Sam Jamieson reduced the deficit, before Conor Higgins rounded off the scoring in jury time for a comfortable 3 points with a 4-1 victory.
(before this week’s matches)
| REFEREE: | ||
| Ross Menzies | ||
| Assistant Referee 1: | Assistant Referee 2: | |
| Craig Livingstone | James Cerinus |
| Referee Observer: | Gerry Corrie |
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 | Newcastle United v West Ham | (FA Premier League) ⚽️ |
| ⏰ 5.30pm | Aston Villa v Wolves | (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.
They may be on holiday this week, but the absolute legends at our local resident food truck SCRAN are coming in specially just to look after our football fans!
They will be open from 1pm on Saturday & will be open right through til after half-time, selling a variety of hot food & drinks as well as cold drinks.
⚽️ Auchinleck Talbot versus Troon F.C. Development Team ⚽️
Friday 29th March 2024
WOSFDL Conference D
Auchinleck Leisure Centre, Auchinleck
Kick-off 7.45pm
Head along & support the Troon stars of tomorrow!
⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Gartcairn⚽️
Saturday 6th April 2024
PDM Huws Gray WOSFL Premier Division
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 2pm