After a rare Saturday off, we begin April with a visit from our old friends from Glenafton Athletic to Portland Park for our 24th GreenVersity WOSFL Premier Division match of the season.
⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Glenafton Athletic ⚽️
Saturday 12th April 2025
GreenVersity WOSFL Premier Division
Beechwood Park, Auchinleck
Kick-off 2pm
March may have been hectic, but April certainly isn’t looking any easier with 7 matches in the next 4+ weeks. Clydebank were crowned Champions on Saturday after their victory over Benburb, so attention now shifts to the battle for second place between ourselves, Johnstone Burgh & Auchinleck Talbot. And I’m sure even Drumchapel & St. Cadoc’s haven’t written off their inclusion in that battle as well, even if they may look outsiders at the moment. Plenty of ups and downs still to come in this campaign yet!
Glenafton endured a frustrating start to the campaign after a difficult season last year, but new Manager Paul Paton oversaw a dramatic upturn in fortunes after he was appointed in November. A new resilience saw the side record points & drive up the table, and they went from a point above the drop zone to 6th in the table in early March, which really was quite the reversal in fortunes. The form may have dipped since then, but they surely can look forward now to another season in the Premier Division.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s match…
We are unfortunately looking at a few players having kicked their last ball for this season now.
Nathan Baird had to be helped from the pitch at Clydebank with a badly torn calf, while Jack Sherrie is also awaiting news on surgery for a hernia. Scott McLean is working through the lengthy rehabilitation following successful knee reconstruction surgery in early March, whilst Ewan McLevy is also working on his fitness after a knee injury sustained against St. Roch’s in October with a view to next season.
In transfer news, Grant Brennan has joined Thorniewood on loan for the rest of the season & Aldin El-Zubaidi has departed to join Darvel.
Just when we think we have navigated our way through a crowded fixture list, we have a look at the next few weeks & it looks the exact same. I wonder now if there is any reconsidering now the decisions to not play on 28th December for instance, some of this could perhaps have been avoided. But nevertheless, one of the consequences of going deeper in some of the competitions is you get more matches, so it’s just the latest challenge we have to face.
Great to see the club getting such publicity in the last couple of weeks! Not often you see Troon FC on the BBC News at 6pm, or a View from The Terrace for that matter, but Luke Watt’s two goals direct from a corner has made for a great new story, and well done to him. And fantastic from young Craig (@theTroonKid) to capture both the goals on film, that really made it! Well done young man!
We love a match with Glenafton, always a warm welcome up there from Tarzan, Stew & everyone else & we like to reciprocate, so a good relationship between the clubs. We did the double over them last season, so I’m sure they will be as determined to put that right as we are to keep that run going. November’s match was a belter that had the lot, from tousy challenges to injury time goals so I’m sure this will be another not to be missed!
Jimmy Kirkwood (Manager)
| Full Name | Glenafton Athletic Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The Glens or The Afton |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Ground | Loch Park, New Cumnock |
| Capacity | 3,400 |
| Club Chairman | John Stewart |
| Manager | Paul Paton |
| Captain | Craig Pettigrew |
| 2023-24 | WOSFL Premier Division, 13th from 16 |
⚽️️ MICHAEL MULLEN ⚽️
The 21 year old was a big signing for Glenafton last summer, departing Hurlford after two seasons at Blair Park after spending years in the Kilmarnock youth system, and he has really hit the ground running this season alongside Hugh Kerr.
Son of former Queen of the South, Stranraer & Stirling front man of the same name, Michael is top scorer this season so far with 12 goals from 24 appearances. Certainly one for our defenders to be watchful of.
⚽️️ HUGH KERR ⚽️
The 34 year old has been one of the leading marksmen in the Junior leagues for years & he enjoyed a prolific partnership with Ian Watt at Lanark United, before making the step to join the Premier Division with Rossvale, Pollok & Glenafton.
Originally signed by Mick McCann, Shug’s all-action style is the focal point of the Glens attack alongside new signing Michael Mullen.
© Thanks to our club photographer Graeme McKenzie for his photos – fantastic, as always!
Troon F.C.
| WON | WON | LOST | LOST | WON |
| 3-2 | 0-3 | 1-0 | 0-3 | 0-5 |
| Largs (H) | Benburb (A) | Clydebank (A) | Drumchapel (H) | Beith (A) |
| Sat 29th March | Sat 22nd March | Tues 18th March | Sat 15th March | Sat 8th March |
| WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier |
Glenafton Athletic
| DREW | LOST | LOST | DREW | LOST |
| 1-1 | 1-2 | 3-1 | 1-1 | 2-0 |
| Shotts (A) | Auchinleck Talbot (H) | Largs (A) | Benburb (H) | Drumchapel (A) |
| Sat 5th April | Sat 29th March | Sat 22nd March | Sat 15th March | Sat 8th March |
| 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 BRAND NEW official Troon F.C. Twitter feed (I’m 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 out of two for the Seasiders last season, winning both league matches.
AWAY MATCH
| Tuesday 1st August 2023 | Match Centre |
| GLENAFTON ATHLETIC |