After 11 competitive matches of the season, it’s time for the big one again – the Scottish Communities Cup, the new name for the Scottish Junior Cup. And for Scottish Cup day, we return to Portland Park where we welcome our opponents from the North in Hall Russell United.
⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Hall Russell United ⚽️
Saturday 18th October 2025
3 Pillars Financial Planning Scottish Communities Cup Round 3
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 2.30pm
Saturday was a frustration to the travelling Seasiders, but the comfort is that we created enough chances to win 3 matches & on another day it would be another 3 points coming back down the road on the bus. We look to shake off that frustration immediately, but have a difficult challenge of a firing on all cylinders young team heading down the road to knock us out of the Cup.
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 trip to Beith in the 2nd round of the Scottish Communities Cup, Auchinleck Talbot in the South Challenge Cup & then the visit of Cumnock in the West, we could hardly have been set three harder challenges.
Aberdeen-based Hall Russell United have had an excellent start to the league season, and currently sit second in the brand new North of Scotland Football League Championship with the clubs having moved to the new set-up in the summer following the autonomous move from the old SJFA North Region. With 7 wins from 10 league matches so far this season, and a penalties win over Livingston United in the last round of the Cup, Craiger Carroll’s young side will travel down to the Ayrshire coast full of confidence.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s match…
The returning Jack Allan is in contention for a jersey, following his move from Kilmarnock this week. Which is great news for the club to secure a Scottish Youth Cup winner to add firepower to the side, firepower we all got a taste of last season.
Highly-rated young goalkeeper Rohan Harkins has joined Muirkirk until the end of the season, which is the perfect move for him as he bids to get some first team football under his belt in the First Division & return to Portland Park next summer to challenge for the goalkeeper’s jersey. Sam McCloskey and Ben Black will not feature in this weekend’s squad, after being made available for transfer this week.
Captain Mark Morrison has seen a consultant & is awaiting scan results, but he is back to light training and hopefully we’ll see him back on the park soon, while Scott McLean is continuing his rehab from his knee reconstruction surgery. He is back to gentle running now & is eyeing a comeback around Christmas.
It’s everyone’s favourite, Scottish Junior Cup weekend again! Everybody’s favourite weekend of the year & something we all look forward to. (Sorry Richard, of course I mean the Scottish Communities Cup)
Last weekend was a pretty baffling one to be honest, we created & spurned so many chances it’s still mind-boggling how we didn’t win the match. Even when you watch back the highlights that Pollok put out, it just seemed to be wave after wave of Troon attacks, so to come home empty handed was a pretty bitter pill to swallow. However, they say it’s when you don’t create chances that you should worry & we certainly created plenty there, so one game doesn’t undo all the great work we have done so far this season. And we’re still the top scorers in the league behind Talbot, so one to put behind us & get back to doing what we do best.
Games like this are what the Cup is all about, and we look forward to welcoming Craig & his team from Hall Russell United down from Aberdeen to the Ayrshire Riviera. This time last year we were getting ready to head for a memorable weekend up in Dufftown, which is exactly the kind of trip that makes this competition so worthwhile and why everyone has an attachment to it that other competitions simply cannot match.
Lets get a strong turnout, support the club & try to cheer us on to the 4th round. ‘Mon the Seasiders!
Jimmy Kirkwood (Manager)
| Full Name | Hall Russell United Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | Russell’s |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Ground | Denmore Park, Aberdeen |
| Capacity | 1000 |
| Chairman | John Carroll |
| Manager | Craig Carroll |
| Captain | Gordon Russell |
| 2024-25 | SJFA North Championship, 3rd from 15 |
⚽️️ BOIMA WILLIE ⚽️
Boims is a real goal threat in the Russell’s squad, and one our defenders need to be wary of this Saturday.
A player who has progressed through the youth system at Denmore Park, Boims has progressed through the U18s, Development Team and now the 1st team. The main man who is expected to replace the 42 goals of Miller Keir after his move to Turriff United last season, and he has made an excellent start to the season already.
⚽️️ GORDON RUSSELL ⚽️
Club Captain and a real leader on the park for United, “Goggz” already has an amazing 15 years of service to the club & is showing no signs of slowing down yet.
With a young & hungry squad assembled by the Manager, his experience is vital to be the gaffer on the park & a guiding light off the park as well, a man who knows what the club is all about. And he is a mean defender into the bargain!
© Thanks to Hall Russell United for their photos
Troon F.C.
| LOST | WON | WON | LOST | WON |
| 1-0 | 3-0 | 1-2 | 2-5 | 2-3 |
| Pollok (A) | Rutherglen Glencairn (H) | Beith (A) | Auchinleck Talbot (H) | Drumchapel United (A) |
| Sat 11th October | Sat 27th September | Sat 20th September | Sat 13th September | Sat 6th September |
| WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | South Challenge Cup R2 | WOSFL Premier |
Hall Russell United
| DREW | WON | WON | LOST | WON |
| 1-1 | 1-2 | 2-2 (2-3 on pens) | 1-3 | 9-0 |
| Stoneywood Parkvale (A) | Nairn St. Ninian (A) | Livingston Utd (A) | Buchanhaven Hearts (H) | Dufftown (H) |
| Sat 11th October | Sat 27th September | Sat 20th September | Sat 16th August | Sat 9th August |
| NOSFL Championship | NOSFL Championship | Scottish Communities Cup R2 | NOSFL Championship | NOSFL Championship |
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!
Hall Russell United enjoyed a competitive season in 2024-25, eventually finishing 3rd behind Champions Lossiemouth United & runners-up Longside. They entered the promotion play-offs, but their season came to an end at the hands of Deveronside in a two-legged semi-final, who were eventually defeated 3-2 by Islavale in the final.
Troon enjoyed an excellent season in the Premier Division last term, spending the majority of the season in the top three before eventually finishing 4th in the 16 team WOSFL Premier Division 2024-25. Cups were the only place we came short last season, defeats to Armadale Thistle in the Scottish Junior Cup, St. Cadoc’s in the WOSFL Cup and Arthurlie in the South Challenge Cup were a source of frustration.
(before this week’s matches)
| REFEREE: | ||
| Brent Falconer | ||
| Assistant Referee 1: | Assistant Referee 2: | |
| Scott Gunion | Lewis Littlejohn |
| 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 NOT valid for this game, with it being a Cup 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 2.30pm kick-off, and supporters of both clubs are very welcome.
And, indeed, neutrals!
📺 Come early & enjoy the football on the big screen! 📺
| ⏰ 12.30pm | Nottingham Forest v Chelsea | (FA Premier League) ⚽️ |
| ⏰ 5.30pm | Fulham v Arsenal | (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!
⚽️ Heriot-Watt University versus Troon F.C. Development Team ⚽️
Friday 17th October 2025
SLDFL Combined Challenge Cup
Oriam Performance Centre, Edinburgh
Kick-off 8pm
Head along & support the Troon stars of tomorrow!
⚽️ Hurlford United versus Troon F.C. ⚽️
Saturday 25th October 2025
WOSFL Premier Division
Blair Park, Hurlford
Kick-off 2pm