After four matches on the road, we are enjoying the comforts of home for the third of five home matches in a row at Portland Park, welcoming the visit of our friends at Pollok for our 26th WOSFL Premier Division match of the season.
⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Pollok ⚽️
Wednesday 17th April 2024
PDM Huws Gray WOSFL Premier Division
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 7.30pm
There are only 5 games to go for the Seasiders now, so form is out the window – it’s results that matter, and that is to be the sole focus in the upcoming matches. Points are king. The last 5 matches have seen 10 points lifted from a possible 15 which have improved our position in the table, and the supporters will be hoping that will give us a bounce going into the remaining matches.
Pollok are probably the division’s form side, winning 7 and drawing 1 of their last 9 matches, which has seen them solidify their position in the table & reach the West of Scotland Cup Final at the end of this month. Manager Stewart Maxwell has not had his troubles to seek in his first full season in charge, but he’ll be hoping to end it on a high.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Wednesday’s match…
New signings Grant Brennan & Dario Viviani have both made great impacts in recent games, really bringing something special to the table in the top end of the pitch. Rabin Omar has been managing a niggling injury, and his game time has suffered as a result, but he will undoubtedly be a key player between now & the end of the season. Ben Black has sat out the last few matches with a knock, but Nicky Docherty has returned to training after being missing since injuring his knee against Hurlford in December.
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.
A bit of a non-event last weekend frustratingly, mainly due to the conditions. The wind wreaked havoc with the game as any kind of spectacle, it really ruined the match, but having said that we were really pleased with the attitude of the players to just get on with it & to grind their way back into the game at the death. Delighted for Grant Brennan as well, getting his first goal for the club deep in injury time. He’s made a real impact since he joined & I’m sure that’s just the first of many in the blue & black.
10 points out of 15 in the last five matches is a terrific haul. Ironically, the game we probably played the best in was the match we walked away empty-handed from, which is very much the tale of the league this season. It doesn’t stop there though, there are 15 points still to play for & 12 of those are in home matches. We need to keep our nose to the grindstone & push ourselves on; too many times this season we have said we feel we’re in a false league position, now it’s our time to prove that.
Pollok have had some season. A strong start, a drop-off in the middle, and they’re now right back at it. No shortage of off the field issues, that have been well publicised, but Maxi will be keen to concentrate on the pitch & that’s been going very well of late. They’ll be building up to a Cup Final so will be looking to keep that run going right up to that.
Let’s get a good crowd in for this bonus midweek match & show everyone what Troon are all about.
Jimmy Kirkwood (Manager)
| Full Name | Pollok Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The ‘Lok |
| Founded | 1908 |
| Ground | Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow |
| Capacity | 2,088 |
| Chairman | Jeff Hunt |
| Manager | Stewart Maxwell |
| Captain | Calum Gow |
| 2022-23 | WOSFL Premier Division, 5th from 16 |
⚽️️ STEPHEN DOCHERTY ⚽️
Striker Doc has seen his Pollok career do a complete 180 degree turn this season. Having found himself on the periphery earlier in the campaign, a loan spell at Gartcairn reignited his season and he has scored 7 goals in 11 appearances since his return to Newlandsfield.
In his second season at Pollok, after joining from Petershill, he began his career at East Kilbride.
⚽️️ ANDREW GALLACHER ⚽️
The exciting 22 year old began his senior career with a season at St. Cadoc’s as an 18 year old, before moving to Blantyre Victoria in July 2022 where he had a vital season under John Gibson.
He joined up at Newlandsfield in June and has shone brightly in Maxi’s new-look side with some dazzling displays. Recently signed an extended contract, much to the pleasure of the supporters.
© Thanks to our club photographer Graeme McKenzie for his photos – fantastic, as always!
Troon F.C.