We look to put the drama of the weekend behind us, as we welcome our friends from the southside down to Portland Park on Wednesday for our 17th WOSFL Premier Division match of the season.
⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Pollok⚽️
Wednesday 22nd February 2023
PDM Buildbase WOSFL Premier Division
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 7.30pm
Saturday was an upsetting one given the abandonment of the match at Cambuslang due to the horrendous injury suffered by Kyle Maxwell, and our continued thoughts & best wishes are with Kyle as he starts the long road to recovery.
Jimmy Kirkwood’s men have been on a wretched run of results, but their form has still been giving cause for optimism before Saturday’s match. The Manager has been really strong in his message that only points are good enough in the upcoming matches though, so the travelling Seasiders will be hoping for a reaction to the Rob Roy defeat.
Pollok have enjoyed some real highs this season, including a Scottish Cup run that ended away to Ayr United in November, but they are regrouping under new management after the appointment of Stewart Maxwell to replace Murdo MacKinnon. Despite that upheaval, they have been consistently at the top end of the table for almost all of the season so far & currently occupy third position.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Wednesday’s match…
Darrell has been a busy man in the treatment room of late, with plenty of knocks & niggles to treat after a run of tough matches, but we look to be getting back to what resembles a full squad again. Or, as close to it as we can get at this stage of the season.
Dale Moore and Jack Sherrie both return after suspension, after both missed the Rob Roy defeat, and that is a big boost to the Seasiders. Recent signing Michael Aitken also returns after injuring his shoulder.
Raymond Montgomerie will be missing for a few weeks with damaged ankle ligaments, while Ewan McLevy is a doubt after coming off last Saturday. Stephen Wilson is close to a shock return, after suffering what looked like a season ending injury against Ashfield.
N.B. and we might just have a new face in time for Wednesday’s game! Watch this space…
Saturday was horrible, and it’s every players worst nightmare to suffer an injury like that, so our very best wishes go to Kyle & his family, and we hope to see him back in action once he’s fit again. The time he had to wait for an ambulance, over 2 1/2 hours, is just horrendous & we were just relieved to see him getting the attention he needed eventually.
Proud of our wee club on Saturday though, to see Darrell jump on to the pitch to help as soon as he realised the severity of the injury. Between the help our coaches gave, Richard too, and the Troon supporter who drove to a nearby shop to buy a duvet to wrap the player in while he waited for an ambulance, it certainly showed the good people we have at Troon FC. Proud to be the Troon Manager.
On the pitch, we need to start taking points from games & that starts on Wednesday. We now have an opportunity of games in hand on most teams above us, but that counts for nothing if we don’t start taking advantage of that. Points are needed, more than performances, and that has to start now.
Deano & I have been working hard to get a new signing in before Wednesday’s game, so fingers crossed we can get it over the line in time for the game. A popular figure at Portland Park, one I’m sure the fans will be delighted about!
Jimmy Kirkwood (Manager)
| Full Name | Pollok Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The Lok |
| Founded | 1908 |
| Ground | Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow |
| Capacity | 874 |
| Chairman | Graham Milne |
| Manager | Stewart Maxwell |
| Captain | David Brownlie |
| 2021-22 | WOSFL Premier Division, 3rd of 20 |
⚽️️ DARREN CHRISTIE ⚽️
A Scottish Junior Cup & Premier Division winner in his time with Beith, Darren was frequently featured towards the top of the goalscorer’s charts at the end of each season.
The 35 year old began his career with Neilston before moving to Bellsdale, and after seven seasons he joined up at Newlandsfield in 2020 before Pollok decided not to compete the season. Spells at BSC Glasgow, Annan Athletic & then Stenhousemuir followed before he returned to Pollok in the summer of 2022
⚽️️ STUART McCANN ⚽️
The 26 year old is in his sixth season at Newlandsfield after joining from Petershill, where he was top scorer.
Quick & direct, Stuart is one of the top front men in the West & a real threat to any team. The younger brother of winger Gary McCann.
Troon F.C.
| LOST | v | Kirkintilloch Rob Roy | (H) | 0-2 | Saturday 11th February | WOSFL Premier Division |
| LOST | v | Cumnock | (A) | 2-2 (4-2) | Saturday 4th February | South Challenge Cup R4 |
| WON | v | Glenafton Athletic | (H) | 3-0 | Wednesday 1st February | WOSFL Premier Division |
| LOST | v | Irvine Meadow XI | (A) | 2-1 | Saturday 28th January | WOSFL Premier Division |
| DRAW | v | Arthurlie | (H) | 0-0 | Saturday 21st January | WOSFL Premier Division |
Pollok
| WON | v | Kilwinning Rangers | (H) | 3-0 | Saturday 18th February | WOSFL Premier Division |
| LOST | v | Auchinleck Talbot | (A) | 2-1 | Saturday 11th February | WOSFL Premier Division |
| WON | v | Hurlford United | (A) | 1-3 | Saturday 4th February | WOSFL Premier Division |
| LOST | v | Beith | (A) | 3-0 | Saturday 28th January | WOSFL Premier Division |
| LOST | v | Hurlford United | (H) | 3-0 | Saturday 7th January | WOSFL Premier Division |
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: @Troon_FC
- 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
The two encounters last season were very similar, certainly in terms of results at least.
Pollok were the victors in the first match-up last season, running out 2-1 winners after a very tight match at Newlandsfield.
The return leg was the penultimate match of the 2021-22 season & was a bit flat as a result, Pollok chalking up another 2-1 win in a match with little at stake at Portland Park.
(before this week’s matches)
Referee: Callum Haswell
Assistant Referee One: Matthew McAlpine
Assistant Referee Two: Kai Hannah
For travelling supporters, have a look at our “How to get to Portland Park” page for directions and helpful tips.
PLEASE REMEMBER!
Portland Park is still a work in progress, as the ground work continues towards getting “Portland Park” licence ready. Please see the article below & follow the guidance for safe passage around the ground.
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 from 6pm ahead of the 7.30pm kick-off, and supporters of both clubs are very welcome. And, indeed, neutrals!
📺 Come early & stay late – enjoy the football on the big screen! 📺
| ⏰ 8pm | RB Leipzig v Manchester City | (UEFA Champions League Last 16) ⚽️ |
| or ⏰ 8pm | Accrington Stanley v Bolton Wanderers | (EFL Trophy Semi-Final) ⚽️ |
The bar will close ahead of 11pm.
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 from 10am on Wednesday & will be open right through the match til the evening, selling a variety of hot food & drinks as well as cold drinks.
⚽️ Troon Development Team versus Auchinleck Talbot⚽️
Friday 24th February 2023
Sense over Sectarianism Scottish Lowland Development Football League (West Conference F)
QMA Sports Campus, Ayr
Kick-off 8pm
Head along & support the Troon stars of tomorrow!
⚽️ Arthurlie versus Troon F.C.⚽️
Saturday 25th February 2023
PDM Buildbase WOSFL Premier Division
Dunterlie Park, Barrhead
Kick-off 2pm