Category: competitions

Newlandsfield Remembers Iain Ashcroft

Prior to yesterday’s match against Cambuslang Rangers, Newlandsfield came together to remember former Pollok defender Iain Ashcroft who tragically passed away three weeks ago. His family were in attendance, alongside his 1997 Junior Cup final winning team-mates who led the present-day Pollok team onto the park for a rousing minutes applause.

 

The 1997 Scottish Junior Cup squad led Newlandsfield in a tribute to Iain Ashcroft.

After seven years at rivals Arthurlie, ‘Ashy’ had a job on his hands to win over a sceptical Pollok support when he signed in 1995, but his commitment to the team and wholehearted approach to the game soon won them over. His finest hour came when he played through a ligament injury to lift the Scottish Junior Cup in 1997, and the turnout from his former team-mates yesterday demonstrated the high regard he was held in by them all.

In all, Ashy made 108 appearances for Pollok, with only one coming off the bench. He scored five goals and lifted a Central League title, Junior Cup and West of Scotland Cup.

Iain Ashcroft: 1962 – 2023

 

Fresh Ayr for Lok!!

Following Pollok’s 4-3 thrilling defeat of Annan Athletic this evening, it sets up a first ever competitive fixture versus Ayr United at Somerset Park for our Scottish Cup 3rd Round debut. The date for the diaries is the weekend of 26th November 2022.

Annan tickets: sold out

Tickets for Monday 24th October’s cup tie versus Annan Athletic will be on sale tomorrow (18th October) at the Pollok FC clubhouse between 7pm and 8.30pm.

Update: this match has now sold out and there is no pay at the gate. It is live on BBC Scotland however!

It’s Huntly for Lok – Murdie’s thoughts on live TV clash

Following the win against Girvan on Saturday, Pollok have been drawn at home to Highland League side Huntly in the 1st Round of the Scottish Cup. Due to being at Tier 5 of the pyramid, Highland sides get a bye into the first round so the Aberdeenshire men did not have a tie themselves at the weekend.

Huntly are a big name from the Highland League and enjoyed a number of Scottish Cup runs in the past, though they have found themselves in the lower reaches of the division more often than not in recent times. Managed by Allan Hale since June 2020, the ‘Black and Golds’ have a youthful squad, with only three players over the age of 30. Six of the squad have Scottish Football League appearances with clubs such as Elgin City, Peterhead, Forfar Athletic and Montrose. This season’s results have been mixed, with league defeats to Turriff United, Clachnacuddin, Banks o’ Dee, Forres Mechanics and Formartine, a draw against Rothes and more positively a win last weekend at home to Deveronvale. They have also won Aberdeenshire Cup ties versus Keith and Aberdeen’s youth side.

Speaking to the website, manager Murdo MacKinnon said:

“It’s a really exciting cup draw. Huntly are a name that is well known to many in the Scottish Cup. They have a great history in the competition.”

“We look forward to welcoming them to Newlandsfield for what will be a wonderful occasion for both clubs.”

“As always, they will have our full respect and we will ensure that our homework is done before we meet. Until then our focus remains firmly on the next two games against Beith and Clydebank.”

The tie takes place on Friday 16th September, kick off 7.45pm and will be live on the BBC, Lok’s first tv exposure since the Junior Cup Final versus Beith in 2016.

West of Scotland League Cup draw – Cads for Lok

Pollok have been drawn at home to St. Cadoc’s in the 1st Round of the West of Scotland League Cup. This will be the first meeting between the sides at first team level (there had been a couple of games last season in the Development League) and the tie is due to go ahead on Saturday 12th November 2022. St. Cadoc’s joined the West of Scotland set-up at its outset, and will be the third ‘new’ club for Lok in cup competition in a year (on the back of Campbeltown Pupils last season and Eglinton up for us in a few weeks time).

Managed by John Doyle, Cads are an experienced side that play out of New Tinto Park at present following a few years at McKenna Park. Chris Erskine and Grant Anderson are two of their veteran dangermen.

The full draw is:

Preliminary Round

Ashfield v Vale of Clyde
Ardeer Thistle v Largs Thistle
Greenock Juniors v Benburb
Cumnock Juniors v Dalry Thistle
BSC Glasgow v Harmony Row
St Peters v Glasgow United
Kilsyth Athletic v Kilsyth Rangers
Wishaw v Rossvale Academy
Bellshill Athletic v Kilwinning Rangers
Thorn Athletic v Irvine Victoria
Bonnyton Thistle v Lanark United
Vale of Leven v Whitletts Victoria
Threave Rovers v Thorniewood United

First Round

Glenvale v Glenafton Athletic
Maybole Juniors v Beith Juniors
Glasgow University v Neilston
East Kilbride Thistle v BSC Glasgow or Harmony Row
Royal Albert v Craigmark Burntonians
Lesmahagow Juniors v Johnstone Burgh
Troon v Glasgow Perthshire
West Park United v Greenock Juniors or Benburb
Campbeltown Pupils v Gartcairn
Auchinleck Talbot v Muirkirk Juniors
Arthurlie v Bellshill Athletic or Kilwinning Rangers
Petershill v Forth Wanderers
Vale of Leven or Whitletts Victoria v Blantyre Victoria
Shotts Bon Accord v Ardrossan Winton Rovers
Thorn Athletic or Irvine Victoria v St Anthony’s
Girvan v Rossvale
Cumbernauld United v St Peters or Glasgow United
Saltcoats Victoria v Kilbirnie Ladeside FC
Easterhouse v Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
Ardeer Thistle or Largs Thistle v Hurlford United
Port Glasgow Juniors v Yoker Athletic
Renfrew v Threave Rovers FC or Thorniewood United
Irvine Meadow v Cumnock Juniors or Dalry Thistle
Ashfield or Vale of Clyde v Lugar Boswell Thistle
Carluke Rovers v Finnart FC
Larkhall Thistle v Drumchapel United
Maryhill v Rutherglen Glencairn
Pollok v St Cadoc’s
Kello Rovers v Wishaw or Rossvale Academy
Newmains United v St Roch’s
Eglinton v Clydebank FC
Bonnyton Thistle or Lanark United v Kilsyth Athletic or Kilsyth Rangers

 

 

Seasiders for Lok in Scottish Cup – Murdie’s reaction

Pollok’s 3rd crack at the Scottish Cup will get underway on Saturday 27th August 2022 when Girvan will be our visitors. The clubs last met on 14th April 2018 at Hamilton Park, with Lok running out 5-0 winners. Lok’s previous ties saw matches against St. Cuthbert Wanderers, Montrose and Spartans in 2007-08 and 2008-09, with the final two ties going to replays that were lost. The Girvan game will be Lok’s 6th Scottish Cup match.

Manager Murdie MacKinnon reacted to the draw today:

“Firstly it is absolutely fantastic for everyone associated with the club to be back playing in the Scottish Cup. It’s something that everyone at Pollok FC can take great pride in. The thanks of the management team and players go to everyone behind the scenes at the club who made this possible.”

“Today’s draw paired us with our friends from Girvan in what will be a fantastic occasion at Newlandsfield.”

“We expect a tough match against a well-organised and talented Girvan side. They will get our full respect and we will be prepared when the game comes around.”

“Undoubtedly this is an occasion that everyone will look forward to and enjoy when it comes around. However, we will give everything to make it into the first round – until then our focus remains on league duty.”

The full draw is below:

 

South Challenge Cup draw: Jousters for Lok!

The First and Second rounds of the Trade Radiators South Challenge Cup were drawn yesterday (Sunday) and give Lok brand new opposition in the shape of Eglinton FC. Voted into the West of Scotland League this weekend, they are effectively a rebranding of Kilwinning Rangers AFC, based at the Kilwinning Sports Club facilty that Kilwinning Rangers have part of. The name comes from nearby Eglinton Country Park, lands of the Earls of Eglinton, within which is a bridge known as the Eglinton Tournament Bridge, built to provide access to grounds for a medieval jousting reenactment festival in the 1839 (though the present bridge is slightly more recent).

The new club have taken their nickname, the Jousters, from this event and the bridge that recalls it.

The winner of this tie, to be played on 20th August at Newlandsfield, faces Clydebank in the Second Round.

 

Kilmarnock Pie WOSFL Cup draw

The draw has been made for the Kilmarnock Pie West of Scotland League Cup closing stages. The full draw can be seen below but in short, Pollok will play either Kello Rovers or Clydebank in the quarter finals and the path beyond is laid out in this graphic.

Talbot await Lok in Beechwood cup showdown

Pollok have been drawn away to old foes Auchinleck Talbot in the Traderadiators South Challenge Cup quarter final, the date of that tie being Saturday 2nd April (KO time TBC). This means the league match versus Cumbernauld United will need rearranging.

The draw has also been made for the semi final, with the winner of Talbot vs. Pollok to be at home to the winner of East Kilbride vs. Linlithgow Rose vs. Sauchie. A number of last 16 ties remain to be determined, giving the draw a number of “either/or”s.

The full draw is:

Quarter Finals:

Auchinleck Talbot vs. Pollok

Jeanfield Swifts vs. Spartans

East Kilbride vs. Sauchie Juniors

Bonnyrigg Rose vs. Bo’ness United or Petershill

Semi Finals:

Jeanfield Swifts or Spartans vs. Bonnyrigg Rose or Bo’ness United or Petershill

Auchinleck Talbot or Pollok vs. East Kilbride or Sauchie Juniors