Gameweek 1 Fixtures Released

Following yesterday’s news that the West of Scotland Premier League will operate as two group sections for the forthcoming season, the league have announced the Gameweek 1 fixtures for all clubs. The Lok will begin a new era in the WOSL with a home fixture against Beith. There will be familiar faces on both sides as new Lok signing Darren Christie faces his former club whilst Beith are now managed by former Pollok midfielder Bryan Young.

The date is still to be fully confirmed but we are hopeful of hearing the start date soon, at which time the full fixture list will be released. At the moment our planned South Challenge Cup fixture against Tranent goes ahead on October 24th.

The other fixtures for the opening weekend of the West of Scotland League are as follows;

Group 2
Pollok v Beith
Kilwinning Rangers v Cumbernauld Utd
Rossvale v Cumnock
Rutherglen Glencairn v Hurlford United
Troon v Darvel

Group 1
Auchinleck Talbot v Irvine Meadow XI
Blantyre Victoria v Bonnyton Thistle
Clydebank v Kilbirnie Ladeside
Glenafton Athletic v Largs Thistle
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy v Benburb

Kick off 2pm unless otherwise stated

Proposed Premier Division group section confirmed

The effects of covid-19 continue to haunt Scottish football, and the 20 team West of Scotland Football League Premier Division will run as two groups for 2020-21. Pollok will be in Group B .

Lok’s full group, confirmed by secretary Kennie Young and later the WoSFL, is to be:

  • Beith Juniors
  • Cumbernauld United
  • Cumnock Juniors
  • Darvel
  • Hurlford United
  • Kilwinning Rangers
  • Pollok
  • Rossvale
  • Rutherglen Glencairn
  • Troon

The exact format of the new set-up to be confirmed in due course but what is proposed is to play everyone in each club’s own group twice with another 10 fixtures to follow. The West of Scotland Football League however are consulting with all clubs about how we restart and one proposal is to delay the season kick off until October 31st 2020. There are, as it stands, no plans to move the Tranent game from 24th October.

murdie coaching

Cup draw reaction from the manager

Following Pollok’s cup draws yesterday in the Soccer Shop Challenge Cup, Lok boss Murdo MacKinnon gave his reaction to the official website.

Murdie said: “We are absolutely delighted to be a part of our first Soccer Shop Challenge Cup draw. We look forward to the new challenges we will face and look forward to our future as a senior club.”

Looking at the 1st Round pairing with Tranent Juniors, he said: “We didn’t have to wait long to hear our name, being the first club out in the draw. Tranent are a very good side and this will be a tough tie for both sides.

“It promises to be an excellent tie, potentially the tie of the first round. I’m delighted to be drawn at home.”

“Newlandsfield is looking tremendous and it will be a fitting venue. Myself and Tranent manager Johnny Harvey have crossed swords before in the Scottish Junior Cup when we were at Irvine Meadow and Penicuik respectively.

“I know his teams are always well organised and he likes to play an attacking style so they will obviously get our full attention and respect in the build up to this tie. We are an excellent team ourselves so I am sure that Johnny and his staff will do likewise.

“We will obviously look to go out and win the game at home, we have added further quality to our squad and improved from last season so it makes for a great game.”

Pollok were also pulled out of the hat for the 2nd Round – with 128 teams and 64 ties it was the biggest Senior Cup draw since the 1st Qualifier of the Scottish Cup in 1893-94! The winner of the Lok v Tranent tie will be away to Ardeer Thistle. Of that tie, Murdie said:

“It’s definitely not one to be taken for granted – potentially a dangerous game for either ourselves or Tranent as Ardeer will be extremely difficult opponents. They will be a young side with a sprinkling of experience throughout.”

“I am sure they will be full of energy and running which will make them extremely competitive and as I say a dangerous opponent.”

“Overall, I am very excited about the draw and looking forward to participating in the competition for the first time!”

The ties are due 24th October and 21st November, subject to the return to football going ahead as planned. From a footballing perspective, Murdie has loved having the players back together again. “It’s great to be back out on the pitch with all the lads. It’s been brilliant so far,” he added.

Two Soccer Shop Challenge Cup ties for Lok

Pollok were given two potential Soccer Shop Challenge Cup ties in Saturday’s lunchtime draw hosted on Zoom by Kenny McLean of the Lowland and East of Scotland Leagues.

Lok were the first orange ball out the fish bowl and were given a home tie against Tranent Juniors of the East of Scotland League Premier Division in the 1st Round. In all, there were 14 ties drawn for it and the provisional date will be Saturday 24th October 2020.

In Round 2’s last 128 (64 ties), it’s a slightly more familiar opponent in the shape of Ardeer Thistle. Lok faced them twice in 2014-15 when we were in the West Super First Division (3-0 and 3-2 wins respectively). We had previously played them in the West of Scotland Cup in 1998-99 (4-1 to Lok). The 2nd Round is due to take place on Saturday 21st November 2020.

Tranent were in 4th place when the East of Scotland Premier League was brought to a sudden stop in March, and while promotion was in the hands of Bo’ness United, they were on track for a top six finish. They ended their season on a bit of a down, with cup defeats to Penicuik Athletic (Football Nation Qualifying Cup) and Hill of Beath Hawthorn (South Regional Challenge Cup).

2019-20 was forgettable for Ardeer Thistle as they failed to win a game in 25 attempts. The real lows included some very heavy defeats and they will be hoping the new start leads to something a bit more positive down Stevenston way.

Some of the more interesting ties from a Lok perspective include:

1st Round
Carluke Rovers or Kilbirnie Ladeside
Sauchie Juniors v Kilwinning Rangers
Thornton Hibs or Rutherglen Glencairn

2nd Round
Beith Juniors v Clydebank
Broxburn Athletic or Creetown v Irvine Meadow XI
Cumnock Juniors v Wishaw
Dundonald Bluebell v Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
Gala Fairydean Rovers v Sauchie Juniors v Kilwinning Rangers
Glenafton Athletic v Neilston
Hurlford United v Civil Service Strollers
Kelty Hearts v Auchinleck Talbot
Largs Thistle v Dalbeattie Star
Musselburgh Athletic v Benburb
Thornton Hibs or Rutherglen Glencairn v Nithsdale Wanderers
Troon v Preston Athletic
Whitehill Welfare v Carluke Rovers or Kilbirnie Ladeside

Soccer Shop Challenge Cup draw news

As the hope of a new season dawning draws closer, the South Regional knockout cup will be drawn live on Zoom on Saturday 5th September from 12 noon. The draw will see all 142 clubs (Cumbernauld Colts are excluded this year due to a rulebreak in 2019-20) given a tie as both the 1st and 2nd rounds will be made.

Round One, due 24th October 2020, will consist of 14 ties (and therefore 114 byes), with Round Two having 64 matches, the equivalent of the Scottish Junior Cup’s 2nd Round in terms of number. Pollok are number 108 so keep an eye out for it as the draw streams live on the Lowland League’s @OfficialCatchup

or watch live here!

Red kit day for Lok

The 2020/21 Pollok away shirt is now available to PRE ORDER online or in store from Only Sport.

The now familiar all red away kit is sponsored by GMB Scotland and in tribute to Pollok stalwart Frannie McNeill who sadly passed away earlier this year, features the inscription ‘Frannie McNeill 1949-2020’ under the Pollok badge.

The Kappa shirt has a slim fit design so it is recommended that you purchase a size larger than usual. As with the home shirt, adult and kids sizes are available.

Pollok ‘alternative’ kit launched and ready for pre-order

Pollok can today reveal the second of three new kits for this season with the launch of our ‘alternative’ kit.

The new Kappa jersey is available to PRE ORDER exclusively from Only Sport online and in-store. As with the home shirt due to the slim fit design, ordering a size up is recommended.

The black Kappa top includes the logos of sponsors Westpoint Homes, Macfie & Co and GMB.

Our special away kit for season 2020-21 will land this Thursday.

Player of the Year 2019-20

After a somewhat delayed process due to Covid-19, Shaun Fraser was announced as Members Player of the Year for season 2019-20 at this evening’s Annual General Meeting. Shaun also picked up the players’ player of the year award alongside the club top scorer gong.

Despite a curtailed season, Shaun scored a highly impressive 21 goals in 30 appearances, including a memorable hat-trick in the first competitive fixture of 19/20 against Shettleston in the West Sectional Cup.

Here is Shaun thanking you all for the awards, and a wee reel to follow:

Rounding up the awards, midfielder Del Esplin picked up the Management Player of the Year award.

And here is Del with his acceptance speech, and another wee highlights reel!

Well done Del and Shaun!

Thanks, as ever, to Mark Donnelly for his videography skills!

Pollok’s new 2020 home jersey

Introducing Pollok’s new home jersey for the inaugural season of the West of Scotland Premier Division.

The club’s new Kappa jersey is available to buy now exclusively from Only Sport online and in-store. The jersey comes in both adult and kids sizes and due to the slim fit design, ordering a size up is recommended.

The bespoke Kappa design boasts the traditional black and white stripes with a gold trim on the neckline.

New principal shirt sponsor Westpoint Homes, will proudly feature their branding across the jersey. Speaking to pollokfc.com, Westpoint Homes Director Ian Rigby said;

“We wanted to get involved as ourselves and the club have the same ambitions to help in the local community.

Fans will have seen the advertising boards around the pitch for the past few seasons and we are delighted to expand our sponsorship to main shirt sponsor.“

The Under-20 squad will also don the historic black and white stripes as their home jersey when they embark on their inaugural season in the Lowlands Development League West.

We look forward to revealing our Away and Alternative kit next week!