MARYHILL

FOOTBALL CLUB

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IT’S A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME.

MARYHILL FC - A SHORT HISTORY

The club were formed back in 1884 when the district of Maryhill was a semi rural settlement on the outskirts of Glasgow. In the earliest years of the club's history the side had a brief flirtation with senior football, entering the on several occasions, but the majority of our existence has been in the Junior grade.

Having moved ground several times in its formative years, the club has called Lochburn Park its home since the latter years of the 19th century. Originally one of Glasgow's more basic football venues, an extensive upgrading programme in the 1990s transformed it into one of the premier stadia in the Junior game, regularly hosting local and regional finals.

Over the years the Hill have won a long list of honours, bringing the "Holy Grail" of the Scottish Junior Cup back to Lochburn on two occasions; the first win being in 1900 (1-0 v Rugby XI at Shawfield) and the second in 1940 (1-0 v Morton Juniors at Hamoden). The club enjoyed its most recent sustained period of success in the years around the Millennium, with back to back league titles secured whilst also reaching three Junior Cup semi-finals although on all three occasions we fell at the penultimate hurdle.

Many great players have worn the red and black over the years; many never took the step up to the senior game, but among those who did were the likes of Tommy Burns, Danny McGrain, Davie Meiklejohn and Alex Harley.

After a decline in the club's fortunes in the mid-2000s following the necessity of financially downsizing, Maryhill dropped down the leagues, eventually suffering the indignity of relegation to the bottom of the West Region setup. After eight seasons of competing in the District leagues however, in season 2015-16 the Hill won promotion back to the Superleagues, where we spent two seasons before being relegated back into the third tier. THE HILL ONLINE April 2020 saw us accepted into the newly-formed West of League, bringing to an end more than a century of participation in the Junior ranks and seeing us move to Tier 7 of the Scottish football pyramid. WEBSITE: www,maryhillfc.com This season we will compete in Conference A, where we look forward both to renewing old friendships and rivalries and forging fresh ones in our new TWITTER: @Maryhill_FC environment. FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/MaryhillFootballClub

The adventure that began back in 1884 continues...

MARYHILL FC SEASON 2020-21

h Saturday 28 November 2020 ASHFIELD A FR 2-4 Easdon, O’Neill POLLOK A FR 2-5 McFarlane, Dobbs West of Scotland League Conference A DRUMCHAPEL UNITED A FR 1-1 Gray NEWMAINS UNITED A FR 1-1 Dobbs BEITH A FR 0-3 MARYHILL v GLASGOW UNIVERSITY

KILWINNING RANGERS H FR 2-4 Kennedy, Easdon

BLANTYRE VICTORIA N FR 0-1

N FR 1-4 ST ROCH’S Gray Lochburn Park RENFREW A L 0-3

ANNBANK UNITED H L 0-2 Season 2020-21 #2

ARDEER THISTLE A L 2-1 McInally, Gray GREENOCK N FR 2-2 Stevenson, McInally A warm welcome to the players and officials of Glasgow University JOHNSTONE BURGH A SCC 1-2 McInally who have made the trip for this West of Scotland League YOKER ATHLETIC A FR 1-1 Gray Conference A game – we hope they enjoy their visit to Lochburn GLASGOW UNIVERSITY H L Park and have a safe journey back after the game.

------It would be a good item for a pub quiz - when is a local derby NOT a

local derby? This one falls into that category certainly, for although the Uni are based at Garscube not much more than a mile’s walk along Maryhill Road from us, to ensure continued participation in the “big” Scottish Cup they currently are in a groundshare arrangement with Airdrieonians eighteen miles away!

It’s fair to say that some of the sides who have joined the West of NEXT UP FOR THE HILL Scotland League have been very much unknown quantities, with the Uni being one of them, although as it turns out they have had a Saturday 5th December good start to life in the league, with a win, loss and draw from their first three games which sees them currently sit a point ahead of the West of Scotland League Conference A Hill in the table. MAYBOLE v MARYHILL

Last weekend we were unfortunate to exit the Soccerbase Saturday 12th December Challenge Cup in the second round after Johnstone Burgh’s sucker West of Scotland League Conference A punch late goal which may however be a mixed blessing – with the cup out of the way, we’re free to concentrate on attempting to MARYHILL v ST ROCH’S climb the division from where we sit at the moment, hopefully starting today. Saturday 19th December West of Scotland League Conference A Stay safe!

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS v MARYHILL ‘MON THE HILL!

SEASON 2019-20 PLAYER AWARDS

Obviously last season wasn’t played to a finish, but we thought it only right to present the player awards as per usual to recognise the squad’s efforts. Presented by committee member Craig White, the awards for both Player of the Year and top scorer went to striker Ged Dobbs. MARYHILL FC SQUAD 2020-21

NAME POSITION AGE PREVIOUS CLUBS SIGNED Garry Black Goalkeeper 23 Annan Athletic, FC Baillieston Sep 2018 Mark McRoberts Goalkeeper 24 Motherwell, Airdrieonians, Jul 2020 Trinity AFC Lewis Sanderson Goalkeeper 20 Queen’s Park, East Kilbride Oct 2020 Tony Etherson Defender 23 Barrhead YFC, Greenock Jun 2020 Morton, Arthurlie Alex McFarlane Defender 25 Gleniffer Thistle, Barrhead YFC Jul 2017 Michael Browne Defender 30 Barrhead YFC, Neilston Jul 2018 Paul O’Donnell Defender 31 Hamilton Academical, Feb 2020 Alloa,Athletic, Arthurlie Craig McEwan Defender 22 Mill Utd BC, Pollok Utd Jul 2020 Luke Martin Defender 21 Stirling Albion, Cumbenauld Aug 2020 Colts, Rangers Matthew Meechan Defender 22 East Kilbride, Pollok Utd Oct 2020 Meanwhile, keeper Garry Black scooped up both the Players Player of the Gavin Naismith Midfield 34 Arthurlie Utd Jul 2018 Year and Website Player of the Year. Cammy O’Neil Midfield 24 Barrhead YFC, Arthurlie Jun 2020 Craig Stevenson Midfield 23 Johnstone Burgh, Barrhead YFC Nov 2018 Darren Kennedy Midfield 24 Johnstone Burgh, Greenock, St July 2020 Anthonys Ewan McGuinness Midfield 20 Stirling Albion, Airdrieonians, Mar 2020 Livingston Utd Ross Lyden Midfield 20 Dumbarton, Clydebank, Vale of Jun 2020 Leven Ryan Wallace Midfield 19 Barrhead YFC, Greenock Jul 2020 Morton, Arthurlie Jamie Gray Forward 23 Barrhead YFC, Arthurlie, Feb 2020 Barrhead Arky Jack Easdon Forward 24 Barrhead YFC Jul 2018 Ged Dobbs Forward 33 Millbeg, FC Baillieston, St Jul 2019 Roch’s Brian Ashe Forward 24 Barrhead YFC, Harmony Row, Jul 2018 Neilston Brian Turner Forward 34 Arthurlie AFC, Arthurlie, Oct 2020 The fifth and final award for goal of the season went to our former winger Barrhead Arky Andrew Skinner for his screamer against Girvan…it was presented in absentia. Congratulations to all of them on their silverware!

TODAY’S FIXTURES

CURRENT TABLES

PDM BUILDBASE WEST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE CONFERENCE B

WOSFL PREMIER Beith - Clydebank Cumbernauld United - Darvel Rossvale - Blantyre Victoria Irvine Meadow XI - Bonnyton Thistle Hurlford United - Kirkintilloch Rob Roy Kilwinning Rangers - Largs Thistle Rutherglen Glencairn - Troon

WOSFL CONFERENCE A Ashfield - Renfrew Athletic - Maybole Craigmark Burntonians - St Roch’s PDM BUILDBASE Kello Rovers - Ardeer Thistle WEST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE CONFERENCE C Muirkirk - Annbank United Maryhill - Glasgow University

WOSFL CONFERENCE B Carluke Rovers - Port Glasgow Johnstone Burgh - Vale of Leven Vale of Clyde - St Cadoc’s Greenock - Lugar Boswell Thistle Irvine Victoria - Neilston - Forth Wanderers

WOSFL CONFERENCE C

Yoker Athletic - Newmains United East Kilbride Thistle - Glasgow Perthshire - Lanark United - Drumchapel United

St Anthony’s - United

MEET THE OPPOSITION CURRENT TABLES

PDM BUILDBASE WEST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Glasgow university

Nickname: The Uni Formed: 1877 Ground: (groundshare with Airdrieonians) Ground Capacity: 10,101 Manager: Phil Storrier Chairman: Donnie Ferguson Colours: Yellow/Black Last Season’s Finish: 3rd of 12 Caledonian AFL Premier League Website: http://glasgowunifc.wordpress.com

Having played previously in the Caledonian Amateur Football League, the first team joined the West of Scotland League at its PDM BUILDBASE inception along with the former Junior sides for this season. WEST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE CONFERENCE A While based at the Garscube Sports Complex just a mile up the road from Lochburn – plenty of scope for a local derby there! - the first team currently play out of Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium. They can participate in the “big” Scottish Cup as they are full members of the SFA, with their finest hour in the competition to date probably coming in season 1975-76 when they held League side Albion Rovers to a draw at home, narrowly losing the replay at Cliftonhill by 1-0. Glasgow University player William Beveridge made three full international appearances for Scotland from 1879 to 1880. In addition to its main teams which are for current students of the university, there is also a club for graduates, Westerlands AFC, (founded in 1967 and named after the institution's former sports grounds in Anniesland), who play at Garscube and compete in the Caledonian AFL.

Iain

Clarkson

Electrician

07957

188917

HARVEY’S BAR

CAFE D'JACONELLI

Saturday 31st October 2020 Bar as Maryhill failed to score for another game, an unfortunate statistic they’ll no doubt be keen to remedy in their next game West of Scotland League Conference A against Ardeer Thistle.

RENFREW 3 MARYHILL 0 MARYHILL: McRoberts, McEwan, Etherson, Naismith, Martin,

Fitzpatrick, Kennedy, Gray, Wallace, Stevenson, McInally Match Report by Campbell Finlayson

SUBS: Black, Lyden, Meechan, O’Neil, Turner It was a tough afternoon for Maryhill who went down to Renfrew at a blustery New Western Park in their first game in the West of Scotland MAN OF THE MATCH: Jay McInally League.

OPPONENTS’ MAN OF THE MATCH: Jordan Ryan The hosts ran out deserved 3-0 winners but if some controversial decisions had gone the Hill’s way in the second half then Ross REFEREE: Robert Thomson Wilson’s men could have got something from the game.

A footnote to this match report…at the time of writing, the live The previous weekend’s clash with Ashfield had been postponed stream of this game has had 515 views, and 422 copies of the match due to the weather but the eventual start to the season couldn’t programme have been downloaded…although the “new normal” have been much worse as David McKenna capitalised on some for the time being is far, far from ideal, the club and the fans together poor defending to roll the ball under goalkeeper Mark McRoberts seem to have been able to make it work, certainly in the first game. and into the net.

Thank you. Ciaran Diver and Liam McMenamy saw efforts miss the target as ------Renfrew took the game to the Hill with McRoberts forced into another save from a vollet just before half time. MATCH ACTION FROM RENFREW v MARYHILL Renfrew defender Aboubacar Karamoko was lucky not to be shown a yellow card after crashing into Ryan Wallace who caused the defence problems with his direct running.

A Ged Dobbs cross was about all Maryhill could manage in the first half as they struggled to cope with the strong winds that blew against their attacks.

Half Time: Renfrew 1Maryhill 0

It was Renfrew who began the second half strongly as well, and they were only denied by a good save from McRoberts who pushed the ball onto the post before Scott Morton smashed the rebound high over the bar,

Former Hill left back Reece McGillion also forced the keeper into a

Saturday 7th November 2020 save , tipping a free kick over the bar.

West of Scotland League Conference A Maryhill were irate at the referee after two dreadful decisions denied them a way back into the game. Jack Easdon got in behind the MARYHILL 0 ANNBANK UNITED 2 defence and as he tried to lob the ball over Renfrew keeper Danny McLeay, the goalie rushed out of his box and blocked the ball with both hands, and was only shown a yellow card by the referee. Match Report by Campbell Finlayson

The next decision caused even more outrage as substitute Brian Ashe It’s two defeats from two for Maryhill after a disappointing start saw raced into the box to get his shot away only to be taken out by them go down 2-0 to Annbank United at Lochburn Park. Karamoko, but the referee pointed for a corner despite the contact on the Hill forward who had to be quickly replaced by Jamie Gray. After keeper Mark McRoberts missed the ball it was lobbed back across him for Annbank forward Jordan Ryan to head the ball home Seven minutes later the home side put the game beyond any doubt at the far post after just ten minutes and that lead was doubled just as Diver shot down into the ground and up over McRoberts to make two minutes after, with McRoberts fouling an away player in the box it two. before seeing the resulting penalty taken by Ryan fly past him.

Jay McInally was in on goal for the Hill soon afterwards, but the Ross Wilson’s side continued to press for a goal back with Craig Stevenson seeing his shot deflect just over before Wallace shot wide referee pulled play back to give a free-kick, much to the annoyance when through in goal, but they couldn’t find the net and in stead of the players, with Jamie Gray seeing his effort tipped over the bar. Renfrew made it three with Diver tapping home his second deep into stoppage time. Gavin Naismith also tested the keeper after good work from Gray down the left to set him up. RENFREW: McLeay, Karamoko, Gilmour, Callander, McGillion, Morton, McMenamy, O’ Keefe, Dallas, McKenna, Diver Annbank though were still causing problems for the Hill defence and after they failed to clear their lines the visitors saw a shot fly just past the post before dragging another shot wide minutes later. MARYHILL: McRoberts, Browne, Etherson, Martin, O’Donnell (McInally

58) Stevenson, O’Neil, Kennedy, Wallace, Dobbs (Ashe 62) (Gray 74) Easdon Half Time: Maryhill 0 Annbank United 2

MAN OF THE MATCH: Craig Stevenson The second half saw less action, but what it did see certainly saw plenty of drama. It was the away side who were first to threaten, seeing a shot come back off the post within five minutes of the OPPONENTS’ MAN OF THE MATCH: Ciaran Diver restart. REFEREE: Euan Birch Just like the previous week at Renfrew, Maryhill came to life with twenty minutes to play, and were awarded a penalty after McInally was brought down in the box. Ged Dobbs took the ensuing spot kick , but he could only crash to ball off the bar.

The substitute had another effort soon after, but it flew high over the

THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT: ROSS WILSON INTERVIEW THE FUTURE’S RED AND BLACK Thanks to Hill manager Ross for giving us his thoughts on his appointment into the Lochburn hotseat, the club and its future… th February 6 2020 was one of those dreich winter days Glasgow specialises in when Carluke Rovers visited Lochburn – the tail end of Storm Ciara meant that very little attractive football was on offer, and to make things worse the Hill ended up turned over 1-4. Not a day to go down in history.

It turned out it was in a small way though, as on that day the Hill played our last competitive game as a junior club after well over a century under the auspices of the SJFA. A succession of weather-related postponements followed by the COVID-19 pandemic meant that it turned out that we played our last junior game without knowing we were doing so,and consequently were unable to mark it with the sense of occasion it warranted.

However it’s time to look forward to our future in the new setup rather than back to the glory days in the past. Being able to look forward at all is due to the events of last close season when some remarkable people stepped forward to save the club when it was teetering on the brink of extinction.

We can’t name everyone individually, but our kit sponsors Insane Championship Wrestling and The Garage came up trumps as did all our marvellous sponsors who put their hand in their pockets when we needed them most. Thanks also to those who rallied round to volunteer at our great football club, those who helped with the kit and indeed all the innumerable tasks that require done to make sure a game happens every other Saturday.

To Alan Kelly and Kevin Lafferty who started last season as manager and How did you end up at Lochburn and are you happy here? assistant, Gerry McGregor who took the team when the lads left and to our current manager Ross Wilson – all played a part in the continuation of the To be honest it was a strange situation. I was approached to tease out any club, and to our current group of players, along with those who left over the interest in the role and after a number of phone calls and discussions it very course of the long close season – you wear our colours with great pride. quickly became a case of “When can I start?”

To our ever-growing family of season ticket holders and supporters – you’re I’m delighted to be at the club. With so much potential on and off the pitch, the best in the business and you have no idea how much we are looking and the catchment area it covers it really has all the ingredients to go places. forward to seeing you back at Lochburn. And to the current members of the committee – there simply would be no Maryhill FC without you. Maryhill were a successful team not all that long ago. Do you see the glory days returning and what would it take? It’s a modern day wonder that our club is still alive, but our president Tam Drew leads by example and refuses to see the Hill go under. I remember them well – my old PE teacher Ronnie Lowrie was manager for a spell! Growing up in Barrhead I would go along and watch Arthurlie with a few We’ve had some dark days for sure, but thankfully once again as a club we of the boys in the street I grew up on, so I remember the likes of Andy McClay, can look to the future – and with great people like all the ones we’ve Bryan Dingwall and Andy Essler… mentioned on our side it looks bright. Incidentally, from memory my first ever Junior match was in the mid 1990s at Dunterlie where I’m sure Arthurlie and Maryhill played out a 3-3 draw in a midweek game…I could be wrong though! Irvine Meadow are a massive club who should be up there challenging at the top end with the likes of Pollok and Beith, but some massive clubs have a I hope the glory days return or I might be out of a job! Joking aside, the number of folk who are maybe wanting to push their opinions on you or to potential is there and football is changing rapidly. Anything is possible with influence your decisions. the correct mindset and a group pulling in the same direction. The main difference at both Kello and Maryhill in that sense is that the I’m certainly not here to go through the motions. manager has full autonomy over the footballing side of things without having to explain every one of his decisions the following week or potentially having What are your hopes and expectations in this job? a player thrust upon them.

Initially joining the club, the hopes were to make the team a little bit more I’ve heard a few untruths about myself and the state the club was in when I competitive…I think we’ve achieved that, although I recognise that two of left, but in all honesty it was a massive learning curve for me. I made mistakes the results I have overseen so far ended in 2-6 and 1-4 defeats, but the and unfortunately wasn’t afforded the time to rectify them. I players, myself and the rest of the coaching staff accept that defeats of that manner - especially at home – cannot continue. ’m delighted players like Ryan Carnwath and Eddie McTernan went on to prove me right in signing them though. In terms of expectations this is a big club, but we are only as good as our last game. In the dressing room the players know the direction we want to go in, You’ve already turned over the squad in large numbers. Was the job bigger and I’m sure the expectations of our support and our own won’t be too than you first thought? dissimilar. The job was and will continue to be a big job due to the name and history of What do you think of Lochburn – the stadium and facilities? the club.

First class, although the place needs a little bit of TLC which I myself plan on I feel that everyone has been given a chance. Sometimes in football it rolling up my sleeves to help with. I’ve been in worse senior grounds. It’s a doesn’t work out for whatever reason, and sometimes players just need a different ground from most – I’ve played and coached in grounds where the fresh start. All the players who have left, have left with the promise that if I ball literally takes an age to come back, whereas at Lochburn unless you can ever help them they know where I am and I wish them well. kick the ball about 20ft high the ball is coming straight back at you, so both you and the opposition need to constantly be switched on. I went out and brought in bodies who I felt would add to the squad, improve the team and make the club competitive. I believe the players who left will The potential of the ground is massive – these things can’t happen with a go on to do well, but equally that the players who have come in will be very one or two-man band however. Literally anyone interested in being a part of good for Maryhill. this off the park can influence the direction the club travels in as you can really make the place your own. Was there a sense of frustration due to the season grinding to a halt thanks to COVID-19? How does it differ to your time at Kello Rovers and Irvine Meadow? First and foremost, health and well-being comes first. I have personal Again, very different from each of them in some ways and very similar in experience of a health situation dramtically changing within 36 hours and others. Kello Rovers are a fantastic club…I went in there, no pressure, I’m sure I’m not the only one who hopes that as few people as possible are fantastic committee and fantastic group of players – it was almost infectious affected by the pandemic. As a manager, Ross Wilson is definitely frustrated. – my friends really bought into it, my late dad a couple of his mates bought into it. We had been working really hard and well together. Due to the aforementioned changes around the club and thanks to a run of weather- By about September you had a Barrhead/Glasgow supporters’ bus going related postponements we ended up playing a run of five friendlies before down! My only regret from my time there is the manner of my departure, but the season was called to a halt – getting our remaining players and our new I can honestly say that one of the first results I look for on a Saturday is always recruits was the key reason for taking on so many games over such a short Kello’s. space of time.