Auchinleck Talbot F.C.
| Full name | Auchinleck Talbot Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Bot | ||
| Founded | 1909 | ||
| Ground |
Beechwood Park Beechwood Avenue Auchinleck | ||
| Capacity | 4,000 | ||
| President | Morton Wright | ||
| Manager | Tommy Sloan | ||
| League | West of Scotland Super League Premier Division | ||
| 2015–16 | West of Scotland Super League Premier Division, 1st | ||
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Auchinleck Talbot Football Club is a Scottish football club based in Auchinleck, near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Members of the Scottish Junior Football Association, they currently compete in the SJFA West Super League Premier Division, where they are the first club to win the league four years in a row; 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
The club colours are amber and black, as is their badge, which denotes their achievement of winning the Scottish Junior Cup 11 times with as many stars. They play in a local derby against near neighbours and biggest rivals Cumnock Juniors.[1]
History
Auchinleck Talbot was formed in 1909 and are named after Lord Talbot de Maldahide, the man who gave them their Beechwood Park home.
Beechwood Park opened in 1909 with a charity match between The Old Players and The Merchants. Talbot made their team debut the same year when they defeat the juvenile side Highhouse Rangers 4–0. Weeks later they lost their first competitive game at Cronberry Eglinton in the league. Their first win came in September 1909 when they defeat Patna Doon Athletic in their first Scottish Junior Cup tie.
Talbot folded in 1916 due to financial problems and the First World War but made a comeback four years later, winning the Ayrshire Cup by defeating Irvine Meadow 3–0 at Rugby Park. That same year they set a club goalscoring record in the Scottish Junior Cup, defeating Craigbank 11–0 at Beechwood, a scoreline surpassed in 2008 when Talbot beat Nairn St. Ninian 13–1.
The club have won the Scottish Junior Cup eleven times since 1920. They have won the league championship on 14 occasions (eleven Ayrshire League, three West of Scotland Super League Premier Division). They are the only club to have won the Scottish Junior Cup three times in a row. They won the West of Scotland Cup nine years out of ten between 1979 and 1989 under Willie Knox.[2] They won it again in 2013–14.
The club opened a new stand with a friendly match against local Scottish league side Ayr United on 9 October 2005 (the senior side winning 6–2).
In recent era during this managerial reign of Tommy Sloan and Alan McLuckie, Auchinleck Talbot have consistently won trophies which has led many punters comparing the dynamic duo as the Junior football version of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor
Participation in the Scottish Cup
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| First Round | Fort William (h) | 7–0 |
| Second Round | Huntly (a) | 1–1 |
| Second Round Replay |
Huntly (h) | 4–3 |
| Third Round | Stirling Albion (a) | 1–2 |
As holders of the Scottish Junior Cup, Talbot qualified to play in the 2009–10 senior Scottish Cup. The club was drawn at home to Highland League side Fort William.[3] On 26 September 2009, at a capacity Beechwood Park, Talbot recorded a 7–0 victory in the club's debut Scottish Cup match.[4] The goals were scored by David Gillies, Danny McKelvie, Stevie Mallan and doubles from John Boyle and Sean McIlroy. The match also saw three players sent off, Graham Bamber and Andy Martin for Fort William and Mallan for Talbot.[5][6]
Two matches were required to separate Talbot and their second-round opponents Huntly. On 24 October the sides drew 1–1 at Christie Park. Goals from Bryan Slavin and a last-minute equaliser for Huntly from Michele Lombardi earned the Highland team a replay.[7][8] A week later, on Halloween, Talbot beat Huntly 4–3 at Beechwood Park. Goals from Slavin, John Boyle and Steven White gave Talbot a 3–0 half-time lead, but Huntly clawed the score back to 3–2 with seven minutes to go. Danny McKelvie then struck after 86 minutes to make it 4–2 and Huntly netted an injury-time goal, but Talbot held on for the victory.[9][10]
The third-round tie was contested against senior opponents in the form of Second Division side Stirling Albion. Talbot lost 2–1 away, with McIlroy scoring a penalty.[11][12]
2011–12 Scottish Cup
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| First Round | Lossiemouth (a) | 2–1 |
| Second Round | Threave Rovers (h) | 8–1 |
| Third Round | Vale of Leithen (h) | 3–1 |
| Fourth Round | Heart of Midlothian (a) | 0–1 |
Talbot started their cup campaign against Highland League club Lossiemouth with a narrow win.
On 22 November 2011, in the round, Talbot were paired with Scottish Premier League side, and eventual winners, Heart of Midlothian, with the tie to be played at Tynecastle on 7 January 2012. They were narrowly defeated 1–0, with a goal from Gordon Smith in the 84th minute. Around 2,000 Talbot fans made the journey to Edinburgh.[13]
2013–14 Scottish Cup
14 September 2013 Girvan1–5 Auchinleck Talbot
5 October 2013 Auchinleck Talbot 4–0 St. Cuthbert Wand
2 November 2013 Stranraer 2–2 Auchinleck Talbot
Replay
9 November 2013 Auchinleck Talbot 2–3 Stranraer
2014–15 & 2015–16 Scottish Cup
2014, 2015 & 2016 Talbot exited the cup at the early stages after stagnant and lacklustre displays against Lowland league and Junior sides Edinburgh City Cumbernauld Colts and Beith Juniors respectively.
Players and staff
Current squad
- As of 24th November 2015[14]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Coaching staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Tommy Sloan |
| Assistant Manager | Allan McLuckie |
| Coach | Mick McGinn |
Honours
Current
- Winners (11): 1949, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015[15]
- Runners-up (2): 2002,[16] 2012
West of Scotland Super League Premier Division
West of Scotland Cup
- Winners (12): 1947–48, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1988–89, 2013–14, 2015-16
Ayrshire Cup
- Winners (14): 1920, 1939, 1956, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2011, 2012
Ayrshire League Cup
- Winners (11): 1948, 1950, 1978, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012.
Evening Times League Champions Cup
- Winners (3): 2013, 2014, 2016
Defunct
Ayrshire First Division
- League Champions (11): 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1994–95, 1996–97
- Runners Up (4): 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00
Ayrshire District Cup
- Winners (7): 1948, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1992, 1997
Cumnock & Doon Valley Cup
- Winners (4): 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995
East Ayrshire Cup
- Winners (4): 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002
Ayrshire Super Cup
- Winners (5): 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000
References
- ↑ "Auchinleck & Cumnock rivalry runs deep in Ayrshire". Richard Wilson. BBC Sport. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ↑ Auchinleck Talbot on Auchinleck web Archived 8 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Talbot ready for Scottish Cup bow". BBC Sport. 25 September 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ↑ "Fort can't keep Talbot at bay". Scotsman. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ↑ "Scottish Cup: Auchinleck Talbot 7 Fort William 0". Daily Record. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ↑ "Juniors prove a Scottish Cup hit". BBC Sport. 26 September 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ↑ "Huntly 1–1 Auchinleck Talbot". ESPN. 24 October 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ↑ "Scottish Cup second round". BBC Sport. 25 October 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ↑ "Auchinleck Talbot 4–3 Huntly". ESPN. 31 October 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ↑ "Trio book Scottish Cup places". BBC Sport. 31 October 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ↑ "Stirling Albion 2–1 Auchinleck Talbot". ESPN. 28 November 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ↑ "Stirling 2–1 Auchinleck Talbot". BBC Sport. 28 November 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ↑ "Hearts 1-0 Auchinleck". Clive Lindsay. BBC Sport. 7 January 2012.
- ↑ "Auchinleck Talbot Players & Coaches". Auchinleck Talbot Unofficial. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
- ↑ "Scottish Junior Cup: Auchinleck Talbot 2-1 Musselburgh". BBC. BBC Sport. 7 June 2015.
- ↑ "Rose win Scottish Junior Cup". BBC. BBC Sport. 19 May 2002.
