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Auchinleck Talbot F.C.

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Nickname(s)
  
The Bot

President
  
Morton Wright

Arena/Stadium
  
Beechwood Park

Ground Capacity
  
4,000

Founded
  
1909

Manager
  
Tommy Sloan

Auchinleck Talbot F.C. httpspbstwimgcomprofileimages7545931274245

Full name
  
Auchinleck Talbot Football Club

Ground
  
Beechwood Park Beechwood Avenue Auchinleck

League
  
West of Scotland Super League Premier Division

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.

Contents

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.

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. 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

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. On 26 September 2009, at a capacity Beechwood Park, Talbot recorded a 7–0 victory in the club's debut Scottish Cup match. 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.

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. 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.

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.

2011–12 Scottish Cup

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.

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 [1]

2014–15 and 2015–16 Scottish Cup

In 2014, 2015 and 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.

Current squad

As of 24th November 2015

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Current

Scottish Junior Cup

  • Winners (11): 1949, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015
  • Runners-up (2): 2002, 2012

    • West of Scotland Super League Premier Division

  • League Champions (5): 2005–06, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
  • Runners-up (1): 2006–07

    • 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 Talbot F.C. Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA