Tuesday 29 September 2009

RYAN DAVIDSON
Profile from Goal_Weekly.com
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Ex Meadow striker Ryan Davidson is now playing for Dandenong Thunder who currently play in Australia's Victorian Premier League and are managed by ex Rangers player Stuart_Munro.

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FULL NAME: Ryan Davidson

BIRTHPLACE: Glasgow, Scotland

BIRTH DATE: 22/9/82

HEIGHT: 180cm

WEIGHT: 11 stone

MARRIED: No

CAR: Audi

OCCUPATION OUTSIDE OF FOOTBALL: Accountant

NICKNAME: Davo

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Hearts

REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS: Played for Scotland Youths 17 times

CHILDHOOD FOOTBALL HERO: Zidane

FAVOURITE O/S PLAYER: Wayne Rooney

FAVOURITE VPL PLAYER: Graham Hockless

FAVOURITE FORMER SOCCEROO: Mark Viduka

FAVOURITE CURRENT SOCCEROO: Scott McDonald

MOST MEMORABLE MATCH AS A PLAYER: Making debut for Hearts at 18

MOST MEMORABLE MATCH AS A FAN: Scotland beating England at Wembley - Don Hutchinson header

MOST MEMORABLE GOAL YOU’VE SCORED: Against Langy last year - 30 yarder in off the bar

EARLIEST FOOTBALL MEMORY: Going to the World Cup Italy ‘90

FUNNIEST MOMENT IN FOOTBALL: Listening to Sterg going on about his glittering NSL career

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Not comin to Oz earlier

WORST INJURY: NONEMOST DIFFICULT OPPONENT: Tuguy

FAVOURITE AWAY GROUND: South Melb

SUPERSTITIONS: None

TYPICAL MATCH DAY MEAL:Chicken pasta

WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS: Touch and passing

WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES: Not sure I have any

FAVOURITE TEAM WHEN GROWING UP: Celtic

FAVOURITE OTHER SPORTS:Horse racing

FAVOURITE OTHER SPORTSPERSON: Roger Federer

FAVOURITE FOODS: Chips and chocolate

FAVOURITE ACTOR/ACTRESS: Megan Gale

HOBBIES: Watchin EPL

FAVOURITE HOLIDAY RESORT: Ibiza

FAVOURITE NIGHTSPOT: Motel

IDEAL DATE: Megan Fox

FAVOURITE TV SHOWS: Home and Away

FAVOURITE MUSIC: Oasis / Dance

FAVOURITE FILM: Pineapple Express

LAST SOCCER SHIRT YOU BOUGHT: Blue Man Utd

FUNNIEST RUMOUR YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT YOURSELF: None

BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON CAREER: Parents

BIGGEST DRAG IN SOCCER: Andy O’Dell training session

FOOTBALL AMBITION: To play for as long as I can

WHICH PERSON IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO MEET? : Alex Ferguson

YOUR TIP FOR THIS YEAR’S VPL: Dandenong Thunder

Monday 28 September 2009

BRORA RANGERS 0 IRVINE MEADOW 2
Active Nation Scottish Cup
Dudgeon Park, Brora
26-09-09
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Goals either side of half-time gave Meadow victory in their first ever senior Scottish Cup tie. Captain Stephen Swift scored Meadow's first in 42 minutes and John Dillon doubled the lead a few minutes after the interval to secure a historic win.

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Meadow Team:



Hewitt, Ryan, Lowing, Swift, Robertson, Hamilton, Strain, Turner, Barr, Boyle, Dillon

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Subs: McGinty for Boyle [60]

Wingate for Ryan [64]

Cuddihy for Barr [83]

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Goals: Swift [42]

Dillon [48]

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Man of the Match: Swift

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Admission: £6

Programme: £1

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Referee: Bryan Braidwood

Assistant 1: John Johnston

Assistant 2: Hugh Duncan


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Thursday 24 September 2009

Transfer News

Derek Wingate has rejoined Meadow from League rivals Pollok while Paul Hyslop has made the opposite move, rejoining his former club in a straight swap deal. Welcome back Dexy and good luck to Paul.
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Monday 21 September 2009

Next Game: Brora Rangers v Irvine Meadow

Brora Rangers v Irvine Meadow
Active Nation Scottish Cup 1st Round
Dudgeon Park, Brora
26-09-09
Kick Off : 3pm
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Another chapter will be added to the proud history of Irvine Meadow next Saturday when the club takes part in the senior Scottish Cup for the first time ever. A round trip of 500 miles awaits as the team and supporters head to the Highlands for the first round match. Already plans have been made with the official supporters bus leaving The Turf at 7am on Saturday morning while some fans are travelling on the Friday to stop off overnight in Inverness. A few hardy fans have even decided to camp overnight in Brora. Hopefully a good support from Irvine will be rewarded with a victory and a chance of a 2nd round tie against league opposition a prospect.
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Dudgeon Park (above and below)


Brora_Rangers_website



Photos thanks to http://nonleaguescotland.co.uk/
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Beith 2 Meadow 1

Beith 2 Irvine Meadow 1

Stagecoach West Super Premier League

Bellsdale, Beith

19-09-09

Meadow suffered another defeat in their league campaign going down 2-1 to Beith at Bellsdale on Saturday. Meadow were dealt a crushing blow as early as the 6th minute as goalkeeper Michael Wardrope was sent off for a challenege on Beith's Jordam Murch as he chased a long, hopeful ball into the Meadow box. Beith striker Andy Reid then stepped up to fire the resultant penalty past substitute keeper Brain Hewitt. Meadow were then as expected pinned back for the majority of the half without really testing the Meadow keeper until the 40th minute when Beith's John Craig turned on the edge of the box and sent over a cross which evaded everyone and ended up in the Meadow net.

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Half-Time: 2-0

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As happened last week at Kilbirnie, Meadow came out for the 2nd half looking a different team and it was hard to work out which team was a man short. The visitors forced corner after corner as Beith struggled to get into the game and it was no surprise when Boyle pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute after constant pressure in the Beith box. Meadow went searching for an unlikely equaliser and threw everything at Beith but the home side held out for a good victory. This really was a Jekyll and Hyde performance from Meadow who need to sort out their discipline if they are to be chasing the honours at the season's end.

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Full Time: 2-1

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Meadow Team: Wardrope, Swift, Lowing, Wild, Robertson, Hamilton, Ryan ,Turner, Barr, Boyle, Dillon

Subs: Hewitt for Wild (6)

Haggarty for Turner (71)

Strain for Haggarty (74)

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Meadow MOTM: Swift

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Referee: Greg Aitken
Assistant 1: Calum Haswell
Assiatant 2: William Dyer
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Admission: £5
Programme: £1
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YouTube highlights thanks to Black and White Dynamite

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More Photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/beith_juniors/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/imxifc/photos/album/301777602/pic/list

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Monday 14 September 2009

Next Game: Beith v Meadow

BEITH v IRVINE MEADOW
Stagecoach West Super Premier League
Bellsdale, Beith
19-09-09
Kick Off: 2pm
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Meadow visit the Garnock Valley for the 2nd Saturday in a row when they play Beith in a Super Premier League match at Bellsdale. This game was originally scheduled to take place on August 22nd but was postponed due to the Marymass Festival. The clubs have already met this season in the Ardagh Cup Semi Final at Meadow Park where Meadow ran out 5-0 winners. Beith however will be out to prove that they are better than that scoreline suggests particularly as they were the only club to do the League double over the eventual champions last season. Saturday's game has all the makings of a classic.
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Arsenal To Play In Junior Cup?

Hugh MacDonald, sports writer with Glasgow based newspaper The Herald wrote a tongue-in-cheek piece about Junior football in his Saturday column (12-09-09). While the article did pander to the stereotypical blood and guts image some people have of Junior football surely nobody would take offence. Well it seems some fans have done just that and have been in touch with The Herald to defend the Junior game's honour. Are they right in doing so or are they being just a bit over sensitive. Judge for yourself ...
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Hugh MacDonald on Saturday – will Arsenal play in the new Emirates Junior Cup?
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Published on 12 Sep 2009
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First, an exclusive.

Arsenal will not play in this year’s Scottish Junior Cup. There had been speculation that the London club would take part as the venerable trophy is now the Emirates Junior Cup. Club and cup thus share a sponsor.
But Arsenal have baulked at joining the tournament, citing fixture overload and primal fear. 
“I know we are called the Gunners,” said Arsene Winder, the club coach, “but we need to be called the 
Anti-Ballistic Missiles before we enter that theatre of conflict, 
I mean, competition.”
As his chairman, Julian Patton, slapped him on the face and told him to be a man, Mr Winder continued: “Would you like to go to Dunipace on a cold night in Tuesday?” Having been informed that no-one would like to go to Dunipace even on sunny days when the money fairy was handing out £20 notes, Mr Winder continued: 
“I came up on a reconnaissance, sorry, scouting mission and watched a Junior match. The teams were very attacking. In fact, I would say they were completely offensive, as were their fans.”
Mr Winder added: “I did not know the F word could be used as a noun, a verb, an adjective, a term of abuse, a term of endearment, as a greeting, as a farewell, and as a snack to be consumed at half-time.”
Mr Winder would not reveal the teams he watched. For legal reasons. But he admitted he has seen DVDs of Junior football. Or snuff movies as they are otherwise known. “Yes,” he said. “I have looked at Kirkintilloch Red Raw, Dundee Violent, Cambuslang Stranglers, Auchinleck Pallbearers, Irvine Madmen and Lochee Harpoonists.
“They have an unusual form of football. As if the ball only is witnessed in an existential sense, as if the game exists as an allegory to life, in that the struggle is all that matters and the result is preordained and unavoidable. That or they are just dirty sods.”
Mr Winder, warming to his theme, said: “In French we say that teams do a good game. These players give the game a good doing.”
Arsenal have been known for using lesser competitions to give youngsters an opportunity but the coach said: “Yes, we do like to blood youngsters, but not literally.”
The youth teams were forced to watch a series of Junior cup ties. One Brazilian youngster, Chic (believed to be named after Charnley of that ilk) was moved by what he saw. He left the room.
“Yes, it was, how you say, an experience for me. But I cannot say that it was a good one. In the favelas we played tough, but this was an affront to all that is good about football This was, how you say, a plook on the face on the beautiful game. If this was football on sand, it would have to be played on Omaha beach in 1944.”
He also revealed that Winder had called for volunteers to play in the tournament. “There was the silence,” he said, though he added it was interrupted by the odd sob. “But Mr Winder has a great integrity. He told the chairman that we were not cowards, just conscientious objectors. And, believe me, I am very conscientious about not playing with these madmen.”
A spokesman for the Junior clubs would not comment officially. But an insider, speaking from Barlinnie where he is serving a sentence for an over-zealous tackle, said: “It is a shame. We were looking for new blood. In fact, we were just looking for blood. But new blood would have been nicer.”
Winder, though, believed his opponents would have been looking for legs, ankles and “how you say, the very upper groin”.
A film buff (he watches movies nude) Mr Winder said: “If Junior football, she was a motion picture, it would be Brigadoon mixed with the Talbot Chainsaw Massacre. The script would be minimalist but the soundtrack would resonate to the hum of snapping tendons. But only such a prospect can exist in the diseased imagination, say that of an Ayrshire centre-half.”
Arsenal have been roughed up in recent seasons by the likes of Hull City and Stoke but Winder said: “This is another level entirely. This is like going from a playground scuffle to a cage match where the referee he is a ravenous lion.”
Fergie, meanwhile, has told Junior clubs to come and have a go if they think they are hard enough.
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You can email your comments to ... sportletters@heraldandtimes.co.uk
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Kilbirnie 1 Meadow 3

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 1 IRVINE MEADOW 3
Stagecoach West of Scotland League Super Premier Division
12-09-09
Valefield, Kilbirnie
Meadow got back to winning ways after 3 defeats in a row but the Champions had to do it the hard way. Meadow were looking to avenge the recent Ardagh Cup defeat against Ladeside and certainly looked a bit more up for it this time. Both teams created chances in the first half without really troubling the goalkeepers but the home team did take the lead in the 38th minute with a cracking shot into the top left corner.
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Half Time: 1-0
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Meadow came out looking more determined in the 2nd half and got the equaliser in the 57th minute when a Richie Barr shot from just inside the box seemed to take a deflection and ended up in the back of the net. This should have settled Meadow but 4 minutes later they were on the end of a shocking refereeing decision. Stevie Docherty who had replaced Gareth Turner at half time challenged for a high ball in midfield. It looked like a solid but fair challenge however referee Barry Cook thought otherwise and stunned everyone in the ground by showing the Meadow midfielder a straight red card a decision that the Meadow management must surely appeal against. Meadow though to their credit used the sense of injustice to their advantage and just 3 minutes later took the lead through a well placed Zander Ryan effort. Again the referee was at the centre of attention when he ordered Meadow coach George Watt from the dugout after allegedly gesturing to a loudmouth in the crowd. Meadow wrapped up a much needed 3 points in the 74th minute when Frank Haggarty found himself in plenty of space to shoot calmly past Ladeside keeper Paul McCann.
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Meadow Team:

Wardrope, Swift, Lowing, Crilly, Robertson, Dillon, Ryan, Turner, Barr, McGinty, Haggarty
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Subs: Docherty for Turner, Wild for McGinty, Boyle for Swift
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Blog Man Of The Match: Haggarty
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Referee: Barry Cook

Assistant 1: John Baillie

Assistant 2: William Dyer

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Admission: £5

Programme: N/A

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More photos: here

Friday 11 September 2009

Brora Rangers v Irvine Meadow


click image to enlarge
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Meadow Squad 2009-10

Irvine Meadow Squad 2009-2010
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Front: Hamilton, McGinty, Wardrope, Robertson, Hewitt, Hyslop, Wild
Middle: McColl (Assistant Manager), Black (Physio), Boyle, McGowan, Crilly, Lowing, Dillon, Jaconelli, Ryan, Smythe (Physio), Watt (Coach)
front: Haggarty, Barr, Dochrty, Strain (Manager), Turner, Strain, Swift
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Photo from: IRVINE_HERALD

Monday 7 September 2009

Next Game : Kilbirnie v Meadow [12-09-09]


KILBIRNIE LADESIDE v IRVINE MEADOW
Stagecoach West of Scotland League Super League Premier Division
Valefield, Kilbirnie
12-09-09
Kick Off: 2pm
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Meadow travel to their North Ayrshire rivals on Saturday hoping to get back on track after 3 succesive defeats including that 1-0 reverse against Ladeside in the Ardagh Cup two weeks ago.
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Sunday 6 September 2009

Meadow 1 Petershill 2

Irvine Meadow 1 Petershill 2
Stagecoach West of Scotland League Super Premier Division
Meadow Park, Irvine
05-09-09
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Meadow suffered their 3rd defeat in a row when they lost 1-2 to Glasgow rivals Petershill in another poor match on Saturday. Paul McBride put the Peasies ahead in 35 minutes when he took advantage of hesitency on the edge of the Meadow box to shoot home off the far post. Neither keeper was seriously troubled for the rest of the first half as Meadow once again ran out of ideas in the final third of the field. Gareth Turner showed the way to goal in the 57th minute to fire a cracking shot home from the edge of the box. Meadow were in control for the first time in the match now and David Hamilton just failed to connect with a superb Turner cross moments later and the ball was cleared for a corner kick. Gradually 'Hill started to come back into it a bit but it was still a shock when James Coulter scored his side's second with a long range shot into the top corner in 70 minutes. Meadow were up against it now and the cause wasn't helped when striker Emilio Jaconelli was shown a straight red card for throwing a punch at the Petershill goalie who some fans thought was lucky to only escape with a yellow card himself. Meadow still looked as if they could sneak a second equalizer but after substitute Frankie Haggarty was also shown the red card for a 2nd booking there was no way back.
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Meadow team:
Wardrope, Ryan, Wild McGowan, Robertson, Crilly, Strain, Turner, Barr, Jaconelli, Hamilton
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Subs used: Dillon, Boyle and Haggarty
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Goal: Turner: 57
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Red Cards: Jaconelli and Haggarty
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Man of the Match: Gareth Turner
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Ref: Iain Craig
Assistant 1: Howard Wilkin
Assistant 2: Peter Hefford
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Admission £5
Programme £1
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Thursday 3 September 2009

Homecoming Scottish Cup draw

Meadow were handed an away trip to the Highlands to meet Brora Rangers in the Scottish Homecoming Cup first round which was drawn today. The game which will be played on 26th September will be Meadow's first ever game in the senior Scottish Cup.
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FACTFILE:
BRORA RANGERS
Formed: 1878 (joined Highland League in 1962)
Nickname: The Cattachs
Ground: Dudgeon Park (above) Colours: Red & White
Highest Attendance: 2000 (v Celtic 1996)
Website:
http://www.brorarangers.co.uk/
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Brora is approx. 250 miles North East of Irvine.
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Wednesday 2 September 2009

Next Game: Meadow v Petershill


IRVINE MEADOW v PETERSHILL

Stagecoach Super League Premier Division

Meadow Park, Irvine

05-09-09

Kick Off : 2pm

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Meadow welcome Petershill to Meadow Park this coming Saturday knowing that a good performance will be needed if we are to get back to winning ways. Petershill got off to a bad start in their league campaign going down 2-4 at home to Arthurlie. Many people thought they would struggle this season as they lost a lot of players during the close season but they have come back well and won their next 2 league games against Lanark Utd and Bellshill to sit 3rd in the league with 6 points from 3 games.

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Recent games between the 2 sides have been very close and both league games last season ended in 1-1 draws. Zander Ryan scored Meadow's goal in the first game at Meadow Park while Andy McLaren, who is no longer with the club scored our goal in the return fixture.

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Petershill currently have 2 ex-Meadow players in their squad, defender Kevin McBride who left Meadow Park to join the 'Hill this close season and striker Stephen McGowan who left Meadow in season 2007-08 to join Neilston before moving on to Petershill.
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FACT FILE:
PETERSHILL FOOTBALL CLUB
Formed: 1897
Nickname : The Peasy
Home Ground: Petershill Park
Colours: Maroon & White
Manager: Stevie Easton
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Petershill have won the Scottish Junior Cup 5 times between 1912 and 1956.
They have also won the West of Scotland Cup 5 times, between 1952 and 2007.
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The 1951 Scottish Junior Cup Final between Meadow and Petershill at Hampden Park attracted
a record crowd of 77,650.
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Tuesday 1 September 2009

Emirates Scottish Cup draw

Meadow were handed an away tie to Bankfoot Athletic in today's Emirates Scottish Cup first round draw. The match will be played on 3rd October with a 3pm kick off.
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FACTFILE:
BANKFOOT ATHLETIC
Ground: Coronation Park
Formed: 1919
Nickname: The Bankies
Manager: Robin Wood

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankfoot_Athletic_F.C.

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The Bankies currently play in the Whyte & Mackay East Region league.
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Coronation Park photo thanks to http://nonleaguescotland.co.uk/
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Full Emirates Scottish Cup draw:
Johnstone Burgh v Lochee Harp
Harthill Royal v Camelon
Bellshill Athletic v Culter
Glenafton Athletic v Kilbirnie Ladeside
Stonehaven v Livingston United
Lossiemouth United v Arbroath Victoria
Newmains United v Banchory St Ternan
Oakley United v Sunnybank
Inverness City v Kelty Hearts
Kirkcaldy YM v Jeanfield Swifts
Troon v Benburb
Beith v Cumbernauld United
Rutherglen Glencairn v Luncarty
Pollok v Kirriemuir Thistle
Greenock v Whitburn
Scone Thistle v Parkvale
Edinburgh United v Penicuik
Aberdeen East End v Shettleston
Whitehills v Forfar Albion
Lugar Boswell Thistle v Glenrothes
Kinnoul v Hill O' Beath Hawthorn
Bankfoot Athletic v Irvine Meadow XI
New Elgin v Auchinleck Talbot
Bonnyrigg Rose v Dunbar United
East Kilbride Thistle v Cruden Bay
Crossgates Primrose v Dufftown
Spartans v Larkhall Thistle
Largs Thistle v Coupar Angus
Hermes v Whitletts Victoria
Banks O' Dee v Blantyre Victoria
Dundee East Craigie v Carnoustie Panmure
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Scottish Junior Cup : New Sponsors

EMIRATES Airlines were today (1st September) unveiled as the new sponsors of the Scottish Junior Cup.
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Full Story ...
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