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Pollok Football Club is a Scottish football club based in Newlands in the southside of the city of Glasgow. The club competes in the West of Scotland Football League and are one of the biggest football clubs operating in Scottish non-league football, regularly attracting crowds of around 700.[2] Pollok play at Newlandsfield Park[3] and wear black and white stripes.[4] Their traditional rivals are Arthurlie of Barrhead.[5]

Pollok

Full name	Pollok Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Lok
Founded	1908 (111 years ago)
Ground	Newlandsfield Park, Newlandsfield Road, Glasgow, G43 2XR
Capacity	874 (All Standing)[1]
President	Graham Milne
Manager	Vacant
League	West of Scotland League Premier Division
2021–22	West of Scotland League Premier Division, 3rd of 20
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours

History

Formed in 1908 as an offshoot of Poloc Cricket Club[6] and based at a ground called Haggs Park within Pollok Estate until 1926, Pollok were one of many average clubs in Junior football in Glasgow. The club eventually rose to prominence upon the demise of Third Lanark in 1967 with many supporters opting to support Pollok, being in close proximity on the south side of Glasgow. Pollok eventually became champions of the Central League in 1978–79, and won their first major honour, the Scottish Junior Cup in 1980–81. Pollok have since gone on to win the Junior cup a further two times, in 1984–85 and 1996–97.

SJFA West Region (2002 - 2021)

Junior football in the west of Scotland was restructured in 2002, amalgamating the Central and Ayrshire leagues to form the West Region. Prior to this Pollok had been champions of the Central league eight times. The top league of the new set up was the West Premier League which Pollok have won four times.

Beginning in the 2007–08 season the SFA began inviting the winners of the four major Junior honours (Scottish Junior Cup, West Premier League, East Super League, & North Premier League) to take part in the Senior Scottish Cup. Pollok were reigning champions of the West Premier League at the time, and took part in the 2007–08 Scottish Cup. In the 1st round 'Lok were drawn away against St Cuthbert Wanderers of the South of Scotland League. The match took place at St. Mary's Park, Kirkcudbright with Pollok winning comfortably by 6 goals to 2. Montrose of the Third Division were to be Pollok's opponents in the second round. Pollok performed admirably against the Scottish League club, achieving a 2–2 draw at Links Park. In the replay at Newlandsfield 'Lok were not as successful and lost 1–0.[7]

The following year saw Pollok once again crowned West Premier League Champions. At the start of the season they were eliminated in the second round from the 2008–09 Scottish Cup by Edinburgh-based East of Scotland team Spartans. At the end of the season Pollok had a chance once again to retain their West Premier League championship but lost the last league game of the season away to Auchinleck Talbot by failing to defend a 1–0 lead in the last eight minutes. Having exited the Scottish Junior Cup at the semi-final stage for the second year in a row, manager Jim Sinnett promptly resigned after the game.

2009–10 did not go well for Pollok with an early exit in the Scottish Junior Cup away to Newtongrange Star.[8] In March 2010 manager Rab Sneddon resigned for work reasons[9] and was succeeded by Willie Irvine.[10]

Season 2010–11 saw Pollok suffer a shock exit at home to Neilston Juniors in the Scottish Junior Cup.[11] Season 2011–12 saw Pollok lose four of their opening seven league fixtures,[2] prompting Willie Irvine to tender his resignation on Monday, 10 October 2011.[12] His eventual replacement was John Richardson,[13] who kept the club in the top flight after a relegation play-off against Renfrew.[2] Season 2012–13 saw Pollok win both the Central Sectional League Cup and the Central League Cup as well as narrowly avoiding relegation for the second year running. Only three players were retained from the previous season for 2013–14. This season was a disaster for Pollok. The club was embroiled in many off field controversies and had four different managers throughout the season.

Tony McInally, was appointed as manager in December 2013 but Pollok were finally relegated on 28 April 2014 with a 3–2 loss to Glenafton Athletic.[14] Under McInally, Pollok were promoted as Champions the following season and won the Evening Times Champions Cup.[15] The club reached the final of the 2015–16 Scottish Junior Cup but lost to Beith Juniors on penalty kicks after a 1–1 draw.[16]

In 2016, the club briefly received widespread media attention after right-back Tam Hanlon scored a hat-trick of long-range goals (two free kicks and one from open play) in a match against Neilston. The feat was captured on video and quickly went viral, being viewed millions of times and leading international players and pundits to praise the quality of the goals.[17]

Pollok won the 2017 West of Scotland Junior Cup, with a 5-4 victory on penalties against Cumnock Juniors after the match in front of over 1000 spectators at Newlandsfield had ended with the scores level at 2-2.[18]

Pollok lifted the Central League Cup in June 2018, after a 3-1 win against Cumbernauld United in Shettleston[19] before Tony McInally departed Newlandsfield in October 2018.[20] and was replaced shortly after by Murdie MacKinnon, who had previously served as assistant manager.[21]

In March 2020, Pollok played their final match as a junior club when they defeated Dalry Thistle 2-1 in the West of Scotland Cup.[22] The next round was due to be played the following week against Irvine Meadow, but that tie was postponed before all remaining league and cup matches were cancelled by the SJFA due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[23]

West of Scotland Football League & SFA Membership (2021 - )

In 2020, Pollok moved from the SJFA, to join the pyramid system in Scottish football as one of the inaugural members of the West of Scotland Football League.[24]

On 11 October 2020, the club announced they would not be participating in the inaugural season of the West of Scotland League due to concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, citing safety of volunteers and players, and the financial impact on the club of pursuing a campaign with no matchday income, as the main reasons.[25][26][27]

In July 2021, Pollok played their first competitive match as a senior side when they began their inaugural West of Scotland Football League Premier Division season with a 5-1 win at home to Blantyre Victoria in front of a crowd of 500, as full stadiums were not yet permitted under COVID-19 restrictions. Pollok's first goal at this level was scored by Adam Forde, with further goals from Ryan McGregor, Shaun Fraser (x2) and new signing Matty Grant.[28] As members of the West of Scotland Football League, Pollok also made their debut in the South Challenge Cup in October 2021, beating Vale of Clyde in a 4-0 win at Fullarton Park in Glasgow's East End.[29] After a 38-game season, Pollok finished their maiden campaign in third place. The club were also accepted as members of the Scottish FA on the 25th May 2022, allowing them to enter the Scottish Cup the following season.[30][31] On the 19th June, Pollok confirmed via their website that they would not renew their SJFA membership.[32]

In August 2022, Pollok returned to the Scottish Cup for the first time since 2008 with a 6-0 win at home to Girvan in the 2022 - 23 Preliminary Round.[33] They then repeated this scoreline in the following round at home to Highland League side Huntly.[34][35] They followed this up with a 4-3 win at home to Annan Athletic in the second round in front of the BBC Scotland cameras.[36][37][38] This represented the club's first ever victory against SPFL opposition.

Former players

On settling the Intermediate dispute in 1931 Pollok sold the following players to senior football: J.McBride, J.Robertson and R.Griffiths to Chelsea; Charlie M. Thomson to Sunderland and T.Armstrong to Airdrieonians. Other Pollok players who have also played in the Scottish Football League or Football League include Brian Bilsland, Kevin Budinauckas, Ross O'Donoghue, Craig Cranmer and Danny Diver. Former Pollok striker Dougie Arnott achieved Scottish Cup success with Motherwell.[39] Players who have moved up to senior level from Pollok include John Sweeney – former Clyde Captain, Arbroath keeper Scott Morrison, Airdireonians assistant/player Paul Lovering and Albion Rovers defender Ross Dunlop.

More recently, Hartlepool United midfielder Mouhamed Niang made 30 competitive appearances for Pollok from 2017–2018 having made the step up from the Pollok United Soccer Academy.[40][41] Winger Matty Grant also spent a year with the club before moving to League 2 Stranraer in 2022.[42]

Stadium

Pollok play their home games at Newlandsfield Park in the Newlands area of Glasgow, a ground they have used since the 1928–29 season. The stadium has a capacity of 874, and is entirely made up of terracing.

Pollok's first ground was at Haggs Park in the Pollok Estate, but they were forced to move out in 1926–27 as Glasgow City Council wanted the land for school pitches. After playing temporarily at Rosebery Park and the Queen Mary Tea Gardens at Speirsbridge (in Thornliebank), they acquired Newlandsfield Park, which has been their ground ever since.[43]

In January 2022, the club received planning permission to install floodlights at Newlandsfield.[44][45] These were installed and switched on for the first time in April 2022. [46] The first match played under the lights was a 1-0 victory against Clydebank in the WoSFL Cup quarter final in May 2022.

Current squad

As of 30 October 2022 [47]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  SCO Jordan Longmuir — GK  SCO Josh Lumsden — DF  SCO David Brownlie (captain) — DF  SCO Craig Menzies — DF  SCO Scott Rumsby — DF  SCO Sean Burns — DF  SCO Mark Sideserf — DF  SCO Fraser Mullen — MF  SCO Evan Horne — MF  SCO Dylan Dykes — MF  SCO Ryan Watters — MF  SCO Chris Duff

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  SCO Robbie Buchanan — MF  SCO Ryan Sinnamon — MF  SCO Gary McCann — MF  SCO Darren Christie — MF  SCO Derek Esplin — MF  SCO Shaun Fraser — MF  SCO Jonathan Lyon — MF  POL Kamil Krol — MF  SCO Darren Miller — FW  SCO Stuart McCann — FW  SCO Adam Forde — FW  SCO Stephen Docherty

Players on Loan

• Ross Shaw (Vale of Leven)

Coaching staff

As of 14 November 2022[48]

Role	Name
Manager	Vacant
Assistant Manager	Budgie McGhie
Coach	Ian Penman
Coach/Data Analyst	Ryan Dakhil
Goalkeeping Coach	Billy Kerr
Physio	Ashley Barr
Kit Controller	David Mason

Honours

Scottish Junior Cup

• Winners: 1980–81, 1984–85, 1996–97
• Runners-up: 1985–86, 1997–98, 2015–16

SJFA West Premier League

• Winners: 2002–03, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08

SJFA West Super First Division

• Winners: 2014–15

Other honours

[49]

• West of Scotland Cup winners: 1944–45, 1986–87, 1991–92, 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2016–17
• SJFA Supercup: 2003–04, 2005–06
• Central League Premier Division winners: 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1990–91, 1994–95, 1995–96
• Central League champions: 1978–79, 1980–81
• Central League A Division winners: 1980–81
• Central League B Division winners: 1968–69, 1978–79
• Glasgow Junior Cup: 1941–42, 1953–54, 1961–62
• Glasgow Dryburgh Cup: 1930–31, 1941–42, 1948–49
• Central League Cup: 1977–78, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1987–88, 1989–90, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2015–16, 2017–18
• Central Sectional League Cup: 1983–84, 1987–88, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2012–13
• Evening Times Cup Winners Cup: 1979–80, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1987–88, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2014–15

Notable players

• Dougie Arnott – Motherwell
• Fraser Wishart – Motherwell, St Mirren, Rangers, Motherwell
• Gary Clark – Falkirk, Sliema Wanderers, Hamilton Academical
• Ian Spittal – Partick Thistle, Stranraer, Clyde
• Robert Prytz – Malmö, Rangers, Sweden
• Bobby Collins – Celtic, Everton, Leeds United, Scotland
• Sandy Stewart – Hearts, Airdrieonians, Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle
• Danny Diver – Kolding IF, RC Tournai, Ayr United, Hamilton Academical, East Stirlingshire
• Chic Charnley – Hamilton Academical, Djurgårdens IF, Partick Thistle, Bolton Wanderers, Hibernian
• Andy McLaren - Dundee United, Reading, Kilmarnock, Morton, Scotland
• Carlo Monti - Morton, Dundee
• Grant Evans - Hamilton Academical, Morton, Airdrieonians, Dumbarton

Managers (1984–present)

• Dick Brock (April 1984 – 1989-90)
• Tommy Reynolds (1989-90 – 1992-93)
• Jim George (1992-93 – 1994-95)
• Jim O’Donnell (1995-96 – June 1998)
• Andy Dailly (June 1998 – Mar 1999)
• Ronnie Lowrie (Mar 1999 – Apr 2004)
• Kevin O’Neil / Frannie McNeill (caretaker management): (April 2004 – June 2004)
• Rab Sneddon (June 2004 – June 2008)
• Jim Sinnet (June 2008 – April 2009)
• Harry Erwin / Mark McWilliams (caretaker management): (April 2009 – June 2009)
• Rab Sneddon (May 2009* – Feb 2010) (*took control for season 2009-10)
• Willie Irvine (March 2010 – October 2011)
• John Richardson (November 2011 -September 2013)
• Stephen Docherty (October 2013 – December 2013)
• Tony McInally (December 2013 – October 2018)
• Murdo MacKinnon (October 2018 – November 2022)

[50]

References

External links

• Official website
• Fans forum

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