A rivalry like none other
why you should get your junior football fix this year
Evan Warrander
When one is asked about the footballing culture in Ayrshire, the guaranteed answer consists of the Honest Men of Ayr United and the Blue and White of Kilmarnock competing in the top two tiers of the SPFL.
This rivalry quite possibly challenges Glasgow’s Old Firm with its roots stemming from the town’s differing features and mentalities – Ayr’s selling point of the seaside for people near and far, contrasting with Killie’s heavy inland industrialisation, boasting manufacturers such as Massey Harris Ferguson and Johnnie Walker.
Whenever the two lock horns, it gets the entire region talking, and friends start to become enemies.
Aside from the big Ayrshire two, another rivalry in Burns Country continues to have eyes upon it every time it rolls around.
A trip down the A76 to witness a meeting of junior giants, Auchinleck Talbot and Cumnock Juniors, is sure to enthral you in a historic clash of heated competition and hardy worker-like mentalities passed on from one generation to the next.
The West of Scotland Football League began a fresh new season on 26th July, before the commencement of the SPFL in early August, and a clash between these two sides is one you most definitely have to fit into your calendar.
With their next meeting scheduled for 29th November at Beechwood Park, here is a mini guide to these junior powerhouses’ deep-rooted rivalry.
The ‘Bot and the ‘Nock, as known to their respective fanbases, are separated by a single mile on the B7083 running from one village straight into the other. It looks obvious why the rivalry is intact, but that’s not the end of it.
The people in this part of East Ayrshire were in the thick of the coal-mining boom, seeing the establishment of the Barony, Cronberry, and Highhouse collieries, to name a few, dating back to the mid-nineteenth century.
With prosperous and productive years passing, the cloud of devastation shrouded the surrounding areas’ pits following Thatcher’s neoliberal policies in the 1980s, which triggered the progressive closure of this long-running industry.
The bread-and-butter of the villages’ working-class folks disappeared, driving them to campaign for opposing industrial change, but the local football teams are proving themselves as escapism and optimism for local supporters despite past hardships.
As long-serving Talbot manager, Tommy Sloan, justified it to the BBC in 2019: “There were a lot of local guys in the main that played for the sides, worked down the pits, had a bit of banter all week leading up to the match.”
The statistics of both clubs do not lie. Talbot have 14 Scottish Junior Cups to their name. Cumnock only have three to show, with their most recent triumph in 2023 at the expense of Rutherglen Glencairn.
Friendliness has not always shone through in this rivalry, with media reports in 2011 illustrating “missiles thrown” during a cup clash at Cumnock’s Townhead Park requiring horseback police to intervene.
Speaking from previous experiences, recent clashes between supporters nowadays all seem quite tame in comparison to that infamous showdown 14 years ago.
It is a battle of ninety minutes which the younger generation can feed into their school week and have that banter, with both villages’ high schools merging to form the Robert Burns Academy back in 2020.
When this occasion rolls round, you should brace yourself for a masterpiece of passion, culture, and individuality.
But why should you and the people of Ayrshire take an interest in the junior game?
The usual kick-off time in Scottish Junior Football is 2pm on a Saturday as opposed to the higher divisions’ classic 3pm time, although midweek fixtures can get thrown in now and again.
Auchinleck Talbot, Cumnock Juniors, Troon, Irvine Meadow… the list goes on for teams to whet your appetite whenever you get the chance to attend.
Former Ayr United player and current Girvan boss, Dean Keenan, believes the product at this level can capture the imagination of young supporters in addition to adults.
He said: “There’s a lot of young kids who come and watch our games. They’ve got their own ultras and their drum, which I think has to be encouraged. Every team that we played last year, the opposition had their own ultras group which was brilliant.
“I look at the SPFL and I think the quality has been diluted significantly over the years. What you get for the West of Scotland League, for me, is an honest grade of football. Honest players, coaches, and they can be a bit feisty at times.”
In terms of success stories in the junior game, he added: “There’s some fantastic clubs, and look at how well some of them have done in the Scottish Junior and Senior Cup.
“Clydebank represented the league very well last year, and I’m sure they will do the same in the Lowland League this season.
“I would highly encourage anyone to come and watch junior football, certainly for the working class. I think it’s the perfect alternative.”
With SPFL clubs now hoping to advance with alcohol sales licensing applications, you will not have any trouble getting your hands on a beverage at games at this level. From social clubs to stadium bars, it’s the perfect venue to grab yourself a beer and let the action unfold in front of your eyes.
Finally, here are the top teams and their ambitions to feast your eyes upon for this upcoming season.
Auchinleck Talbot
Starting from the Premier Division, Talbot have been without a league title since being gifted the crown in 2020 in the midst of football’s coronavirus shutdown.
The likes of giant-killing Darvel, Beith, and now-Lowland League Clydebank have proven their worth in achieving that top spot and lifting the trophy since then.
With Junior Cup winners, Johnstone Burgh, looking to follow in the Bankies’ footsteps in the promotion picture, the ‘Bot will be hoping success and trophies can return to Beechwood Park.
The Scottish (Senior) Cup always likes to throw up drama and results that shock the airwaves around the country, and Talbot are no strangers to making that happen.
Knocking out Ayr United in front of the BBC cameras in 2019, and catching out former Premiership side, Hamilton Academicals, in 2021, could Tommy Sloan’s side be given another chance to prove a danger for senior sides?
Kilwinning Rangers
Newly promoted Kilwinning Rangers will want to hit the ground running following their return to Ayrshire Juniors’ topflight for the first time since their 2023 relegation.
With new faces such as Ryan Wallace and Ewan McLevy in the door at Buffs Park, survival and maintaining a place on their return to the Premier Division is a must.
Buffs’ manager, Kevin Kelly, who recently married his new wife Jodie, wants to put more love into his team and nurture the next generation of players.
He said: “We look forward to the challenge of the Premier Division. I feel we have made good signings to get us where we need to be, along with continuing the ethos of the club around progressing younger players.
“The squad have done really well during preseason, applied themselves, and have bought into each other and what we are doing, so it gives us a real solid platform to build from.”
Irvine Meadow
Keeping with North Ayrshire, it is time to focus on Irvine Meadow, who face a second season in the second tier, where they placed lowly in 12th last season, following their Premiership demotion after the 2023/24 season.
A 4-3 preseason friendly victory against SPFL League Two Dumbarton earlier in July was somewhat eye-opening to the fact that Medda could maybe push themselves to compete with teams at that level.
Big ambitions for a title push could be in the offing with the experienced Craig Pettigrew and Ayr youngster Lyall Holding joining the ranks.
When asked about the upcoming year’s prospects, Meadow boss, Jamie McKim, said: “You’ll see a team that is always trying to be positive and try and win as many games as they can through playing positive football. Possession-based, creating lots of chances, scoring goals without conceding.
“Everybody who starts wants to be at the top of the league. We’d be lying if we said otherwise, but we need to build consistency through our game and our football for that, so hopefully we can do that to challenge at the top.”
Whitletts Victoria
Following relegation to Division Two in 2024, Whitletts Victoria fought back to the second tier, finishing runners-up behind Neilston, and hope their experienced ranks can make the difference.
You’ll have heard of Gianluigi Buffon pulling on the gloves past 40, but Vics’ striker and former Ayr United star Michael Moffat is still lacing up at New Voluntary Park, while also stepping into a player-coach role this campaign.
Ahead of the new season in what he calls “one of the most competitive leagues,” manager Grame Neil said: “We are excited about our first division campaign on the back of promotion.
“Every game will bring challenges and difficulties, which I’m sure our squad will embrace. Most players from last season have stayed, and we feel new additions will strengthen us with more depth and competition.”
