HURLFORD UNITED
OVER A CENTURY OF ‘THE FORD’
Gill Sherry
It’s fair to say, Hurlford United is not having its best season. At the time of writing, the team is sitting precariously near the bottom of the West of Scotland Football League Premier Division – twelfth in a league of 16. Depending how results go elsewhere, it’s possible that five teams could be relegated.
“We reckon we’re one victory away from definitely not finishing in the bottom three,” says Club Secretary, Clark Nicol, “and possibly need to finish twelfth to guarantee that we won’t go down.”
It’s been a frustrating season, and the focus now is all about survival.
“It’s definitely been one of the hardest seasons of recent times. We lost two boys to long-term injuries in pre-season so we’re two men down in the squad.”
Hurlford United is a semi-professional (or junior) team based in Hurlford in the Irvine Valley. The team plays at Blair Park and has been known to do pretty well in cup matches.
“We usually get quite far in the cups. In fact, this season is only the second season since 2013 that we’ve not made it to at least the quarter finals of the Junior Cup.”
I can hear the disappointment in Clark’s voice, but it’s only temporary. Mention of the club’s previous success soon cheers him up.
“Winning the Scottish Junior Cup in 2014 is undoubtedly the club’s highlight. It was Darren Henderson’s first season as manager. We beat Glenafton Athletic three nil at Rugby Park.”
Hurlford United also won the West of Scotland League Cup in 2022. In fact, they were the inaugural winners.
“When you’re the first ever, nobody can ever beat that!”
Clark is obviously proud of the team’s achievements and is equally proud to be involved with the club, having joined the committee in 2018.
“I first watched them in the 70s… I grew up in the village. I used to watch Hurlford until I was old enough to go into town and watch Kilmarnock.”
In addition to Clark, there is a team of people who volunteer their time to ensure Hurlford Union continues to compete.
“Everybody at the club has multiple roles. Billy Minford, an ex-player, is our groundkeeper. He looks after the park and the clubhouse and facilities. His wife, Margaret, manages the bar, organises the catering, and does the laundry and cleaning. Between the two of them they do literally everything at the ground! They’ve lived all their days in Hurlford.”
Formed in 1912, Hurlford United will, therefore, have been a constant presence in their lives. The early history, though, is a wee bit sketchy, as Clark explains: “Before the turn of the century there were several teams in Hurlford. Hurlford produced players that went on to play for Manchester City, amongst others, but we can’t honestly claim they were Hurlford United players.”
It can claim to have several players, though, that went on to play professionally, like Walker McCall (Ayr United, Aberdeen and New York Cosmos) and Ian Bryson (Kilmarnock and Sheffield United).
I imagine there must have been quite a crowd cheering them on at Rugby Park when they won the Scottish Junior Cup. But what’s the average attendance at Blair Park?
“It’s around 300. If we play Auchinleck or Cumnock or Darvel, we could have 500 or 600. Two years ago, we played Cumnock in the quarter finals of the Junior Cup and there was just under a thousand at the game.”
Off the pitch, the club’s annual awards evening is attended by players and supporters alike.
“This year we held it in the bar at the club and then went on to The Thistle pub in the village. The Thistle is owned by the Hamilton family of Hamilton Tarmac. We couldn’t be where we are without the support of Willie and Morean Hamilton, they allow us to compete at the level we compete at. They’re our main sponsors but they’re very much more than that. Willie and Morean support many sports and charities in the village and beyond, they’re very philanthropic.”
Similarly, the club tries to support the village. The school sports day, for example, takes place at Blair Park, and the club is hosting the Ayrshire Primary Finals this year.
For now, though, focus is very much on the WOSFL Premier Division and winning enough points to ensure survival. Fingers crossed!
