Junior Football Exhibition in Heritage Centre, Saltcoats

[George Ardrossan]

The Heritage Centre in Saltcoats reopened last week following an eighteen month closure for repair and refurbishment. It is currently hosting an exhibition called Junior Football in North Ayrshire. The opening ceremony was performed by Bobby Lennox who started his footballing career with Ardeer Recreation. All ten North Ayrshire junior clubs - Ardeer Thistle, Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Beith Juniors, Dalry Thistle, Irvine Meadow, Irvine Victoria, Kilbirnie Ladeside, Kilwinning Rangers, Largs Thistle and Saltcoats Victoria - are featured in the displays and video stories.


The exhibition's opening times


An overview of the exhibition


Part of the Winton Rovers display


A Winton Rovers minute book from the 1920s


The Bobby Lennox display

George

[Norrie Ford]

I'm so glad someone has done this. Junior Football was to me enormous. My Team Slatcoats Victoria as a fan was terrific. The crowds were significant basically due to Pubs closing 2:30 until 5:00! I recall my favourite Team being: Paton; McCallum snf McLeish (called Manual at the time as he was a killer!); Murney (Tony) was one of 3 Murney's to play for us - Benny (a Junior International) and Gerry who tragically died here in Melbourne where another Murney 'Hugh Shuggy Murney' has been a legend. Willie Forsyth, Hugh Strain and Geordie Newton were other great players.
My playing Team as a teenager was Dreghorn Juniors a wee boy playing with men but what men!
Anyway good luck with the venture and I'll be over in June to see it.
Best
Norrie Ford

[Hughie]

Thanks for that information, George.

Saltcoats Victoria as a fan was terrific. The crowds were significant basically due to Pubs closing 2:30 until 5:00!

Hi Norrie, there is an old topic on here about Saltcoats Victoria. See it here. The Murney's are mentioned,

[bobnetau]

Does anyone know if there is any mention of the West of Scotland Junior football league cup winners in 1927. Ardeer thistle were the winners and Bobby's dad played in that team.

[Penny Tray]

Does anyone know if there is any mention of the West of Scotland Junior football league cup winners in 1927. Ardeer thistle were the winners and Bobby's dad played in that team.

Netta,

I might be wrong but I don't think Ardeer Thistle won this particular cup in 1927, but they did the two previous seasons.

They drew 0-0 with Kello Rovers in the Final at Kilmarnock on 2/5/1925, and won 1-0 in the replay on 9/5/1925, also at Kilmarnock. The following year they beat Kilwinning Rangers 5-1 in the final at Ardrossan on 15/5/1926.

I hope I'm right .

[bobnetau]

PT, I think you are right. When Bobby told me the year as I was typing it I thought he was wrong.
I think it was 1925 but could be wrong, the medal he had has gone missing.

[Penny Tray]

Netta,

Unfortunately the Glasgow Herald, my source, only gives the results, not the teams.

[bobnetau]

PT, We are pretty sure that it was 1925.
Still wondering if it gets a mention in the exhibition.

[Sarah]

Wonder if brother Charlie gets a mention {Winton Rovers}.

[Penny Tray]

Sarah,

Maybes aye and maybes naw, as Kenny Dalglish might say, but wouldn't it be nice if the organisers provided a book into which visitors could record a player's name or a junior football memory. It's maybe something that could be published at the end of the day?

As a boy, I was brought up to support Ardrossan Winton Rovers and Ayr United, and when Jim McGhie transferred from the former to the latter, I wrote and congratulated him. To my surprise he replied very fully in his own handwriting. Through two different jobs in adult life, I met numerous 'star' footballers but Jim McGhie remains my favourite of all time.

In the meantime, here's a wee mention of your brother:-

http://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=217

[Sarah]

Thanks PT brought back a few memories. Charlie is still around but suffering from short time memory loss
probably not helped with all that heading the ball..ta again..