Double Wins For Lok

Rab Sneddon arranged two friendlies to give a bit of match practice to the squad's injury returnees. On Tuesday 20th September, Lok played a closed-doors game at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium against a Dumbarton XI, made up of first teamers and untried U19s. Lok won 2-0 thanks to a late Gavin Friels double. The first was a 74th minute header from a Mark McKeever cross from the left while the second came four minutes from full-time when Mark McKeever again played a great cross from the left to Willie Stewart who beat the keeper and Gavin was on hand make sure the ball crossed the line (thanks to Kathryn MacLeod for that report).

Dumbarton: Wight, Ferry, Brittain, Anderson, Gaughan, Young, MacDonald, Connell, Gemmell, Boyle, Allan. Subs: McNaught, Dornan, Boyce, Love.
Pollok: Wilson, Carruth, Cruickshank, McAulay (sub Aitchison 45, sub Jordan 65), Heaton, McClay, McKeever, Haggarty, Smith (sub McGinty 60), Friels, Tinney (sub Stewart 45).

Then on Thursday 22nd September, Pollok secured a three goal victory (4-1) over Lesmahagow, late replacements for Thorniewood United, in another closed-doors friendly encounter, this time at Newlandsfield Park. Rab Sneddon took the opportunity to give run-outs to some of the squad members who have been unavailable to him recently, either through injury or suspension, and will be pleased that all came through unscathed with a Scottish Cup tie with Arthurlie looming.

The opening goal of an entertaining match came in the 30th minute when FRANK HAGGARTY controlled the ball at the edge of the box and hammered home past the visiting `keeper. A minute later and the lead was doubled when the ball was chested into the path of WILLIE STEWART, who struck a fine effort into the net off the inside of the post. `Lok scored their third in the space of eight minutes when Chris Cruickshank crossed for JOHN TINNEY, whose downward header bounced in front of the `keeper before hitting the net.

As is usual with these matches there were multiple substitutions, with six new faces introduced at half-time as well as a rare
appearance from Mark McWilliams after 69 minutes. The deficit was cut four minutes later when Lesmahagow's number 15 was played in at the edge of the box, and he advanced with the ball before lifting it over Ian Wilson to make the score 3-1. Pollok completed the scoring after 80 minutes when a Haggarty shot was blocked by the `keeper into the path of JOHN TINNEY, who had a simple finish for his second goal of the game. Indeed, he would have had a hat-trick had he not skied a penalty over the bar in the 67th minute after Bryan Smith was fouled in the box. Play was brought to a halt five minutes early after the referee briefly consulted with both managers and agreed that it was no longer possible to play in the fading light.

Pollok: Burns (Wilson 46), McAulay (Jordan 46), Cruickshank (McGinty 46), Carruth, Paterson (Heaton 46), McClay, Stewart (McWilliams 69), Haggarty, McLauchlan (McKeever 46), Nelson (Smith 46), Tinney.

Close Season of Changes

Maybe not as many as last year, but there will be and have already been a few comings and goings at Newlandsfield since the end of the 2004-05 campaign. Raymond Logan is the only confirmed departure thus far where he links up with a host of other ex-Juniors in the shape of Chris Robertson (ex-Meadow and Lugar, most recently Hurlford United), Chris Strain (Troon), Paul Hyslop (Talbot), Martyn Campbell (Meadow), and Ian Cashmore (Kilwinning) at Ayr United.

Speaking to the Ayr Advertiser this week, Logie said: "It was a wrench to leave Pollok - they are a big club. I had two or three other options but at the end of the day Ayr seemed the best one for me."

The first new face at Pollok is central midfielder Bryan Smith who joins from Arthurlie. He spent three seasons at Dunterlie after signing alongside four others from Hillwood Juveniles in 2002 and netted a stunning debut goal against Benburb that season. Lok have a new spongeman also, with Donald Todd coming in from Kilbirnie Ladeside after two seasons with them.

Pollok's fixtures up until September are in circulation but they've yet to reach cyberspace. Things that can be confirmed are the Sectional programme will include games against Arthurlie, Neilston, St. Anthony's and Benburb while Lok have drawn Ayr whipping boys Whitletts Victoria at Newlandsfield in the 1st Round of the West of Scotland Cup.

UPDATE: The majority of last year's squad have signed on for the new season. Tne only confirmed departure as of 6/7/05 is Raymond Logan.

How to get to Bellshill

Bellshill moved into a brand new stadium in December 2002, and below are directions to get to New Brandon Park. The directions are from a Petershill fan. Follow the M8 until you get to the turn off for Bellshill, which is the one immediately after you pass the Showcase Cinema at Uddingston, then it's straight downhill (on the B7070) until you come to a roundabout where you turn left into Hattonrigg Road and you just follow this round to another roundabout and you will see New Brandon Park dead ahead, turn left at the roundabout to get into the car park. There is currently no cover.

New signing (2/4/05):
Pollok have signed 24 year old left sided defender Chris Cruickshank from Stranraer where he spent the best part of two seasons. Chris has already played a year in the Juniors after stepping up from Glasgow Amateurs to play for Maryhill in 2002-03. He never played a competitive game at Newlandsfield as he was on the bench for the Pollok v Maryhill match, though he did feature in the return at Lochburn in April 2003, a 3-2 Lok victory - memorable for a long-range Mark McWilliams goal and a late winner from Raymond Logan.
Frank Haggarty Injury Update (7/12/04):
Team manager Rab Sneddon reports that Frank Haggarty today (Tuesday) attended the hospital where the full extent of his injury could be assessed. Unfortunately, the news was terrible. Frank has snapped both medial and cruciate ligaments, and the operations to fix both injuries cannot be undertaken at once.

On Monday, Frank will have corrective surgery on the damage to his medial ligament, and after a period of six to eight weeks, if there is movement in his knee, then surgery on the cruciate ligament will then take place. In total, Frank will be out for a period of at least six to nine months. All concerned at the club wish him well on the road to recovery.

27th November: The inaugural Sporting Dinner was a great success - thanks to all who attended


Ian Wilson and Raymond Logan both played excellently in the recent Junior Scotland trial game v Camelon on Sunday 21st November at Carmuirs Park. The match finished goalless, thanks to Ian.


After receiving a bye, Pollok are at home to Clydebank or Johnstone Burgh in the Central League Cup 2nd Round.

Lok take on Hamilton Accies in a closed doors friendly at New Douglas Park on Tuesday 16th November.

Lok play KELTY HEARTS in the 3rd Round of the OVD Scottish Junior Cup at Newlandsfield in December.

5th September: Kevin O'Neil has left Pollok to sign for Bellshill Athletic. Kevin gave the club the best years of his career, with last season being both his 11th at the club. He had a very successful testimonial dinner in the summer of 2003 with a game against Celtic not long after. As can be seen below, Kevin made over 400 appearances for Lok, and also helped manage the team to Evening Times Cup success last year. Maybe one day in the future, Kevin will return to Pollok as manager. Thanks for all your years of service Kevin, everybody appreciated it.

Kevin O'Neil's Playing Record for Pollok (DOB 16.7.72)
1993-94: 20 starts, 3 sub apps / 2 goals
1994-95: 37 starts / 1 goal
1995-96: 43 starts, 4 sub apps / 3 goals
1996-97: 39 starts, 3 sub apps
1997-98: 39 starts
1998-99 (37): 35 starts, 1 sub app / 1 goal
1999-00 (45): 38 starts, 2 sub apps / 3 goals
2000-01 (44): 39 starts
2001-02 (40): 36 starts / 1 goal
2002-03 (35): 29 starts, 4 sub apps / 2 goals
2003-04 (47): 38 starts, 2 sub apps
total: 393 starts, 19 sub apps, 13 goals (412/13)

And to the future. Pollok clinched the signing of former Dunfermline Athletic, Linlithgow Rose, Camelon, Larkhall Thistle and Cumnock midfielder Mark McKeever, 29, on Monday after he was allowed to quit Townhead Park following Bobby Crilly's shock sacking. Also coming into Newlandsfield is Willie Stewart. 27-year-old Willie is a forward who has been involved as a trialist now for almost a month, and has previously played with Thorniewood United, Cowdenbeath, Forfar Athletic and East Fife.

29th August: The squad continues to be reshaped, with Peter Jordan, 23, having signed after a trial period, and both Willie Stewart (Thorniewood United, Cowdenbeath, Forfar Athletic and East Fife) and David Pinkowski (Celtic) remaining as current trialists.

But Stevie Gayne and Jimmy McPhee have both moved on. Stevie signs for Stagecoach Division One side Kilbirnie Ladeside, while Jimmy also drops down a level to return to his former club Cumbernauld United. Everyone at the club thanks them for their years of service and wishes them well for the future.

Stevie Gayne's Playing Record for Pollok (DOB 18/5/82)
2000-01: DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC
2001-02 (40): 13 starts, 8 sub apps / 1 goal
2002-03 (35): 19 starts, 1 sub app / 2 goals
2003-04 (47): 1 start, 3 sub apps
2004-05 (6): 1 sub app
total: 33 starts, 13 sub apps, 3 goals (46/3)

Jimmy McPhee's Playing Record for Pollok (DOB 13/11/70)
1998-99: LESMAHAGOW
1998-99 (37): 8 starts, 1 sub app / 1 goal
1999-00 (45): 33 starts, 7 sub apps / 4 goals
2000-01 (44): 32 starts, 3 sub apps / 11 goals
2001-02: JOHNSTONE BURGH, CUMBERNAULD UNITED
2002-03: LINLITHGOW ROSE
2002-03 (35): 15 starts, 2 sub apps / 4 goals
2003-04 (47): 35 starts, 6 sub apps / 6 goals
2004-05 (6): 2 starts, 1 sub app
total: 125 starts, 20 sub apps, 26 goals (145/26)

8th August: Brendan Crozier has effectively departed the club to try his luck in America, though should he return to the Juniors, Pollok would be his first port of call. It has also confirmed that Colin Giles is now a free agent and the club wish him well in his future career.

Colin Giles' Playing Record for Pollok (DOB 19/10/80)
1998-99: LESMAHAGOW
1999-00 (45): 20 starts, 8 sub apps
2000-01 (44): 28 starts, 3 sub apps / 2 goals
2001-02: LOCHORE WELFARE
2002-03: LOCHORE WELFARE
2003-04: LOCHORE WELFARE
2003-04 (47): 6 starts, 4 sub apps / 2 goals
total: 54 starts, 15 sub apps, 4 goals (69/4)

Brendan Crozier's Playing Record for Pollok (DOB: 7.10.82)
2002-03: QUEENS PARK, BC Tero Sasana
2003-04 (47): 11 starts, 6 sub apps / 4 goals
total: 11 starts, 6 sub apps, 4 goals (17/4)

4th August: Martin Baker, who joined Pollok less than a year ago as a free agent has re-joined the old management team of Ronnie Lowrie, Martin Baker and Ian Spittal at Maryhill.

Martin Baker's Playing Record for Pollok
2003-04 (47): 22 starts, 6 sub apps
total: 22 starts, 6 sub apps (28)

29th July: Rab Sneddon's fifth summer capture Gavin Friels put pen to paper on Tuesday night after joining from Stagecoach Premier Division side Auchinleck Talbot. The bustling 26 year old forward began his career with Queen of the South before joining Dalry Thistle, but stepped back up Senior with Stranraer and spent three seasons at Stair Park. In the five years Gavin has spent at Talbot since returning to the Juniors, he has regularly found the back of the net and will no doubt go on to do the same at Pollok.
26th July : Pollok have clinched the signing of back-up keeper Robert Burns from Kilbirnie Ladeside. A selection of other clubs that Robert has played for over the years include two spells at Albion Rovers, Largs Thistle, Whitburn and Bellshill Athletic. Jimmy McPhee has agreed to stay with the club and has been removed from the transfer list.

15th July : Since Ronnie Lowrie left and Rab Sneddon took over at Pollok, there have been a number of comings and goings. Kevin O'Neil, Jimmy McPhee and Martin Baker are all up for transfer while Gary Sturrock (Neilston), David Craig (Maryhill), David Hamilton (Hamilton Academical), Drew McWilliams (Irvine Meadow XI) and Brian Wardle (Vale of Leven) have all left. In comes left-sided midfielder John Tinney from Maryhill, right-sided midfielder Frank Haggarty from Bellshill Athletic and central midfielder Derek Paterson from Cumnock.

David Hamilton's Playing Record for Pollok
Midfield
Age 24
DOB: 30.6.80
2001-02: BLANTYRE VICTORIA
2002-03 (35): 33 starts / 5 goals
2003-04 (47): 40 starts, 2 sub apps / 13 goals
total: 73 starts, 2 sub apps, 18 goals (75/18)

David Craig's Playing Record for Pollok
Midfield
Age 23
DOB 20.5.81

2000-01 (44): -
2001-02: UNKNOWN CLUB
2002-03: PETERBOROUGH UNITED
2003-04 (47): 9 starts, 7 sub apps / 1 goal
total: 9 starts, 7 sub apps, 1 goal (16/1)

Brian Wardle's Playing Record for Pollok
Striker/Defender
Age 29
DOB: 20.3.75
2003-04: VALE OF LEVEN
2003-04 (47): 4 sub apps
total: 4 sub apps (4)

Drew McWilliams' Playing Record for Pollok
Striker
Age 29
DOB: 5.12.74
1998-99: RUTHERGLEN GLENCAIRN
1999-00: SHOTTS BON ACCORD
2000-01 (44): 23 starts, 9 sub apps / 15 goals
2001-02 (40): 30 starts, 4 sub apps / 24 goals
2002-03 (35): 17 starts, 5 sub apps / 12 goals
2003-04 (47): 10 starts, 15 sub apps / 3 goals
total: 80 starts, 33 sub apps, 54 goals (113/54)