Carloway F.C.

Carloway F.C.

Full name	Carloway Football Club
Nickname(s)	The 'way, Na Gormaich
Founded	1933
Ground	Cnoc a' Choilich, Upper Carloway, Carloway, Isle of Lewis, HS2 9AL
Chairman	Calum Iain "Cobby" MacLeod
Manager	Peter MacDonald
League	Lewis and Harris Football League
2013	Lewis and Harris Football League, 1st

Carloway Football Club is an amateur football club located on the Isle of Lewis, in the Western Isles of Scotland. The club plays in the Lewis and Harris Football Association competitions. They have a team in the Lewis and Harris Football League and also the Acres Boys Club Cup, Jock Stein Cup, Lewis Cup, Eilean an Fhraoich Cup, Co-op Cup and the Highland Amateur Cup.^[1]

Club History

Pre-war

Football in Carloway can be traced back to 1920, on the initiative of veterans returning from World War I. Four teams were formed and matches were played on a fairly flat piece of ground at Altan Feirigro in the Garenin township of the district. Gradually matches against opposition from further afield, such as Bragar, Shawbost and Tolsta Chaolais, were introduced as interest in the sport grew. Results of these matches are not known, although, with Carloway able to field four teams and the fact that they owned their own football, it is reckoned that they were able to give a good account of themselves.

It would be fair to say that Rev. Murdo Macaulay (Murd a’ Bhraisich) was one of the founding fathers of football in the area. Footballing skills and awareness of team tactics imported by him and contemporaries from The Nicolson Institute in Stornoway, was imparted to the enthusiastic locals. This led to the formation of Carloway Football Club and ambitions to play matches beyond the immediate locality.

The limitations of the field at Altan Feirigro were obvious and, following fundraising activity, tenders were invited to construct a pitch across the river from Cnoc a’ Choilich. This was probably the only piece of flat ground of the required size in the area. The contract for £100 was awarded to Murd’s brother, John (An Ciumbal), assisted by Finlay Macdonald (Fionnlagh a’ Stiullaich) and the area was cleared and a pitch created.

Before the pitch was completed, Carloway F.C. entered the fledgling Eilean an Fhraoich Cup in 1933, and were drawn away against Uig in the first round. The Club’s first competitive match was, therefore, at Reef. Although the team played well, unfortunately they were defeated by 2 goals to 1.

The pitch was completed in 1935, the goal posts erected and goal nets made specially by Murd were hung. Then followed what was the first case of the classic and enduring dilemma for Carloway – a good pitch but a weakened club. It took some time to recover and they only played in another two Eilean an Fhraoich Cup campaigns before World War II resulted in a suspension of football in the island.

Post-war

When the League resumed in 1946, Carloway entered the tournament for the first time, however, competition was stiff and Point and Back reigned supreme. In these early post-war years, the team had some outstandingly talented individuals, some of whom had learned their trade on active service, people such as Angus ‘Massey’ Macaskill, Calum Murdo Seonag (Eno) and Norman ‘Tiger’ Macarthur (so-called because of the similarity of his play to the great Rangers left back Jock "Tiger" Shaw), Jackie a’ Laochan, Calum a’ Bhraisaich and Iain Beag Mhurd. For the first time, but certainly not the last, there was also the important contingent from the Breaclete/Callanish area and players such as Donnachadh a’ Bhodaich, Murdigan a’ Phrobhaist, Murdo C, Iain and Calum a’ Bhiodachan and Alex a’ Bhlouse.

In 1950, Carloway formed a short-lived alliance with Shawbost and other villages on the West side of the island and entered the league as Western Thistle. This was not a success and they dropped out altogether in 1951 to attend to the pitch, which by this time was showing the signs of the neglect of the war years. For the second time a contract was made to renovate, re-drain and re-turf the pitch. The work was undertaken by Donald Macdonald (Dollan Seonag) and the new pitch was officially opened in July 1951, with a match against Athletic (which was lost 2-1). Dressing rooms were a luxury that no Lewis club could afford in those days and players would wash off in the river or at the Doctor’s surgery or at the nearby Drill Hall.

First cup success (1952-1957)

In 1952, complete with their new pitch, Carloway re-entered the League, and drew 3-3 with Rovers in the first match. However, results got worse and the Club was anchored at the bottom of the league in August. After eventually overcoming Athletic in a much replayed tie, Carloway made it to their first cup final. The match was against Point, the newly crowned champions and although they were firm underdogs, Carloway got stuck in from the kick off and ended up winning the Stornoway Cup by a remarkable score of 5-1.

The period from 1955 to 1957 was undoubtedly the high point of success for Carloway, a time when it was rare for a cup final to be played without our involvement. The Club reached the final of the Eilean an Fhraoich Cup three years running although, alas, all three finals ended in valiant defeat. In 1956, the D’Oyle Carte Cup and the Tormod Mor Tankard were won with a 5-1 hammering of league champions Back and a 4-1 defeat of Point respectively. The following year, Carloway beat Stornoway United 1-0 to win the Stornoway Cup.

After the euphoria of their first cup win and this golden era, Carloway kept plugging away without success, due, in the main to the perennial problem - their boys were away at sea, at the whaling, at the sugar, at the Nicolson Institute, University, in fact, anywhere but at home. The team dropped out of the league in 1965

The Wilderness Years

After a thirteen year absence, Carloway Football Club re-entered the Lewis and Harris Football League in 1978 and have competed in the League every season since, with the exception of 1998, when only the Eilean an Fhraoich Cup was entered. A number of new faces took on the mantle of running of the Club in 1978, including Jimmy Craigie as team manager, Calum Iain "Cobby" Macleod and Calum Iain Macleod as Chairman and Secretary respectively and Donald ‘DD’ Macleod as Treasurer and Club representative. Every spare moment seemed to be spent fighting the Club’s corner and ensuring that the best possible team was fielded, and the Club is indebted to them for their contributions.

1980s

Between 1985 and 1989, a further four cup finals were reached. Unfortunately, each one was lost and the wait for silverware continued. In 1985, the outstanding Ness team were 1-0 victors in the Lewis Cup Final, while Pointed edged out Carloway 2-1 in the Jock Stein Cup Final the following year. 1988 saw the team reach the Jock Stein Cup Final again, only to lose 3-0 to Athletic, while in 1989 Ness scored seven without reply in the Lewis Cup Final. It should be pointed out, however, that Carloway’s talismanic goalkeeper Angie "Spike" MacIver played on despite a fractured hand, an injury sustained saving a fierce shot early in the match.

1990s and the refurbishment of Cnoc a' Choilich

Carloway did finally secure a trophy in 1990, in the form of the Autumn Cup, an end of season competition for teams occupying the lowest four positions in the league. Perhaps not the most sought-after trophy, however, a 3-1 victory over Harris offered some tangible reward for their efforts. It may also be no coincidence that the team manager was DR Macleod, a star of the successful 1950s teams. He had taken over as manager from Jimmy Craigie in 1987 and continued to serve the Club for many years as a committee member.

The Club was unable to build on this result as, the following season Shawbost re-entered the league after a long absence. This move undoubtedly weakened Carloway’s position, given the number of players lost to this team. On the positive side, the efforts of the committee and others to provide a suitable pitch paid off and resulted in Cnoc a’ Choilich being transformed once again, from a rush-ridden, bumpy playing area to a state of the art surface the envy of many throughout the island and beyond.

The excellent new pitch was first played on in June 1991 in an Eilean an Fhraoich Cup fixture with Harris, which saw an inexperienced home side beaten 6-0. In the following month the Rangers Under 18 team played Carloway and officially opened the new park. The Club’s fortunes in the league continued to see them occupy the lower placings more regularly than not, although mid-table respectability was also achieved on occasions. The simple fact was that were just not enough young men in the area who were available to play regularly throughout a season and even fielding 11 players was a challenge at times.

In 1999 the club reached the final of the Eilean an Fhraoich Cup, knocking out Lochs 10-9 on aggregate, after extra time in an epic semi final. As their predecessors had done before them, the Club mounted a very strong challenge but were eventually beaten 4-2. That season also saw Carloway play its first competitive ‘overseas’ match when the Club was drawn to play in Benbecula in the fledgling inter-island cup competition the Co-op Cup.

Due to a number of circumstances, travelling arrangements didn’t go to plan and a number of players ended up crossing the Sound of Harris in a vessel more suitable for transporting sheep! A local bus operator had to be found at the last minute to take the boys onwards to Liniclate, where they arrived in the nick of time to fulfill the fixture. Meanwhile, the Club captain Graeme ‘Windy’ Miller had flown from Glasgow to make the match, but ended up watching the first half of the game from the air as the plane was unable to land on schedule due to the weather conditions. The result seems irrelevant, but, for the record it was 3-1 to Benbecula.

New changing rooms

In the late 1990s, the committee led by Calum ‘Cobby’ Macleod and John ‘Brooks’ MacDonald, with valuable assistance from a number of players and supporters, persevered and initiated plans to develop dressing rooms to complement the pitch and to attract more players to the Club. Carloway Football Club completed the next phase of the overall development of the site in late 2000 by erecting the pavilion adjacent to the existing playing area. This was made possible with financial backing from Sportscotland, the Local Authority and the Local Enterprise Company. It incorporates changing and showering rooms for two teams and officials, a sheltered spectator area, toilet facilities for players and spectators, and an equipment store.

2000s

Over the next few years, many of the stalwarts who served the Club so well over a number of years were gradually replaced as a new crop of younger players began to emerge to take on the challenge. Players such as, but not exclusively, Norman "a’ Ghuilc" MacLeod, Angie "Spike" MacIver, Neil "Spike" MacIver, Donald "Beag" MacKay, Iain "Biodach" MacKay, Murdy "Tago" MacIver and Graeme "Windy" Miller all served Carloway with distinction.

Despite a mediocre league campaign, the team of 2007 managed by Angus "Dee" MacArthur, reached the final of both the Jock Stein Cup and the Lewis Cup, where they met the all-conquering Lochs side and were beaten 4-0 and 4-1. However, the team was showing signs of promise and it proved to be the springboard to achieving a Club-record equalling third place finish in the league and a quarter final berth in the Highland Amateur Cup in 2008, for a squad now led by Peter "Dokus" MacDonald.

The following season began with higher levels of optimism and expectation on the shoulders of the management and playing squad. After a winless April, the season was kick-started with a sensational come-from-behind 5-4 away victory at Back. However, the absence of several key players throughout the season ensured a constantly changing line-up and fluctuating results were recorded. Despite this, the Club did manage to achieve 8 victories in succession in the league, propelling them into championship contenders. Unfortunately, defeats at the hands of Point and Lochs in the last three matches resulted in Carloway coming up just short and being deprived second place only by goal difference. Promising youngsters such as Kenny "Beag" MacLennan, Dan Crossley, Seumas Macleod and D.I. MacLennan were emerging from the junior ranks and bolstering the playing squad.

The Club again reached the Jock Stein Cup final in 2009, and again they faced Lochs and a crushing 7-0 defeat was inflicted by the champions. As previous squads had done before them, the players licked their wounds and focused on the next opportunity for silverware. Exactly a month after their Jock Stein Cup mauling, Carloway produced an excellent display in the Lewis Cup semi final to knock out Lochs 2-1 on their own turf. It also brought an end to Lochs’ amazing seven year grip on the trophy.

The Cup final was switched to Garrabost at the last minute following poor weather in the lead up to the match. Carloway raced into a 2-0 lead through a Gordon ‘Tago’ MacDonald brace. The huge Carloway support in attendance was just starting to believe that the trophy would be heading for Cnoc a Choilich when Back scored twice to force extra time. Alas, Back ran out 5-2 winners after extra time in gut-wrenching circumstances and farcically dark conditions by the final whistle.

2010s

Following the painful end to the previous campaign, the 2010 season began well and the Club lost only 1 of its first 12 matches, including being undefeated in the first 8 league matches. However, injuries and player unavailability continued to hinder team selections and the following 12 matches produced just 4 wins, leaving the Co-op Cup as the last opportunity for success. The final of that tournament was reached, after successive penalty shoot-out victories over Lochs and Point. Ness were beaten 2-0 in the semi final and local rivals West Side lay in wait in the final.

Yet again, this was a tale of what might have been as, despite Carloway dominating territory and possession, were not incisive enough in the final third and they failed to convert their chances and were ultimately defeated by 3 goals to 1.

At the end of the season, after 3 years in charge, Peter ‘Dokus’ handed the reins over to his assistant Kevin Anderson. Kevin inherited a team that he knew well and had been working with for a number of years. He also brought in former club captain Graeme ‘Windy’ Miller as his assistant. Five cup finals in the past four years indicate that the Club has been progressing and continuing to knock on the door.

The start of the 2011 season, under the new regime, saw the club perform strongly in the league and, strangely, comparatively poorly in the Cup competitions. Carloway were the early league pace setters after five victories from their first five fixtures. This included a 4-1 victory over reigning champions Lochs. However, they had also been knocked out of two Cup competitions by then. A horror 20 minute spell against title rivals Back resulted in a painful 7-2 league defeat, after twice taking the lead in the match, and seemed to signal to many that Carloway were not ready to mount a serious challenge for the league.

The club took this setback on the chin and, having already disposed of Lochs in the Highland Amateur Cup, proceeded to record two excellent results in the open draw stages that competition to put them in the semi finals for the first time ever. A 4-0 defeat of Caithness outfit Castletown at neutral Fortrose was followed by a 5-1 success over Orcadian champions Kirkwall Rovers at Maryburgh. Carloway also reeled off a further five victories on the spin in the league to have a record of ten wins in eleven matches.

Perennial Highland Amateur Cup specialists Avoch were drawn in the semi final and ran out worthy winners, despite a huge effort from those in blue. Carloway lost 3-1 to the eventual champions.

In the league, Carloway were narrowly beaten in their next two league fixtures. The title challenge was, therefore, over but Carloway ran Back all the way and can be proud of their efforts and a first ever league runner-up placing.

Having mounted such a strong league challenge and progressed in the premier cup competition in the Highlands and Islands in 2011, as well as a having a settled squad, there was cause for optimism ahead of the 2012 season. Further good news came with the acquisition of the outstanding Gus Maciver from Stornoway Athletic and the welcome return of striker Scott Macaulay following four injury-disrupted seasons. However, an opening night home defeat by Lochs was followed by a 3-0 reverse at the hands of Athletic in the Acres Boys Club Cup.

The early season cob webs were soon blown away and Carloway won their next five matches, including a 5-1 thumping of Champions Back, and a defeat of Lochs in the Jock Stein Cup. Just when we thought the prospects for the season were looking up, this was followed by a winless period of five matches. This included the disappointing elimination from the Highland Amateur Cup to Iochdar Saints on penalties, after a 5-5 draw. Stornoway Athletic then edged a tight encounter 3-2, before Lochs and Ness inflicted 2-1 defeats on Na Gormaich. Harris also secured a 3-3 draw in Tarbert.

This period also coincided with injuries to several key players, a feature that would continue throughout the season. Scott Macaulay suffered a broken leg whilst representing the Lewis & Harris Select, Calum Tom Moody sustained a nasty leg injury playing rugby for Stornoway RFC. A knee injury meant Gordon ‘Tago’ MacDonald’s season was over after just five matches and young Calum Macleod’s involvement was also brought to a premature end. Club ‘legend’ Gordon Craigie agreed a switch to Lochs to answer a short-term goalkeeper crisis there. However, he came back to haunt his beloved Carloway with his goal scoring instincts still to the fore as he netted the winner for Lochs.

The league challenge was all but over for the season, although the Blues were still in three cup competitions. The number of players on the injury list showed no sign of letting up and several players were also playing on despite not being fully fit. It also allowed players such as Cameron ‘Tiger’ Macarthur, Ben Smith, Calum Iain Macleod and David Macleod some much-needed game time. Billy Anderson was also coaxed out of retirement to provide craft and experience to a team stretched to the limit.

The Eilean an Fhraoich Cup provided some respite, and holders Harris were defeated home and away. In the semi final, a 2-1 deficit from the first leg at Cnoc a Choilich was overturned in Ness with a fine 4-1 victory and a place in the final was secured. West Side were the opponents and, despite taking an early lead and dominating in the first half, West Side emerged the victors by 2 goals to 1. Still the wait for a trophy went on for the Carloway faithful.

First major silverware in over half a century

With the league challenge gone, hopes were now pinned on the cup competitions. The team defeated Lochs with a fine 2-0 home win in the Co-op Cup. This was followed by an edgy 2-1 away win over Point in the semi final. Meanwhile in the Lewis Cup, Carloway knocked out Lochs from a third competition of the season 4-1 in Carloway. Stornoway United were also beaten by the same scoreline, albeit after extra time and near darkness by the final whistle.

The result was a further two cup finals to complete the 2012 season. In the Co-op Cup final, Carloway met Back with the game switched to Garrabost. On a heavy pitch and following a downpour for much of the day, Carloway took the game to their opponents and ought to have converted their superiority into goals. Back have a great cup tradition and when they took the lead with 15 minutes remaining, many people would have been saying “here we go again.” The Blues managed to equalise with 7 minutes to go through Seumas Macleod and the teams could not be separated after 90 minutes. The format of the Co-op Cup meant it was straight to penalties and after an agonising 20 kicks, Darren Mackinnon slotted away the decisive penalty for Carloway to give Na Gormaich an 8-7 shoot out win. The relief was incredible, and Carloway had finally done it! What a weight had suddenly been lifted from the team’s shoulders. Discounting the Autumn Cup win in 1990, this was the first piece of silverware since 1957. It was even suggested that the team had to be taught the words to “Championees!” The players ran to acclaim Mackinnon and formed a mass pile-up. Captain Domhnall Mackay was presented with the trophy by Gordon Craigie, the club’s record appearance maker and goal scorer who was on official duty with his employers sponsoring the competition.

Six days after this success, Carloway had another cup final to play, this time against West Side at Upper Coll. Kevin Anderson and Graeme ‘Windy’ Miller selected the same starting eleven as the previous week. Once again Carloway drew first blood when Kenny ‘Dokus’ MacDonald tucked the ball away after just four minutes. West Side were awarded two penalty kicks within minutes of each other, both of which were converted to give them a 2-1 lead at half time. Andrew ‘Tago’ Maciver, who missed the previous week’s match, was introduced to the fray and within minutes he had levelled the scores with a fine header. Despite losing the lead again to a weak goal from a Carloway perspective, another fine equaliser was created through the never-say-die attitude of Gus Maciver breaking forward on the right and crossing beautifully to the head of Calum Tom Moody to gleefully head home. With the sides level after 90 minutes, this time extra time would be required. However, the stalemate still could not be broken so, for the second time in a week, penalties would decide the winners. With West Side missing two early penalties, it was left to Calum Tom Moody to stroke home the winning kick and give Carloway their second trophy in a week.

It was a finale to the season that few would have dared believe through such an up and down season. Fifth place in the league, three cup finals and two trophies won, both on penalty kicks. The players and management team deserve great credit for this success. It is hoped that this is the beginning of another great period in the club’s history and the construction of an all weather playing facility in the village has also just been completed.

League champions for the first time

In 2013, another two cups were won: the Acres Boys Club Cup, following a 6-0 thrashing of Back, and the Jock Stein Cup, after defeating rivals 3-0 in the final. Furthermore, the club went on to win its first ever League championship in their eighty year history, winning it against rivals West Side at their own ground on Friday 16 August - a date every Carloway supporter will remember for many years to come. It has been a great season for everyone associated with Carloway F.C. who now look forward to the next season with vigour and excitement.

Club honours

Winners

Lewis and Harris Football League - 2013

Acres Boys Club Cup - 2013

Jock Stein Cup - 2013

Co-operative Cup - 2012

Lewis Cup - 2012

Stornoway Cup - 1952, 1957

D'Oyle Carte Cup - 1956

Tormod Mor Tankard - 1956

Autumn Cup - 1990

Runners-up

Eilean an Fhraoich Cup - 1955, 1956, 1957, 1999, 2012

Jock Stein Cup - 1986, 1988, 2007, 2009

Lewis Cup - 1985, 1989, 2007, 2009

Co-operative Cup - 2010

Club website

The club has its own website - www.carlowayfc.co.uk. In addition, the club has its own Facebook page and Twitter feed, providing match reports and live updates from all the games.

References