East Kilbride F.C.

East Kilbride
Full name East Kilbride Football Club
Nickname(s) The Kilby, EK
Founded May 2010
Ground K Park Training Academy, Calderglen Country Park, East Kilbride[1]
Capacity 400 (all-seated)
Chairman Mike Peden[1]
Manager Billy Ogilvie
League Lowland Football League
2014-15 Lowland Football League, 2nd
Website Club home page

East Kilbride Football Club is a football club based in the 'new town' of East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, the largest town in Scotland. They were formed in May 2010 after the merger of Jackton Boys Club and Stewartfield F.C.[2] As yet they have no permanent home, using the facilities at the training base, K Park, until a site is found for the new stadium.[1] They will play in the inaugural season of the Lowland League,[3] although had previously been elected to the South of Scotland League at the end of the 2012–13 season.[4]

History

The club were launched officially by two former Old Firm players, John Hartson and John Brown, of Celtic and Rangers respectively.[5] The club was resurrected after folding in the 19th century, after being launched in 1871.

Two men, tycoon James Kean and Iain King, who is a sports journalist, spent many years in the hope that East Kilbride Thistle, the town's highest ranked football team, would become a senior sports team, so much so that they officially launched their youth development programme from under-21s right down to the under-5s. The dream never materialised and they had to admit defeat, and so their vision was to form a new club. John Hartson, the former Celtic striker, was appointed honorary president of the new club.[2][6] On 10 September 2010, the club held their inaugural fundraising dinner which was attended by around 250 people and raised about £9500.[7]

On 31 May 2013, East Kilbride were given a place in the South of Scotland League for the 2013–14 season.[4] On 17 June 2013, East Kilbride were elected to play in the newly formed Lowland League, without playing a game in the South of Scotland League.[3] The Kilby produced an impressive first season in senior football with a mid-table finish in the Lowland League, reaching the Lowland League Cup semi-finals[8] and SFA South Region Challenge Cup final.[9] The club were granted full SFA membership in April 2014 and therefore can enter the Scottish Cup from the 2014–15 season.[10] East Kilbride won their maiden trophy in their inaugural season as a senior football club with 2–0 victory over Dalbeattie Star in the SFA South Region Challenge Cup final on 24 May 2014 at Palmerston.[11]

Set-Up

As of September 2012, East Kilbride has 30 teams (male, female and additional support needs) competing in age groups between 5–21 and over-21, with over 650 players.[1]

Honours

POTY Awards

Players POTY Coaches POTY Committee POTY Golden Boot Goal of the Season
2013–14[12][13] Kieran Daw Aaron Murdoch Craig McLeish Chris McDougall Kevin Wilson

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "EKFC Announce Plans To Bring Senior Football To East Kilbride.". k-parktrainingacademy.co.uk. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "John Hartson backs East Kilbride bid for big time". BBC Sport Website. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Lowland League clubs confirmed by Scottish FA". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport Website. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "BEAUTIFUL SOUTH FOR EKFC!". Club Website. East Kilbride F.C. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-31.
  5. ↑ "Old Firm stars herald new dawn for town". East Kilbride News. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  6. ↑ "EKFC 2003 Blue". Club Website. East Kilbride F.C. 15 August 2010. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  7. ↑ http://www.eastkilbridemail.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1165&Itemid=1
  8. ↑ Kilby Bow Out in Semi Final East Kilbride FC. 15-04-2014. Retrieved 24-04-2014.
  9. ↑ East Kilbride FC Reach First Ever Cup Final Daily Record Scotland. 24-04-2014. Retrieved 24-04-2014.
  10. ↑ EAST KILBRIDE FC GRANTED FULL SFA STATUS East Kilbride FC. 30-04-2014. Retrieved 19-05-2014.
  11. ↑ Kilby Are Champions East Kilbride FC Twitter. 24-05-2014. Retrieved 24-05-2014.
  12. ↑ Lowland League Prize Guys East Kilbride FC. 06-05-2014. Retrieved 19-05-2014.
  13. ↑ Murdoch scoops top prize at East Kilbride FC awards Daily Record Scotland. 08-05-2014. Retrieved 24-05-2014.