Camelon Juniors F.C.
Camelon Juniors Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Camelon, in the Falkirk district. The team plays in the East of Scotland League First Division, having moved from the junior leagues in 2018.[1] Despite this move, the club has decided to retain the "Juniors" part of its identity. The club have won the Scottish Junior Cup once, in 1995.
Full name | Camelon Juniors Football Club | ||
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Nickname(s) | The Mariners | ||
Founded | 1920 | ||
Ground | Carmuirs Park, Camelon, Scotland | ||
Capacity | 3,000 | ||
Chairman | David Smith | ||
Manager | Gordon Wylde | ||
League | East of Scotland League First Division | ||
2022–23 | East of Scotland League First Division, 11th of 16 | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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History
A previous Camelon side had existed in the Junior grade from 1906 to 1910, however the current club were formed in 1920. This Camelon Juniors side initially competed in Stirlingshire competitions but became the easternmost side to join the breakaway Scottish Intermediate League in 1927, ironically joining the West Division of the new set-up.[2] The club resigned from the Intermediates halfway through the 1929–30 season and joined the Scottish Junior League which at the time, contained fellow Stirlingshire sides Dunipace and Kilsyth Rangers.[3] Camelon remained with the SJL up to and including its solitary post-World War II season before moving in 1947 to the Edinburgh & District League.[4]
Camelon made their first appearance in the final of the Scottish Junior Cup in 1952, losing 1–0 to Kilbirnie Ladeside at Hampden Park in front of 69,959 supporters. John Hansen, father of future Scotland internationalists Alan and John, played for the Mariners at centre-half.[5] The club made consecutive final appearances in the 1990s, defeating Whitburn 2–0 at Fir Park, Motherwell in 1995, to lift the trophy for the first time, then losing by the same scoreline to Tayport at the same venue a year later.[6]
The club provided several players to Rangers over the years, including Jerry Dawson and Archie Macaulay, who both went on to become full Scotland internationals with Macaulay going on to play for West Ham United and Arsenal.[7][8] Max Murray also arrived at Ibrox from Camelon via Queen's Park, and scored Rangers first ever goal in European competition against OGC Nice in 1956.[9] Notable ex-Camelon players in more recent times include former Chelsea and Falkirk winger Kevin McAllister and Jack Ross.[10][11] Ross was a member of Camelon's losing 1996 Scottish Junior Cup final side and was also capped for the Scotland Junior international team.[12]
After winning the Lothian District League Division One in 2005–06, the club played in the top tier of the East Region for twelve seasons until their move to the senior pyramid. Their best finish in the East Superleague was 2nd in 2008–09, losing to Bonnyrigg Rose on goal difference. Camelon was one of many junior clubs that moved to the senior East of Scotland Football League during 2018.[1]
The team had been managed since October 2016 by former Dumbarton striker, Gordon Herd.[13] The club parted with Herd and his coaching staff on 11 March 2021.[14]
Colours
Camelon's traditional home kit is all red, with the team currently possessing an away kit of blue tops with blue shorts.
Current squad
- As of 20 September 2023[15]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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On loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Coaching Staff
Position | Name |
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Manager | Gordon Wylde |
Assistant manager | Paul McKinlay |
Coach | Mark Johnston |
Goalkeeping coach | Andy Carlin |
Development Squad coaches | Gary Cardle
Michael McKenzie |
Honours
- Winners: 1994–95
- Runners-up: 1951–52, 1995–96
Other Honours
- South & East of Scotland Cup-Winners' Shield winners: 2018–19
- Alex Jack Cup winners: 2018–19
- East Region Division One winners: 1979–80, 1993–94, 1994–95
- Fife & Lothians (Heineken) Cup winners: 1970–71, 2005–06, 2014–15
- Lothian District League Division One winners: 2003–04, 2005–06
- East of Scotland Junior Cup winners: 1993–94, 2007–08
- East Junior League Cup winners: 1993–94
- Brown Cup winners: 1976–77
- St Michaels Cup winners: 2004–05
References
- McLauchlin, Brian (7 June 2018). "East of Scotland League vote signals exodus of 25 junior clubs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- McColl, Brian. "Scottish Intermediate League". scottish-football-historical-archive.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- McColl, Brian. "Scottish Junior League". www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- "Newtongrange Star". www.newtongrangestar.uwclub.net. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- "Head of the Hansen clan strolls down Memory Lane". Herald Scotland. 17 May 1995. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- "Junior Cup is on its way to Camelon". Herald Scotland. 22 May 1995. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- Meffen, John. "Falkirk FC Graves – Jerry Dawson". Falkirk Football Historian. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- Brown, Neil. "Archie Macaulay". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- Leslie, Colin (20 October 2012). "Max Murray, scorer of Rangers' first Euro goal, finds his loyalties divided". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- Smith, Aidan (16 January 2016). "Interview: Kevin McAllister still grieving end of Brockville". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- Waddell, Gordon (7 February 2010). "Jack Ross: I'll enjoy final - it has taken me 14 years to get here from junior football". Daily Record. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- Lomax, Andrew (5 May 2009). "St Mirren defender Jack Ross celebrates a Scotland double". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- Scott, Tom (22 October 2016). "Camelon Announce Appointment Of New Boss - The Juniors". The Juniors. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- "Management Team". Camelon Juniors FC. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- "Squad | Camelon Juniors Football Club". www.camelonjuniors.co.uk. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2020.