Kilbirnie Ladeside F.C.

Kilbirnie Ladeside Football Club are a Scottish football club, from Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire. Based at Valefield Park, they currently play in the West of Scotland Football League. Their main rivals are Beith Juniors. The club nickname, The Blasties, derives from a Robert Burns poem, The Inventory, written in 1786.[1]

Kilbirnie Ladeside
Full nameKilbirnie Ladeside Football Club
Nickname(s)The Blasties
Founded1901
GroundValefield Park, Kilbirnie
Capacity1,000
ManagerColin Spence
LeagueWest of Scotland League First Division
2022–23West of Scotland League First Division, 6th of 16

West of Scotland League

In 2020, Kilbirnie moved from the SJFA, to join the pyramid system in Scottish football as one of the inaugural members of the West of Scotland Football League.[2]

On 10 October 2020, the club announced they would not be participating in the inaugural season of the West of Scotland League due to concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, citing the inability of fans to be able to attend games as a huge issue for the club.[3][4][5]

Valefield Park

Valefield Park
LocationKilbirnie, North Ayrshire, Scotland
Coordinates55°44′43″N 4°40′58″W
Capacity1,000
SurfaceGrass
Tenants
Kilbirnie Ladeside

Valefield Park is home to Kilbirnie Ladeside. The average attendance is around two hundred (varying for cup games).

History

The Blasties (the nickname of Kilbirnie Ladeside) original home of Ladeside Park on Mill Road was partly built on by the army during World War II and the club relocated to Valefield, the home of Glengarnock Vale, another local side. Vale did not re-appear after the war and Valefield Park became Ladeside's permanent ground. The name 'Ladeside' derives from the lade that runs near the ground from the old Nether Mill at Knoxsville Road near the Miller's Knowe.

Structure

Although the ground is small it can comfortably hold up to six hundred spectators. On the north-west side there are two main stands which were both constructed at the start of the new millennium. The ground has around four main turnstiles, two of which are located on Kirkland Road. There is a small snack bar offering a wide range of hot and cold food and a licensed bar located on the south east corner welcoming both home and away support.

Current squad

As of 1 July 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK Scotland SCO Scott McLellan
DF Scotland SCO James Ballantyne
DF Scotland SCO Lewis Crawford
DF Scotland SCO Michael Howie
DF Scotland SCO Andy Lavelle
DF Scotland SCO Joel Taylor
DF Scotland SCO Jack Wilson
MF Scotland SCO Danny Bamford
MF Scotland SCO Ryan Connolly
MF Scotland SCO Ruairidh Clark
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Scotland SCO Andy Duffy
MF Scotland SCO Liam Harris
MF Scotland SCO Scott Lewis
MF Scotland SCO Nathan Wade
MF Scotland SCO Mickey Wilson
FW Scotland SCO Alex Bell
FW Scotland SCO Jack Haggerty
FW Scotland SCO Sam McLoy
FW Scotland SCO Jon Scullion

Club staff

PositionName
ManagerColin Spence
Assistant managerWillie Lyle
Goalkeeping Coach
Physio

Honours

Scottish Junior Cup

  • Winners: 195152, 197677
  • Runners-up: 198687

Other honours

  • West of Scotland Cup winners: 200708
  • Scottish Junior League winners: 190304
  • Ayrshire League champions: 197576
  • Western League champions: 194748, 194950, 195152, 196768
  • Ayrshire Cup: 191213, 192324, 194748, 194950, 197172, 197475, 197576, 198687
  • Western/Ayrshire League Cup winners: 192324, 193132, 193839, 198889, 199495, 200910, 201617

Notable former players

References

  1. The Inventory, robertburns.org
  2. Pirie, Mark (4 May 2020). "West of Scotland League unveil full division list ahead of non-league overhaul". Daily Record. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  3. "Club Statement regarding recent News - Latest News - Kilbirnie Ladeside FC". www.kilbirnieladesidefc.co.uk. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  4. "Club Ballot Results – West of Scotland Football League". Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  5. Pirie, Mark (10 October 2020). "BREAKING: West of Scotland League chaos as 14 clubs pull out ahead of kick off". Daily Record. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  6. True Steelmen - George Stevenson motherwell-mad.co.uk
  7. Dark Blue Dons - Ernie McGarr Archived 1 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine afc.co.uk, 13 February 2007, Retrieved 24 June 2011
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