Troon Football Club (also known as The Seasiders or The Seagulls) are a Scottish
football team based in
Ayrshire
Ayrshire ( gd, Siorrachd Inbhir Àir, ) is a Counties of Scotland, historic county and registration county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine, North Ayrshi ...
. They compete in the
West of Scotland Football League
The West of Scotland Football League (WoSFL) is a senior football league based in the west of Scotland. The league sits at levels 6–10 on the Scottish football league system, acting as a feeder to the Lowland Football League.
Founded in 202 ...
.
Formed in 1946, they are based at
Portland Park in the town of
Troon
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire, situated on the west coast of Ayrshire in Scotland, about north of Ayr and northwest of Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Troon has a port with freight services and a yacht marina. Up until January 2016, P&O opera ...
in
Ayrshire
Ayrshire ( gd, Siorrachd Inbhir Àir, ) is a Counties of Scotland, historic county and registration county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine, North Ayrshi ...
. The ground has a current capacity of 2,000 and is standing only. The club's colours are blue and black vertical stripes, similar to that of
Inter Milan
Football Club Internazionale Milano, commonly referred to as Internazionale () or simply Inter, and colloquially known as Inter Milan in English-speaking countries, is an Italian professional football club based in Milan, Lombardy. Inter i ...
.
History
Beginnings of football in Troon
Despite
Troon
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire, situated on the west coast of Ayrshire in Scotland, about north of Ayr and northwest of Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Troon has a port with freight services and a yacht marina. Up until January 2016, P&O opera ...
being synonymous with
golf
Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible.
Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standardized playing area, and coping ...
, there are records to the effect that local football has a history which began approximately three years before the
golf course
A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". The ...
at the end of the South Beach was ever considered.
Troon Portland
As far back as 1875 there was a Troon Portland football team, reckoned as seniors, though most of their matches were of necessity friendlies since no leagues of any kind were then available. But they did play clubs such as Irvine,
Irvine Victoria,
Ayr
Ayr (; sco, Ayr; gd, Inbhir Àir, "Mouth of the River Ayr") is a town situated on the southwest coast of Scotland. It is the administrative centre of the South Ayrshire council area and the historic county town of Ayrshire. With a population ...
, Kilmarnock Athletic, Kilmarnock Portland and other county teams.
The first Troon Portland team was as follows: Goal, Frank Briggs, Backs, Charles Fullarton, David Connell, and Hugh Allison; Half backs, Robert Hastings and James Connell; Forwards. Reuben McNeillage. John Kennan, James Murchie, William Cunningham, John Johnstone. Robert Smith. and David Johnstone.
Troon Academicals
The first proper football club in
Troon
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire, situated on the west coast of Ayrshire in Scotland, about north of Ayr and northwest of Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Troon has a port with freight services and a yacht marina. Up until January 2016, P&O opera ...
first came into being in 1889, when Troon Academicals (together with 23 other clubs) became members of the first ever Ayrshire Junior Football Association.
That Troon side won the Irvine and District Cup in 1891–92 and again in 1894–95. Two of their players, D. Boyd and T. Walker, played as a left wing for
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...
against
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...
.
The Troon Academicals name was reborn in 2009 by a Troon F.C. affiliated supporters team of the same name.
Troon Rangers
In 1904–05 the Ayrshire Consolation Cup was won by a Junior team named Troon Rangers.
Troon Athletic
Troon Athletic were founded in 1919 by the Troon Federation of ex-Servicemen with a committee headed by Tom Wallace (President) William Noble (Treasurer) and William S. Elliot (Secretary). Their home ground was at the public park in
Troon
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire, situated on the west coast of Ayrshire in Scotland, about north of Ayr and northwest of Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Troon has a port with freight services and a yacht marina. Up until January 2016, P&O opera ...
from the Station Hill to the Yorke Road Bridge.
Troon Athletic joined the Kilmarnock and District Junior League, winning it at the first attempt in the 1920–21 season. Their first team was as follows ;– S. Elliott, W. Kettle, and A. Hendry; P. McAdam, G. Elliott, and H. Murdoch; J. Wright and J. Hillditch; A. Howie: J. McLean and R. Hunter.
In 1921–22, and now playing in the stronger Western league, they finished in seventh place out of nineteen clubs. the Scottish Cup saw a run to the sixth round, which was then the stage of the last sixteen clubs in the competition. Fellow Ayrshiremen, and eventual Cup winners,
Kilwinning Rangers
Kilwinning Rangers Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Kilwinning, Ayrshire. Formed in 1899, the club competes in the West of Scotland Football League, and are eligible to participate in the Scottish Cup. Nicknam ...
put an end to the Cup dream. However, the won the Ayrshire Junior Cup when over three thousand people watching them defeat
Ardeer Thistle 2–1 at
Rugby Park
Rugby Park, also known as The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium situated in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock. It was first used in 1899 and is the home of Kilmarnock F.C. Rugby Park has also been used for c ...
, home of
Kilmarnock Football Club
Kilmarnock Football Club, commonly known as Killie, is a Scottish professional football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire. The team is currently managed by Derek McInnes, who was appointed in January 2022. The club has achie ...
.
In 1924 the Ayrshire Consolation Cup came to town, after a 3–0 defeat of
Cumnock
Cumnock (Scottish Gaelic: ''Cumnag'') is a town and former civil parish located in East Ayrshire, Scotland. The town sits at the confluence of the Glaisnock Water and the Lugar Water. There are three neighbouring housing projects which lie just o ...
. Another two years passed and Athletic were again in the running for honours. Semi-finalists in the Western League Cup and Ayrshire Consolation Cup, finalists in the Irvine & District Cup, and in the last sixteen of the Scottish Cup, it was a season of near misses. In the Scottish Cup, they had their record win in the trophy, with a second round 11–4 win against Glasgow Highlanders, but
Renfrew
Renfrew (; sco, Renfrew; gd, Rinn Friù) is a town west of Glasgow in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It is the historic county town of Renfrewshire (historic), Renfrewshire. Called the "Cradle of the House of Stewart, Royal Stewarts" ...
put the run to an end.
The four seasons in the Intermediates was relatively successful, winning the Ayrshire Intermediates Cup (1928–29) and the Gold Watch competition (1929–30) as well as being finalists in the 1930–31 Stirling Trophy. In 1935,
Saltcoats Victoria defeated Athletic by a convincing four goals to nil in the final of the West of Scotland Consolation Cup, whilst 1936 saw their final piece of silverware won, in the shape of the Ayrshire Consolation Cup, with a 4–3 win against
Kilbirnie Ladeside
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 ...
.
Second World War
As with most levels of football, Junior football was suspended during the period of the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
of 1939–1945, and Troon Athletic closed down for good in 1940 as many of the players and officials were involved in Air Raid patrols or working overtime in the local shipyard, with insufficient time to run a football club.
Troon Juniors formed
After the Second World War, Junior football reformed and the people of
Troon
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire, situated on the west coast of Ayrshire in Scotland, about north of Ayr and northwest of Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Troon has a port with freight services and a yacht marina. Up until January 2016, P&O opera ...
grasped the opportunity of a new dawn in Scottish football in the post-war era.
Troon Juniors, a brand new club, was established in
1946 at the newly constructed
Portland Park, a purpose built stadium to give the club the opportunity to progress in Scottish football.
Troon Juniors played in the Western League North Section but the first few years saw little of any note, with league form being poor and usually ending in a lowly position. By 1953–54, the years of waiting finally bore some fruit, with sixth place achieved in the Western League, only four points behind Champions
Irvine Meadow
Irvine Meadow XI Football Club is a Scottish football club, based in Irvine, North Ayrshire. They currently compete in the . The club's home ground is Meadow Park in central Irvine, and they play in royal blue strips.
History
Formed in 1897 ...
. Winners in the Land O'Burns Cup (4–0 against
Kilbirnie Ladeside
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 ...
) and finalists in the Ayrshire Junior Cup, there was something to cheer the fans. To round off a good season, the fifth round of the Scottish Cup was reached, before losing 3–0 to
Clydebank Juniors. The fourth round saw unusual opposition in
Argyll
Argyll (; archaically Argyle, in modern Gaelic, ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a historic county and registration county of western Scotland.
Argyll is of ancient origin, and corresponds to most of the part of the ancient kingdom of ...
side
Lochgilphead
Lochgilphead (; gd, Ceann Loch Gilb ) is a town and former burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom, with a population of around 2,300 people. It is the administrative centre of Argyll and Bute. The village lies at the end of Loch G ...
, who were routed by four goals to one.
In 1955–56, as well as getting to the semi-finals of the two cups they had reached the final of two years earlier, a final placing of 5th in the league, though nineteen points off the top, was their best to date. After this, it was back to almost obscurity for a decade, with early exits and poor league form the norm.
The mid-1960s saw a brief improvement, with the first semi-final appearance in a decade (in the Western League Cup) and the following season they ended as second in the league and semi-finalists of the West of Scotland Cup. The Western League was disbanded in 1968, when Junior football was regionalised and The Ayrshire Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association was formed. We had our first taste of international recognition in 1969 when Gordon Armstrong was capped by Scotland at both Junior and Amateur level in successive weeks, playing in both matches against
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
. Troon Juniors played in the Ayrshire League Northern Section until season 1976–77 when the Sectional formation was abandoned. This was replaced by two Divisions with Troon Juniors being assigned to the Second.
Troon Football Club
After 1977 the term "Juniors" was dropped from the club title, which was the fourth occasion in the history of football in
Troon
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire, situated on the west coast of Ayrshire in Scotland, about north of Ayr and northwest of Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Troon has a port with freight services and a yacht marina. Up until January 2016, P&O opera ...
that the town’s Junior club changed its name. From then on it was simply known as "Troon Football Club" and it was around this time that black and blue vertical stripes first appeared on the club shirts, and they have remained to this day.
At the end of the 1985–86 season, promotion to the First Division of the Ayrshire League (which had been formed upon the dissolution of the Western League in 1969) was attained, and although relegated at the end of the season, they reached the semi-finals of the Ayrshire Sectional League Cup. Troon F.C. languished in the Second Division of Ayrshire Junior Football until 1997 when after a long spell of mediocrity, Manager John Redmond led the club to the Ayrshire Second Division Championship trophy & promotion to the Ayrshire Division 1.
In Season 1996-97 we won the Western League Division Two Championship by nine clear points. We also won the South Ayrshire Cup and after a 1-1 draw with
Auchinleck Talbot
Auchinleck Talbot Football Club is a Scottish football club based in Auchinleck, East Ayrshire. They currently play in the .
The club is also a member of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and have won the Scottish Junior Cup on a r ...
in the Super Cup we lost out on penalties.
Super League era
In 2002 the new
West of Scotland Region was formed and Super Leagues introduced. Troon F.C. started off that new era for Junior football in the Super League First Division and in the inaugural season, Troon F.C. finished in second place winning promotion to the Premier Division. They played in the top flight for two seasons but were relegated at the end of the second despite winning their first major honour, the West of Scotland Cup, and having their best ever run in the
Scottish Junior Cup
The Scottish Junior Cup is an annual football competition organised by the Scottish Junior Football Association. The competition has been held every year since the inception of the SJFA in 1886 and, as of the 2022–23 edition, 108 teams compete ...
. The next three seasons were spent in the
First Division where success mainly eluded the Portland Parkers. Management teams changed and season 2007–08 ended with Troon being relegated to the
Ayrshire District League.
Kirkwood regime
In 2010 the Kirkwood family took an interest in Troon and were appointed on to the committee of the club. Jim Kirkwood Snr. was appointed as Chairman, Alasdair Kirkwood as club Treasurer and Jimmy Kirkwood Jnr. as a committee member and Assistant Manager under John Redmond. The fortunes of the club improved almost immediately as an improved professionalism and business nous saw investment in the club infrastructure. The social club at
Portland Park was renovated and expanded, and investment on the playing surface itself allowed an improvement in the style of play encouraged by the new coaching staff.
Jimmy Kirkwood took over as Manager in March 2011, assisted by former Troon player
Gordon Burns
Gordon Henry Burns (born 10 June 1942) is a Northern Irish journalist and broadcaster. He was the host of ''The Krypton Factor'' for its original 18-year run (1977–1995) and was the chief anchorman for the BBC regional news programme ''Nort ...
, and an overhaul of the playing squad commenced with an emphasis on youth development & attractive football. Results were erratic to begin with, but the team missed out on the second promotion spot by one point. The club went one better in 2012–13, securing second place with weeks to spare after a season long title battle with
Kilwinning Rangers
Kilwinning Rangers Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Kilwinning, Ayrshire. Formed in 1899, the club competes in the West of Scotland Football League, and are eligible to participate in the Scottish Cup. Nicknam ...
and promotion back to the Super League was assured. Further investment off the park saw upgraded dressing rooms, an outside area beside the social club and expanded terracing areas on the homes side.
In season 2013–14 the club were crowned the
Super League First Division Champions, Ayrshire Cup winners and were also West of Scotland Cup finalists.
In the summer of 2015, work commitments saw Jimmy Kirkwood take a sideways step to become General Manager and was replaced by
Gordon Burns
Gordon Henry Burns (born 10 June 1942) is a Northern Irish journalist and broadcaster. He was the host of ''The Krypton Factor'' for its original 18-year run (1977–1995) and was the chief anchorman for the BBC regional news programme ''Nort ...
as Troon Manager. A long unbeaten run saw Troon push for the
West of Scotland Super League Premier Division
The SJFA West Region Premiership (also known as the McBookie.com West Region Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was a semi-professional football league run by the West Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and was the highest tier ...
title, before eventually finishing fourth in the 2015-16 season. The following season was a disaster for the club as a poor season throughout saw the club finish bottom of the Premier League and relegated to the
Super League First Division. Manager Gordon Burns resigned at the end of the season and was replaced by Jimmy Kirkwood for a second spell as Manager.
Under the returning Jimmy Kirkwood, Troon won promotion at the first time of asking via the play-offs after victory against
Girvan
Girvan ( gd, Inbhir Gharbhain, "mouth of the River Girvan") is a burgh and harbour town in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Girvan is situated on the east coast of the Firth of Clyde, with a population of about 6,450. It lies south of Ayr, ...
to take their place in the newly formed SJFA West Premiership.
End of the Junior era
In early 2020, clubs voted to leave the
Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region
The Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region was one of three regions of the SJFA which organised its own distinct league and cup competitions. The SJFA used to be split into six regions, but in 2002 they took the decision to reform into ...
in favour of joining the
West of Scotland Football League
The West of Scotland Football League (WoSFL) is a senior football league based in the west of Scotland. The league sits at levels 6–10 on the Scottish football league system, acting as a feeder to the Lowland Football League.
Founded in 202 ...
which was now part of the
Scottish Football Pyramid
The Scottish football league system is a series of generally connected leagues for Scottish football clubs.
The Scottish system is more complicated than many other national league systems, consisting of several completely separate systems or 'gra ...
.
Players
Current squad
On loan
Development squad
Notable former players
Player of the Year
Troon's Player of the Year award is voted for by the club's supporters at the end of every season.
International recognition
Troon had their first taste of international recognition in 1969 when Gordon Armstrong was capped by Scotland at both
junior and
amateur level in successive weeks, playing in both matches against Wales. Former Troon player
Jim Stewart was included in
Scotland's
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup was the tenth FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial football tournament for men's senior national teams, and was played in West Germany (and West Berlin) between 13 June and 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the ...
squad just two years after leaving the club for
Kilmarnock. He was eventually capped twice by
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...
, against Chile in 1977 and Norway in 1978.
Non-Playing Personnel
Club committee
'
Youth Academy Board
Team Representatives
Current technical staff
First Team
{, class="toccolours"
, -
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, -
, Manager, , Jimmy Kirkwood
, -
, Assistant Manager, ,
Dean Keenan
Dean Matthew Keenan (born 15 October 1985, Glasgow, Scotland) is a Scottish footballer who is currently Player/Assistant Manager for Troon. He previously played for Ayr United and Greenock Morton.
Early life
Keenan grew up in Mosspark on Gla ...
, -
, Coach, , Andy Smyth
, -
, Goalkeeping Coach, , Marty Fraser
, -
, Sports Therapist, , Darrell Dunscombe
Youth Academy
{, class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
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, Head of Academy, , Justin Brown
, -
!colspan="2", Development Team
, -
, Head Coach , , Calum Nairn
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, Coach , , Evan Martin
, -
, Secretary , , Richard Henderson
, -
!colspan="2", Under 18s
, -
, Head Coach , , Jimmy Kirkwood
, -
, Coach , , Andy Still
, -
, Coach , , Alan Brown
, -
, Coach , , Steven Clark
, -
, First Aid , , Mark Templeton
, -
!colspan="2", 2011 Team
, -
, Head Coach , , Darren Sneddon
, -
, Coach , , Stuart McCormack
, -
, Coach , , Andi Roy
, -
!colspan="2", 2013 Team
, -
, Head Coach , , Russell Smith
, -
, Coach , , John Hutton
, -
, Secretary , , Chris Paterson
, -
, Treasurer , , Ronald McNicol
, -
!colspan="2", 2015 Team
, -
, Head Coach , , Justin Brown
, -
, Coach , , Todd Henderson
, -
Manager History
{, class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
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! style="background:#123163; color:white;" scope="col", Name
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, -
, align=left,
Jimmy Campbell
, Coach
,
, align=left, 1957
, align=left, 1962
, -
, align=left, Bill Miller
,
Player-coach
A player-coach (also playing coach, captain-coach, or player-manager) is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. A player-coach may be a head coach or an assistant coach. They may make changes to the sq ...
,
, align=left, 1982
, align=left, 1983
, -
, align=left, Davie McIlroy
,
Player-Manager
A player-coach (also playing coach, captain-coach, or player-manager) is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. A player-coach may be a head coach or an assistant coach. They may make changes to the sq ...
,
, align=left, 1985
, align=left, 1988
, -
, align=left,
Bobby Lawrie
Bobby Lawrie (born 14 November 1947) is a Scottish former footballer, who played for Partick Thistle and Stranraer in the Scottish Football League in the 1960s and 1970s. Lawrie was part of the Partick Thistle side that surprisingly won the 19 ...
,
Player-Manager
A player-coach (also playing coach, captain-coach, or player-manager) is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. A player-coach may be a head coach or an assistant coach. They may make changes to the sq ...
,
, align=left, 1991
, align=left, 1993
, -
, align=left, John Redmond
,
Manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities ...
,
, align=left, 1993
, align=left, 2001
, -
, align=left, Chris Strain Snr.
,
Manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities ...
,
, align=left, 2001
, align=left, 2004
, -
, align=left,
Mark Shanks
Mark Shanks (born 19 May 1959)) is a Scottish former association football
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the bal ...
,
Caretaker Manager
In association footballing terms, a caretaker manager or interim manager is somebody who takes temporary charge of the management of a football team, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caret ...
,
, align=left, 2005
, align=left, 2005
, -
, align=left,
Jim Dempsey
Jim Dempsey (born 5 November 1946) is a Scottish former football player and manager.
As a player Dempsey, who was known as a hard man, was most associated with Hamilton Academical, with whom he had two spells, and Raith Rovers, although he al ...
,
Manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities ...
,
, align=left, 2005
, align=left, 2007
, -
, align=left, Michael O'Neil
,
Manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities ...
,
, align=left, 2007
, align=left, 2008
, -
, align=left, John Redmond
,
Manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities ...
,
, align=left, 2008
, align=left, 2011
, -
, align=left, Jimmy Kirkwood
,
Manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities ...
,
, align=left, 2011
, align=left, 2015
, -
, align=left,
Gordon Burns
Gordon Henry Burns (born 10 June 1942) is a Northern Irish journalist and broadcaster. He was the host of ''The Krypton Factor'' for its original 18-year run (1977–1995) and was the chief anchorman for the BBC regional news programme ''Nort ...
,
Manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities ...
,
, align=left, 2015
, align=left, 2017
, -
, align=left, Jimmy Kirkwood
,
Manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities ...
,
, align=left, 2017
, align=left, 2019
, -
, align=left,
Jonny Baillie
,
Manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities ...
,
, align=left, 2019
, align=left, 2019
, -
, align=left, Jimmy Kirkwood
,
Manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities ...
,
, align=left, 2019
, align=left, -
Ground
Portland Park is 10 minutes walking distance from
Troon railway station
, symbol_location = gb
, symbol = rail
, image = File:Troon Station, South Ayrshire.jpg
, borough = Troon, South Ayrshire
, country = Scotland
, coordinates =
, grid_name ...
. By road, it is located near to the
A78 leading onto the
A77,
M77 and
M8.
Ground history
Before moving into the new modernised facility beside the seafront,
Troon Academicals F.C. had spent most of their existence (from 1889 until 1923) playing at Station Park before Portland Park was constructed. In 1923, it was demolished and replaced with the clubhouse and car park for Troon Links Golf Course.
When Portland Park was first opened, players changing areas and toilets were located within the old wooden clubhouse which was destroyed by an accidental fire in the late 1970s. The current clubhouse was built in 1980, along with new turnstiles and a toilet block, although the dressing room area of the pavilion was extended in the mid-2000s.
Floodlights were first installed at Portland Park during February 1997 but were removed after storm damage during 2007. In December 2022 they were reinstalled.
Facilities
The stadium consists of four sides, and can accommodate up to 2,000 spectators for a match.
The clubhouse side is host to the majority of the crowd and has a covered, terraced enclosure which can hold up to 500 spectators (250 seated). There is also a wide terraced area in front of the clubhouse and behind the "Home" dug-out, which has a viewing area with a clear view of the pitch.
The "Cop End" is located behind one of the goals and has the other main spectator's terrace in Portland Park.
The area behind the far away goal is home to the floodlit training park, which is typically used on matchday for pre-match warm-ups to preserve the pitch, but the area immediately behind the goalposts has been earmarked for a new terracing area.
As with most non-league grounds there is no segregation, however away supporters typically watch from behind the "Away" dugout on the railway side of the park facing the clubhouse where two steps of new terracing was created in early 2013.
The ground has two main turnstiles, both of which are located off Portland Street.
There is a snack bar to the side of the pavilion offering a wide range of hot and cold food, and the social club (with a licensed bar) is located inside the pavilion welcoming both home and away support. A new hospitality room, the Legend's Lounge, was created in the summer of 2018 for matchday hospitality.
Tenants
The very first tenants of Portland Park were
Troon Athletic who opened the ground in 1923 and played here until the outbreak of
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
saw their closure in 1940.
Troon F.C. have called Portland Park home since their formation ahead of the 1946–47 season right up to present day, but other teams have utilised Portland Park on a regular basis.
Since their founding in 2013, the Troon Under-19 side have used Portland Park for the majority of their home matches and between 2004-12 Troon Ladies were also based at Portland, playing their matches on a Sunday afternoon. An amateur side called Troon Academicals F.C., consisting of Troon F.C. supporters, played their matches on a Saturday morning at Portland Park between 2009 and 2012 before investment in the playing surface saw non-Troon F.C. participation on the park reduced as a preventative measure.
The first non-football activity seen at Portland Park was when American Football side
West Coast Trojans
The West Coast Trojans were an amateur American Football team based at Pro-Life Gym in Paisley, Scotland. In their final season, the Trojans competed in the BAFANL Division 2 North.
The Trojans played their home games at Meadow Park, Irvine w ...
took up residence in 2011. With games taking place on a Sunday, the Trojans stayed for two seasons, moving to Glasgow.
Famous visitors
Pelé and Brazil
Edson Arantes do Nascimento (better known worldwide as
Pelé
Edson Arantes do Nascimento (; born 23 October 1940), known as Pelé (), is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a forward. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and labelled "the greatest" by FI ...
) once graced the hallowed turf at Portland Park, Troon.
In a training camp to acclimatise the players ahead of the
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup was the eighth FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial football tournament for men's senior national teams. It was played in England from 11 July to 30 July 1966. The England national football team defeated West Germany 4-2 in ...
,
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
(with
Garrincha
Manuel Francisco dos Santos (28 October 1933 – 20 January 1983), nicknamed Mané Garrincha, best known as simply Garrincha (, "little bird"), was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a right winger. He is widely regarded as one o ...
,
Jairzinho
Jair Ventura Filho (born 25 December 1944), better known as Jairzinho (), is a Brazilian former footballer. A quick, skillful, and powerful right winger known for his finishing ability and eye for goal, he was a key member and top scorer of the ...
,
Gérson,
Tostão
Eduardo Gonçalves de Andrade (born 25 January 1947), generally known as Tostão, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a forward or attacking midfielder.
Tostão was an intelligent, hardworking and prolific left-footed fo ...
,
Zito) stayed at the Marine Hotel in Troon & the team trained at our very own Portland Park.
Brazil played
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...
at
Hampden Park
Hampden Park (Scottish Gaelic: ''Pàirc Hampden''), often referred to as Hampden, is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The -capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland. It is the no ...
on June 25, 1966, as part of the South American side’s World Cup warm-up schedule. The game finished 1-1 with
Stevie Chalmers
Thomas Stephen Chalmers (26 December 1935 – 29 April 2019) was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre-forward and spent the majority of his career with Celtic. He is the club's fifth-highest goalscorer with 236 goals and is consid ...
scoring for Scotland in the first minute before Servilio equalised for Brazil on 15 minutes.
Eusébio and Portugal
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (most commonly known as simply
Eusébio
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (; 25 January 1942 – 5 January 2014), nicknamed the "Black Panther", the "Black Pearl" or "O Rei" ("The King"), was a Portuguese footballer who played as a striker. He is considered one of the greatest players of ...
) also played at Portland Park, as his club side
Benfica trained ahead of a
European Cup
The UEFA Champions League (abbreviated as UCL, or sometimes, UEFA CL) is an annual club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and contested by top-division European clubs, deciding the competi ...
Quarter-Final against
Celtic
Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to:
Language and ethnicity
*pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia
**Celts (modern)
*Celtic languages
**Proto-Celtic language
*Celtic music
*Celtic nations
Sports Foo ...
at
Parkhead
Parkhead ( sco, Pairkheid) is a district in the East End of Glasgow. Its name comes from a small weaving hamlet at the meeting place of the Great Eastern Road (now the Gallowgate and Tollcross Road) and Westmuir Street. Glasgow's Eastern Necrop ...
on 12 November 1969. Eusebio’s side were to lose the match 3-0, before winning 3-0 at the
Estádio da Luz
The Estádio da Luz (), officially named Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Lisbon, Portugal. It is used mostly for association football matches, hosting the home games of Portuguese club S.L. Benfica, its ...
in the return leg.
Billy McNeill
William McNeill (2 March 1940 – 22 April 2019) was a Scottish football player and manager. He had a long association with Celtic, spanning more than sixty years as a player, manager and club ambassador. McNeill captained Celtic's ' Lisbon L ...
’s Celtic eventually progressed courtesy of a coin toss.
Lisbon Lions
The legendary
Jock Stein
John "Jock" Stein (5 October 1922 – 10 September 1985) was a Scottish football player and manager. He was the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967. Stein also guided Celtic to nine successive Scottis ...
brought Celtic’s European Cup winning
Lisbon Lions
The Lisbon Lions is the nickname given to the Celtic team that won the European Cup at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon, Portugal on 25 May 1967, defeating Inter Milan 2–1. The name is likely due to the fact that the Lisbon-based Sporting fo ...
team to Portland Park in May 1969 for a friendly match.
European Cup winners
John Clark John Clark may refer to:
Entertainment
*John Clark or Signor Brocolini (1841–1906), Irish-born American operatic singer and actor
* John Clark (actor) (born 1932), English actor and theatre director
*John Clark (American actor) (1933–2011), ...
,
Bobby Murdoch
Robert White Murdoch (17 August 1944 – 15 May 2001) was a Scottish professional footballer, who played for Celtic, Middlesbrough and Scotland. Murdoch was one of the Lisbon Lions, the Celtic team who won the European Cup in 1967. He later m ...
,
Stevie Chalmers
Thomas Stephen Chalmers (26 December 1935 – 29 April 2019) was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre-forward and spent the majority of his career with Celtic. He is the club's fifth-highest goalscorer with 236 goals and is consid ...
and
Lou Macari
Luigi Macari (born 7 June 1949) is a Scottish former footballer and manager. He began his playing career at Celtic where he was one of the Quality Street Gang, the outstanding reserve team that emerged in the late 1960s that also included Ken ...
were in the Celtic ranks that day, which the Hoops triumphed in 7-2.
Troon F.C. Youth Academy
Troon's first ever youth team were launched in 1982, with the introduction of the Dundonald Thistle Under 13s teams to the club under Manager Eric Young & Trainer Hugh Coughtrie.
The youth initiative was relaunched in 2013 when former
Dundee United
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in the city of Dundee. The club name is usually abbreviated to Dundee United. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in ...
star
Neil Duffy
Cornelius "Neil" Duffy (born 5 June 1967) is a Scottish football coach and former professional footballer who played in defence and midfield for Dundee United, Falkirk, Dundee, Ayr United and Dumbarton. He was appointed assistant manager of T ...
was appointed as head coach of a new Under 19 team, under the watchful eye of Manager Jimmy Kirkwood. The target for this Under-19 team was to provide a platform for young players to learn and grow before making the step up to compete for a place in the Junior side.
The Troon Football Club Youth Academy (TFCYA) was propelled as a priority upon the appointment of Jamie McCulloch as Head of Youth in 2018, working alongside Jonny McTear in recruitment. A flood of new players were recruited for the Development Team, and over the next two years new teams were introduced at 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015 age groups.
Troon Development Squad (2001 Team)
Troon formed their first Development Squad in the summer of 2013 to be led by Head Coach
Neil Duffy
Cornelius "Neil" Duffy (born 5 June 1967) is a Scottish football coach and former professional footballer who played in defence and midfield for Dundee United, Falkirk, Dundee, Ayr United and Dumbarton. He was appointed assistant manager of T ...
. A first season was very successful with two trophies being won, before the team lifted every single trophy they competed for in 2014–15. Captain Morgan Brown was subsequently signed up by Troon F.C. to make the step up alongside left-back Ben Wilson and midfielder Ross McCrea, whilst fellow midfielders Sean Ewart and Louis Kerr joined
Whitletts Victoria
Whitletts Victoria Football Club are a Scottish football club, historically based in the Whitletts area of Ayr, South Ayrshire. The club currently play in the .
Nicknamed ''The Vics'', the club were formed in 1944 and currently play at Dam Par ...
. Forward Dean Fulton was to join the first team later, after a spell with
Stranraer. Manager Neil Duffy also stepped up to help out with the first team, before leaving only a few months later to take over as Manager of
Whitletts Victoria
Whitletts Victoria Football Club are a Scottish football club, historically based in the Whitletts area of Ayr, South Ayrshire. The club currently play in the .
Nicknamed ''The Vics'', the club were formed in 1944 and currently play at Dam Par ...
.
In season 2015–16 Troon F.C. absorbed Troon Thistle's Under-17s as they made the step up to Under-19 level, under the tutelage of Derek Cowan & Henry McAvoy and in June 2017 Justin Brown was appointed Head Coach to oversee the transition for the new intake of players for the 2000 born players. Jamie McCulloch was appointed in June 2018 to head up the new-look 2000-aged team before introducing the 2001 age group, before he & Jonny McTear departed with all their players for Irvine Meadow in the summer of 2020.
Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional football club from Glasgow, Scotland. Despite their name, the club are based at Firhill Stadium in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908. The club have been mem ...
Captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
Thomas O'Ware
Thomas O'Ware (born 20 March 1993) is a Scottish professional footballer, who plays for Kelty Hearts in Scottish League Two as a defender. O'Ware has previously played for Greenock Morton and Partick Thistle. He is also the Head Coach with th ...
was appointed as the new Development Team Head Coach in August 2020 to oversee our movement into the new
Lowland Development League (West). Players from the WOSYFL table-topping Irvine United, which had disbanded at the end of last season, joined the TFCYA as part of the new Development Team.
2003 Team
Troon formed a 2003 team in the summer of 2019, when the remaining players from Dalrymple & Coylton youth teams combined to make a strong side, under the stewardship of Bryan Martin.
2004 Team
In April 2017, Troon F.C. announced plans for a new 2004 team which was to be headed by Brian Prentice. Local players were recruited and a coaching staff of Paul McDougall and Graeme Hadden were appointed, alongside club Secretary Kevin Hunter. Former Troon forward David Gillies took over the team in 2019 before departing for Irvine Meadow the following summer. Former
Irvine Victoria goalkeeper Jim Catterson took over as head coach.
2008 Team
The Dundonald Boys Club side, headed by Ed Vorsterman & former Troon winger Bryan "Homer" Mitchell, joined the TFCYA to form the new 2008 team in 2018. However, this team was disbanded in early 2020.
2011 Team
Darren Sneddon approached the TFCYA about setting up a new 2011 team in the summer of 2019.
2013 Team
A grassroots 2013 was set-up in early 2019 by Jamie McCulloch and later taken over by Russell Smith, son of former Class 1 Referee Dougie Smith.
2015 Team
A grassroots 2015 was set-up in early 2020, which was taken over by Evan Martin upon McCulloch's departure.
Troon Ladies F.C.
Troon Ladies were formed in 2004 to further women's football in Troon and surrounding areas. The club also played their home matches at Portland Park. Troon Ladies F.C. won the
3rd Division South in season 2007/08 to gain promotion to the
Scottish Women's Football League First Division
The Scottish Women's Football League First Division (SWFL 1) was a division in the Scottish women's football pyramid between 1999 and 2019. The second league tier from 1999 to 2015, it was later the third tier from 2016 to 2019.
For most of it ...
and representing the club at the higher echelons of Ladies football.
At the end of season 2012, Troon Ladies F.C. merged with Glasgow Girls and assumed the latter name, playing out of Budhill Park near
Shettleston
Shettleston ( sco, Shuttlestoun, gd, Baile Nighean Sheadna) is a district in the east end of Glasgow in Scotland.
Toponymy
The origin of the name 'Shettleston' is not clear and, like many place-names of possibly medieval origin, has had a mult ...
.
Club colours and crest
Previous Troon-based teams from the pre-war period played in plain blue, red or black, but when Troon F.C. were founded in 1946 they wore a red bodied strip with white collar and sleeves, white shorts and socks with red trim.
During the 1960s, they wore white tops and black shorts for a spell, before a radical change to an all maroon kit from the late 1960s until 1977 when the club became known as simply "Troon Football Club".
It was at this point when blue first entered the strip, initially as the main chest colour in a similar style to the original kit from 1946. Red & white hoops with blue shorts were worn from 1988-90 before blue and black stripes became the main jersey colours in the early nineties and have remained ever since, although red has continued to be utilised as a change strip in homage to the original strips.
Kit evolution
{, class="wikitable"
!colspan=4, HOME
, -
,
,
,
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, -
,
,
,
,
, -
,
,
,
,
, -
,
,
,
,
, -
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,
, -
{, class="wikitable"
!colspan=4, AWAY
, -
,
,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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,
, -
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
{, class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
, -
!Period
!Sportswear
!Home sponsor
!Away sponsor
, -
, 1987–1989
,
Umbro
Umbro is an English sports equipment manufacturer founded in 1924 in Wilmslow, Cheshire and based in Manchester. They specialise in football and rugby sportswear featuring their ''Double Diamond'' logo. Umbro products are marketed in over 10 ...
, Dodds of Troon
, Fairbairn
, -
, 1989–1992
, rowspan=3,
Umbro
Umbro is an English sports equipment manufacturer founded in 1924 in Wilmslow, Cheshire and based in Manchester. They specialise in football and rugby sportswear featuring their ''Double Diamond'' logo. Umbro products are marketed in over 10 ...
, Scottish Building Society
,
, -
, 1992–1994
, Ailsa Perth
,
, -
, 1994–1995
, Maharani Indian Cuisine
,
, -
, 1996-1999
, Matchwinner
, rowspan=4, The Anchorage Hotel
, rowspan=3, The Anchorage Hotel
, -
, 1999–2001
, Pro-Star
, -
, 2001–2005
, Stanno
, -
, 2005–2007
, TFG Sports
, Hillhouse Quarry
, -
, 2007–2010
,
Puma
Puma or PUMA may refer to:
Animals
* ''Puma'' (genus), a genus in the family Felidae
** Puma (species) or cougar, a large cat
Businesses and organisations
* Puma (brand), a multinational shoe and sportswear company
* Puma Energy, a mid- and d ...
, Nelson Construction
, Nelson Construction
, -
, 2010–2012
, rowspan=2,
Nike
Nike often refers to:
* Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory
* Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment
Nike may also refer to:
People
* Nike (name), a surname and feminine given ...
, rowspan=2, Sprint Communications
, QTS Group
, -
, 2012–2013
, Taste To Go
, -
, 2013–2015
, rowspan=4,
Adidas
, Paligap
, rowspan=2, BeneFIT Gym
, -
, 2015–2016
, rowspan=4, Mayfield Garage Services
, -
, 2016–2017
, The Marine Hotel
, -
, 2017–18
, rowspan=2, DM Roofing
, -
, 2018–20
,
Nike
Nike often refers to:
* Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory
* Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment
Nike may also refer to:
People
* Nike (name), a surname and feminine given ...
, -
, 2021–22
, rowspan=2,
Puma
Puma or PUMA may refer to:
Animals
* ''Puma'' (genus), a genus in the family Felidae
** Puma (species) or cougar, a large cat
Businesses and organisations
* Puma (brand), a multinational shoe and sportswear company
* Puma Energy, a mid- and d ...
, Roadtrip Motorhome Hire
, rowspan=2, Blue Refrigeration
, -
, 2022–23
, The Fox (Troon)
Club crest
{, border="2" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #F9F9F9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 100%;"
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! colspan="9" style="background: #123163;",
The Evolution of the Crest of Troon F.C.
, - bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
! width="10%",
1946–1977
! width="10%",
1977 – present
! width="10%",
Youth Academy
, -
! align="center" ,

! align="center" ,

! align="center" ,

The club did not have an official crest before 1974. After this date, the club used the
Troon
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire, situated on the west coast of Ayrshire in Scotland, about north of Ayr and northwest of Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Troon has a port with freight services and a yacht marina. Up until January 2016, P&O opera ...
town coat of arms as an identity only, before an official club badge was introduced in 1977 when the term "Juniors" was dropped from the club's official title and Troon F.C. was born. Introduced by John Oliver, the badge bore a significant resemblance to the Burgh of Troon coat of arms with the inclusion of footballs. The badge was displayed in the clubhouse, depicted on a plaque made many years ago in the workshops at the Troon shipyard.
The club badge did not actually make it on to the shirts until as late as season 2005–06, initially appearing as a coloured shield and latterly as a hollow symbol.
Matchday programme

Troon F.C. were one of the first Junior clubs to produce a regular match day programme. In season 1981–82 “The Portland Parker” was released, and was the work of programme editor and legendary Troon F.C. committee member John Oliver, who had a long association with the club right up until his untimely death in 1996.
Local photographer John B. Vass continued the publication, before passing editorship onto Vice-Chairman Sinclair Gair. Richard Henderson took control in 2016 and the format.

{, class="wikitable"
, -
! style="color:white; background:#123163;", Year
! style="color:white; background:#123163;", Editor
, -
, 1981–96, , John Oliver
, -
, 1996–02, , Michael Birch
, -
, 2002–08, , John B. Vass
, -
, 2008–15, , Sinclair Gair
, -
, 2015–, , Richard Henderson
Honours
League
West of Scotland Super League First Division
The SJFA West Region Championship (known as the McBookie.com West Region Championship for sponsorship reasons) was a Scottish semi-professional football competition run by the West Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association and was the s ...
*Winners (1): 2013–14
*Runners-up: 2002–03
Ayrshire District League
*Runners-up: 2012–13
Ayrshire Second Division
*Winners (2): 1996–97, 2000–01
Cup
West of Scotland Cup
The West of Scotland Cup was an association football cup competition for clubs in Scotland which were barred from the Scottish Football Association which was played in 1877–78 and 1878–79.
Format
The competition was a single-elimination tou ...
*Winners (1): 2004–05
*Runners-up: 2013–14
Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup
*Winners (1): 2013–14
[ ]
*Runners-up: 1953–54
Ayrshire League Cup
*Runners-up: 2015-16
Ayrshire Super Cup
*Winners (1): 2000–01
South Ayrshire Cup
*Winners (6): 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04
Ayrshire District Cup
*Winners (1): 1996–97
Kyle & Carrick Cup
*Winners (1): 1994–95
Land O'Burns Cup
*Winners (1): 1954
Records
Record Home Crowd
*2800 for a home friendly against Celtic in 1969
*2631 for a home league match against Irvine Meadow XI in the 1946-47 season
Highest Known Win
*9-0 against Irvine Victoria in 1946-47
Highest Known Defeat
*1-10 against Ardeer Thistle in a league cup match during the 1959-60 season
References
External links
Troon F.C. Club Website
{{SJFA West Region
Association football clubs established in 1946
Football clubs in Scotland
Scottish Junior Football Association clubs
Football in South Ayrshire
1946 establishments in Scotland
Troon
West of Scotland Football League teams