The following blog posts have all been contributed by Gordon McCreath, who is a keen amateur Junior Football historian. His research into the history of the sport in North Ayrshire is primarily focused on Irvine Meadow XI but also includes all other clubs. Gordon has conducted extensive research, including interviewing many former players.
We are very grateful to him for submitting his articles to our site.
- 1911 Irvine Meadow XI v Kilwinning Rangers – Scottish Cup 3rd Round Replay – Gordon shares a story of some photographs from a 1911 Scottish Cup game.
- 1959 – A Teddy Bear’s Hampden Picnic – The story of a luck teddy bear mascot and the 1959 Scottish Junior Cup final between Irvine Meadow and Shettleston.
- 1968 – The Case of the Disappearing Players – A league game between Dreghorn Juniors and Irvine Meadow in atrocious weather conditions: as the games proceeds, players start vanishing.
- 1970 Ian’s Cracking Performance – Irvine Meadow v Kilwinning Rangers see’s the goal frame broken and the match abandoned!
- A Double Shift for Meadow’s Cup Winners – The incredible story of the 1962 West of Scotland Cup final between Irvine Meadow and Greenock Juniors which ended in a draw and went to a replay that same night!
- Alan Johnstone – “A Natural Goalscorer” – A detailed history of the career of Alan Johnstone, who played for Troon, Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Largs Thistle, Kilbirnie Ladeside and Irvine Meadow.
- Ayrshire Dockyard Company – The story of the Ayrshire Dockyard Company, who played in the Western League during the Second World War before amalgamating with Irvine Victoria FC.
- Beith v The Buffs – It’s Raining Goals – A remarkable game on the 19th of January, 1952 between Kilwinning Rangers and Beith Juniors which ended 8-9 for Kilwinning.
- Craig Brown on Junior Football – An interview with former Scotland manager Craig Brown, where he shares his thoughts on Junior Football.
- Eddy Gemmell – “They Said I Was Too Wee” – An interview with Eddy Gemmell, who was repeatedly told he was “too wee” but played for a host of junior teams, including Irvine Meadow.
- Gentleman George – “An Inside Forward of Sublime Skill” – Irvine-born striker who played for Aberdeen F.C and who represented Scotland in the 1954 World Cup.
- George Wall – Johnny McIntyre Put Me to Left-back – An interview with George Wall, who won the Ayrshire District Cup with Irvine Meadow and the Scottish Junior Cup with Largs Thistle.
- Goals Galore…After a Scare in Dreghorn – A Scottish Junior Cup double-header between Irvine Meadow and Dreghorn Juniors.
- Kenny Beaton – Another Kind of Hero – Kenny Beaton, a left winger who played for Irvine Meadow and Irvine Victoria, who saved a young boy from drowning in Irvine Harbour.
- Kenny Dalglish at Victoria Park in 1967 – On the 4th of November, 1967, a 16 year old Kenny Dalglish played at Victoria Park for the second time.
- “Played in Good Spirits” – An Ayrshire League match between Irvine Meadow XI and Ardeer Thistle sees 6 red cards!
- Robert Smallwood – Re-united with his Past – Robert Smallwood, who had attended the 1959 Scottish Junior Cup final with over 65,000 fans as a 12 year old boy, recalls how he went on to play for Irvine Meadow.
- Tammy and the Beast – Thomas Geddes, Irvine Meadow defender, ends up taking penalties against an elephant when the circus came to Irvine in 1903.
- The Marymass Derby – The story of the first Marymass Derby, between Irvine Meadow and Irvine Victoria, played in 1921.
- William ‘Bill’ Jolly – A brief history of William Jolly, who played one season for Irvine Meadow in the 1929/30 season.