Ardeer Thistle F.C.
Season 1959-60. Selected from a booklet by
Peter Bird
Ayrshire Junior Cup Final - Reports -
Western League Cup Final
See also Football in Stevenston - By James Clements
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Season 1959-60 was one of the most
successful years in the history of Ardeer Thistle and is remembered for
many things but most notably for the goal scoring abilities of the centre
forward Tommy Duffy who scored 97 goals and this is still recorded in the
Guinness Book of Records. It was also special for Matt Thomson who was
capped for Scotland. |
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W. Peden, Sweeney, Andrew, Hood, Bishop,
Murray, Thomson,
D Higgins, Templeton, Duffy, Brannan, McLeod, Reilly, W Thomson
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Other team photos
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The magnificent efforts of the whole
playing squad should also be recorded and it is recognised that they would
have achieved greater glory had it not been for the fact that they had to
play twelve games in eighteen days in May and nine games in eighteen days
in June. As the team line shows there were many changes during this period
due to injury, work commitments etc. and in the Irvine & District Cup
Final Johnny Templeton and Jimmy Reilly took to the field unfit. During
the game Brannan and Sweeney left the field injured reducing the team to
nine men.
Mention should be made of the eleven
players who never lost a game during the season. They were: Goalkeeper
Bishop. Defenders: Sweeney, Thomson. Halfbacks: Hood, Andrew, Murray.
Forwards: Templeton, Brannan, Duffy, McLeod, Reilly
It can be said that behind each great
team there is a hard working backroom staff and this was indeed the case.
From the committee (including the dedicated ladies committee) and training
staff right through to the gate collectors and supporters. Each played
their part in such a memorable season. Since then many have strived with
that same dedication to emulate that great season and today Ardeer Thistle
still have an enthusiastic playing staff and a group of dedicated
personnel behind the scenes and the hope is that very soon they will have
similar success to that of the team of 59-60 |
This photograph may seem out of place but it appeared in the local
newspaper early in the 1959-60 season and perhaps it is relevant to the
extent of inspiring the 59-60 team to their great achievements. The
picture shows the the team and officials after they had won the Irvine
& District Cup for the second time in 1907-8. The team was
Stevenson: Leckie and Cook: McCulloch, Reid and Auld: McAusland, Speirs,
Alerdice, Duff & Kelso. They then won the cup the following season
with the following team: Docherty: Robb and Cook: McCulloch, Reid and
Young: Marshall, Jackson, Allerdyce, Brown and Auld (Kilmarnock). By
winning the trophy three times in succession they were given it for
keeps and their record still stands unequalled. The 1959-60 team also
created records that may prove unequalled. |
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Ayrshire
Junior Cup Final 1960
Duffy again goes nap
Ardeer Thistle and Saltcoats Vics. met last Saturday in the
final of the Ayrshire cup at Recreation Park, Stevenston. Thistle’s last
victory in this cup was in season 1925-26 and Saltcoats last win was in season
1946-47.
The game attracted a large crowd and Thistle were first to press but a hefty
clearance by Bond gave Newton possession. He crossed but Andrew cleared –
Bishop saved from Burns and Bond from Duffy. Saltcoats defence were badly
exposed and this gave Duffy the chance to put Ardeer into a one goal lead
Morrison started a move, but one pass too many allowed the Ardeer defence to
clear their lines.
At the other end a Brannan cross was met by Duffy who put Thistle two up.
Thistle were now playing with great confidence and Duffy added to his tally.
Crum was trying all he knew to break down the Ardeer defence and eventually he
reduced the leeway. Saltcoats were given some heart just before the interval
when Burns scored.
Half Time : Ardeer 3 Vics 2
The second half had barely started when that man Duffy scored Ardeer’s
fourth goal and shortly afterwards scored his, and Ardeer’s fifth goal.
Despite this Saltcoats was putting up a good fight and their supporters were
not going to allow them to give in. Later Duffy unselfishly passed to McLeod
to take the Ardeer total to six and then Vics managed to get a penalty which
Bishop saved from Newton . Morrison scored for Vics but by this time the
leeway was too great to overcome.
Final Result: Ardeer 6 Vics 3
A good hard game with victory going to the better balanced team although
Saltcoats gave a good account of themselves. They failed to keep a watch on
Duffy and this allowed him the scope to "go nap ".
Teams:
Ardeer Thistle: Bishop, Sweeney and Thomson. Hood, Andrew and Murray.
Templeton, Brannan, Duffy, McLeod and J. Reilly.
Saltcoats Vics: Bond, McCallum and McLeish. Murney, McFee and Forrest.
Morrison, Orr, Burns, Crum and Newton.
Referee: W Ferguson, Carluke Gate £192.12/-
Mr Sloan of Glenafton Athletic presented the cup to Brannan of Ardeer who was
carried shoulder high round the stadium.
top
Western
League Cup Final 1960
Ardeer Thistle Worthy Winners
Ardeer Thistle and Kello Rovers met last Saturday at Meadow
Park, Irvine in the final of the League Cup. Ardeer brought in R. Reilly at
full back for Sweeney. The weather was ideal and the attendance excellent.
Thistle settled down right away and Brannan opened the
scoring in the sixteenth minute and following further pressure the same player
added a second. Rovers were putting too much work on the ball and were falling
easy prey to the strong tackling Ardeer defence. It was all too evident that
Ardeer were on the road to victory as the Rovers defence was getting it hot as
the Ardeer forwards were moving fast and causing them all sorts of bother.
Half Time: Ardeer 2 Kello 0
The second half had just got under way when Campbell scored
for Kello and this spurred Ardeer on with Templeton and Brannan showing some
classy movements. Duffy then added a third for Ardeer and J Reilly put them
further ahead. Rovers were now in trouble and were finding it hard to down the
fast moving Ardeer forwards. Hawkshaw, J. Frew and A. Frew were trying to make
a game of it but it was Ardeer, through Duffy, who scored again. Yes, Rovers
were down and out. All their efforts lacked sting and kelly on the right wing
had little chance to shine as Thomson had him well covered throughout the
match. Final Result: Ardeer 5 Kello 1
Thistle were easy winners and took command from the kick
off. Kello officials claimed that their team should have had at least two
penalties.
Teams:
Ardeer Thistle : Bishop, R. Reilly and Thomas, Hood, Andrew and Murray,
Templeton, Brannan, Duffy,McLeod and J. Reilly.
Kello Rovers: King, Crolla and Burgess, Ward, Paul and Connelly, Kelly,
Hawshaw, Campbell, J. Frew and A. Frew.
Referee: A. Mathieson, Paisley. Mr A. Fullarton, President
of the Western League, presented the trophy to the winners.
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Sweeney Thomson Bishop
Andrews Hood Murray
Templeton Duffy Brannan McLeod Reilly Danny Higgins (Trainer) |
Sweeney Murray
Thomson Kerr Bishop Andrew
Hood
Templeton Unknown Duffy Brannan McLeod
Cooper Reilly |
Ardchoille Park Opening 1953
Provost Morrison & Willie Mann
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