DOUGLAS FOOTBALL RIVALS

  COALBURN THISTLE FC

 

COREHOUSE THISTLE

Corehouse Thistle from Kikfieldbank were another team who featured over the years in opposition to various Douglas teams

The above photo was submitted by Audrey Lawson and is believed to have been taken shortly after the 2nd world war.  Audrey's dad Willie Dunlop from Threepwood, Crossford is to the left of the goalkeeper. To Willies right ( in the collar and tie) is his grandfathers brother John Bryson from Kirkfieldbank.  Andrew Mulligan is extreme right.

My old SSEB/ScottishPower workmate Bobby Frew, a fine player in his day, is 2nd from the right in the front row. 

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Below is the Lanarkshire Amateur Football League divisions in 1964, the year before Douglas Amats joined the league.  Their main rivals initially were Meadow Thistle, Bridge Works, Netherton Hearts, Bothwell,  Costains, and Ashgill Hearts

Between 1964 and 1974 Meadow Thistle and Douglas AFC won the  LAFA  1st Division between them 10 times out of 11

 MEADOW THISTLE

Douglas AFC's great rivals in the Lanarkshire AFA were Meadow Thistle from Craigneuk who had dominated the scene prior to the arrival of Douglas. 

MEADOW THISTLE 1960 featuring a young Tommy Gemmell - Lisbon Lion

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Meadow had some cracking players including Jim Innes, Owen Connelly, Willie Brown, Bert Lister - who could only be described as a goal machine, and  a number of other players who were later to sign for Douglas, Tommy McCormick, James Connelly, Jackie Barry, Jim Clifford, and Jim McLean.

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A sample of Meadow Thistle's results from 1967 - a table of all their results, competition, and team members was faithfully recorded. 

 MEADOW THISTLE REUNION

Ex Players and officials of Medow Thistle AFC at a reunion night 

Back Row l to r - Jim Innes, Jim McLean, Thomas Keatings, Willie Brown, Tommy McCormick, Billy Dobbins, Tam Donald, Jackie Barrie, James McCafferty

Front Row l to r  Bert Lister, Jim Leitch, James Howley (standing), Joe O'Raw, James Connelly

MOTHERWELL BRIDGEWORKS AFC

During the late 60's and early 70's another of Douglas AFC's formidable opponents were the Bridge Works, a very talented team with a great team spirit.

Among their players was Ross Mathie, a prolific goalscorer, later to play junior football and then Senior with Kilmarnock, Falkirk and latterly Motherwell. In recent years, Ross has continued his
involvement in football a a very successful Youth Coach with the SFA
incluing his management of National Youth Teams - the most recent in an Under 17 tournament in August 2007.

Also in the BridgeWorks ranks were Bobby McClymont later to play in the successful Douglas AFC side, and the remarkable Telfer Beattie. Telfer can surely be describes as Mr Bridge Works, playing for,and then managing the team, from the 60's right through to the present day.  He even turned out in an emergency situation for the team at the age of 62!!

 Motherwell Bridgeworks AFC, winners of the Lanarkshire Cup and the Roan Memorial Trophy 1966-1967.

Back row - Joe Keary(Coach), John Connors(Club President), Pat Coyle, Kenny Cowan, Davie Bebbington, Robert Cornett, Robert Crowe, Bobby McClymont, Ian Russell, Telfer Beattie and Jimmy Purdie(Secretary).
 

Front row - Alec Nicoll, Willie Shields, Ross Mathie, Jim Henderson, Ian Dunn, Hans Kane, Billy Coyle

The Bridgeworks squad  had a very good season in 66-67, including a trip to Wembley to see Scotland beat the then World Champions! On the night before the Wembley match they played Fleet Town in a friendly and beat them 2-0.
 

                                   Presentation Night:
Motherwell Bridgeworks AFC in 1967, celebrating their success in winning the Lanarkshire Cup, by defeating Douglas Amateurs 5-1 at Lesmahagow, and the Roan Memorial Trophy, by defeating Coltness Utd 3-0 at Newmains, in their most successful season.
 

Back row: Willie Shields, Billy Coyle, Jim Sutherland and Bobby McClymont.
 

Middle row: Ross Mathie, Ian Dunn and Gavin Montgomery.
 

Front row: Telfer Beattie and Davie Bebbington.

BridgeWorks AFC are now the oldest continous team playing in the Lanarkshire League