East Kilbride YM FC

East Kilbride YM FC
Full name East Kilbride YM
Nickname(s) The YM, EKYM
Founded 1936 (1936)
Ground John Wrights Sports Stadium
East Kilbride
Scotland
Chairman Alan Cunningham
Manager Graeme Robertson
League

Caledonian AFA 1st Division

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East Kilbride YM (also known as The YM) are the oldest football club based in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.[1] The club currently have three adult teams competing in the Caledonian,[2] Scottish Amateur Football League and Greater Glasgow Leagues, as well as under-17s and under-19s. 'The YM' is part of the EKYMC Community Club alongside East Kilbride YC and East Kilbride Girls.[3] The club also host the most popular Player of the Year and Speakers night in the East Kilbride area and an annual Invitational Tournament.[4]

History

Formation and early years

East Kilbride YM were formed in 1936, during World War II, with one of the earliest Team Managers being John Cadzow. The club was kept going through the war by enlisting local players and serviceman stationed nearby. In 1947 Angus McConnell became involved as Secretary and Organiser at only 16-years old. Despite never playing for ‘the YM’, McConnell was an ever present figure within the club and, as well as his secretarial duties, was at the forefront of the clubs fundraising endeavours raising money for local and national charities. At the Annual EKYM Speakers Dinner, McConnell was named Honorary President.

Despite there being no official league, East Kilbride YM kept playing throughout the war and then into the 1950s when they were accepted into the Scottish Amateur Football League. John Cadzow is widely credited with the establishment of East Kilbride YM as a club and sustaining it through its difficult early stages.

In the early-1950s, Jack Fowler became manager and won numerous trophies over his decade in charge. It was at this time 17-year-old Les Goodfellow and Eric Gunning joined The YM. Both played their way through the ranks to the first team where they stayed for many years. After retiring, the pair became actively involved in the running of the club until 2012, almost 60 years later.

The early-1960s saw the club add under-16 and under-18 squads bringing with them a steady stream of talented youth players. In 1961 the men's team reached the final of the Coronation Cup against Clyde Paper. A game in which Alistair McCartney suffered a broken leg and the team forced to continue with 10 men. Against the odds, the YM went on to win 3-2 and lift the Coronation Cup.

In 1980 Bobby Jarvie managed the East Kilbride YM under-18s to the final of the Scottish Amateur Youth Cup. They were ultimately beaten 2–1 with two late goals from Andy Walker, who would go on to play for Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers, and his brother.[5]

Recent Years

Caledonian League Team

The Caledonian League Team won promotion to the First Division (later renamed the Premier Division) in the 1995–96 season where they stayed until 2005, when after a poor season, were relegated down into the new First Division (formerly the Second Division). John McCole returned to manage the team after the relegation and came close to promotion on two occasions but narrowly missed out. McCole retired from management in 2011, a year after winning the East Kilbride YM Annual Tournament. Graeme Robertson and assistant Billy Hamilton, were put in charge of the Caley Team following their double winning season with the SAFL team. Since Robertson's appointment the team have had mixed results in both the league and cup competitions. Finishing sixth in the 2012–13 and seventh in 2013–14. The team reached the latter stages of the West of Scotland cup in the 2012–13 season but were knocked out convincingly by the eventual winners, Hurlford Thistle.

At the beginning of the 2014–15 season Gary Hamilton left his post as coach of the Scottish Amateur National Team to become head coach at the club and of the Caley Team.

On 3 June 2015, The Caledonian Team reached the Final of the Caledonian AFA Presidents Cup Final, beating Hamilton FP 1–0 with Connor McCann scoring the winning goal. This was the first trophy the Caledonian Team had won in 17 years.[6]

In August 2015, Scott Chaplain was announced as the teams new head coach.

Scottish Amateur Team

In 1996, East Kilbride YM were accepted into the Caledonian League, after winning the Scottish Amateur Premier League Cup under the charges of John McClymont and Peter Allan. The YM elected to enter a new team into the SAFL and were made to start again at the bottom of the league system. The Scottish Amateur team became a feeder for the Caley team and competed in the Scottish Amateur 2nd Division until 2003 when they won the league.

Having been relegated in previous seasons, the Scottish Amateur team found themselves back in the Second Division at the start of 2010–11. This was the most successful season for the team since their inclusion in the SAFL for a second time. The team went unbeaten in the league until 2011 and progressed to the Hall Cup Final to face Aitkenhead Thistle AFC in April 2011. Within the space of two weeks, the SAFL team had secured both the league and Hall Cup marking a tremendous end to their season.[7]

After Robertsons move to the Caley side, Gary Lawson took over as manager before work commitments forced him to hand over the reigns to Andy Dykes, previously a coach with the Caley side, for the 2013–14 Season.

Tam Barclay and Stephen McKenna took over in June 2014 with enthusiasm as the second wave of YM under-19's progress to the adult side.

Greater Glasgow Team

The Greater Glasgow PL side was created for the 2012–13 season, reflecting the growing popularity and interest in the YM. Marshalled by Colin Dailly in its inaugural season, it was a difficult season with a poor showing in the league.[8]

With the first wave of under-19's moving to the adult side since the inception of the EKYMC Community Club, Gordon McCulloch followed his players into the management position.

The team got off to a flying start in the league and began to show themselves as real contenders for the league title despite their youth. The squad looked unstoppable in the Greater Glasgow Premier League Cup as they saw off tough opposition on their way to the final where they met Broomhouse. In the final, the YM lost 4–3 against a very good Broomhouse side who had dominated their league in the 2013–14 season.[9]

Sunday Central Team

In December 2015, it was announced East Kilbride YM would be forming a team to compete in the Sunday Central AFL from the beginning of the 2016/17 season. Andrew Dykes was named as manager, with Andy McDade and Gary Lawson as his assistants. The team played its first friendly in January 2016 and lost 2v1 to Fernhill United.

Annual Tournament

The 'YM Invitational Cup' is a pre season invitational company hosted by East Kilbride YM. The four week competition was inaugurated in 2010 and has been held every summer since. Since 2010 the tournament has grown in popularity and 16 teams have competed in the adults competition since 2013. In 2013 an under-19's tournament was introduced to run alongside the adults cup with eight teams participating.

The competition follows a Champions League style set up with initial group stages and progressing to a knockout stage.

East Kilbride YM won their inaugural tournament in 2010, Rolls Royce in 2012, and Broomhouse won the 2013 and 2014 editions.[10]

Player of the Year Statistics

Caledonian League Team

Players POTY Managers POTY Golden Boot
2014–15 Connor McCann Xander McMillan Connor McCann
2013–14 Stewart Bovill Paul McLean Garry O'Hanlon
2012–13 Paul Tierney Stewart Bovill David Atha
2011–12 Craig Duncan Paul Tierney Alan McRae
2009–10 Stewart Bovill Alan McRae Alan McRae
2008–09 Steven Chaplain Steven Chaplain Steven Chaplain

Scottish Amateur Team

Players POTY Managers POTY Golden Boot
2014–15 Iain Taylor Scott Cairns Iain Taylor
2013–14 William Dawson Stephen McKenna William Dawson
2010–11 Kevin McCarthy John McNamara Paul McCaig
2008–09 William Dawson William Dawson Iain Taylor

Greater Glasgow Team

Players POTY Managers POTY Golden Boot
2014–15 Scott Campbell Scott Campbell Scott Campbell
2013–14 Gary McCulloch Craig Kincaid Ross McDonagh
2012–13 William Dawson Kenny Corbett David Atha

Club officials

East Kilbride YM
Caledonian League team
Scottish Amateur Football League team
Greater Glasgow Premier League team
Sunday Central AFL team

Players

Goalkeepers

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

No. Position Player
Scotland GK Ross Calder
Scotland GK Fraser Campbell
Scotland GK Gordon Hadley
No. Position Player
Scotland GK Aidan Hughes
Scotland GK Alan Sharp

Defenders

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

No. Position Player
Scotland DF Stewrt Bovill
Scotland DF Kieran Clarke
Scotland DF Paul Condron
Scotland DF Grant Gibson
Scotland DF Stuart Gordon
Scotland DF John Griffin
Scotland DF Kieran Harkins
Scotland DF Brandon Harron
Scotland DF Adam Henderson
Scotland DF Peter Kelsall
Scotland DF Craig Kincaid
Scotland DF Jack Lees
No. Position Player
Scotland DF Chris McAlaney
Scotland DF Ryan McKenna
Scotland DF Stephen McKenna
Scotland DF Ryan McLaughlin
Scotland DF Zander McMillan
Scotland DF Kieran McNeill
Scotland DF Lewis Millhouse
Scotland DF Craig Reid
Scotland DF Darren Reid
Scotland DF Darren Smith
Scotland DF Mark Websterl
Scotland DF Robbie Wotherspoon

Midfielders

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

No. Position Player
Scotland MF Scott Anderson
Scotland MF Grant Beattie
Scotland MF Jack Brown
Scotland MF Sean Burke
Scotland MF Josh Cairns
Scotland MF Scott Cairns
Scotland MF James Cameron
Scotland MF Scott Campbell
Scotland MF Scott Chaplain
Scotland MF Paul Cocozza
Scotland MF Stuart Dowd
Scotland MF Jordan Fletcher
Scotland MF Barry Kelly
Scotland MF Darren Litterick
Scotland MF Raymond Lynch
Scotland MF Craig Mackie
Scotland MF Jason Mathieson
Scotland MF Chris McCaig
No. Position Player
Scotland MF Thomas McCallum
Scotland MF Cameron McCulloch
Scotland MF Paul McLean
Scotland MF Oen Mitchell
Scotland MF Callum Montgomery
Scotland MF Johnny Morris
Scotland MF Ben Mulholland
Scotland MF Mark O'Donnell
Scotland MF Matthew O'Hare
Scotland MF Billy Robertson
Scotland MF Sam Robertson
Scotland MF Zach Roche
Scotland MF Alan Sharp
Scotland MF Jack Smyth
Scotland MF Craig Tocher
Scotland MF Sam Toufique
Scotland MF Grant Wotherspoon

Forwards

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

No. Position Player
Scotland FW Ross Bryden
Scotland FW Scott Campbell
Scotland FW Stephen McIntyre
Scotland FW Craig Tocher
No. Position Player
Scotland FW Connor McCann
Scotland FW Ross McDonagh
Scotland FW James Murphy
Scotland FW Ricky Orr
Scotland FW Anthony Penman

Honours

Caledonian League Presidents Cup
Queens Park Challenge Trophy
Caledonian league 2nd Division
Scottish Amateur Premier League Cup
Scottish Amateur 2nd Division
Scottish Amateur 3rd Division
Scottish Amateur Coronation Cup
Scottish Amateur Reserve Division One
Hall Cup
Ball Trophy
Scottish YMCA Cup

External links

References

  1. Thomson, Paul. "EKYM Mark 75th Anniversary". www.dailyrecord.co.uk. Scottish Daily Record. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  2. "Caledonian Team". www.scottishamateurfa.co.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  3. Thomson, Paul. "Thistle girls join EKYMC community club". www.dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  4. Thomson, Paul. "EKYM Tournament". www.dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  5. Thomson, Paul. "EKYM History". www.dailyrecord.co.uk. daily record. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  6. "Presidents Cup Final". daily record. Retrieved 5/6/2015. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  7. thomson, paul. "safl final". www.dailyrecord.co.uk. daily record. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  8. "12/13 ggpl stats". www.greaterglasgow.co.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  9. Scott, Tom. "GGPL Final". www.thegenn.co.uk. simply publishing. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  10. thomson, paul. "YM tournament". www.dailyrecord.co.uk. daily record. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  11. "Coaching Staff 15/16". www.eastkilbrideym.co.uk. Retrieved 5/6/15. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  12. "honours". www.ekym.co.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
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