Whitletts Vics News
WHITLETTS VICTORIA LOOKING TO CONTACT FORMER PLAYERS
Ayr’s junior football club, Whitletts Victoria are looking for former players, managers and coaches to get in touch to help the Club celebrate their 70th anniversary.
The Vics’ played their first match in August 1944, a 2-2 draw with the now defunct Ayr Newton Rovers with the highlights of an eventual history arguably playing in front of 20,100 spectators at Shawfield in the 1956 Scottish Cup semi final and then winning the Western League (South) championship the following season.
The club also enjoyed a successful period in the 1980’s, winning three Ayrshire Second Division titles and a couple of local Kyle & Carrick Cups under the guidance of George Maxwell, Jim Gilmour John Crawford and Ossie Findlay.
Vics Vice Chairman Andy McKissock said that the Club are looking to make contact with their former players and invite them to play a part in the Clubs’ celebrations.
“The club has had a checkered history but a very interesting one for followers of the grassroots game and we’d love for former players and managers to get in touch so that we can hear their stories about the Club and its’ past.”
“In many respects given the clubs’ history it is an achievement for Whitletts Victoria to be celebrating its’ 70th anniversary but the future is now looking very bright for Whitletts Victoria and we are steadily building a solid foundation for Ayr’s junior club to develop and grow and are confident that in time we can make an impact on the junior game but for a club to develop, we believe that it has to have a grasp on its’ history and the people involved in it”
If you played, managed or coached Whitletts Victoria, the Club would love to hear from you. Contact John Dalton on 07759 637 350 or via e-mail at john.dalton@whitlettsvictoria.com
Meanwhile the club are celebrating their anniversary by hosting a dinner at Ayr Rugby Club on 28th March with guest speakers Sandy Strang, Paul Reid and Kenny Clark.
Tickets for the event are available priced at £35. Contact Andrew Downie on 07834 903 735 for more information
BLOW FOR VICS AS WALLACE OUT FOR 8 WEEKS
Whitletts Victoria have been dealt a blow with the news that experienced central defender George Wallace has been ruled out for at least eight weeks after fracturing his right leg.
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 3 ANNBANK UNTED 0
Whitletts Victoria ran out comfortable winners in this South Ayrshire derby in difficult conditions at Dam Park to keep their recent winning run intact but Annbank can take heart from a spirited performance despite playing over three quarters of the match with only 10 men.
The Ayr side started the better of the two sides with Tony Balfour seeing his shot blocked by Jordan Callaghan, while Jim Wilson’s goalbound effort was denied by a superb blocked by Lee Anderson.
Both sides pressed at every opportunity but neither seriously threatened either goalkeeper. The game needed a goal and it came in the 19th minute after Bankies defender Lee Sloan blocked a netbound shot from Ricky Hanvey in the line with his arm giving referee Drew Kirkland no option but to point to the spot and show Sloan a straight red card. Tony Balfour duly dispatched the ball past Jordan Callaghan from the resulting penalty to give Vics’ the lead.
Balfour then went close to grabbing a second but his thumping angled drive flew just past but not to be denied, Vics’ doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute. Michael O’Connor picked the ball up midway inside the Bankies half and released Jim Wilson who calmly took the ball round Jordan Callaghan before setting up Balfour who rolled the ball home from six yards.
Annbank played some neat football going forward with the lively Adam Forsyth causing the Vics’ defence a few restless moments but right on half time Wilson should have added a third when a poor defensive clearance fell to the Vics’ frontman at the corner of the six yard box but his first time attempt found the side netting.
The Dam Park side started the second half strongly and twice Hanvey was denied, first by a save at full stretch by Callaghan and then a spectacular angled effort that flew just over.
The impressive Forsyth then created Annbank’s first real opportunity when he bundled Connor Simpson off the ball but Scott McNamara failed to connect with his low cross in front of goal.
Jim Wilson then had a free header in front of goal that he skewed wide but in the 54th minute the striker latched onto a Balfour pass to set up O’Connor who beat Callaghan from eight yards.
Vics’ were making their extra man advantage count in midfield and they almost increased their lead when a superb through ball from Hanvey found Balfour but the strikers angled drive from 18 yards was turned behind by Callaghan.
To their credit Annbank continued to play a neat passing game and Ferry was denied only by the outstretched leg of Ally McInnes after a neat one-two with Gordon Wilson while Lee Anderson saw his thumping drive saved by the Vics’ No1. McInnes then followed that up with fine save to deny Jordan Barr while for Whitletts Gary Russell went close with a shot from the edge of the box while Balfour found the side netting with a snapshot late in the game.
In injury time Euan Blair thought he’d scored his first goal for the club with a close range header from a corner but referee Kirkland saw an infringement and ruled out the goal while Hanvey had a shot saved by Callaghan but Vics’ injury woes increased when top scorer Tony Balfour collided with the post sliding in to try and complete his hat trick and had to be carried from the park.
A deserved win for Vics’ that keeps them on the fringe of the promotion race while although disappointed Mick O’Neil’s side can take heart from a very good performance despite playing more than three quarters of the game with a man short.
Whitlets Victoria
1. McInnes 2. Reynolds (Russell 36) 3. Simpson 4, Holland 5. Blair 6. Longair (Hanvey 14) 7. Kerr 8. Love 9. Balfour 10. O’Connor 11. WilsonSubs (not used) 12. Russell 15. Ewart
Annbamk United
1. Callaghan 2. Kelly 3. Sloan 4. Ferry 5. L. Anderson 6. Roy 7. McNamara 8. McDowall 9. Forsyth 10. Stewart 11, WilsonSubs (not used) 12. Tait 14. Uppal 15. Johnston 16. McKissock 17. J.Barr
Referee: Drew Kirkland
Ayr’s junior football club, Whitletts Victoria are looking for former players, managers and coaches to get in touch to help the Club celebrate their 70th anniversary.
The Vics’ played their first match in August 1944, a 2-2 draw with the now defunct Ayr Newton Rovers with the highlights of an eventual history arguably playing in front of 20,100 spectators at Shawfield in the 1956 Scottish Cup semi final and then winning the Western League (South) championship the following season.
The club also enjoyed a successful period in the 1980’s, winning three Ayrshire Second Division titles and a couple of local Kyle & Carrick Cups under the guidance of George Maxwell, Jim Gilmour John Crawford and Ossie Findlay.
Vics Vice Chairman Andy McKissock said that the Club are looking to make contact with their former players and invite them to play a part in the Clubs’ celebrations.
“The club has had a checkered history but a very interesting one for followers of the grassroots game and we’d love for former players and managers to get in touch so that we can hear their stories about the Club and its’ past.”
“In many respects given the clubs’ history it is an achievement for Whitletts Victoria to be celebrating its’ 70th anniversary but the future is now looking very bright for Whitletts Victoria and we are steadily building a solid foundation for Ayr’s junior club to develop and grow and are confident that in time we can make an impact on the junior game but for a club to develop, we believe that it has to have a grasp on its’ history and the people involved in it”
If you played, managed or coached Whitletts Victoria, the Club would love to hear from you. Contact John Dalton on 07759 637 350 or via e-mail at john.dalton@whitlettsvictoria.com
Meanwhile the club are celebrating their anniversary by hosting a dinner at Ayr Rugby Club on 28th March with guest speakers Sandy Strang, Paul Reid and Kenny Clark.
Tickets for the event are available priced at £35. Contact Andrew Downie on 07834 903 735 for more information
BLOW FOR VICS AS WALLACE OUT FOR 8 WEEKS
Whitletts Victoria have been dealt a blow with the news that experienced central defender George Wallace has been ruled out for at least eight weeks after fracturing his right leg.
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 3 ANNBANK UNTED 0
Whitletts Victoria ran out comfortable winners in this South Ayrshire derby in difficult conditions at Dam Park to keep their recent winning run intact but Annbank can take heart from a spirited performance despite playing over three quarters of the match with only 10 men.
The Ayr side started the better of the two sides with Tony Balfour seeing his shot blocked by Jordan Callaghan, while Jim Wilson’s goalbound effort was denied by a superb blocked by Lee Anderson.
Both sides pressed at every opportunity but neither seriously threatened either goalkeeper. The game needed a goal and it came in the 19th minute after Bankies defender Lee Sloan blocked a netbound shot from Ricky Hanvey in the line with his arm giving referee Drew Kirkland no option but to point to the spot and show Sloan a straight red card. Tony Balfour duly dispatched the ball past Jordan Callaghan from the resulting penalty to give Vics’ the lead.
Balfour then went close to grabbing a second but his thumping angled drive flew just past but not to be denied, Vics’ doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute. Michael O’Connor picked the ball up midway inside the Bankies half and released Jim Wilson who calmly took the ball round Jordan Callaghan before setting up Balfour who rolled the ball home from six yards.
Annbank played some neat football going forward with the lively Adam Forsyth causing the Vics’ defence a few restless moments but right on half time Wilson should have added a third when a poor defensive clearance fell to the Vics’ frontman at the corner of the six yard box but his first time attempt found the side netting.
The Dam Park side started the second half strongly and twice Hanvey was denied, first by a save at full stretch by Callaghan and then a spectacular angled effort that flew just over.
The impressive Forsyth then created Annbank’s first real opportunity when he bundled Connor Simpson off the ball but Scott McNamara failed to connect with his low cross in front of goal.
Jim Wilson then had a free header in front of goal that he skewed wide but in the 54th minute the striker latched onto a Balfour pass to set up O’Connor who beat Callaghan from eight yards.
Vics’ were making their extra man advantage count in midfield and they almost increased their lead when a superb through ball from Hanvey found Balfour but the strikers angled drive from 18 yards was turned behind by Callaghan.
To their credit Annbank continued to play a neat passing game and Ferry was denied only by the outstretched leg of Ally McInnes after a neat one-two with Gordon Wilson while Lee Anderson saw his thumping drive saved by the Vics’ No1. McInnes then followed that up with fine save to deny Jordan Barr while for Whitletts Gary Russell went close with a shot from the edge of the box while Balfour found the side netting with a snapshot late in the game.
In injury time Euan Blair thought he’d scored his first goal for the club with a close range header from a corner but referee Kirkland saw an infringement and ruled out the goal while Hanvey had a shot saved by Callaghan but Vics’ injury woes increased when top scorer Tony Balfour collided with the post sliding in to try and complete his hat trick and had to be carried from the park.
A deserved win for Vics’ that keeps them on the fringe of the promotion race while although disappointed Mick O’Neil’s side can take heart from a very good performance despite playing more than three quarters of the game with a man short.
Whitlets Victoria
1. McInnes 2. Reynolds (Russell 36) 3. Simpson 4, Holland 5. Blair 6. Longair (Hanvey 14) 7. Kerr 8. Love 9. Balfour 10. O’Connor 11. WilsonSubs (not used) 12. Russell 15. Ewart
Annbamk United
1. Callaghan 2. Kelly 3. Sloan 4. Ferry 5. L. Anderson 6. Roy 7. McNamara 8. McDowall 9. Forsyth 10. Stewart 11, WilsonSubs (not used) 12. Tait 14. Uppal 15. Johnston 16. McKissock 17. J.Barr
Referee: Drew Kirkland