Background

The 2023/24 season is beginning to come to a close. Champions are starting be crowned, while some are facing the prospect of starting the upcoming campaign in a lower division. Teams across Scotland will know their destiny in the next few weeks, moving up and down the pyramid like a game of Snakes and Ladders. It is both an exciting and nail-biting time up and down the country.

Regardless of the success of a town’s football team on a particular season, the community more or less stays the same. It can act as the bedrock of the club, so long as there is a give and take between the two entities. However, the first move generally has to be made by the football club. A willingness to engage, thoughtful initiatives and opportunities for all allow the local community to integrate itself into the overarching spirit of the club, creating a partnership between the two. It is something that some football clubs have done incredibly well and it is obvious to see.

Tonight’s visit comes in the form of Kilsyth Athletic FC. Formed just before the turn of the 21st century, they are a relatively young entity in the Scottish football sphere. My understanding is that Kilsyth Athletic were formed solely to serve the town itself, with its aim to increase the physical and mental health and wellbeing of Kilsyth. They are club run entirely by volunteers, proving a genuine want to supply a positive community spirit through the medium of football. One of their mission statements reads “To value character, effort and performance as equal to winning.” As a primary teacher, I’m a big believer in this mindset and feel it is worthwhile for children to engage in it.

As well as the main community wing, Kilsyth Athletic have integrated a senior side in the Scottish football pyramid – creating a clear pathway from grassroots to senior football. They joined the newly opened up pyramid as a new club in 2021, beginning at the bottom rung of the ladder. However, they started well – finishing runners up in the 8-team West of Scotland Fourth Division. It wasn’t good enough for promotion but with an expanded 12-team league and 3 promotion spots the next year, they’d fancy their chances.

The club had a very good season, once again finishing runners up – one point behind an impressive West Park United side. Their successful campaign bounced them up to the Third Division, where they are currently in an almighty dogfight for survival. At the time of writing, they sit on 31 points, 1 point ahead of Ardeer Thistle who occupy the final relegation spot. However, with Ardeer having a game in hand on them and the other teams around them still having games to play, it is vital Kilsyth pick up some positive results in their final two fixtures.

Tonight, Kilsyth play Dalry Thistle – a club who sit 7 points above Kilsyth and are pretty much safe already. It should be a tight contest, and one I am looking forward to watching.

Facilities

Kilsyth Athletic play at Kilsyth Sportsfield, a stone’s throw away from Duncansfield, the home of Kilsyth Rangers. While the facilities are incredibly humble, it does the job for a club of this age. The Sportsfield is a standard 3G cage enclosure – similar to Stepford Football Centre in Glasgow. There is a single barrier on the near side for supporters to lean against but that’s as far as it goes. At Stepford, there has been work done to extend a single terrace beyond the green cage. You’d maybe expect Kilsyth to do something similar as the club ages. No food or drinks on sale either – a shame but probably something the club has done in the past, or plans to do in the future. It is hard to be critical of an obvious work-in-progress.

Atmosphere

The majority of the single side appeared pretty full for the final home game of the season. Plenty of locals came out to support their club which is always great to see. A special mention must go to the ‘Navy Loyal Ultras’, a group of youngster who supplied a consistent wave of support and encouragement through a variety of chants and drumming. I am always a huge fan of this. There are plenty of things a group of youths could be doing on a Wednesday night, but the fact they have chosen to come and cheer on a local football club speaks volumes. The club clearly means a lot to them, and the players were full of appreciation for them at the end of the game. Love it.

Quality of the Match

Tonight’s encounter had plenty of action from the get-go. Dalry went close very early on, with Thistle’s captain, Mugwanda powering through the Kilsyth defence. However, his half-volley from a tight angle was tipped wide well by Kearney in the Athletic goal.

From there though, it would be all Kilsyth. A superb ball over the top for Lewis Taylor, whose blistering pace was too much for the Dalry back line. He latched onto the ball, edged closer to the by-line before sending a low ball to the back post. McFarlane perhaps should have done better, missing the target from a short distance out.

Taylor would be through again soon after though. The wee man looked absolutely rapid, getting onto the end of a long ball he had no right of getting. He broke away from his defender before forcing a decent save from the legs of Fairns in the away goal.

Taylor continued to be a nuisance and should have put his side a goal to the good 5 minutes later. His pace was once again too much, giving him time and space when through on goal. However, his low drive was well saved down low to deny the Kilsyth winger. A big chance.

McFarlane would be next to go close for the home side. After finding himself in plenty of space on the left, he did well to cut onto his right foot before drilling a low strike against the near post.

Kilsyth would get their deserved equaliser with fifteen minutes of the first half remaining. A swung ball to the back post was headed back into 6-yard box. After some confusion in the Dalry box, the ball was bundled in. The Kilsyth X account thought it might be Scullion who got the final touch. I’ll trust them on that. 1-0.

It was two very quickly. Pirrie did very well to get onto a long ball on the left before driving into the box. He cut onto his right foot and was brought down by a Dalry defender. Penalty all day long. McFarlane stepped up confidently and slotted the ball home. 2-0, and well deserved.

Lewis Taylor almost made it three before half time. McFarlane used his body well to back into his defender before laying the ball off. With the outside of his boot, Taylor curled the ball to the far corner but it was incredibly well saved by Fairns to deny him.

Half Time: Kilsyth Athletic 2-0 Dalry Thistle

My hope was that after a fast-flowing and entertaining first half, that I’d get much of the same in the second. Much like it usually is, it wasn’t the case. Both teams had very little chances in the first 35 minutes or so of the second period.

It took until the 80^th minute for some goalmouth action. A cross into the box was dropped by the Dalry ‘keeper, leaving Pirrie the opportunity to bury a third. Unfortunately, Fairns did well to save two of his strikes at close range before the third was blocked by one of his defenders.

Taylor then had one last involvement in the match. After his shot was blocked, he retrieved the rebound, flicked it over the head of a defender and then laid the ball off to a fellow attacker. However, the strike was dragged wide.

Full Time: Kilsyth Athletic 2-0 Dalry Thistle

I was very impressed with Kilsyth’s first half performance. The way they played the ball out and exploited their opponent’s defence was excellent to watch. The pace in which they played the game on a slick Astro-turf surface was very impressive. I was particularly impressed with Lewis Taylor, who is absolutely rapid. He caused the away side all sorts of problems with his pace. He thoroughly deserved a goal, but will have to settle for his Man of the Match award instead. He’s got a bright future I feel.

Speaking of bright futures, manager Bailey Hanlon is someone who needs talked about. He made headlines last year, becoming the youngest manager in Scottish football history to achieve a promotion. At just 23 years old, he took Kilsyth up to the Third Division and looks set to keep them there for the next campaign. He has rightly received a huge number of plaudits. He could be seen as a mature and composed figure for the majority of the game while on the side-lines, calming his those around in times of need. I have no doubt he will go far, writing plenty of narratives as he moves up in his career.

Pricing

Like all football at this level, it is ridiculously well priced. £6 entry for an entertaining game of football is a no-brainer. If you haven’t already, get yourself along to a ground at this level.

Final Score

Kilsyth are one of the newest teams in the pyramid, and while this may be obvious in a lot of aspects, there is plenty of potential for good. They are a superb community club, providing superb opportunities for local children to advance through the ranks. If they continue at this rate, they will have plenty of loyal football players desperate to make an impact for their local team. Let’s hope it happens. Get yourself and become part of the journey.

– Connor