Pollok

Pollok FC are a non league, or to goive them the proper mantle a Scottish Junior FA club who are based in the Newlands district in the south of Glasgow. The club were formed in 1908, as a section of the Pollokshaws Working Lads Club.

When searching for a suitable home ground, the club were offered the use of some land on Pollok Eastate called Haggs Park by Sir John Stirling Maxwell. In an acknowledgement of his generosity the club adopted the same black and white colours as the heraldic shield of Pollok House. However after spending hundreds of pounds on Haggs Park the club were asked to leave during the 1926-27 season as the land was required by the Glasgow Education Authority.

Matches were played at Shawfield Junior's Roseberry Park home and the Queen Mary Tea Gardens in Spiersbridge. A new piece of land was secured on a lease from Messrs. Stevenson, McKellar Ltd., who ran Newlandsfield Works. A loan was secured to build a fence around the arena and to construct facilities. The new venue was ready for the start of the 1928-29 season. Pollok played intermediate football for several years before returning to junior status with 'Erry' Armstrong scoring over a hundred goals in one season.

In 1945 a crowd of 15,000 packed into Newlandsfield Park for the Scottish Junior Cup quarter final tie with Fauldhouse United. Many couldn't see but purchased a platform ticket for the adjoining raised Pollokshaws East station and watched from there. In 1948 the club were given an ultimatum to either buy the ground or leave it. After many scares the Pollokshaws Co-Operative Company Ltd came to the rescue offering a loan at very fair rates.

Several local cup competitions were collected over the seasons with 'The Lok' ambling along as a moderate junior club, but Pollok benefitted following the demise of nearby Third Lanark in 1967, as many fans decided to adopt them as their new club. A new clubhouse was opened at Newlandsfield Park in 1971 leading to improved finances and a period of success from the eighties onwards.

The Scottish Junior Cup was won in 1981 after a Norrie Fulton goal beat Arthurlie in front of 13,000 fans at Hampden Park. Five years later they returned to beat Petershill after a replay. In 1987 Lok lost the centenary final to Auchinleck Talbot, but that couldn't take away from a great period as Chic Charnley, Fraser Wishart, Sandy Stewart, Stewart Auld and Dougie Arnott all went on to progress and have successful senior careers.

After winning three Central League titles, latterly under Jim O'Donnell a third Junior Cup was collected in 1997 with a 3-1 win over Tayport at Fir Park before rivals Arthurlie inflicted a 4-0 defeat in the final the following season. O'Donnell called it a day after that and was replaced for a brief spell by Andy Dailly before former keeper Ronnie Lowrie took over.

Junior football had been re-organised with Pollok being placed in the West Super League Premier Division. Lowrie's charges lifted the title in the 2002-03 season. The experienced Rab Sneddon was appointed as manager in 2004 and he led the team to three more league championships in 2005, 2007 and 2008. History was made during the 2007-08 season as junior clubs were allowed to enter the Scottish Cup for the first time. Montrose defeated Lok at Newlandsfield Park after a replay, which attracted almost 2,000 fans.

Sneddon resigned owing to work commitments in March 2010. His successor Willie Irvine only lasted a few months before John Richardson took over the reigns.

Pollok FC will compete in the SJFA West Super league Premier Division in the 2013-14 season.


My visit

Thursday 28th January 2010

Having been generally impressed by my visits to various Scottish junior set ups over the previous few days, I was looking forward to seeing my last for the time being. It had been a wonderful time in a great city and my plans had just about gone perfectly. The train deposited me at Pollokshaws West after my ride to Barrhead to see Loks great rivals, Arthurlie. A brisk walk soon had me on Newlandsfield Road outside the ground.

It was locked, but the low and mesh fencing allowed me some good views. It was interesting to note that the clubhouse behind the goal appeared to be doing a brisk trade on a lunchtime from its entrance from the street.

Newlandsfield Park was a no nonsense old fashioned football ground and I like what I saw. The dressing room block was in the corner by the turnstiles. Three sides had a few steps of open terracing with the final far side being double in size and covered by an almost full length roof. There wasn't a seat in sight or floodlights. Just what the petty ground graders of the English FA would think and why they have their daft stipulations was open to question.

After a brief walk up and down the main road to fill in a little time I went up the steps of Pollokshaws East station and gained another excellent view of the ground as I awaited my train to Mount Florida and my tour of Hampden Park.

My only regret as such was that I may struggle to fit in watching games at so many excellent venues, but you never know what's around the next corner!