View source for East Kilbride Thistle F.C.

{{short description|Association football club in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2013}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = East Kilbride Thistle
| image = East_Kilbride_Thistle_FC_logo.png
| fullname = East Kilbride Thistle Football Club
| nickname = ''The Jags''
| founded = 1968
| ground = Showpark, [[East Kilbride]]
| capacity = 2,300
| chrtitle = Director
| chairman = Peter Kelsall
| manager = Mark Steele
| league = {{Scottish football updater|EKThistl}}
| season = {{Scottish football updater|EKThistl2}}
| position = {{Scottish football updater|EKThistl3}}
| website = http://www.ekthistlefc.com/
| pattern_la1 = _white_stripes
| pattern_b1 = _jomainter19rw
| pattern_ra1 = _white_stripes
| pattern_sh1 = _white_thinsides
| pattern_so1 = _whitetop
| leftarm1 = FF0000
| body1 = FF0000
| rightarm1 = FF0000
| shorts1 = FF0000
| socks1 = FF0000
| pattern_la2 = _black_stripes
| pattern_b2 = _jomainter19wb
| pattern_ra2 = _black_stripes
| pattern_sh2 = 
| pattern_so2 = 
| leftarm2 = FFFFFF
| body2 = FFFFFF
| rightarm2 = FFFFFF
| shorts2 = 000000
| socks2 = 000000
}}

'''East Kilbride Thistle Football Club''' are a Scottish [[Association football|football]] club, based in the town of [[East Kilbride]], [[South Lanarkshire]] near [[Glasgow]]. Nicknamed ''The Jags'', they were formed in 1968 and play at the Showpark, situated in the [[The Village, East Kilbride|Village area]] of the town. Currently playing in the {{Scottish football updater|EKThistl}}. They wear all black; their change strips are all red, or white tops with red or black shorts.

== History ==

=== Original club ===

There was a club with the same name that existed in the 1920s. The team won the Second Division of the [[Scottish Junior League]] and the Lanarkshire Consolation Cup in [[1922–23 in Scottish football|1922–23]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Scottish Junior League  | url=http://sfha.org.uk/scottishjuniorleague.htm | date=24 October 2020 | publisher=SFHA | access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Lanarkshire Junior Cup Competitions | url=http://sfha.org.uk/lanarkshirejrcups.htm | date=29 December 2020 | publisher=SFHA | access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref>

The original club disbanded so that [[Clyde F.C.|Clyde]] could move to the town in to the early 1960s. After the move fell through, the junior team was reformed.<ref>{{cite web | first=Brian | last=McColl | title=Saturday 29th August 1970 | url=http://scottishleague.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2159&hilit=East+Kilbride+Thistle | publisher=SFAQs | date=2 August 2009 | access-date=16 June 2021}}</ref>

After Thistle disbanded, [[Strathclyde F.C.|Strathclyde Juniors]] who were homeless applied to [[SJFA]] for permission to use ground for season [[1965–66 in Scottish football|1965–66]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Strathclyde Juniors | url=http://scottishleague.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1924&p=12929&hilit=East+Kilbride+Thistle#p12914 | publisher=SFAQs  | date=1 December 2009 | access-date=16 June 2021}}</ref>

=== Modern club ===
The first trophy to be won was the [[West of Scotland Junior Cup]] in 1974. [[Cambuslang Rangers F.C.|Cambuslang Rangers]] were beaten 3–1 in the final. The team reached the final again two years later, but lost to [[Arthurlie F.C.|Arthurlie]] in a replay.<ref name="1970s">{{cite web | title=The 1970s – Thistle Come of Age And Top The Junior Ranks | url=http://www.ekthistlefc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=942&Itemid=333 | publisher=EKTFC | date=1 July 2008 | access-date=15 March 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420022811/http://www.ekthistlefc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=942&Itemid=333 | archive-date=20 April 2013}}</ref>

The biggest success was the [[Scottish Junior Cup]] win in May 1983, with victory over [[Bo'ness United F.C.|Bo'ness United]] at [[Ibrox Stadium]]. The final result was 2–0 to Thistle, with goals from skipper Joe Reilly and Kenny Gordon.<ref>{{cite news | title=EK target pitch battle after off-field upturn |url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/juniors/13241059.amp/ | date=17 October 2012 | work=[[Evening Times]] | access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=East Kilbride Thistle at 50: Junior Cup hero Joe Reilly remembers day town went crazy for the Jags | url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/east-kilbride-thistle-50-junior-12310160.amp | date=6 January 2018 | work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]|location=Glasgow | access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref>

Thistle's previous manager was former [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]] and [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]] striker [[John Brogan (footballer born 1954)|John Brogan]], who took charge along with Martin Clark on a co-manager basis in November 1999. Clark left to coach Celtic's youth players in 2002, but Brogan remained in sole charge and won the Sectional League Cup at [[Partick Thistle F.C.|Partick Thistle]]'s [[Firhill Stadium]], [[Glasgow]] in 2002 with a 2–0 win over [[Bellshill Athletic]], thanks to goals from Martin McVey and Stephen Brogan.

Brogan later returned the club to [[Firhill Stadium|Firhill]] for another Sectional League Cup Final in 2005 but were unfortunate to lose to [[Neilston]] 4–3 on penalties, after a 0–0 draw. However it wasn't all bad news when the club won promotion to Super League Division One, from Central District League Division One, with a 3–0 win over [[Clydebank]] in the last game of the season on 1 May 2006.

John Brogan left the club in June 2008, and was replaced by former players Colin Mitchell and Ian Penman, as manager and assistant manager respectively. In 2008 Thistle also launched their own youth development structure, which sees coaching an teams from under 4s up to under 21s for both boys and girls.

In November 2010, Mitchell and Penman were replaced as team management by [[Jim Kerr (footballer, born 1959)|Jimmy Kerr]] and [[Tony Gallagher (footballer)|Tony Gallagher]]. In 2012 following relegation back to the Central District First Division, most of the playing staff, along with the management team left the club. After a season of turmoil on and off the pitch which resulted in relegation to the Central District Second Division, Thistle regrouped and started looking forwards to the future, the appointment of Alan Wardlaw as manager in late 2013 led to a change in fortunes for the club and they managed to win a few games, including a home league win for the first time in over 2 years.  The team are managed from the end of the 2014–15 season by Billy Campbell.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thomson|first1=Paul|title=New boss Billy Campbell targets league title next season|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/ek-thistle-new-boss-billy-5485298|access-date=12 June 2015|work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]|location=Glasgow|date=9 April 2015}}</ref>

[[Aaron Connolly (Scottish footballer)|Aaron Connolly]] was appointed caretaker manager following the departure of Garry O'Hanlon.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thomson|first1=Paul|title=New boss Billy Campbell targets league title next season|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/east-kilbride-thistle-interim-boss-28104581|access-date=28 September 2022|work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]|location=Glasgow|date=28 September 2022}}</ref>

==Players & Current Squad==

{{see also|:Category:East Kilbride Thistle F.C. players}}

On 16 April 1972, Christie and Meechan played for [[Scottish Junior Football Association#Scotland Junior international team|Scotland Juniors]] against [[England]] in a 2–2 draw at [[Saracen Park]] (home of [[Ashfield F.C.|Ashfield]]), whilst playing for East Kilbride<ref>{{cite web | title=Re: Scottish Junior Internationals 1937 and 1938 | url=http://scottishleague.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2913&hilit=East+Kilbride+Thistle#p15993 | publisher=SFAQs | date=10 November 2010 | access-date=16 June 2021}}</ref>

[[Willie Pettigrew]] was another player [[Scottish Junior Football Association#Notable players|capped]] at Junior level with Scotland. He would go on to gain full international honours with [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] later in his career.<ref>{{cite web | title=Scottish Cup football: Juniors' chance to come of age in the Cup | url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/scottish-cup-football-juniors-chance-come-age-cup-2443356%3famp | newspaper=[[The Scotsman]] | date=26 September 2009 | access-date=16 June 2021}}</ref>

'''Current Squad Season 2024-25'''

Matt Borland
Liam Comaskey 
Adam Edgar
Alex McKenzie
Ryan Anderson
Matthew Mullen
Declan Morrison
Tyler Flynn
Connor Dunlop
Ally McDonald
Mark Steele
Aedan Dunnett
Ryan Menzies
Dino Molinari
Ryan Kealy
Jude Rodger
Lewis Gray
Jordan McBride
Jay Scott
Ross Duncan
Callum Jamieson

==Honours==

* '''[[Scottish Junior Cup]]'''
** Winners: 1982–83
** Semi-finals: 1972–73<ref name="1970s" />
** Quarter-finals: 1971–72, 1977–78, 1980-81<ref name="1970s"/>

=== League ===

'''[[SJFA West Region]]'''<ref group="note">The [[SJFA West Region]] was one of the three major reformed regional league systems after the merger of [[Ayrshire Junior Football League|Ayrshire]] and Central Region Junior Leagues between 2002 and 2019.</ref>

* '''[[SJFA West Region Central District First Division|Central District First Division]]'''
** Runners-up:  [[SJFA West Region Central District First Division#Season summaries|2005–06]]
* '''[[SJFA West Region Central District Second Division|Central District Second Division]]'''
** Promotion: [[SJFA West Region Central District Second Division#Season summaries|2016–17]]
<br />
'''[[SJFA]] Central Region'''<ref group="note">The [[Central Junior Football League|Central district region]] was one of the six major reformed regional league systems after the merger of the Central and [[Lanarkshire Junior Football League|Lanarkshire Junior Leagues]] between 1968 and 2002.</ref>

* '''[[Central Junior Football League#1968–2002 era|Central League Division A]]'''
** Winners: 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 1981–82<ref name="1970s"/><ref name="sfha">{{cite web | url=http://sfha.org.uk/centralregionjrs.htm | title=Central Region Junior League | publisher=SFHA | date=4 November 2020 | access-date=15 June 2021}}</ref>
** Runners-up: 1972–73, 1973–74, 1980–81<ref name = "1970s"/><ref name="sfha"/>
* '''[[Central Junior Football League|Central League Division B]]'''<ref group="note">Later known as Central League First Division.</ref>
** Winners: 1992–93<ref name="sfha"/>
** Runners-up: 1977–78<ref name="1970s"/><ref name="sfha"/>
** Promotion: 1971–72<ref name="1970s"/><ref name="sfha"/>
* '''[[Central Junior Football League|Central League Division C]]'''<ref group="note">Later known as Central League Second Division.</ref>
** Runners-up: 1998–99, 2000–01<ref name="sfha"/>
** Promotion: 1969–70<ref name="sfha"/>

=== Cup ===

* '''[[West of Scotland Junior Cup|West of Scotland Cup]]'''
** Winners: 1973–74<ref name="1970s"/><ref name="West">{{cite web | url=http://sfha.org.uk/wosjrcup.htm | title=West of Scotland Cup | publisher=SFHA | date=22 February 2021 | access-date=15 June 2021}}<br />{{cite web | url=http://sfha.org.uk/interregionaljrcups.htm | title=Inter-Regional Junior Cup Competitions | publisher=SFHA | date=24 February 2021 | access-date=15 June 2021}}</ref>
** Runners-up: 1975–76<ref name="1970s"/><ref name="West"/>
* '''[[Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region#Cup competitions|Evening Times Trophy]] (Central League):'''
** Winners: 1974–75, 1975–76, 1981–82<ref name="1970s"/><ref name="sfha"/>
** Runners-up: 1979–80
* '''[[Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region#Cup competitions|Evening Times Cup Winners Cup]]'''
** Winners: 1982–83<ref name="sfha"/>
* '''[[Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region#Cup competitions|Central Sectional League Cup]]'''
** Winners: 1974–75, 1982–83, 2002–03<ref name = "sfha"/>
* '''Central Drybrough Cup'''
** Runners-up: 1972–73<ref name="1970s"/>
* '''Red Hackle Trophy'''
** Winners: 1974–75<ref name="1970s"/>
* '''Whitebread Trophy'''
** Winners: 1974–75<ref name="1970s"/>
* '''Erskine Hospital Cup'''
** Runner-ups: 1971–72<ref name="1970s"/>
* '''Langs Trophy'''
** Runners-up: 1978–79<ref name="1970s"/>

=== Other ===

* '''[[Tommy McGrane Memorial Cup|Tommy McGrane Cup]]'''
** Winners: 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017

== Notes ==
<references group="note" />

<ref name="1970s" />

==References==
<references />

{{coord|55.76682|-4.172219|region:GB|display=title}}
{{West of Scotland League}}
{{SJFA West Region}}

[[Category:East Kilbride Thistle F.C.| ]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Scotland]]
[[Category:Scottish Junior Football Association clubs]]
[[Category:Football in South Lanarkshire]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1968]]
[[Category:East Kilbride]]
[[Category:1968 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:West of Scotland Football League teams]]