Hurlford United F.C.

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Hurlford United
Hurlford united copy.png
Full nameHurlford United Football Club
Nickname(s)The Ford
Founded1912;113 years ago (1912)
GroundBlair Park, Hurlford
Capacity2,005 [1]
SecretaryClark Nicol
Manager Darren Henderson
League West of Scotland League Premier Division
2024–25 West of Scotland League Premier Division, 12th of 16
Website http://www.hurlfordunited.com

Hurlford United Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Hurlford, near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Nicknamed The Ford, they were formed in 1912 and play at Blair Park, wearing red and white. They currently play in the Premier Division of the West of Scotland Football League. They won the Scottish Junior Cup in 2014.

Contents

League record

1972–73 The Invincibles

In 1972–73, under the guidance of manager Davie Sneddon, Hurlford went the entire league campaign undefeated en route to the Ayrshire First Division Title. [2]

2012–13 West First Division Champions

In 2012–13, under long-term chairman Lorimer Headley and manager Derek McCulloch, Hurlford won the SJFA West Super League First Division to win promotion to the West Super League Premier Division for the first time in their history. [3] Hurlford completed their programme on Saturday, 4 May 2013 with a 3–0 victory away to Kilsyth Rangers, which guaranteed second place and promotion. [4] However, Rutherglen Glencairn had seven games left to play and were 21 points behind. The league title was finally confirmed eleven days later when Glencairn played out a goalless draw away to Thorniewood United on 15 May. This title win was all the more remarkable given that Ford had only avoided relegation the previous season by beating 2012 Scottish Junior Cup Winners Shotts Bon Accord in their last match of the season.

Junior Cup win, senior Scottish Cup and strong in the league

In the 2013–14 season, Hurlford not only kept their place in the Super Premier with a strong 3rd-place finish, but also won the Scottish Junior Cup for the first time, beating East Ayrshire rivals Glenafton Athletic 3–0 in the final at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock. [5] This meant the club entered the senior Scottish Cup, a great feat for the small community of Hurlford, but almost even more remarkable, as local amateur team Hurlford Thistle also won the Scottish Amateur Cup in 2014, [6] another achievement which granted entry to the senior Cup – but from the next season onwards, thus a historic double qualification into the country's most prestigious competition from the same village was narrowly missed due to its timing.

In the 2014–15 Scottish Cup, 'Ford overcame away ties against Highland League opponents Clachnacuddin (7–1) and Inverurie Loco Works (3–0), then took Scottish League One club Stirling Albion to a replay, extra time and a penalty shootout, which was eventually lost 13–12. [7]

Hurlford finished Super Premier Division runners-up in both the 2014–15 and 2015–16 campaigns, finishing four points behind champions Auchinleck Talbot each time, and also being eliminated from the Scottish Junior Cup at the semi-final stage in both years. They reached the final again in 2018 but this time lost, again to neighbours Auchinleck and in dramatic fashion, conceding two goals in stoppage time after being 2–1 ahead on 90 minutes. [8]

Current squad

As of 12 June 2024 [9]

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
GK Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO David Wilson
GK Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Chris Taylor
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Blair Anderson
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Ross Fisher
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Sam Lidington
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Ross Love
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Liam Miller
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Craig Reid
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Chris Robertson
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Carter Frew
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Ben Hughes
No.Pos.NationPlayer
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Liam Miller
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Paul McKenzie
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Chris McKnight
MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Jack Whittaker
FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Calum Watt
FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Kris Kerr
FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Michael Mullen
FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Lewis Morrison

Coaching staff

As of 7 August 2025

Honours

Source: [2]

Scottish Junior Cup

West Region Premiership

SJFA West Region First Division

SJFA West Region Ayrshire District League

Ayrshire League

West of Scotland Junior Cup

West of Scotland League Cup

Ayrshire Cup winners (4): 1968–69, 1972–73, 1973–74, 2014–15

Ayrshire League Cup winners (5): 1940–41, 1944–45, 1971–72, 1975–76, 2015–16

Ayrshire District (Irvine Times) Cup winners (3): 1944–45, 1965–66, 1968–69

Kilmarnock & Loudoun Cup winners (5): 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93

East Ayrshire Cup winners: 2000–01

Notable former players

David Bagan Kilmarnock (Scottish Cup winner 1996-97)
Ian Bryson Kilmarnock, Sheffield Utd and Preston
Stewart Kean Ayr Utd and St. Mirren (Scottish Junior Cup winner 2013-14)
Walker McCall Ayr Utd and Aberdeen
Davie Sneddon Kilmarnock (Scottish Football League winner 1964-65)
Mark Roberts Kilmarnock, Ayr Utd and Shelbourne (League of Ireland Premier Division winner 2001-02)

References

  1. "Hurlford United". Non-League Scotland. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Hurlford United History". www.hurlfordunited.com. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  3. "SJFA West Region Championship (2011–20) - NonLeagueMatters". www.nonleaguematters.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  4. "Out of luck Rangers are no match for Hurlford". GlasgowWorld. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  5. Scottish Junior Cup: Glenafton Ath 0–3 Hurlford United, The Scotsman, 2 June 2014
  6. "Hurlford 3 Colville Park 3 (Hurlford win 4–3 on penalties): Thistle lift the Scottish Amateur Cup". Daily Record . 19 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  7. Stirling 2–2 Hurlford (AET, FT 1–1, Stirling Albion win 13–12 on penalties), BBC Sport, 8 November 2014
  8. Auchinleck Talbot 3–2 Hurlford United: Late drama secures 12th Scottish Junior Cup, BBC Sport, 27 May 2018
  9. "Squad". www.hurlfordunited.com. Hurlford United F.C. Retrieved 12 February 2023.

55°35′56″N4°27′16″W / 55.59900°N 4.454452°W / 55.59900; -4.454452