An Ayrshire amateur manager admits his team’s success brings a tear to his eye.
Alan Scoular has guided his side to the West of Scotland Cup semi-finals – after being whipping boys for years.
Craigie United, previously known as Killie United, have been used to languishing at the bottom of Ayrshire Division 1 barely scraping a win, but this year it’s different.
The Kilmarnock side won’t win the league – but they have been fighting at the top all season, and now they are in the last four of a major cup competition.
Scoular has been involved with Craigie’s amateur setup since he was barely a toddler, and he was delighted to have the chance to keep the club’s name going.
Craigie AFC had to fold during the pandemic, but Killie United founder Ronnie Ballantyne was only happy to help his mate Alan keep the name of his beloved Craigie going.
And now the benefits of a successful regime are paying off as they get set to face Weir AFC at New Western Park in Renfrew on Sunday.
Scoular told the Kilmarnock Standard: “It’s a lot different this season, we have went from being whipping boys to getting into a major semi-final.
“I don’t even know how to put it in words to be honest, going from having to play matches with 10 players to having a squad of 26 quality players wanting to play, being dedicated to the team.
“It’s surreal, it has been some turnaround, we are heading down the right track.
“It’s nuts how well it is going, it is a good group of boys and everyone is singing off the same hymn sheet.
“I honestly can’t get my head round it, it’s crazy, I am so proud.
“It brings a tear to my eye when I sit down and think about it, I am just so proud of how well we have all done.
“We have been fighting at the top of the league, and although we won’t win it it makes a change from being the team at the bottom that everyone beats.
“Getting my assistant Mark [Fulton] in has been a big help, he has been there and done it and he’s a huge part of the success.
“It has been a good run, it’s not been easy getting to this stage.
“We beat some good teams on the way, the likes of Maryhill Milan, Budhill and Kilsyth, all good teams.
“I keep saying, it’s not a fluke that we are here, it is hard work from every single player and the coaching staff.”
Scoular added: “I have been a part of Craigie’s Saturday team since I was three, so it’s part of my life really.
“The Saturday team had to fold unfortunately, so I wanted to keep the name going.
“My uncle Campbell has been involved with Craigie all his life, and he’s been good enough to let us use facilities and equipment, so I felt it was only right to change the name.
“Ronnie, who started the team, he agreed to go ahead with the change in name which was a bonus, it’s good of him.
“Craigie have been a big name in amateur football, I felt it was important to keep the name going.”
And assistant boss Fulton, who has been successul at a number of junior and amateur sides over the years, is full of praise for selfless boss Scoular who has put everything into making the club a success.
Fulton said: “What Scooby [Scoular] has done is phenomenal, it really is.
“He deserves every bit of respect going, people need to know how much he has actually done for this club, every bit of success that comes the club’s way is down to his hard work.
“This is a great club and the boys who are here all do the right things, I have been involved with good clubs over the years so I know a great group of lads when I see them.”
Fulton sees no reason why the Ayrshire side can’t go on to win the competition.
He said: “I’ll happily say I think we can win this cup, there’s no reason why not.
“It’s not a fluke getting here, the players deserve to be here.
“It’s brilliant being involved at this stage, for a wee club like this to go from having nothing to getting to where we are now it’s tremendous.
“For me it’s just another game, in my eyes there’s still a final to think about to be honest, but it’s another game closer to where we want to be.
“You play football to be involved in the business end, if you aren’t here for games like this then go somewhere else, football is no joke, we have a laugh but there is an end goal.”
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