Sat 16th Sept...

Auchinleck Talbot v Cumnock, 2pm



Talbot are top of the Superleague on goal difference. Both teams are unbeaten in the league so far this season. Having never been to the biggest derby in the world, I may just head along this time seeing as Ayr United are absolute guff. I'd imagine it might a bit tasty

It certainly is and the rematch is set at Somerset Park on Tues 3 October 745pm

Away The Nock[size=5][b]

Has that been confirmed then? Last I heard there was doubt about where it would be held.

So is it the Hun, St Mirren or Cumnock you support?

Is it not all the same thing?

Despite the gibberish spouted by the likes of Graham Speirs in his column now and then, Junior football is not 85 minutes of brawls interrupted by 5 minutes of low quality football. Well, not at the top level anyway. Clubs like Pollok and Auchinleck like to actually play football and have teams of footballers rather than hatchet men. Admittedly there are guys that play Junior who maybe don't have the discipline to play at a higher level, but half the time they don't have the talent either.

I've not seen either Cumnock or Talbot this season but last year the Bot were a very good side to watch, lots of good young players. I'd expect Tucker Sloan and Campbell Money to have their sides fired up for this one though, as it will matter so much to the 600 or so I'd expect to attent.

Errr... I know. I do watch the mighty Whittletts Vics regularly. But this is the biggest derby match in the world. Its the stuff of local legend

If you watch Whitletts it probably is 90 mins of brawls down in the District League hehe! Is it Jake Lymburn the old man who plays up frotn for them?

He sure is. He's the only one with any quality!

Brian McGinty is the best player i've seen wear a Cumnock Jersey.


Yeah final confirmed for 3 Oct at Somerset

Some might say he's the worst player they've ever seen wear a St Mirren jersey...but that would be unfair

Ah've been hoping that you would free him back tae the Nock.

Stewart Kean spent a season at Cumnock as well and didn't look half the player as McGinty but he wiz only 18 at the time

More than 600 to be expected surely? Any stats to hand on crowds for the last few Rockware finals?

I was talking about the recent league game though. Auchinleck always exaggerate their attendances - I've seen their fans claim 4 figure crowds when I've been at the same game and counted 4 or 500.

Recent final crowds:

1990-91 25/09/90 Auchinleck Talbot 2-1 Beith Juniors Att : 1840
1991-92 01/10/91 Beith Juniors 2-1 Glenafton Athletic Att : 1234
1992-93 13/10/92 Auchinleck Talbot 1-1 Irvine Meadow X1 (AET Pen 4-3) Att : 2700
1993-94 16/11/93 Beith Juniors 0-0 Auchinleck Talbot (AET Pen 4-3) Att : 1658
1994-95 11/10/94 Kilbirnie Ladeside 0-0 Auchinleck Talbot (AET Pen 4-2) Att : 3000
1995-96 16/10/95 Cumnock Juniors 3-1 Ardeer Thistle Att : 1714
1996-97 30/09/96 Cumnock Juniors 1-0 Kilwinning Rangers Att : 1862
1997-98 29/09/97 Auchinleck Talbot 2-1 Beith Juniors Att : 1196
1998-99 05/10/98 Kilwinning Rangers 2-1 Auchinleck Talbot (AET) Att : 1700
1999-00 25/10/99 Glenafton Athletic 4-1 Kilwinning Rangers Att : 1280
2000-01 02/10/00 Cumnock Juniors 2-2 Kilwinning Rangers (Pen 5-3) Att : 1331
2001-02 05/10/01 Cumnock Juniors 3-2 Irvine Meadow X1 Att : 1000
2002-03 21/10/02 Auchinleck Talbot 3-1 Irvine Meadow X1 Att : 1036
2003-04 07/10/03 Irvine Meadow X1 2-0 Auchinleck Talbot Att : 965
2004-05 05/10/04 Beith Juniors 1-1 Auchinleck Talbot (Pen 4-2) Att : 980
2005-06 05/10/05 Glenafton Athletic 4-3 Cumnock Juniors Att : 818

Cheers Jamie - sad to see how much attendances have declined.

I think the game next week will get a better crowd than recently though as Talbot are on a real high and Talbot v Cumnock is THE game in Ayrshire Junior football.

The two Sectional League Cups are a strange kettle of fish - to qualify from the groups to the knockout stages requires an almost unblemished record which is hard to get when there are so many teams understrength with holidays, suspensions etc. The high profile nature (ie usually at a Senior ground under lights) of the two finals, Central and Ayrshire, baffles me a bit as as a competition they are a very clear 4th place behind the League, Junior Cup and West of Scotland Cup. And I think the Evening Times Cup (the end of season all-inclusive all League & all Cup Winners tourney) is probably looked at more favourably than it too in some ways.

Out of interest, what are the recent crowds for the Central cup?

Do you have the official and the real

Not kept track Paul, though they rarely break 1100. I don't see Bankies v Lok being much different. We've got a great hardcore support but zero floaters - at least for games away from Newlandsfield. You'll not see more than 400 Lok fans imho.

I expect this one to be around the 2500-3000 mark would have been more if played closer to home on a weekene tho. One thing for sure it'l be teaming down like every rockware final i've been to

I was at the Rockware Cup Final and I have to say it was great Talbot could possibly cut it in Division 3

Awae The Bot

It ended up being around 1700.