Inverurie Loco Works Football Club are a senior semi-professional football club from Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who currently play in the Scottish Highland Football League (SHFL).
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| Full name | Inverurie Loco Works Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Locos, The Railwaymen | ||
| Founded | 1902 | ||
| Ground | Harlaw Park, Inverurie | ||
| Capacity | 2,500 (175 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Mike Macaulay | ||
| Manager | Dean Donaldson | ||
| League | Highland League | ||
| 2023–24 | Highland League, 10th of 18 | ||
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History
editThe club was founded in 1902 by workmen from the Great North of Scotland Railway (GNSR) who had their Locomotive, and Carriage and Wagon Workshops in Inverurie, from where the football club got its name. On National Railway Company 'Grouping' in 1923, the GNSR became part of the London & North Eastern Railway, one of the UK's big four railway companies at that time, and the football club lived on.
In the 1945-46 Aberdeenshire & District Junior League, Inverurie Locos scored 146 goals in 22 games, averaging 6.64 goals per game. They won the league that season, remaining unbeaten throughout the entire league campaign.
The Locomotive Workshops themselves were formally closed in 1970 on the forming of British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Railways Board at that time. Despite the closure, Inverurie Loco Works F.C. continued to play in the Aberdeenshire and North East Junior Leagues for many years.
Rising up from successful years in junior football, in 2001 the Locos applied for membership of the Highland League and were successful. In the 2003–04 season, the Locos came second in the league, two further consecutive 2nd-place finishes followed in the seasons to come. In 2005, they first got their hands on silverware by winning the Scottish Qualifying Cup, then repeated the feat the next year. They also won the Aberdeenshire Shield after being runners up three times before winning the trophy. Then they won the Fosters Cup (League Cup) twice in two years, in 2007–08 and 2008–09. They also won the SFA North Region Challenge Cup in 2008–09.
In the 2008–09 Scottish Cup, the club were paired with Scottish Premier League side Motherwell at home. They reached the fourth round of the competition that season. After four postponements, the match was finally played at the fifth time of asking. Despite a capacity crowd watching, the Highland League outfit could not prevent a 3–0 loss to their top-flight opponents.
Harlaw Park
edit[1] Inverurie Loco Works have played at Harlaw Park for their entire history. Originally, it was an open field, but now it is a fully-enclosed football ground with a seated grandstand and a standing shelter.
It currently has an approximate overall capacity of 2,500; 175 seated, and the rest standing.
In March 1931, a pavilion and a grandstand was opened and in 1950 the installation of new dressing rooms was completed. Harlaw Park got new turnstiles in 1962.
In 1981, the Banchory Golf Club clubhouse was re-located to Harlaw Park as the Social Club.
Floodlights which were surplus to requirements at Aberdeen Airport were installed, and new dugouts were created in August 1983. New changing rooms were built in 1992.
In preparation for Inverurie Locos first Highland League season (2001/02) £75,000 was spent on upgrading Harlaw Park and a new enclosure was opened for the 2002/03 season.
The 2012/13 season saw the current grandstand erected, replacing the old one.
Harlaw Park hosted 3 matches in the 2014 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification in August 2013.
First team players
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Staff
editFirst team coaching staff
edit- As of 26 August 2024[2]
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Dean Donaldson |
| Assistant Manager | Greg Moir |
| Coach | Jamie Lennox |
| Coach | Kenny Clubb |
| Goalkeeping Coach | John Farquhar |
| Strength and Conditioning Coach | James Collins |
Committee
edit- As of 12 August 2024[3]
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Mike Macaulay |
| Vice-chairman | Graeme Hay |
| Treasurer | Jim Porter |
| Secretary | Billy Thomson |
| Hospitality | Iain Alexander |
| SHFL Representative | Gordon Booth |
| Football Operations | Scott Buchan |
| Support Liaison/Facilities | Rhys Collie |
| Child Protection | Mark Cooper |
| Events | Paula Corsar |
| Commercial | Barry Gibb |
| First Aid | Stuart Gordon |
| Youth Academy | Gary Jamieson |
| Events | Gill Macaulay |
| Locos Ladies/Hospitality | Kirsteen MacGillivray |
| Systems/Health & Safety | Derek Smart |
| Youth Compliance/Matchday Announcer | Daniel Wilson |
| Facilities/Club Licence | Fred Wilson |
Honours
editSenior
edit- Highland League Cup:[4] 2007–08, 2008–09
- Aberdeenshire Cup: 2023–24
- Aberdeenshire Shield:[5] 2003–04, 2013–14, 2016–17
- Scottish Qualifying Cup (North):[6] 2004–05, 2005–06
- SFA North Challenge Cup:[6] 2008–09
Junior
edit- North Region League (East) Premier Division:[7] 1992–93, 1995–96, 1997–98
- Aberdeen & District League:[8] 1925–26, 1928–29, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1942–43, 1945–46, 1954–55, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62
- North Regional Cup:[9] 1968–69, 1995–96, 2000–01
- Aberdeen & District League Cup:[8] 1927–28, 1928–29, 1929–30, 1931–32, 1945–46
- North Region (East) League Cup:[7] 1986–87, 1988–89, 1991–92
- McLeman Cup:[9] 1928–29, 1951–52, 1968–69, 1970–71
- Archibald Cup:[9] 1928–29, 1932–33, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1954–55, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1968–69, 1980–81, 1999–2000
- Duthie Cup:[9] 1928–29, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1939–40, 1960–61
- Aberdeen County Trophy:[9] 1912–13, 1913–14, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1939–40, 1942–43, 1944–45, 1954–55, 1960–61, 1961–62
- Jimmy Gibb Memorial Trophy:[9] 1995–96, 1997–98
- Wick Allan Shield:[9] 1995–96, 1997–98
- Fowler Cup:[9] 1927–28 (final played during the 1928–29 season)
Ladies
editInverurie Loco Works Ladies play in the Scottish Women's Football Championship.
On 8 July 2022, Inverurie Loco Works announced the formation of a Ladies team.[10] They started playing in the 2023 season, finishing in second place in the SWFL North. They won the league in the 2023–24 season, without dropping a single point.
Honours
edit- SWFL North: 2023–24
Youth academy
editInverurie Loco Works' Youth Academy consists of a Men's Under 18s team, and a Men's Under 21s team.[11]
Under 18s
editInverurie Locos' Men's Under 18s play in the SHFL U18 East. They also enter the Scottish Youth Cup.
They won the league back-to-back in the 2022–23 season and the 2023–24 season. On both occasions, their league victory earned them a spot in that season's SHFL U18 Championship Play-Off. They won the Championship both times.
Honours
edit- Highland League U18 East: 2022–23, 2023–24
- Highland League U18 Championship: 2022–23, 2023–24
Under 21s
editInverurie Locos' Men's U21s play in the Aberdeenshire League. They won the league in 2018–19 season, and the 2019–20 season.
Honours
edit- Aberdeenshire League: 2018–19, 2019–20
References
edit- ^ "Inverurie Loco Works FC History". Inverurie Locos. Inverurie Loco Works FC. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ^ "Staff". Inverurie Locos. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ "The Committee". Inverurie Locos. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ^ [1], Scottish Football Historical Results
- ^ [2], Scottish Football Historical Results
- ^ a b [3], Scottish Football Historical Results
- ^ a b [4], Scottish Football Historical Results
- ^ a b [5], Scottish Football Historical Results
- ^ a b c d e f g h [6], Scottish Football Historical Results
- ^ [7], Inverurie Locos Ladies Formation Announcement
- ^ [8], Inverurie Locos Youth Teams