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| Full name | East Kilbride YM Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The YM | ||
| Founded | 1936 | ||
| Ground | John Wrights Sports Stadium East Kilbride Scotland | ||
| Chairman | Alan Cunningham | ||
| Manager | Graeme Robertson | ||
| League | Caledonian AFA 1st Division | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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East Kilbride YM FC (also known as The YM) are the oldest football club based in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. The club currently have three adult teams competing in the Caledonian, Scottish Amateur Football League and Greater Glasgow Leagues and under 17's and under 19's. 'The YM' is part of the EKYMC Community Club alongside East Kilbride YC and East Kilbride Girls. The club also host the most popular Player of the Year and Speakers night in the East Kilbride area and an annual Invitational Tournament.
History
editFormation and early years
editEast Kilbride Y.M were formed in 1936, during World War Two, with one of the earliest Team Managers being John Cadzow. The club was kept going through the war by enlisting local players and serviceman stationed nearby. Despite there being no official league, East Kilbride YM kept playing throughout the war and then into the 1950's when they were accepted into the Scottish Amateur Football League. John Cadzow is widely credited with the establishment of East Kilbride YM as a club and sustaining it through its difficult early stages.
In the early 1950's, Jack Fowler became manager and won numerous trophies over his decade in charge. It was at this time 17 year old Les Goodfellow joined The YM. Goodfellow, played his way through the ranks to the first team where he stayed for many years. After retiring he became actively involved in the running of the club which has continued to the present day, almost 60 years later.
Recent Years
editCaledonian League Team
editThe Caledonian League Team won promotion to the 1st Division (later renamed the Premier Division) in the 1995/96 season where they stayed until 2005, when after a poor season, were relegated down into the new 1st Division (formerly the 2nd Division). John McCole returned to manage the team after the relegation and came close to promotion on two occasions but narrowly missed out. McCole retired from management in 2011, a year after winning the East Kilbride YM Annual Tournament. Graeme Robertson and assistant Billy Hamilton, were put in charge of the Caley Team following their double winning season with the SAFL team. Since Robertsons appointment the team have had mixed results in both the league and cup competitions. Finishing 6th in the 2012/13 and 7th in 2013/14. The team reached the latter stages of the West of Scotland cup in the 2012/13 season but were knocked out convincingly by the eventual winners, Hurlford Thistle.
At the beginning of the 2014/15 season Gary Hamilton left his post as coach of the Scottish Amateur National Team to become head coach at the club and assistant manager of the Caley Team.
Scottish Amateur Team
editIn 1996, East Kilbride YM were accepted into the Caledonian League, after winning the Scottish Amateur Premier League Cup. The YM elected to enter a new team into the SAFL and were made to start again at the bottom of the league system. The Scottish Amateur team became a feeder for the Caley team and competed in the Scottish Amateur 2nd Division until 2003 when they won the league.
Having been relegated in previous seasons, the Scottish Amateur team found themselves back in the 2nd Division at the start of 2010/11. This was the most successful season for the team since their inclusion in the SAFL for a second time. The team went unbeaten in the league until 2011 and progressed to the Hall Cup Final to face Aitkenhead Thistle AFC in April 2011. Within the space of two weeks, the SAFL team had secured both the league and Hall Cup marking a tremendous end to their season.
After Robertsons move to the Caley side, Gary Lawson took over as manager before work commitments forced him to hand over the reigns to Andy Dykes, previously a coach with the Caley side, for the 2013/14 Season.
Tam Barclay and Stephen McKenna took over in June 2014 with enthusiasm as the 2nd wave of YM under 19's progress to the adult side.
Greater Glasgow Team
editThe Greater Glasgow PL side was created for the 2012/13 season, reflecting the growing popularity and interest in the YM. Marshalled by Colin Dailly in its inaugural season, it was a difficult season with a poor showing in the league.
With the first wave of under 19's moving to the adult side since the inception of the EKYMC Community Club, Gordon McCulloch followed his players into the management position.
The team got off to a flying start in the league and began to show themselves as real contenders for the league title despite their youth. The squad looked unstoppable in the Greater Glasgow Premier League Cup as they saw off tough opposition on their way to the final where they met Broomhouse FC. In the final, the YM lost 4-3 against a very good Broomhouse side who had dominated their league in the 2013/14 season.
Annual Tournament
editThe 'YM Invitational Cup' is a pre season invitational company hosted by East Kilbride YM. The four week competition was inaugurated in 2010 and has been held every summer since. Since 2010 the tournament has grown in popularity and 16 teams have competed in the adults competition since 2013. In 2013 an under 19's tournament was introduced to run alongside the adults cup with 8 teams participating.
The competition follows a Champions League style set up with initial group stages and progressing to a knockout stage.
East Kilbride YM won their inaugural tournament in 2010, Rolls Royce FC in 2012, and Broomhouse FC won the 2014 edition
Player of the Year Statistics
editCaledonian League Team
edit| Players POTY | Managers POTY | Golden Boot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | Stewart Bovill | Paul McLean | Garry O'Hanlon |
| 2012-13 | Paul Tierney | Stewart Bovill | David Atha |
| 2009-10 | Stewart Bovill | Alan McRae | Alan McRae |
| 2008-09 | Steven Chaplain | Steven Chaplain | Steven Chaplain |
Scottish Amateur Team
edit| Players POTY | Managers POTY | Golden Boot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | William Dawson | Stephen McKenna | William Dawson |
| 2010-11 | Kevin McCarthy | John McNamara | Paul McCaig |
| 2008-09 | William Dawson | William Dawson | Iain Taylor |
Greater Glasgow Team
edit| Players POTY | Managers POTY | Golden Boot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Gary McCulloch | Craig Kincaid | Ross McDonagh |
| 2012-13 | William Dawson | Kenny Corbett | David Atha |
Club officials
edit- East Kilbride YM
- Honorary President: Angus McConnel JP
- Chairman: Alan Cunningham
- Club Secretary/Treasurer: Graeme Robertson
- Committee Members: Les Goodfellow, Mike Smith
- Club Photographer: Mitchell McCluckie
- Caledonian League team
- Manager: Graeme Robertson
- Head Coach: Gary Hamilton
- Assistant Manager: Billy Hamilton
- Scottish Amateur Football League team
- Manager: Tam Barclay
- Assistant Manager: Stephen McKenna
- Greater Glasgow Premier League team
- Manager: Gordon McCulloch
- Assistant Manager: Graeme Robertson jnr
Players
editGoalkeepers
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Defenders
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Midfielders
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Forwards
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
edit- Queens Park Challenge Trophy
- 1997-98
- Caledonian league 2nd Division
- 1995-96.
- Scottish Amateur Premier League Cup
- 1995
- Scottish Amateur 2nd Division
- 1968, 1976, 2003, 2011
- Scottish Amateur 3rd Division
- 1973
- Scottish Amateur Coronation Cup
- 1961
- Scottish Amateur Reserve Division One
- 1953, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980
- Hall Cup
- 1978, 2011
- Ball Trophy
- 1952, 1974, 1978
- Scottish YMCA Cup
- 1967