History of Auchinleck Talbot FC

TALBOT MILESTONES 1907-1920

1907: A public meeting at Kirkland's Green in Auchinleck forms a new football club.1909: The new club is named Auchinleck Talbot after Lord Talbot de Maldahide who gifts the club Beechwood Park. The park is opened this year with a charity match between The Old Players and The Merchant's. Talbot make their debut in 1909 when they defeat the juvenile side Highouse Rangers 4-0.Weeks later they lose their first competitive at Cronberry Eglington in the league. Their first win comes in September 1909 when they defeat Patna doon Athletic in their first Scottish Cup tie.1912: Talbot win their first trophy when Kello Rovers are beaten 6-1 in the final of the Cumnock & District Cup. That same year James Ward becomes the first Talbot player to be capped by Ayrshire and then Scotland.1913: John Quinn becomes the first player to step up when he joins Ayr United.1914: Bitter rivals Talbot and Cumnock meet for the first time when Talbot win 1-0 in the Kilmarnock Shield Final.1916: Talbot fold due to financial problems and of course the "Great War".1920: Talbot make their comeback by winning the Ayrshire Cup for the first time when they defeat Irvine Meadow 3-0 at Rugby Park. That same year they set a club goalscoring record in the Scottish Cup defeating Craigbank 11-0 at Beechwood

TALBOT MILESTONES 1921-401921: Talbot win their first league title when winning the South Ayrshire League.1924: The club reaches it's first Scottish Cup semi final but lose 1-0 to Baillieston at Love Street in Paisley.1927: James Byrne become the first Talbot official to be made Ayrshire F.A president.1928: Talbot fold due to financial pressures. They return the following year.1932: The Western League refuses them entry, but bows under pressure the following season.1933: Talbot play their first Western League match at Irvine but lose 4-1.1934 The Talbot fans riot that season during a Moore Trophy final against Darvel at Troon. 495 Talbot fans travel to the match in a   special train.1935: Talbot start playing in red and white but the fans soon stop this.1939: Talbot inflict their biggest win over Cumnock when they win 7-1 in the Ayrshire Cup final.1940: The club shuts down due to the Second World War.

TALBOT MILESTONES 1949-19751949 Scottish Cup Winners1946:Talbot return after their lay-off with a new ash pitch. It proves a disaster and they are forced to play at Cumnock.1948: Talbot become the first club south of Kilmarnock to win the West of Scotland Cup when they defeat Blantyre Celtic 1-0 in a replay at Ardeer.1949: Talbot win the Scottish Cup at Hampden Park when they defeat Petershill 3-2 in front of 69,000 fans.1949: The following season Beechwood sets a new ground record when Irvine Meadow knock the holders Talbot out the Scottish Cup. 1951: Only two years after 69,000 watch Talbot at Hampden, 29 turn up to watch them against Kello. The poorest crowd ever at Beechwood.1957: A special meeting at the Town Hall see's a motion carried that the Talbot should be disbanded. This went to a vote, and it was decided to carry on.1959: The new covered enclosure is handed over to the club by the Building Committee.1961: The club is now being run by 5 office bearers, and 3 committeemen.1972: Vandals burn down the old wooden clubhouse. That same year Talbot lose 11-0 to Cumnock in the League Cup. This is Talbot's worst ever defeat. An emergency meeting is held in the Community Centre to save the club.1975: Talbot hammer Whitletts 15-0 in the league to set a club record. Dennis Gray scores 7. 
  TALBOT MILESTONES 1976-86
1976: Talbot fans are barred from Tranent until kick off after violence erupts at first match.
1977: Manager Jimsy Kirkland resigns before end of seaso1977: Talbot appoint Willie Knox as new Coach. He marks his card by winning the Scarlett Cup.
1978: Talbot become Ayrshire League Champions for the first time in their history.1979: Talbot win the West of Scotland Cup defeating Scottish Cup winners Cumnock 4-0 at Dam park.1980: Talbot Social Club opens. Talbot win their third league title in a row. 1981: Talbot and Cumnock fans are barred from Dam Park after clashes in the main stand. 1982: Talbot add another West of Scotland cup 1983: 10,000 see Talbot lose 1-0 to Bo’ness United at Rugby Park in the Scottish semi. 1984: Miners strike begins and Talbot are destroyed 4-1 by Baillieston in the Scottish semi. 1985: Talbot again win the West of Scotland this time beating Glenafton 3-21986: Scottish Cup winners 1987: Scottish Cup winners once again 1988: Talbot do the Scottish, West of Scotland and League title.   Talbot players who stepped up since 1945. (Appearances and goals)  Black. Scott GK 09/10 Queens Park 11Cross. William F 52/54 St Mirren 4Doolan. Kris F 09/ Partick ThistleFerrie. Bernard M 76/79 Queen of the South 63 (11)Gardiner. Douglas M 46/51 Luton Town 121 (1)Gibson. Alexander D 59/69 Notts County 347 (10)Gillies. David F 06/07 Stenhousemuir 1Gillies. David F 07/08 Airdrie United 16 (1)Gilmour. Neil M 04/05 Ayr United 4Haining. Robert F 64/65 Ayr United 6 (1)Heatherington. Kevin D 94/96 Queen of the South 27 (1)Hoy. Derek GK 92/93 Queen of the South 28Hyslop. Paul M 05/07 Ayr United 29 (2)Miller. David F 51/52 Partick Thistle 2 (1)Milligan. Michael D 70/73 Queen of the South 11McMillan. William D 76/79 Queen of the South 15McNaughton. John F 59/60 Stirling Albion 2McTurk. John D 54/61 St Mirren 49 (3)Paterson. Kenneth M 84/86 Airdrieonians 38 (5)Reid. Steven F 05/06 Albion Rovers 32 (4)Robertson. Hugh F 57/65 Dundee 223 (48)Robertson. James F 49/50 Ayr United 5Sproat. Hugh GK 74/79 Ayr United 128Stevenson. Robert F 55/60 Ayr United 54 (27)Strain. Adam GK 10/ Queens ParkWallace. George F 05/06 Albion Rovers 22 (5)Wells. David D 70/80 Ayr United 157 (5)Wilson. Brian D 79/81 Stranraer 25 (1)  All players listed made a first team appearance for the club listed. Some players did go to senior clubs but failed to play a competitive game like George Gemmell (St Mirren)