Johnstone Burgh F.C.

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Johnstone Burgh

Full name	Johnstone Burgh Football Club
Nickname	The Burgh
Founded	1956
Ground	James Y. Keanie Park, Johnstone
Capacity	3200
Manager	Stephen Farrell
League	Lowland League West
2025–26	West of Scotland League Premier Division, 6th of 16 (promoted)
Website	https://www.johnstoneburghfc.com/
Home colours Away colours

Johnstone Burgh Football Club is a Scottish football club based in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, and play in Lowland League West.

History

The club was formed in 1956, in response to an article in the "Johnstone & Linwood Gazette" newspaper from a journalist that had been ordered out of the newspaper's office on the corner of Johnstone's Rankine Street by the office manager with instructions not to return until he had a story. The journalist proceeded to ask locals what they thought about forming a new football club to replace the former Scottish league side Johnstone F.C.

Their most successful period was in the late 1950s and 1960s when they twice won junior football's top prize – the Scottish Junior Cup. Probably their most successful manager was Jimmy Blackburn who led them to both their Scottish Cup wins as well as West of Scotland Cup and Central League Championship wins. One of our local lads, Bobby Dick, who hails from Elderslie, played what was then right half for the Burgh, and can boast two Scottish Cup winner's medals as well as a number of other medals. In those days the cup final was played at Hampden Park, which made it a day to remember. In later years, Bobby's nephew Alan Donohoe played in goal for the Burgh and was involved in their cup final of 2000.

The 1967–68 season was Johnstone Burgh's most successful season: they won the Scottish Junior Cup, beating Glenrothes 2–1 in extra time after a 2–2 draw at Hampden in the first match. Hugh Gilshan scored the winner. The team also won the Central League Championship and the Evening Times Trophy that season.

Johnstone Burgh has a home support of around 100–150, though this tends to increase vastly when the team is doing well. An OVD Cup tie between Johnstone Burgh and Glenafton Athletic in February 2000 attracted a crowd of over 2000. ^{[citation needed]}

In the 2000 Scottish Junior Cup Final against Whitburn, goals by Colin Lindsay, who later had a spell as manager, and John McLay took the game to penalties after a 2–2 draw. Johnstone Burgh won on penalties in their semi-final at Love Street, but failed to repeat this success in the final.

Ground

Since their foundation, "The Burgh," has been based at James Y. Keanie Park (named after the builder who donated the land the club was built upon). According to "The Juniors, 100 Years A Centenary History of Scottish Football" (McGlone/ McLure) the record attendance was 13,000 v Greenock in the 1963/64 Scottish Junior Cup.

In 2014 Johnstone Burgh shared James Y. Keanie Park with Renfrewshire neighbours Renfrew until October 2014 as their New Western Park ground was not yet completed for the start of the 2014–15 season.

Current squad

As of 10 June 2026

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  SCO Luke Scullion — GK  NIR Brett Long — DF  SCO Cameron Eadie — DF  SCO Kian Gilday — DF  SCO Lewis King — DF  SCO Ben Mullen — DF  SCO Ross MacKinnon — DF  SCO Mark Durnan — DF  SCO Scott Williamson — DF  SCO Mark Barrowman — DF  SCO Adam Livingstone (on loan from Forfar Athletic) — MF  SCO Malky McDonald — MF  SCO Derek Esplin

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  SCO Max Kerr — MF  SCO Aaron Mason — MF  SCO Calvin McGrory — MF  SCO Stuart Faulds — MF  SCO Leon Murphy — MF  SCO Nicholas Gallagher — MF  SCO Broque Watson — MF  SCO Ian McShane — MF  SCO Kristopher Kerr — MF  SCO Zak McKay — MF  SCO Noah Grady — MF  SCO Ben Brown — FW  SCO Thomas Orr — FW  SCO Ciaran Diver — FW  SCO Sam Jamieson

On loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  SCO Aiden O'Neil (on loan at Ashfield)

No. Pos. Nation Player

Notable players

After the 1968–1969 season, the most successful in the club's history, Ian Reid signed for Arbroath, Hugh Gilshan for St Mirren, Danny Burke to East Fife and Jim McDonald to Leicester City. The following year, Ally Hunter signed for Kilmarnock after replacing George Connolly in goal at Keanie Park the season before. He went on to play for the full Scotland team. One of the two ball boys from the 1968–69 season, Allan Woods, signed a professional contract with Partick Thistle at just 16 yrs old, under Dave McParland and returned to Johnstone Burgh after three years at Firhill.

• Tommy Turner: Former St Johnstone, Partick Thistle, Morton and St Mirren midfielder.
• Malcolm Manley: Former Scotland Schools International; professional with Leicester City and Portsmouth.
• Allan Woods: Former Scotland Schools international; Partick Thistle midfielder.
• Frank McAvennie: Former St Mirren, West Ham United, Celtic and Scotland striker.
• Andy Murdoch: Former Partick Thistle goalkeeper.
• Gerry Queen: Professional with St Mirren, Kilmarnock, Crystal Palace (English first division 1969–72) and Leyton Orient.
• Graham Dorrans: Professional with West Brom, Norwich City, Rangers, Dundee, Dunfermline Ath. Scotland
• Kyle Lafferty: Internationally capped professional (85 caps) with Rangers, Hearts, Kilmarnock and Northern Ireland.

Honours

External links

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter

References

55°49′50″N 4°29′54″W / 55.83058°N 4.498386°W / 55.83058; -4.498386