SELKIRK FC (Yarrow Park)

LOWLAND LEAGUE, SELKIRK 2-0 EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY,
ATTENDANCE: 50 (h/c)

After starting season 2015/16 last weekend with some competitive games in Germany, this weekend I went North to Scotland as the Lowland League season got underway.

It was to the Scottish Borders town of Selkirk that I headed. Rugby is the predominant sport of the town but I was here to see the team of the round ball in action.

Founded in 1880, Selkirk Football Club play their home games at Yarrow Park, next door to the rugby ground, having moved here at the turn of the millennium, after previously playing at Ettrick Park for over 90 years.

Selkirk's halcyon days were the 1970's when they won the East of Scotland league three years in a row from 1975-1977. However the club earned notoriety in December 1984 when Stirling Albion hammered Selkirk 20-0 in the Scottish Cup first round at Annfield. It was the biggest win in British senior football in the 20th Century.

Selkirk left the East of Scotland league in 2013 to become one of the founder members of the newly formed Lowland League.

Selkirk have produced footballing legends in the past and their most famous son, Bobby Johnstone, was part of Hibernian's famous five before going on to achieve success at Manchester City, scoring in two FA Cup finals. The pavilion at Yarrow Park is named in his honour and there is plenty of Bobby Johnstone memorabilia adorning the walls of the club.

The latest famous footballer to join the ranks at Selkirk is former Hibernian, Lokomotiv Moscow and Birmingham striker Garry O'Connor (pictured right) who signed for the club in 2014. He is captain of the team and led the line this afternoon.

Selkirk were beginning their campaign with a game against Edinburgh University and eventually ran out 2-0 winners.

Phil Addison (12) gave the home side the lead from a free kick just outside the box (pictured below) and were full value for their half time lead.

The Students came back into the game in the second half and dominated for long periods. They definitely deserved a share of the spoils but with five minutes remaining Ross Gray clinched the three points for The Souters with a debut goal.