Pollok, Newlandsfield Park – Hoppers Tale #179

Never Mind the Polloks, Here‘s the Hoppers Guide

This week sees us take our first long trip of the season, as we head to Pollok FC in Glasgow.

After two local games to get us back into the swing of things, we travel across the northern border into Scotland once more.

Scotland is one of my favourite places to watch football, and this time we will be venturing into the newly restructured Scottish Lowland League West for the first time.

Having separated the Lowland League into East and West divisions, there is a whole new tranche of teams, and Pollok is one such team that I have had on my ‘to do list’ for some time now.

They will face Troon, who will travel from Ayrshire’s west coast to Glasgow. Troon are also one of the newly ‘promoted’ teams from the West of Scotland Football League, along with Pollok.

Apologies for the headline, but I do love that Sex Pistols album and I couldn’t resist. 😂

As always, I’m looking forward to the trip, and hope you will come along and read how I get on.

So, puns aside, let’s get on with it.

The Journey

The first long trip of the season necessarily means the first early start, too!

Out of bed for 06:15 and down to the bus station to catch the 06:59 X1 to Newcastle.

The bus arrived in Newcastle at 07:50, and I made a slow wander to Central Station, arriving by 08:05.

My train to Carlisle arrived on time, and we left the station at 08:26, arriving in Carlisle at 09:45.

This was where I got my first reminder of why I hate Avanti West Coast trains more than any other.

Despite not having to use their useless service today, the signs were all there.

Take a look at this board at Carlisle station and tell me why they deserve to keep their licence. The board doesn’t even show the London Euston train that was cancelled.

‘Eventually’ West Coast needs to be renationalised urgently. I am grateful I only come across their services infrequently.

I then hopped aboard the 10:11 TransPennine Express (who are slightly better) at 10:14.

We arrived at Glasgow Central station around 11:30, leaving me plenty of time to look for my connecting train.

I boarded the 11:51 ScotRail (much better) service to Shawlands. This is a circular route that arrives back in Glasgow Central, so trains are pretty cheap and frequent.

I got off the train at Shawlands at 12:10 and made my way towards Pollok Country Park, where I had a date with some cuties.

Don’t tell Mrs Hopper!

While I get my bearings, why not have a read about the Pollok area of Glasgow.

Pollok

The district of Pollok is in Glasgow, in west central Scotland.

It lies in the south-western sector of Glasgow, around five miles from the city centre.

Paisley is approximately 7 miles to the west, while Motherwell sits about 14 miles to the east. Kilmarnock is a little over 18 miles to the southwest and Edinburgh around 46 miles to the east. Hetton-le-Hole lies 160 miles to the southeast.

At the 2022 Census, the ward of Greater Pollok had a population of 32,890. This is up 2,840 from the 2011 Census.

Pollok takes its name from the historic Pollok Estate, which was once owned by the Maxwell family. The name is believed to derive from the Gaelic ‘Pollag‘, meaning ‘small pool‘ or ‘pit.’

New Town

Unlike many towns and villages with medieval origins, Pollok is a relatively modern community. For centuries, the area formed part of the extensive Pollok Estate, with farmland, woodland and country houses dominating the landscape. The estate remained largely rural while Glasgow expanded rapidly during the Industrial Revolution.

Although heavy industry transformed much of Glasgow during the 18th and 19th centuries, Pollok itself remained largely undeveloped. The nearby city grew into one of the world’s leading centres of shipbuilding, engineering and manufacturing, while the Pollok Estate continued to provide open countryside on Glasgow’s edge.

Everything changed during the 20th century. As Glasgow’s population grew and overcrowding became a serious problem, city leaders looked beyond the traditional urban boundaries for space to build new homes. Pollok became one of the largest housing developments in Scotland, with construction beginning before the Second World War and continuing afterwards.

Thousands of families moved from overcrowded inner-city tenements into newly built council housing, creating a new community almost entirely from scratch. Schools, churches, shops and community facilities quickly followed as the district expanded.

Unlike many communities shaped by mining or manufacturing, Pollok’s identity grew from its role as a residential district. Its development reflected changing attitudes to housing and town planning, with wide streets, open green spaces and neighbourhood centres intended to provide a better quality of life for Glasgow’s growing population.

Post War

Following the Second World War, Pollok continued to grow as additional housing was built to meet demand. Over time, however, many of the original post-war homes became outdated, and parts of the estate were redeveloped with lower-density housing. This reduced the population while improving the quality of accommodation.

Today, Pollok benefits from several major attractions. Pollok Country Park, Glasgow’s largest park, provides extensive woodland, gardens and walking routes. The park is also home to Pollok House and the internationally renowned Burrell Collection, one of Scotland’s finest museums. Nearby Crookston Castle, one of Glasgow’s oldest surviving castles, offers a reminder of the area’s much earlier history. The Silverburn Shopping Centre has also become one of Scotland’s largest retail destinations.

Pollok forms part of the wider city of Glasgow, alongside neighbouring districts such as Cardonald, Crookston, Priesthill and Nitshill. Together they create an important residential area in the south-west of the city.

Although Pollok has a much shorter history than many Scottish communities, it represents an important chapter in Glasgow’s development. Created to improve living conditions for thousands of families, it has grown into a well-established community while continuing to evolve through regeneration and investment..

Notable People from Glasgow

Notable People from Glasgow

Architect, designer and artist, Charles Rennie Mackintosh – film director and screenwriter, Bill Forsyth – journalist and presenter, Andrew Marr – musician Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) – engineer, James Watt – inventor Charles Macintosh – tea mogul, Sir Thomas Lipton and Allan Pinkerton, who went on to set up the first detective agency in the USA.

Actors: John Barrowman, Billy Boyd, Peter Capaldi, Robert Carlyle, Robbie Coltrane, Tony Curran, Laura Fraser, Michelle Gomez, Gary Lewis, Kelly Macdonald, Angus Macfadyen, James McAvoy, David McCallum, Rory McCann, Graham McTavish,

Authors: Lavinia Derwent, James Kelman, Peter May, and Nigel Tranter.

Comedians: Frankie Boyle, Billy Connolly, Kevin Bridges, Gregor Fisher, Greg Hemphill, Ford Kiernan, Des McLean.

Politicians: Menzies Campbell, Henry Campbell-Bannerman, Donald Dewar, George Galloway, Andrew Bonar Law, Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf.

Sporting figures include: boxer Jim Watt – golfer Colin Montgomerie – snooker players Stephen Maguire and Alan McManus.

Football figures hailing from Glasgow include: Sir Kenny Dalglish, Tommy Docherty, Sir Alex Ferguson, and John Wark.

A less celebrated character from Glasgow is the ‘Moors Murderer’, Ian Brady

Pollok Park

While you were reading about the district, I had walked around a mile for a date with my cuties.

Pollok Park has a designated area filled with Highland cattle, and they were lying around basking in the Glasgow sunshine.

It was great to see a number of calves among their number, too.

They look to be thriving here and hopefully will for some time to come. Tourists and locals alike head here to see them.

Mrs Hopper loves Highland cattle, or coos, as they are known around these parts.

I couldn’t resist sending her a couple of photos to tease her that I was by a herd of them.

I know, I’m cruel.

It may have been a short date, but it was well worth it. If you have more time than me, you can also visit Pollok House and the Burrell Collection while in Pollok Country Park.

However, I was more interested in a pint at my chosen watering hole. This entailed another one-mile walk back the way I had come.

The Quaich Bar

I arrived at The Quaich Bar (pronounced ‘quake’) and headed inside.

There were just a handful of locals there when I arrived. I ordered a pint of Guinness, which cost £4.55.

Almost immediately, I got in a conversation with someone at the bar. He was a Queen’s Park fan who also watches Pollok when The Spiders aren’t at home.

We sat chatting until he left for Lesser Hampden to attend the game against Queen of the South. Good talking to you, if you ever read this, mate.

I took my second pint to a table and sat down away from the bar.

The pub soon started to fill with Pollok fans and by the time I left, it was almost full.

It didn’t take long before I got talking again, this time to a Partick Thistle fan who also goes to watch Pollok when he can.

This was an extremely friendly pub, and as I got up to leave, another local attracted my attention and wanted to know my Twitter account so they could give us a follow.

I’d have no hesitation at all in recommending this place if you visit.

Thank you to everyone who made me welcome.

After leaving the Quaich, I walked along Kilmarnock Road and across the White Cart Water.

Just past the bridge I spotted a bakery selling pies. Now, if you haven’t been to Scotland yet, or you haven’t tried their pies, let me tell you they are far better than most English attempts.

I couldn’t resist popping in to see what was on offer.

What’s that you say?

A chicken tikka pie?

Yes, please!

My diet will never be taken seriously on a Saturday, will it?

Pollok – Newlandsfield Park

A couple of minutes further and I arrived at Newlandsfield Park, with the glorious sunshine lighting the way.

Getting In

Entry was via turnstiles set in the wall along Newburgh Street.

I had bought my digital ticket in advance from the Fanbase App, costing £10.00.

Cash is also accepted at the turnstiles (not sure about cards), so don’t worry if you don’t have a ticket.

Once inside, I bought a programme from a seller just inside the ground, and a pin badge (£4.00) from a table hosting various Pollok merchandise.

Programme

Pollok’s programme costs £2.50 and contains 24 glossy pages of content, five of which are adverts.

There are columns from club president Paul Regan, details of the latest kit release, and a double spread of what to expect this season. This includes opposition teams, fixture details, cup competitions, promotion scenarios, and admission prices.

There is a 2026/27 season preview from a fan’s perspective, as well as a ‘Pre-season from the terraces’ column.

There are also photographs from the recent pre-season game against Pertick Thistle, which drew a crowd of almost 2,000.

Of course, there are the usual squad pen-pics and sponsors, and today’s potential team line-ups.

This is a decent effort with plenty of reading material, and not too many adverts.

The price feels about right, and it scores a solid 8 out of 10 from me.

South Terrace

Entry into Newlandsfield Park is via the turnstiles at the southeast corner of the ground, and I will start our tour of the ground at the south end.

The south end of Newlandsfield Park is an open terrace that runs most of the width of the pitch.

There is a small seated shelter for the disabled, which provides the only seating in the ground.

A fence stands behind the terrace, which is five steps deep in places, but less behind the goal.

East Terrace

The east side of the ground is also an open terrace, with a fence behind it providing the boundary between the ground and the apartment block beyond.

The terrace is seven steps deep at its maximum height, with each step being quite deep. Something to bear in mind if you have dodgy knees, for example.

Two of the four floodlights are located in each corner on this side.

North Terrace

Like its southern and eastern counterparts, the north end is an open terrace, backed by lots of green trees behind the boundary fence.

The White Cart Water runs behind this end.

The terrace is shallower than the others, and doesn’t run the full width of the pitch.

West Terrace

The west terrace is the main feature at Newlandsfield.

A larger covered terrace runs the length of the pitch, with around two-thirds of it sheltered by a roof.

The terrace is fifteen steps deep and has a couple of brick walls splitting it into three sections.

The roof is painted in black and white stripes and has ‘Pollok Football Club Newlandsfield Park’ emblazoned across the middle.

The technical dugouts are situated on this side of the pitch, either side of the halfway line, with the home dugout on the northern side.

Behind the terrace is an old urinal block for gents that took me back to Bootham Crescent, York City’s old ground.

The other two floodlights are situated at either corner on this side of the ground.

Newlandsfield Park has a capacity of 2,088, and has a wonderful old-school feel about it.

Old fans of terraces will love it, and I count myself in that number.

Pollok – Newlandsfield Park Gallery

Pollok Tidbits

The Pollok Football Club was established in 1908.

Through the generosity of Sir John Stirling Maxwell, the club secured the use of Haggs Park, situated within Pollok Estate. In recognition of his support, Pollok adopted their distinctive black and white colours, inspired by the heraldic shield of Pollok House.

Club members built a corrugated iron pavilion, complete with changing rooms and washing facilities, while volunteers developed the ground into one of the finest junior football venues in the area.

Pollok initially competed in the Scottish Junior League before joining the Glasgow Junior League. During these early years, the club enjoyed only limited success in major competitions, although it won several minor honours including the North Eastern Cup, Kirkwood Shield and Glasgow Consolation Cup.

Homeless

The club suffered a major setback during the 1926/27 season when it was instructed to vacate Haggs Park after the Glasgow Education Authority acquired the playing fields. Despite significant investment in improving the ground, Pollok was forced to leave and spent more than a year without a permanent home, staging matches at Roseberry Park, home of Shawfield Juniors, and at the football ground within the Queen Mary Tea Gardens at Speirsbridge.

Eventually, the club secured a lease on land owned by Stevenson, McKellar Ltd., the site of today’s Newlandsfield Park. Volunteers transformed what had been an industrial refuse tip into a football ground, filling and levelling the site before erecting fencing, entrance gates and pay boxes. Newlandsfield officially opened for football during the 1928/29 season and has remained Pollok’s home ever since.

During this period, Pollok competed in Intermediate football, enjoying considerable success and attracting large crowds. Centre-forward “Erry” Armstrong famously scored more than 100 goals in a single season, while several players earned transfers to senior clubs, generating record transfer income for a junior club at the time. Players moved to clubs including Chelsea, Sunderland and Airdrieonians.

Growth

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Pollok’s pavilion was destroyed by fire following an electrical fault. Restrictions during the war prevented the construction of a replacement, forcing the club to use temporary changing facilities for several seasons.

Despite these difficulties, Pollok enjoyed its first major period of success. During 1941/42, the club won both the Central League Cup and the Glasgow Challenge Cup, defeating Petershill and Rutherglen Glencairn respectively in the finals.

The 1944/45 season proved particularly memorable. Pollok reached the Scottish Junior Cup semi-final, losing narrowly to Burnbank Athletic before a crowd of 25,000 at Shawfield.

Earlier in the competition, Newlandsfield attracted an estimated 15,000 spectators for the replay against Fauldhouse United, one of the largest attendances in the club’s history. During the same campaign, Pollok also won the West of Scotland Cup and the North Eastern Cup.

Another significant milestone came in 1948, when the club purchased Newlandsfield Park after the owners decided to sell the ground. Unable to secure a bank loan, Pollok received crucial financial assistance from the Pollokshaws Co-operative Society, ensuring the club retained its permanent home.

Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, Pollok continued to collect regional honours, winning the Central League Cup, Glasgow Challenge Cup, Glasgow Charity Cup, Erskine Hospital Cup and Pompey Cup on several occasions.

A New Era

According to the club’s own history, 1978 marked the beginning of Pollok’s most successful period. The club remained in the top flight throughout this era, while the 1980s became the most trophy-laden decade in its history, producing 14 major honours. These included Central League Championships, West of Scotland Cups and National Dryburgh Cup victories.

Pollok won its first Scottish Junior Cup on 18th May 1981, defeating Arthurlie 1–0 at Hampden Park before a crowd of more than 13,000, with Norrie Fulton scoring the winning goal. The club lifted the trophy again in 1985, overcoming Petershill 3–1 in the replay after the original final ended in a draw.

The club narrowly missed a third Junior Cup in 1986, losing 3–2 to Auchinleck Talbot in the Centenary Final. Nevertheless, the decade also produced a number of players who progressed into senior football, including Sandy Stewart, Fraser Wishart, Chic Charnley, Stewart Auld and Dougie Arnott, who later won the Scottish Cup with Motherwell in 1991.

Success continued throughout the 1990s under managers Tommy Reynolds, Jim George and Jim O’Donnell. Pollok won 11 trophies, including three Central Premier Division championships, while reclaiming the Scottish Junior Cup in 1997 with a 3–1 victory over Tayport at Fir Park.

Modern Era

Following the formation of the West of Scotland Superleague Premier Division, Pollok won the inaugural championship in 2003 under manager Ronnie Lowrie. His successor, Rab Sneddon, guided the club to three further Superleague titles alongside numerous additional honours.

In 2007, Pollok entered the Scottish FA Cup for the first time after junior clubs became eligible to participate. The club defeated St Cuthbert Wanderers 6–2 before drawing 2–2 away to Montrose. Almost 2,000 spectators attended the replay at Newlandsfield, where Pollok narrowly exited the competition after a 1–0 defeat.

Pollok has played at Newlandsfield Park since 1928. Built through the efforts of club members and volunteers, the ground has undergone continual improvement while remaining one of the best-known venues in Scottish junior football. The establishment of the Pollok F.C. Social Club in 1971 provided an important financial foundation for future development and continues to support the club’s long-term sustainability.

Pollok F.C. has developed from a community football club into one of the most decorated names in Scottish junior football. The club’s history is characterised by resilience, beginning with the construction of Haggs Park and Newlandsfield through voluntary effort, continuing through wartime challenges, and culminating in sustained success from the late 1970s onwards.

With multiple Scottish Junior Cup triumphs, numerous league championships and a proud community tradition, Pollok remains one of Scotland’s most respected and best-supported non-league football clubs.

Pollok FC is currently managed by Stewart Maxwell, who has been in the hot seat since November 2022.

They Played for Pollok

Grant Anderson, Dougie Arnott, Martin Baker, Peter Buchanan, Bobby Collins, Bobby Evans, Bob Griffiths, Dave Hilley, Kyle Hutton, Barry Lavety, Jim Mallan, Brian McGinty, Andy McLaren, Jordan McMillan, Sandy McNab, Bob McPhail, Josh Mullin, Robert Prytz, José Quitongo, John Russell, Charles Thomson, David Winters, and Robbie Winters.

Pollok – Pre-Game View of Newlandsfield Park

Pollok v Troon – The Game

Form

There is no recent form to speak of, with this being the opening game of a newly restructured league.

Both Pollok and Troon were in last season’s West of Scotland Football League.

Troon finished a very respectable third, with Pollok just one place (but 15 points) behind them.

This season both teams are in the newly formed Lowland League West and have technically been promoted to level five of the Scottish pyramid. They are now within one promotion of the SPFL.

They will now be playing against senior teams and some ex-Football League clubs, like Albion Rovers and Clydebank.

Three points today will represent a great start for whoever grabs them.

I foresee a close game, with maybe one goal being enough to win it, as happened in both meetings last season.

Pre-match prediction: Pollok 1 Troon 0.

Kick-Off

Summary

Rather than write a summary of the game, I am just going to leave videos of some of the action.

Suffice to say, this was a closely fought match, with Pollok edging it and deserving the three points.

The second goal was a stunning volley, and although I failed to record it, you can see it in the match highlights below.

I have also included a full match report below, from the Troon FC website, for anyone interested in reading about the game.

Second Half

You can read a full Match Report here, courtesy of the Troon FC website.

Full-time – Pollok 2 Troon 0

Attendance – 741

Entrance Fee – £10.00

Programme – £2.50

Pollok v Troon – Match Highlights

League Table After Today’s Game

Up Next

Next up for The Lok is a trip to Renfrew on 29th July.

That is the first of three successive away games, with the other two being Dalbeattie Star (1st August) and Newton Stewart (8th).

A fourth away game in the shape of a trip to Brechin City in the South Challenge Cup will be held on 15th August.

Pollok finally return to Newlandsfield Park on the 19th, where they will host Johnstone Burgh.

For Troon, their journey continues with a second road trip, as they travel to Johnstone Burgh on 29th July.

August begins with a home game against Gretna 2008 on the 1st. They then travel to Clydebank, who are sure to be among the favourites for the title, on the 8th.

Pollok Thoughts

This is an old school ground and definitely one for the enthusiasts.

It has a unique feel to it, and considering the level of football played, Newlandsfield Park draws good crowds. Some SPFL clubs would be happy to get Polloks support.

With 741 in attendance today, it is worth noting that up the road, Queen’s Park were at home to Queen of the South and Celtic were hosting Italian giants, AC Milan.

Entry price is a tenner, frozen from last season despite being in a higher league. This is telling of a club that cares about its fans, and its fans care about it in return.

My experience in the Quaich Bar was typical of everyone I spoke to today. Friendly and happy to chat with a total stranger about their team.

Both printed programme and pin badges were available, which earns them extra bonus points.

The pie hut at the southern end of the West Terrace was popular. Although I didn’t have anything (I’d already had a chicken tikka pie from just up the road), the queues suggest the offerings are good.

I watched the game from the covered west terrace, and the view was good. Though it’s worth bearing in mind that there are metal supports for the roof, which do slightly obscure some of the action, but not significantly.

All in all, Newlandsfield Park is a must-visit for any Hopper. If you haven’t been yet, do yourself a favour and get up there.

I honestly think it’s broken into my top ten favourite grounds in Scotland, and comes highly recommended by Hoppers Guide.

After the Game

Following the final whistle, I took a few more photos of the emptying ground before heading back to the train station just up the road.

I caught the 17:08 ScotRail train from Pollokshaws East to Glasgow Central, arriving at 17:25.

This left me with a 50-minute-plus wait before catching the 18:18 ScotRail service to Edinburgh Waverley.

We pulled into Waverley station at 19:50, leaving plenty of time to catch the delayed LNER 20:18 (20:25 depart) service to Newcastle.

Unfortunately, there were several drunken/drugged individuals around me on this part of the journey, and it wasn’t the best of experiences.

I’m all for people having a good time, but the atmosphere was one where you fully expected trouble at any moment, with three or four pockets of alpha male types on the edge.

Still, we arrived safely without any incidents, at 22:10.

I made the short walk from Central Station to Highgate Bridge bus stop and caught the 22:45 X1 bus south.

We arrived in Hetton at 22:35, and I was home five minutes later. A long day, but well worth it.

Another successful Hop in the books!

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Next Up for Hoppers Guide

Next weekend I will be paying a visit to the New Den, home of Millwall.

They will be playing a friendly against Belgian Pro League team Royal Antwerp.

This will be the first of two friendly games in the capital over the next couple of weekends.

I will be putting in quite a few miles of travelling over the foreseeable weeks, but more on that as we get to it.

It will be interesting to see how popular this fixture will be with the travelling Antwerp fans. Will there be just a handful, or will they bring over a large following?

You never quite know with these kinds of fixtures, but we all saw the videos of over 6,500 Hansa Rostock fans at Watford this past weekend.

My last visit to Millwall was way back in 1988 at the old Den, with the Lions running out 2-0 winners over Mick Mills’ Stoke City.

A more formidable place to visit as an away fan, I have yet to visit, and I hope the welcome will be much warmer on Saturday than it was that day…

There was an interesting connection between today and next week.

While talking to a local in the Quaich Bar, I was told that Millwall FC was formed by Scottish dockworkers, and that is where the lion and the dark blue colour shirt come from.

More useless trivia like this coming your way very soon.

Onto the next!

Hopper Tales #178 – Willington AFC

Hopper Tales #180 – Millwall