THIS IS GLENBUCK

24/08/2026

Pre-season in GLENBUCK — 1903 ⚽

With another football season getting underway, here’s a fascinating look back at GLENBUCK CHERRYPICKERS preparing for the new season in AUGUST 1903.

The Dalry & Kilbirnie Herald reported that prospects at Glenbuck were “very bright”, with most of the previous season’s players retained and several new faces joining the club.

There are some familiar names in the team, including Bob Blyth, Willie Blyth and Willie Wallace, and the report gives a real sense of the quality of football being played in Glenbuck at the time.

Willie Blyth was described as “one of the finest left-halves playing junior at the present time”, (he would later join Carlisle United) while Willie Wallace was said to have “no equal as an inside right.”

The report also shows Glenbuck players continuing to make the step into senior football.

One small correction to the newspaper: Jock Bone was the player who went to Aston Villa.

And two details at the bottom of the clipping are particularly nice to see:

Ground — Burnside Park.
Secretary — John Shankly, father of the famous Shankly brothers.

123 years later, BURNSIDE PARK is still there! ❤️

A wonderful snapshot of a new football season beginning in our little Ayrshire village all those years ago!

📜 Dalry & Kilbirnie Herald, 7 August
1903

THIS IS GLENBUCK ⚽️🍒

18/08/2026

⚽ On this day in 1951, Glenbuck’s most famous son, Bill Shankly, took charge of his first game as Grimsby Town manager.

In his first season, Shankly guided the Mariners to 2nd place in Division Three North, just missing out on promotion by three points, with only the champions going up.

His team also set a club record of 11 straight league wins — a record that still stands today.

Shankly later said of that Grimsby side:

“Pound for pound, and class for class, the best football team I have seen in England since the war!.”

Long before he became a Liverpool legend, the Glenbuck lad was already showing the signs of the manager he’d go on to become!

THIS IS GLENBUCK ⚽️ 🍒

📷 Bill Shankly during his time as Grimsby Town manager.

On this day in 1951, the legendary Bill Shankly took charge of his first game as Grimsby Town manager.

His first season would see Grimsby finish runners up to Lincoln in Division Three North. However at that time, only the Champions were promoted.

Lincoln beat Town by three points (two for a win). In only the second game of the season, Town would lose 3-2 at home to their rivals. However the Mariners ended the game with only 9 men after keeper Stan Hayhurst had to leave the field with a broken finger and later in the game Alex McCue with a broken leg on debut. No subs in those days.

They would also set a still unbeaten club record of 11 successive league wins between 19th January and 29th March.

30/07/2026

⚽ GEORGE HALLEY IN THE GREEN AND WHITE OF BRADFORD PARK AVENUE

For the first time on THIS IS GLENBUCK, we are delighted to share a photograph of GEORGE HALLEY wearing the shirt of BRADFORD PARK AVENUE in 1913.

Halley joined the Yorkshire club from KILMARNOCK in 1911, signed by the influential TOM MALEY for what was reported to be a record transfer fee received by Kilmarnock at the time.

Maley was a former Celtic player, the brother of legendary Celtic manager Willie Maley, and had already made history by leading Manchester City to the FA Cup in 1904.

One of Maley’s most visible changes at Bradford Park Avenue was persuading the club to replace its traditional red, amber and black colours with the famous GREEN-AND-WHITE HOOPS of his former club, CELTIC—the very shirt George Halley is proudly wearing in this photograph.

Bradford Park Avenue had only been elected to the Football League in 1908 and were competing in the SECOND DIVISION when Halley arrived. Maley recruited several talented Scottish players as he began building the team that would eventually win promotion to the First Division in 1914.

Halley became an important member of the side, making 62 Football League appearances and scoring eight goals between 1911 and 1913.

Before Kilmarnock and Bradford, however, Halley’s remarkable footballing journey had begun at BURNSIDE PARK, home of the GLENBUCK CHERRYPICKERS.

It is incredible to think that a young footballer who developed his talent on that small village pitch would become valuable enough to command a reported record fee and continue his career in the English Football League.

He later joined Burnley, where he became an FA CUP WINNER in 1914 and an ENGLISH LEAGUE CHAMPION in 1921.

George Halley’s achievements are already well known, but seeing him for the first time in the green and white of Bradford Park Avenue adds another special image to the story of one of GLENBUCK’S greatest footballing sons.

From BURNSIDE PARK to Bradford Park Avenue—another wonderful piece of Glenbuck football history!
💚🤍⚽

THIS IS GLENBUCK ⚽️ 🍒

20/07/2026

⚫ A SAD DAY FOR FOOTBALL — KEVIN KEEGAN, 1951–2026
Today, football has lost one of its most loved and inspirational figures.
This remarkable photograph shows a young KEVIN KEEGAN alongside Glenbuck’s own BILL SHANKLY at Anfield — two giants of the game whose lives became forever connected.

It was Shankly who recognised Keegan’s potential and brought him from Scunthorpe United to Liverpool in 1971. That decision helped launch one of the greatest careers in British football.

But their connection went far beyond that of manager and player. Keegan later said that Shankly had changed his life forever and that he owed him so much. He regarded him as a mentor and father figure, learning from him the importance of honesty, hard work, enthusiasm and giving everything to whatever you do. Shankly did not simply give Keegan his opportunity — he gave him belief and values that remained with him throughout his life.

Shankly once summed up the fearless energy he wanted from the young Keegan by telling him to go out and “drop a few hand grenades all over the place.” Keegan did exactly that, becoming the beating heart of a Liverpool side that conquered England and Europe.

He went on to become a European Cup winner, twice European Footballer of the Year, captain of England and an enduring legend at Liverpool, Hamburg and Newcastle United.

For Glenbuck, this photograph is a powerful reminder that Shankly’s influence was not measured only in trophies. It was also found in the people he inspired — and few carried his passion, determination and love of football more proudly than Kevin Keegan.

Our deepest condolences go to Kevin’s family, friends and the countless supporters who loved him.
Rest in peace, King Kev. ⚽🖤

THIS IS GLENBUCK ⚽️🍒

18/07/2026

⚽ A SPECIAL GLENBUCK CONNECTION AT DENS PARK

Today, THIS IS GLENBUCK is at Dens Park to watch Dundee FC take on Everton — a fixture with some remarkable connections to our little Ayrshire village.

Glenbuck’s own BOB SHANKLY
famously led Dundee to the Scottish League Championship in 1962, the greatest triumph in the club’s history. His legacy lives on at Dens Park, where a stand proudly bears his name.

Before today’s match, we were also proud to see this magnificent tribute to BOB SHANKLY displayed inside the boardroom of Dens Park’s historic Main Stand, designed by renowned stadium architect ARCHIBALD LEITCH.

Other Glenbuck footballers to represent Dundee included BOB BLYTH, TOMMY BROWN and WILLIE MUIR, while ALEX McCONNELL, JOHNNIE BONE and WILLIAM KNOX were connected with Everton.

Most fittingly of all, the famous goalkeeper WILLIE MUIR played for both Dundee and Everton, creating a special Glenbuck connection between the two clubs meeting today!

From Burnside Park to Dens Park and Goodison Park, today’s match is another proud reminder of the extraordinary footballing legacy created by one small Ayrshire village

THIS IS GLENBUCK ⚽️🍒

14/07/2026

🏡 COULD GLENBUCK BE YOUR NEXT CHAPTER? 😀

Every so often, a little corner of Glenbuck becomes available to someone new.

This peaceful cottage is now on the market, surrounded by open countryside and close to GLENBUCK LOCH (or DAM as locals would say!), and the historic landscape of the village.

Perhaps its next owner will be someone who falls in love with this special place, just as so many others have before.

A rare opportunity to enjoy the beauty of GLENBUCK, where history, nature, memories and football live side by side!

THIS IS GLENBUCK ⚽️ 🍒


Take a look at the full property listing below 👇

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it:

2 bedroom detached house for sale in Glenbuck, Cumnock, KA18 for £109,995. Marketed by Oakhouse Premier Sales and Lets, Cumnock

02/07/2026

GLENBUCK LOCH... OR SIMPLY "THE DAM".
Officially it's Glenbuck Loch, but to many local people it has always been known simply as "THE DAM."
The stillness of the water, the movement in the sky and the surrounding hills come together to create a powerful, timeless view of one of GLENBUCK'S most familiar landmarks!

THIS IS GLENBUCK ⚽️🍒

I was up and out for just after 2am to arrive at the location in plenty of time to capture the 'Blue Hour' light. Clouds were moving directly towards the camera from the east and in my mind I always saw this view as a black and white photograph. Light levels were really low so the long exposure of 30 seconds has captured and conveyed this motion in the sky. What a wonderful scene to behold and it was pure magic to be out with the camera at Glenbuck Loch near Muirkirk in East Ayrshire.

26/06/2026

⚽ WILLIE BANKS — A GLENBUCK LEGEND REDISCOVERED

Another brilliant piece of GLENBUCK football history has been uncovered. 📰

For the first time in our research, we now have a proper individual image of WILLIE BANKS, one of the important footballing names connected with GLENBUCK.

We had already seen him in a MANCHESTER CITY team photograph, but this 1906 newspaper feature gives us a much clearer look at the man himself.

Born in HURLFORD, Banks only became involved in football after he went to work at MUIRKIRK, where he played for around three months with MUIRKIRK ATHLETIC.

He then spent a season with our GLENBUCK CHERRYPICKERS around 1901–02, before briefly joining RUGBY XI, the KILMARNOCK junior feeder side. His career then took him to KILMARNOCK, where he became known as a very versatile player.

Originally signed as a centre-forward, he was later regarded as a right half of real quality.

Club Secretary FRANK FREW described him as “the best player in that position Kilmarnock ever produced!."

In 1905, Banks moved from KILMARNOCK to MANCHESTER CITY for a reported £450, then reported as the highest fee KILMARNOCK had ever received for a player!.

He later had a second spell with MANCHESTER CITY, as well as time with PORTSMOUTH, ALBERTA in CANADA, a return to KILMARNOCK, and NITHSDALE WANDERERS, where he finished his career in 1912.

From the AYRSHIRE mining villages to English football and even Canada, WILLIE BANKS’ story is another reminder of how far GLENBUCK’S football connections reached — and why the history of the GLENBUCK CHERRYPICKERS and BURNSIDE PARK deserves to be remembered!

THIS IS GLENBUCK ⚽️ 🍒

15/06/2026

A fascinating early image of a young BILL SHANKLY from his CARLISLE UNITED days!

The cutting mentions GLENBUCK CHERRYPICKERS, although SHANKLY started his football career with CRONBERRY EGLINTON before joining CARLISLE UNITED!

What remains beyond doubt is that his story began in GLENBUCK, our small AYRSHIRE mining village with a unique football legacy!

THIS IS GLENBUCK ⚽️ 🍒

11/06/2026

🏆As the WORLD CUP begins today, it feels fitting to look back at one of GLENBUCK’S earliest football pioneers!
This photograph of ALEXANDER “SANDY ” BROWN was taken in 1902, the year of the SCOTLAND v ENGLAND match at Ibrox — the match remembered for the tragic Ibrox Disaster and later declared void.
SANDY official Scotland cap would come two years later, in 1904, again against ENGLAND. That appearance was his only senior cap for SCOTLAND, but it also made him the FIRST player from GLENBUCK to represent his country at senior level!
Long before the modern football, before the WORLD CUP became a global event, a player from a small AYRSHIRE mining village had already reached the very top of the Scottish game.
This is why GLENBUCK’S football story matters. It is a story of a village, a football ground, and players whose achievements reached far beyond their surroundings!
From BURNSIDE PARK to SCOTLAND.
From GLENBUCK to football history!

THIS IS GLENBUCK ⚽️🍒