Inverurie Loco Works F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Inverurie Loco Works Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Locos, The Railwaymen | ||
| Founded | 1902 | ||
| Ground | Harlaw Park, Inverurie | ||
| Capacity | 2,500 (175 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Mike Macaulay | ||
| Manager | Dean Donaldson | ||
| League | Highland League | ||
| 2015–16 | Highland League, 6th | ||
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Inverurie Loco Works Football Club is a semi-professional football team from Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. They are often called The Locos or The Railwaymen. The club currently plays in the Scottish Highland Football League (SHFL).
Contents
History of Inverurie Loco Works FC
How the Club Started
The club began in 1902. It was started by workers from the Great North of Scotland Railway (GNSR). These workers had their train workshops in Inverurie. That's how the football club got its unique name, "Loco Works," meaning "Locomotive Works." Even when the railway companies changed in 1923, the football club kept going strong.
Early Successes in Junior Football
In the 1945-46 season, Inverurie Locos had an amazing year. They played in the Aberdeenshire & District Junior League. The team scored a massive 146 goals in just 22 games. That's an average of over six goals per game! They won the league that season without losing a single match. Even after the train workshops closed in 1970, the club continued to play in junior leagues for many years.
Moving Up to the Highland League
After many successful years in junior football, the Locos decided to aim higher. In 2001, they joined the Highland Football League. They quickly showed they belonged there. In the 2003–04 season, they finished second in the league. They repeated this impressive second-place finish for the next two seasons too.
Winning Trophies
The club started winning major trophies in 2005. They won the Scottish Qualifying Cup that year and again the next year. They also won the Aberdeenshire Shield after being runners-up three times. The Locos then won the Fosters Cup (League Cup) twice in a row, in 2007–08 and 2008–09. They also lifted the SFA North Region Challenge Cup in 2008–09.
Scottish Cup Adventure
One of their most exciting moments was in the 2008–09 Scottish Cup. They got to play against Scottish Premier League team Motherwell at their home ground. This was a huge match for a Highland League team. After four delays due to weather, the game finally happened. A big crowd watched, but Motherwell won 3-0. Even though they lost, reaching the fourth round was a big achievement for the club.
Harlaw Park: The Home Ground
Inverurie Loco Works has always played at Harlaw Park. It started as a simple open field. Today, it's a proper football stadium. It has a seated grandstand and a covered standing area for fans.
Stadium Capacity and Features
Harlaw Park can hold about 2,500 people. This includes 175 seated spots and plenty of standing room. Over the years, the stadium has seen many improvements.
- In 1931, a new building and a grandstand were opened.
- New changing rooms were added in 1950.
- In 1962, new turnstiles were installed for fans entering the ground.
- A social club was set up in 1981, using a building moved from a golf club.
- In 1983, floodlights from Aberdeen Airport were installed, allowing night games. New dugouts for the teams were also built.
- More new changing rooms were added in 1992.
- Before their first Highland League season in 2001, £75,000 was spent to upgrade Harlaw Park. A new enclosure for fans opened in 2002.
- The current main grandstand was built in the 2012–13 season.
Harlaw Park has even hosted international football! In August 2013, it held three matches for the 2014 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification.
First Team Players
Here are the players who play for Inverurie Loco Works' first team:
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Players on Loan
Some players are currently playing for other teams on loan:
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Club Staff
First Team Coaching Staff
These are the people who help train and manage the first team:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Dean Donaldson |
| Assistant Manager | Greg Moir |
| Coach | Jamie Lennox |
| Coach | Kenny Clubb |
| Goalkeeping Coach | John Farquhar |
| Strength and Conditioning Coach | James Collins |
Honours and Achievements
Inverurie Loco Works FC has won many trophies over the years, both in senior and junior football.
Senior Honours
- Highland League Cup: 2007–08, 2008–09
- Aberdeenshire Cup: 2023–24
- Aberdeenshire Shield: 2003–04, 2013–14, 2016–17
- Scottish Qualifying Cup (North): 2004–05, 2005–06
- SFA North Challenge Cup: 2008–09
Junior Honours
- North Region League (East) Premier Division: 1992–93, 1995–96, 1997–98
- Aberdeen & District League: 1925–26, 1928–29, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1942–43, 1945–46, 1954–55, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62
- North Regional Cup: 1968–69, 1995–96, 2000–01
- Aberdeen & District League Cup: 1927–28, 1928–29, 1929–30, 1931–32, 1945–46
- North Region (East) League Cup: 1986–87, 1988–89, 1991–92
- McLeman Cup: 1928–29, 1951–52, 1968–69, 1970–71
- Archibald Cup: 1928–29, 1932–33, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1954–55, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1968–69, 1980–81, 1999–2000
- Duthie Cup: 1928–29, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1939–40, 1960–61
- Aberdeen County Trophy: 1912–13, 1913–14, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1939–40, 1942–43, 1944–45, 1954–55, 1960–61, 1961–62
- Jimmy Gibb Memorial Trophy: 1995–96, 1997–98
- Wick Allan Shield: 1995–96, 1997–98
- Fowler Cup: 1927–28 (final played during the 1928–29 season)
Inverurie Loco Works Ladies Team
Inverurie Loco Works also has a Ladies team! They play in the Scottish Women's Football Championship.
The Ladies team was formed on July 8, 2022. They started playing in the 2023 season and finished second in the SWFL North. In the 2023–24 season, they had an amazing year, winning the league without losing any points!
Ladies Honours
- SWFL North: 2023–24
Youth Academy: Future Stars
Inverurie Loco Works has a Youth Academy to develop young talent. It includes a Men's Under 18s team and a Men's Under 21s team.
Under 18s Team
The Men's Under 18s team plays in the SHFL U18 East league. They also compete in the Scottish Youth Cup.
They have been very successful recently, winning their league back-to-back in the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons. Both times, winning the league earned them a spot in the SHFL U18 Championship Play-Off, which they also won both times!
Under 18s Honours
- Highland League U18 East: 2022–23, 2023–24
- Highland League U18 Championship: 2022–23, 2023–24
Under 21s Team
The Men's U21s team plays in the Aberdeenshire League. They won this league in the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons.
Under 21s Honours
- Aberdeenshire League: 2018–19, 2019–20
