SIGNOFTIME INAYRSHIRE

L O O N Y JOONS

YOU’VE got to hand it to the Ayrshire juniors – they take football tribalism to a whole new level.

Last time I was passing Auchinleck I couldn’t help double take at a street sign slap bang on the main drag.

“Auchinleck. Home of the Talbot Army. One village, loads of cups”.

If ever a road sign summed up the passion towards the local football team that’s it.

Apparently it was crafted in 2015 to put local rivals Hurlford in their place.

The Ford, a year earlier, had lifted the Junior Cup for the first time in their history at the same time as their amateur side lifted the Scottish Amateur Cup.

And so appeared the now famous – in local circles anyway – “One village. Two cups,” sign.

Tribal warfare: Ayrshire juniors style!

In terms of fire the small stretch of the A76 which separates Hurlford, Auchinleck, Cumnock and Glenafton has all the spice.

All of which makes this afternoon’s Junior Cup FRASER WILSON semi-final second legs worth the watch.

Hurlford have one foot in the Final as they go into the home leg defending a 1-0 lead against Wishaw.

But Talbot have a long road to travel if they are to book their place in the endof-season showpiece.

They are 1-0 down to a Lochee side brimming with experience and Tommy Sloan’s men head to Dundee with it all to do if they are to extend their record 11 triumphs in the competition.

No one would bet against Talbot in this competition though, particularly with Junior Cup mastermind Sloan in charge.

Should Auchinleck succeed perhaps they’d erect a new sign outside the gaffer’s house. “Tommy Sloan. One man. More gongs than the Trophy Shop.”