East Kilbride Thistle are delighted to be announcing three separate football events over the coming months.
East Kilbride Thistle Annual Tournament
First up is the club's annual tournament, held across the weekend of Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th July. Joining the Thistle mens first team this year are Queen Of The South XI, Beith Juniors and Eddlewood AFC. Thistle will kick things off in the opening match against Eddlewood at 12pm on the Saturday, with Beith and Queen Of The South locking horns at 3.30pm. On the Sunday, the third place playoff will kick off at 12pm, with the final at 3.30pm. The tournament participants compete for the Tommy McGrane Memorial Trophy, presented to the club by the former club secretary's widow Mary, and with Thistle defeating Alloa Athletic in the final last year, the Jags will be more than ready to defend their title.
In addition to the football action on the park, there will be plenty for all the family to do around the Showpark, with bouncy castles, face painting, beat the goalie, 10 second challenge, and the crossbar challenge.
East Kilbride Thistle Select v Dukla Pumpherston
On Sunday 1st August, East Kilbride Thistle will be hosting celebrity team Dukla Pumpherston in a fundraising event for their planned new facilities at the Showpark. However, it will be a Thistle side with a difference.
All positions in the Thistle squad will be filled by the supporter who places the highest bid for it. Every shirt in the Thistle lineup will be up for auction to anyone over the age of 16 who wishes to play in the match. On match day, each player will find their own personalised strip, with their name and number on it, hanging in the Showpark dressing rooms before the match. Once you've changed and been out on the park for your warm-up, you'll get your pre-match talk from the manager, and then its out onto the pitch for kick-off.
Winning bidders will receive their named and numbered playing shirt, and official pre-match team photograph.
Bids start from just £20, and can be made either by email to to reflect the current highest bidder for each shirt. Each postion in the team will have a number allocated to it and bidding for that number represents a wish to play in that position (i.e. bidding for the no 3 shirt, you are bidding to start the match in the left back position).
With all monies raised going towards the East Kilbride Thistle Community Football Club fund for the new Showpark facilities, this is a great opportunity for local people to get behind their local club for the benefit of the whole community.
David Linning Memorial Match
David Linning was a popular and well-known amateur referee in the East Kilbride area before he passed away in December. With the support of Mr Linning's family, East Kilbride Thistle are delighted to announce that they will be hosting a charity fundraising match at the Showpark.
This year the East Kilbride Thistle mens first team will play an as yet-to-be-announced top quality opposition, but the club intend to make this an annual youth football tournament in honour of Mr Linning's outstanding contribution to youth football.
With Mr Linning so well thought of in the town, Thistle are hopeful of some great support from the local community with a donation from the proceeds going to a charity chosen by the family.
