West Region League One
Saturday 22nd December 2018
Bellshill Hospital opened in 1870, becoming the first maternity facility in the Lanarkshire area in 1917, with new dedicated maternity buildings added in the late 1950s and early 60s. The hospital was the birthplace of many famous faces including politician Robin Cook, singer Sheena Easton and Sharleen Spiteri from the band Texas. There was also an array of famous footballers born there, with the likes of Matt Busby, Ally McCoist, Hughie Gallacher Brian McClair, Malky MacKay and Billy McNeil amongst many would be soccer stars. The hospital closed down in 2001, before being demolished in 2003 to make way for new housing developments.
Lanarkshire League winners 1904-05Scottish Junior League winners 1907-08Central Region Division B winners 1951-52, 1973-74Central 2nd Division winners 1986-87, 2000-01Super League Division One winners 2003-04
Carnoustie Place Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, ML4 3EXCapacity 500Scottish Junior grounds visited 42Total Scottish football grounds 101Athletic played at a few grounds in their early years at Orbiston Park, Douglas Park and Brigade Park, before settling at Brandon Park, which opened in 1903. In their centenary year, they moved to New Brandon Park, in the Hattonrigg area of the town. However, due to legal matters with the owner, the club were forced into another nomadic period, sharing at Blantyre, then back in Bellshill at the Sir Matt Busby Sports Complex. After this agreement expired, the club shared with Vale of Clyde in Tollcross before returning to the town in 2015 at the vacant Rockburn Park. There were plans to move to a new community facility at Bellshill Academy, but this has now been shelved with the club guaranteed to play at Rockburn for at least the next five years. The main building behind the goal houses the home team changing room with the snack bar at the side. There are portable cabins at the entrance for away team and match officials with a hospitality bar. The pitch is roped off with no cover or dugouts.
West Region - League One Matchday 16 v151.45pm ko
Att.57hc
Weather: rain, sunny then heavy rainfall. Bellshill dominated the first half and finally took the lead through Jordan Jeffrey in injury time. A sweet 25 yard free kick from Craig Johnston levelled things up early in the second period, before a fantastic diving header from Jamie Stewart restored the home team’s lead. The visitors quickly responded with Johnston sliding home his second to make it all square, in what was a very entertaining match played in testing conditions.BAFC 2(Jeffrey 45 Stewart 64)Red card: Callum Nolan 48 minutes (2nd yellow)SJFC 2(Johnston 53,66)SpondoolicksAdmission £5Programme £1Coffee £1Mince pie £1.50Tea £1