Latest news with #JohnMcKeown
Daily Record
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Shotts gaffer fires warning ahead of Premier Division opener
The Bonny are all set for kick-off in the West of Scotland League this weekend John McKeown has warned his Shotts side they must stop taking their foot off the gas in games as they prepare for their West of Scotland Premier Division opener this weekend. The Hannah Park boss watched the Bonny blow a 3-0 half-time lead to draw 3-3 with Blantyre Vics on Saturday in their final friendly match of pre-season, where goals from Marc McKenzie, Liam Craig and Kieran McGuire appeared to put them on easy street. That came off the back of his side easing up in the recent friendly wins over Fauldhouse and Thorniewood. But a tougher test awaits on Saturday when Glenafton Athletic come calling (kick-off 2pm) in their top flight opener and McKeown has told his players he isn't happy with their recent habit. He said: 'It has been a wee bit of a pattern in our pre-season, starting really well and doing well for the first half hour, then taking our foot off the gas. At Fauldhouse we were 5-0 up and then it finished 5-1, at Thorniewood we were 3-0 up and it finished 3-2, although in those ones we were bringing on kids. 'But on Saturday there was no excuse for it because we never made that many changes. 'I could accept the other two but on Saturday we kept the team strong because we had been taking our foot off the gas - and we still conceded three! I was quite annoyed by that. 'We are missing seven or eight players due to holidays but they will be back this week. 'It is about ironing out this bad habit because the first 45 minutes on Saturday was the best football I've seen us play at Hannah Park in a long time. We looked great, we praised the boys at half-time and then they go and do what they did, so we had a go at them. But it is better doing it now than in the league games. 'This weekend we'll play Glenafton, who are a really good side. We beat them in the West Cup last season and they beat us in the league at their place, then drew at Hannah Park. 'They've got a really experienced manager in Paul Paton, who has played at a really good level. He's really improved them over the last six months so it is going to be difficult. 'We'll need to make sure everyone works hard on the training pitch to be ready for it. I have seen a lot of positives and some really good stuff, but I have seen some negatives as well and I think we are a wee bit short in certain areas.' McKeown revealed he is hoping to add to his squad before the weekend with defender Sam Greenwood out injured long term. He added: 'Hopefully we have one new face in before Saturday. We've been dealt a huge blow with Sam, so we'll need to strengthen in that area.'
Daily Record
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Shotts' pre-season derby win lets boss run the rule over trialists
John McKeown was able to assess potential new talent as his side beat Newmains 2-0 Shotts boss John McKeown enjoyed a winning start to pre-season as he cast his eye over some trialists in Saturday's 2-0 win over Newmains United. The Bonny kicked off their warm-up matches for another West of Scotland Premier Division campaign with a solid victory, courtesy of goals from new signing Kieran McGuire and skipper Ally Martin. McKeown had three trailists in action during the clash at Dalziel Park and revealed he is also set to bring in a player on loan, who will be announced in the coming days. He said: 'It was good for the boys to blow the cobwebs off, work on formations and get minutes into legs. 'Both teams were missing quite a few personnel just with holidays, but it was good. 'The performance was okay. Some players did well and others you could see that they need to get up to speed, but that is what it is all about right now. 'I have been a manager long enough to know not to get too carried away about things in pre-season either way so it served its purpose to get the boys going again. 'But we had three trialists and I am hoping to sign one of them in the next week. 'We've also got a loan deal confirmed but that won't start until July 6 and it is one we are quite excited to announce. 'The trialists who came in have trained hard and they'll just need to impress over the next wee period.' Shotts now face a trip East of Scotland Second Division outfit Fauldhouse United this Saturday, kick-off 2pm, and McKeown will have two key men back for that one. He added: 'We now play Fauldhouse on Saturday and that will be a big test for us. 'We will have Marc McKenzie and Ally Small back but there's just a lot of comings and goings at this time of year. 'With the turnover of players we had this season - losing so many and bringing in eight players - it is just really important to get everybody communicating and get good habits forming. 'These games are vital and more so than previous seasons with the amount of new players.'
Daily Record
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Shotts boss says 'having a go' worked well as they avoided Premier League drop
John McKeown's side were on a good run of form at the end of the season Shotts boss John McKeown reckons having a go in games worked well for them, and hopes his side continue that form into next season's West of Scotland Premier League. The Hannah Park side ended with 11 points from a possible 18 in their last six games, as they comfortably evaded the bottom three – though Clydebank winning their Lowland League play-off saved four teams from going down. Now that the dust has settled on their first season in the top flight, McKeown reckons they could have done things differently. 'We know what to expect, but you have to find your feet,' said McKeown. 'As a coaching and management team, I think we were a wee bit negative in the first half of the season. 'In the second half, we had a wee bit more of a go, and ended up doing quite well. In our last six games we won three, drew two and lost one, and that's good going in this league. 'Fair play to the boys, they deserve all the credit they're going to get, and hopefully they continue that form into next season.' Shotts watched Clydebank's play-off in sponsor's pub The Two Chimneys in Uddingston, and the Bankies' promotion to the Lowland League means McKeown can plan ahead. He said: 'I had two lists, and now I can concentrate on the Premier League one, rather than the Championship. 'That gives us a better chance to plan, going forward. 'This is our second season in the Premier League and I think that's for the first time in 30 years, or something like that. 'By hook or by crook, we've stayed there, so fair play to the boys. 'We have a team spirit that I don't think many clubs have, and I think that's what has kept us up.' Having lost Airdrie neighbours Gartcairn to relegation last season, due to a 15-point deduction, one particular fixture stands out to McKeown, who said: 'Glencairn are my local team, I was born in Rutherglen, so that's another wee derby.' Last week the club announced that a number of players have signed up again for the new season Taylor Evans, Josh Gracie and Paul Byrne have joined Ally Small, Rico De Marco and Jack Gordon in committing to the 2025/26 campaign. A number of players have also departed. Leaving the club are Andrew Duffy, Chris Meikle, Danny Burns and goalkeeper Sandy Thomson. Meanwhile, after getting a bye in the first round, Shotts were drawn against Irvine Victoria in round two of the WoSFL Cup. The date is to be arranged.
Daily Record
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Shotts boss' relief as Clydebank win means top-flight safety
Shotts were one of four teams that faced the drop, had Bankies not reached the Lowland League Shotts boss John McKeown admitted relief after their West of Scotland Premier League status was secured on Sunday, as Clydebank reached the Lowland League. The Bankies' 2-0 win over Musselburgh Athletic, 3-1 on aggregate, meant that only three teams dropped down from each of the top three leagues, rather than four, had they fallen short. Shotts ended the season in 13th place, five points above Benburb, who were one of three teams dropping into the First Division. As it is, Shotts now face a derby against McKeown's local team, Rutherglen Glencairn, in their second season in the top flight. A delighted McKeown said: 'We hired Bankies TV and we're absolutely over the moon. 'We need to build on this. We're a wee bit fortunate to stay in the league due to Gartcairn's circumstances [15-point deduction] , so we're not naive enough to ignore that. 'I felt we started the league really poorly but went from strength to strength, and had we had five more games we'd have been more than safe. 'But we need to make sure that we're good to go at the end of July.' McKeown added: 'We should be nowhere near the Premier League, in terms of resources and budget, so these boys deserve all the credit. 'We have a team spirit that I don't think many clubs have, and it has kept us up.'
Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Shotts boss on why he'll be a Clydebank fan for next fortnight as side face relegation sweat
John McKeown's side have finished outside the relegation zone in the West of Scotland Premier Division but could still go down Shotts boss John McKeown admits they face a nervy waiting game to avoid relegation - despite victory on the final day of the season keeping them out of the drop zone in the West of Scotland Premier Division. McKeown's men came from behind at home to Gartcairn on Saturday with Liam Craig's double cancelling out Adam McGowan's opener for the visitors. That was enough to keep Bonny out of the relegation zone in the top flight, as they finished five points clear of nearest rivals Benburb. However, Premier champions Clydebank's potential promotion to the Lowland League means Shotts can't celebrate survival just yet. The Bankies play East of Scotland Premier champions Musselburgh Athletic in a two-legged play-off over the next fortnight to determine who comes up to the Lowland League and if Clydebank fail, it will be bad news for Shotts. McKeown explained: 'It is all up in the air and a strange situation. There is this situation with Clydebank being promoted that is making it awkward. 'They have got to play Musselburgh in a play-off to go up to the Lowland League, but if they don't win it would mean they stay down. Broomhill, who finished bottom of the Lowland League, are getting relegated into our league, so if Clydebank don't go up it means that four teams would need to go down. 'It means it is a bit of a waiting game for us, which is really annoying. For me, that's not the way it should be but, unfortunately, that is the way the leagues have worked it. 'It is something the leagues need to look at, things like that need to be decided by your last game of the season, rather than sitting about waiting for a couple of weeks. 'Last season when Beith won the league, they didn't have the SFA licence to go up so there was no change, it was a lot more straightforward. 'Saturday should have been a big day of celebration after retaining our league status, so it does put a bit of a dampener on it, although we are hopeful Clydebank can do the job and go into the Lowland League. 'We will need to keep the champagne on ice and sit tight.' Clydebank travel to Musselburgh this Saturday, followed by the return leg at Holm Park on Sunday, May 25. And McKeown admits he will be cheering them on He added: 'I'm getting my Bankies top on as we speak! I'm just hoping they can go and do us a wee turn now. 'I don't want to curse it, but Clydebank will be the bookies' favourites. They are an excellent side and it is over two legs, so you would hope they have enough to get through. We'll certainly be supporting them.' Shotts have pulled off quite the turnaround to finish 13th in the 16-team division, having been rock bottom at the turn of the year. So McKeown is proud of his players, no matter what unfolds. He said: 'Our boys have done all they can do, which is massive. I am delighted for them and their form since the turn of the year has been magnificent. 'It was a bit subdued and we weren't getting carried away because they know it isn't completely 'job done' yet. 'We were dead and buried at Christmas. We had a good chat with them at that time, changed our shape and worked really hard. 'They have really stuck together. It would have been easy to chuck the towel in, but they've shown a real steely mentality and put themselves in a great position. We're really proud of them.'
