Latest news with #WullieGibson
ITV News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
SPFL season returns as League Cup kicks off 2025/26 campaign
The 2025/26 Scottish football season gets underway this weekend as the Scottish League Cup marks the beginning of the new season. Two of our sides are in action with Annan Athletic hosting Forfar Athletic and Stranraer hosting Ross County. There is no game for Queen of the South with their campaign beginning on Tuesday evening. Annan Athletic have been handed a tricky draw in the cup this year with one Premiership side, two Scottish Championship sides and one fellow League Two side providing tough opposition for Wullie Gibson's team. Queen of the South and Stranraer share a spot in Group B of the competition with Ross County, Partick Thistle and Edinburgh City their opponents. For Stranraer morale is high coming into the new campaign following a season largely without any relegation fears last time out. Manager Chris Aitken spoke to ITV Border about the readiness of his players ahead of the first match of the season. He said: "Training has been excellent. I have got to admit the players' application has been second to none and to be fair I knew that with the signings we had made. "The boys came back and started early and it just feels like we are starting earlier and earlier. The guys have came back in really good shape and the fitness levels are really good. "We have had one disaster with an injury but that is just part and parcel of it but all in all we are really excited to get the campaign up and running tomorrow. 'It is going to be very tough but I always think of it as an opportunity for guys to come in and show their worth at this level. "I have signed six or seven players who have played in the West of Scotland League and I feel as though they can go and play in League Two no problem. "The way I sold it to them was the opportunity, we know with the finances of the club we are not enriched to go and offer big wages but the ones I have brought in are the type we want to have at the club. Last night after training the talk was now it is the real stuff." Stranraer hosted two Northern Ireland Premiership sides over pre-season, whilst also taking on Irvine Meadow and Hurlford United. Aitken believes the pre-season test for his players have put them in a good position to take on two Scottish Championship sides in their first two games. He said: "The Irish teams coming over are always good games for Stranraer because they bring good quality opposition and they bring a good crowd. "The way equipped ourselves for those games was really pleasing and it is all credit to the boys because their fitness levels were really good." League Two is set to be a competitive league this season with two sides coming down from League One and East Kilbride being promoted from the Lowland League. Aitken though is excited about the prospect of a high quality league this season and says he can't wait to test himself and the players. He said: "I think League Two and League One are always tough leagues regardless who is in them and what opposition is in them. "With Dumbarton and Annan coming down they will be looking to push themselves to try and get back up and East Kilbride are coming with a big ambition. "I am really looking forward to going back to East Kilbride, I know a lot of good people there. These are the challenges as to why I took the job and it is a challenge I am really relishing."
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Football club furious after repeated break-ins
Annan say they have suffered repeated break-ins with items damaged (Image: News & Star) Annan Athletic bosses are furious after a number of break-ins at their Galabank ground recently. The Scottish League Two club say the pitch at their ground and the nearby MUGA (multi-use games arena) has been broken into "many times recently". Advertisement The club say a number of items have been damaged in the process. Annan say they have "clear footage and names" of those they say are responsible, and they plan to involve police. In a social media post about the break-ins, Annan said: "It is with regret that we have to be writing this post, but with the number of reoccurring break-ins happening at Galabank, something has to be done. 'Both the MUGA and the main pitch have been broken into over the past few weeks, with a number of items within the facility needing repaired at a cost to the club. 'We would like to state that we have CCTV covering all areas of Galabank and we have clear footage as well as names of all individuals that have been involved. Advertisement 'Information will be passed to community police officers for their information/attention.' Annan, meanwhile, were in action on the pitch on Tuesday in a pre-season friendly at Gretna 2008. Wullie Gibson's side claimed a 3-1 victory thanks to goals from Ryan Muir, Josh Dixon and a trialist, with Stuart Douglas replying for Gretna.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Annan Athletic learn opponents in Premier Sports Cup
Annan Athletic will face Premiership club St Mirren in next season's Premier Sports Cup. The top-flight's sixth-placed side will take on the Galabankies in the 2025/26 group stage. The draw for the competition was made on Wednesday with Annan learning their four opponents in group D. Wullie Gibson's side, newly relegated to Scottish League Two, will also take on Championship duo Ayr United and Arbroath, and League Two rivals Forfar Athletic. 🏆 The Premier Sports Cup group stage draw for 25/26 ✅ Which tie are you most looking forward to? — SPFL (@spfl) May 28, 2025 The meeting with St Mirren will see Annan take on a side who finished in the top half of the top-flight table in 2024/25. Stephen Robinson's Buddies narrowly missed out on a second consecutive season of European football, and went unbeaten in their top-six campaign in the closing weeks of 2024/25. The Galabankies are preparing for life back in League Two after relegation (Image: News & Star) Of Annan's other cup opponents, Ayr finished third in the second tier under Celtic legend Scott Brown, before losing out to Partick Thistle in the Premiership play-off quarter-finals. Arbroath, meanwhile, romped to the League One title to seal a return to the Championship under Colin Hamilton and David Gold. Annan Athletic relegated after play-off final defeat Jim Weir's Forfar were strugglers in League Two, finishing second bottom, above basement boys Bonnyrigg Rose only on goal difference and the Loons narrowly avoiding the need for the play-offs to secure their own status. Dates for the fixtures are yet to be confirmed. They will form the first competitive games for Annan in 2025/26 following their relegation in the end-of-season play-offs. Gibson's side lost to East Fife in the two-legged play-off final to return to the fourth tier after two seasons in League One. Peter Murphy's Queen of the South, meanwhile, will take on Ross County, Partick Thistle, Edinburgh City and Stranraer in group B of the Premier Sports Cup.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Annan Athletic learn opponents in Premier Sports Cup
Annan Athletic will face Premiership club St Mirren in next season's Premier Sports Cup. The top-flight's sixth-placed side will take on the Galabankies in the 2025/26 group stage. The draw for the competition was made on Wednesday with Annan learning their four opponents. Wullie Gibson's side, newly relegated to Scottish League Two, will also take on Championship duo Ayr United and Arbroath, and League Two rivals Forfar Athletic. 🏆 The Premier Sports Cup group stage draw for 25/26 ✅ Which tie are you most looking forward to? — SPFL (@spfl) May 28, 2025 The meeting with St Mirren will see Annan take on a side who finished in the top half of the top-flight table in 2024/25. Stephen Robinson's Buddies narrowly missed out on a second consecutive season of European football, and went unbeaten in their top-six campaign in the closing weeks of 2024/25. The Galabankies are preparing for life back in League Two after relegation (Image: News & Star) Of Annan's other cup opponents, Ayr finished third in the second tier under Celtic legend Scott Brown, before losing out to Partick Thistle in the Premiership play-off quarter-finals. Arbroath, meanwhile, romped to the League One title to seal a return to the Championship under Colin Hamilton and David Gold. Annan Athletic relegated after play-off final defeat Jim Weir's Forfar were strugglers in League Two, finishing second bottom, above basement boys Bonnyrigg Rose only on goal difference and the Loons narrowly avoiding the need for the play-offs to secure their own status. Dates for the fixtures are yet to be confirmed. They will form the first competitive games for Annan in 2025/26 following their relegation in the end-of-season play-offs. Gibson's side lost to East Fife in the two-legged play-off final to return to the fourth tier after two seasons in League One. Peter Murphy's Queen of the South, meanwhile, will take on Ross County, Partick Thistle, Edinburgh City and Stranraer in group B of the Premier Sports Cup.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Annan target packed ground for play-off final showdown
Annan Athletic fans have called for a packed Galabank tonight as they bid for Scottish League One survival. Wullie Gibson's side host East Fife in their play-off final second leg, trailing 3-2 at the tie's halfway mark. The televised showdown with Dick Campbell's side has seen the Annan Athletic Supporters' Club (AASC) do its bit to help fans be Gibson's 12th man. They are paying for each of their members' match tickets, having also covered the cost of the team's coach travel to the first leg. AASC chairman Ross Johnstone said: 'Everything's to play for and it should be a great atmosphere. We need to pack the ground. 'We know it's going to be tough. East Fife are strong and we're missing some key players, but fans can – and will – play their part in spurring the team on by being that proverbial 12th man. 'It will mean everything to fans, players and everyone involved in the club if we were to be successful in maintaining our League One status for another season, then try to build on that. 'We're under no illusion that it's been a hard season, with a lot of injuries to key players, but we're hopeful that we can get the job done. 'Our fans have been great. Paying for our members' tickets on Friday is our way of thanking them for the tremendous support they've shown, home and away. We know it's appreciated by Wullie, his players and everyone at the club.' Annan's 3-2 defeat at Bayview in the first leg saw red cards for Scott Hooper and Layton Bisland. They will be suspended along with player-boss Gibson, who is out of the play-offs through yellow card totting-up. East Fife boss Campbell was also sent from the touchline in the first leg. Annan host East Fife tonight, trailing 3-2 from the first leg (Image: Ben Carmichael) The game is live on BBC Alba and Gibson has hailed the contribution of supporters. 'Our fans have been tremendous all season,' he said. 'They've really got behind me and the team. 'With everything that stands on [tonight's] game, I'm sure they'll turn out in their numbers.' The club's secretary Susan Bryson added: 'Our supporters are brilliant. The atmosphere on Friday should be fantastic. It's a game which means so much to the club and community. Fans turning out in force will make a massive difference to the players. 'We're really grateful to Annan Athletic Supporters' Club for their continued support.' Kick-off at Galabank tonight is 7.30pm. Season tickets are not valid for this fixture, with tickets available via the Fanbase app and the ticket page at as well as on the gate.
