A FOOTBALL team from Hamilton will this weekend step out on to the hallowed turf of Hampden Park.

Eddlewood Amateurs have made it to the final of the Scottish Amateur Cup.

Only Queen’s Park stand between them and the ‘Holy Grail’ for the non-professional game in Scotland.

If they win on Sunday, Eddlewood will follow in the footsteps of Avon Villa.

They were the first Hamilton team to win the Scottish Amateur Cup, defeating Knockentiber 1-0 at Hampden in 1982.

Eddlewood’s achievement in making the final has galvanised the community there.

Posters, flyers, t-shirts, banners, flags and scarves have been made by the wives, families and friends of players and committee personnel.

Two buses have been booked to take supporters to the national stadium for the 3pm kick-off.

Eddlewood have had to battle through 11 games to reach the final of a competition that attracted a field of 670 clubs.

They reached Hampden with a 3-1 victory, after extra time, over Leith Athletic at Falkirk Stadium last Wednesday.

It capped a successful eight years for a club that was formed in 2000 and have since won 11 trophies.

They lifted the Lanarkshire Amateur premier league trophy three times.

Eddlewood have this season been playing in the Central Scottish League and three weeks ago wrapped up the division 1a title.

They are no strangers to the latter stages on the Scottish Amateur Cup having reached the semi-final two years ago before being eliminated by St Patrick’s, Dumbarton.

Some of the players, such as captain Derek Innes and 35-year-old midfielder John Paul Kerr, who is also Eddlewood chairman, have been with the club since they were formed.

Their success this season has not gone unnoticed and three members of the 20-strong Eddlewood outfit - Jamie Dunbar (24), 23-year-old Mark Brown and Alan Litster, who is 30 - were included in the Scottish Amateur squad that took on Northern Ireland.

They have over the years had six players called up to the national amateur squad and, in midfielder Davie Hamilton, a player who went on to play for Hamilton Accies, Ayr United and Stranraer.

Eddlewood also have a strong backroom team led by manager Paul Brogan, coaching team Graeme Cowan, Gordon Jaap, Tommy Airlie, Derek Kerr, and John Crooks (physio), plus secretary Alex Cunningham and treasurer Jim Laird.

Six years ago, the club took over the lease of the Eddlewood Pavilion and it has been their home since then.

Supporter Annette Currie said: “The club’s ground lies at the heart of Eddlewood and unites the top and bottom schemes.

“The club have continued to maintain the pavilion with help of (South Lanarkshire) councillor Brian McCaig, and the team's sponsors Carrigan's Eating House, Avonhill Joiners, Cash n’ Carry Blinds, and Cross Garage, Stonehouse.”

Paul Brogan (43), from Fairhill, who played for Blantyre Celtic, has managed the club for the last five seasons.

He said: “Reaching Hampden has been a great achievement by everyone involved with the club.

“Most of the boys come from a mile or two from the ground.

“Because of the bad weather earlier this year, the team have had a backlog of fixtures.

“They played games on four out of five days last week and are playing three out of four days this week, and they all have full-time jobs.

He added, however: “I believe we can lift the cup if we play to our form.”

lSeats on buses bound for Hampden can be booked through committee members, telephone 07717313006.

HAMPDEN BOUND: the Eddlewood Amateurs semi-final line-up against Leith was: David Cormack, Derek Innes, Sam Kerr, Ross McLaren, Lloyd Callander, Janie Dunbar, Alan Litster, Mark Brown, Alan Barrett, Craig Corns, and Kevin McCrum. The substitutes were Ian Winning, Steven Hunter, Craig McLaren, John Paul Kerr, Alan McKechnie, and Darren Cossar.

MEET THE WAFFS: wives, family and friends of the Eddlewood team will be out in force at Hampden on Sunday.

Written by John Rowbotham

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