It’s a trip to Xcite 3G in Linlithgow on Friday night for Les Atkinson’s Under 20s where they take on Linlithgow Rose in Round 12 of their Development League season.

Last week’s battling win against the Wasps opens up a double-digit gap between the sides with Kelty Hearts remaining in second spot with a game in hand.  Missing the clash will be defender Calum Malcolm who serves a suspension as a result of his red card against Alloa.

Friday’s hosts have had a challenging season thus far which sees them four points adrift at the foot of the table however there will be absolutely no room for complacency within the visitor’s camp ahead of the 7.45pm KO.

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Another away day awaits Douglas Samuel’s side on Saturday who return to SPFL 2 action after a securing a semi final berth in the EOS City Cup last weekend.

Trips to New Dundas Park have offered up drama and goals in pulsating encounters between two Clubs who have both achieved successful journeys via the pyramid pathway to reach this level.

Last season, Spartans debut campaign in League 2 saw a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw in the first away day, with Marc McNulty and Blair Henderson netting in a midweek clash in the February freeze.

Our last visit to EH19 was settled by a sublime 25 yard half-volley from Blair Henderson as Spartans earned a vital three points as they jockeyed for a promotion play-off place.

Saturday’s game kicks-off at the traditional 3.00pm time slot.  Entry at gate cash/card: Adults (17-65) £15 / Concessions over 65s/disabled carer £10 / Youth (12-16) £5 Children under 12 free with paying Adult.

Our visitors have produced a handy guide to digest for travelling supporters.  https://www.bonnyriggrosefc.co.uk/a/match-information-for-william-hill-league-2-fixtures-64582.html

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It’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Sunday for Jack Beesley’s side at Ainslie Park where the visitors are Glenrothes Strollers in the 3^rd Round.

Whilst Spartans enter the tournament at this stage courtesy of their SWPL 1 standing, Strollers, who sit top of SWFL East have already defeated Dyce (12-0) and Giffnock (1-0) in the search for silverware.

Beesley’s squad – the youngest in SWPL 1 – will be keen to get back into action following the International Break.  Tartan Spartans Cacee McKenna and Olivia Chomczuk were in Hungary on Scotland u19s duty too, with the squad securing progress to Round 2 in EURO qualifiers.

Hannah Jordan will also be looking at continue her fine run of form which saw her shortlisted for the Player of the Month award for November.

Kick-off is 1.00pm. PATG (cash & card) available. £8 adult/ £5concession, U16’s free or you can purchase tickets via Fanbase app.

It’s Combined Challenge Cup time for the Under 20s on Friday night at Ainslie Park and what a fantastic fixture in store to kick off the weekend!

The 2^nd round tie against Armadale Thistle 20s puts two undefeated sides head to head in a competition that Spartans last won two seasons ago.

Visitors Armadale sit second top of the East of Scotland Development League West Division having won 8 and drawn 3 so far, with an eye for goal in the process, netting 40 times.  For Les Atkinson’s Spartans, they head into the game with a League campaign record showing 9 wins and a solitary stalemate.  Just four goals have been conceded during that time, with some 39 recorded at the other end.

Kick-off is 7.45pm.  Free entry.

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Staying at Ainslie Park, Douglas Samuel’s side return home for the first time this month where they face Stirling Albion in the only SPFL match in the Capital on Saturday.

Boosted by a first win on the road last week in Forfar, Spartans will be keen to build on the momentum offered by gaining three points on their travels.

Defender Kieran Watson, who played his hundredth game for the Club at Station Park said, “Everybody to a man played brilliantly, from the starting XI to the boys on the bench.  We kept to the Gaffer’s tactics, picked up a clean sheet and hopefully we can kick-on from there and get another three points on Saturday.”

The Binos month so far has seen a 1-1 draw with East Fife along with quite the game last week against Peterhead at Forthbank that saw two penalties for the visitors who came from behind to perfect the comeback and 13 bookings of which one turned red which sees Aaron Weir miss the trip to North Edinburgh.

Kick-off is 3.00pm.  Adults: £17, concessions (16-18 & o65) £12, Youth (13-15) £5.  Tickets can be purchased in advance via Fanbase (pay at the gate also available).

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It’s a hat-trick of home matches come Sunday lunchtime as Spartans Women return to action after the International break and take on Montrose.

Victory for Jack Beesley’s side would see them close the gap in the middle of the SWPL 1 table on Partick and Motherwell who meet each other at Petershill Park.

Spartans form has been on the up as the season has progressed as the talented group of young players continue to bond under Beesley and would be boosted even further with a bumper turnout on Sunday by a noisy home support.

Kick-off is 1.00pm.  PATG (cash&card) available £8 adult/ £5concession, U16’s free or via Fanbase app.

What a weekend instore for the trio of Spartans senior clubs with three fantastic fixtures to whet your appetite.

Friday night under the lights at Ainslie Park sees the free-scoring Under 20s come up against senior opposition in the shape of EOS second division side Kennoway Star Hearts in a friendly fixture.  It’s sure to be a tough test for Les Atkinson’s young team who continued to be the pacesetters in the Lowland Development League.  Kick-off is 7.45pm.

Its an early start for Douglas Samuel’s SPFL 2 men who make the 330 mile round trip to Peterhead as they look to get back to winning ways at Balmoor Stadium.  Last time out the sides shared the spoils in a goalless draw at Ainslie Park however they were certainly no strangers with each other last season when they met no fewer than seven times in our debut campaign. 3.00pm Kick-off.

Back from the International break that saw Scotland gain back-to-back victories over Hungary with former Ainslie Park goalie Eartha Cumings between the sticks, Jack Beesley’s Spartans Women go into a crucial clash against Queen’s Park as they look to build on recent momentum that has seen them win three out of the last four SWPL 1 fixtures.  A lunchtime 1.00pm meeting.

Whatever game you go to, get behind your Spartans team.  We are together, that’s what counts.

This weekend sees The Spartans join clubs across the country taking part in the Show Racism the Red Card Scotland campaign.

The action kicks off at Ainslie Park on Friday night with a Friendly for our Under 20s against their Haddington Athletic counterparts in a change to the previously scheduled fixture. 7.45pm KO.

Following the withdrawal of Arniston Rangers u20s, this means a walkover into the 2nd Round of the Combined Challenge Cup.

Les Atkinson’s side remain top of the Lowland Development League after another 2-0 win, this time against East Fife – the third consecutive winning scoreline in a row and a sixth clean sheet in eight league games.

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Saturday afternoon sees The Spartans back at home after their recent away day escapades.

Heading to Ainslie Park are Elgin City for the latest instalment in our second season in the SPFL.

After a couple of challenging results, Douglas Samuel will be looking to rally his troops for a positive response in front of a noisy home support for what promises to be another engaging encounter against one of the league’s in-form teams.

The sides met in a midweek share of the spoils last time out a month ago, last weekend’s Malt and Hops Man of the Match Lewis Ritchie scoring his first goal for the club in the draw at Borough Briggs.

Tickets can be bought in advance from Fanbase: https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=6060 and pay at the gate is also available for this 3.00pm KO.

SPFL 2 fixtures: Bonnyrigg Rose v Edinburgh City, Forfar Athletic v East Fife, Stirling Albion v Clyde & Stranraer v Peterhead 

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In the final senior Spartans game of the weekend, it’s a visit to New Douglas Park for Jack Beesley’s side who take on Celtic on SWPL 1 duty.

With the impending changes to the number of participants in next season’s SWPL 1, our largely rebuilt Women’s team have helped their position in the first round of fixtures by picking up nine points from games against the other bottom 5.

It’ll be another tough encounter against a Celtic side who have recently qualified for the Group stages of the Champions League.  

One positive from this is that all the SWPL 1 teams get a ‘solidarity payment’ for the Champions League and Celtic’s advancement in the tournament will boost the payment distributed at the end of the season.

Kick off at New Douglas Park is 2.00pm 

There’s one EF and two EH fixtures to take in this weekend for The Spartans and we preview what’s in store for the three sides in our weekly preview.

First up on Friday night under the lights are Les Atkinson’s Under 20s who welcome East Fife to Ainslie Park in Development League action.

Last week saw the young Spartans side in impressive form against Stirling Uni with a 0-2 win on the road, with Euan McEvoy-Folland and Archie Wylie appearing on the scoresheet together for the third week in a row.  The victory extended their unbeaten run fourteen games and a shot at the top of the league table however the boys from Bayview will undoubtedly be keen to build on their League Cup win over Linlithgow last time out.

Kick-off is 7.45pm.

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Saturday sees the lunchtime kick-off at Meadowbank in the rescheduled encounter against Edinburgh City.

The inaugural SPFL 2 fixture will see the clubs having met in three different league set-ups, beginning with the East of Scotland League in 1986/87 before progressing into the Lowand League as part of their respective journeys through the pyramid system.

There may be five league places between the sides as the look ahead to the earlier 1.00pm kick-off slot, however just five points separate the sides in what is shaping up to be yet another incredibly competitive competition.

The hosts have been involved in a couple of late dramas in recent weeks whilst look to get back to winning ways after drawing 1-1 at Clyde.

You can buy your tickets via Fanbase in advance however there is also a pay at the gate option too. https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/ChooseQuantity?ticketId=4222&fixtureId=6250

Spartans supporters should access Meadowbank Sports Centre via the entrance located at the east of the ground – closest to the community astro pitch.

Sections A&B of the stand will be designated for away supporters.

Remember – a 1.00pm KO!

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The weekend comes to a close back at Ainslie Park where Jack Beesley’s side look to build on back to back SWPL 1 league victories against Aberdeen and Dundee United when they lock horns with Hibernian.

A brace from Hannah Jordan last Sunday ensured her side left Dundee with full points and it earned the Spartans striker a place in the SWPL Team of the Week.

Beezer will be looking for Jordan to pick up where she left off as his side look to earn the bragging rights in a fixture that’s been keenly fought since the sides first met back in October 2008 when Spartans came out on top 5-3 in the League Cup Semi Final.

Tickets can be purchased in advance via Fanbase or alternatively, you can pay at the gate.  https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Fixtures?clubId=96

It’s a hat-trick of Spartans away days this weekend as our teams go on the road in search of full points in their respective league campaigns.

On Friday night, our Under 20s head to Gannochy Sports Complex where they take on old adversaries Stirling University.  It’s the fifteenth meeting between the two sides in all competitions with Les Atkison’s young team edging the head-to-head with 7 wins to 5, with two draws – both during the 2022/23 campaign.

After six league games, Spartans lead the table from Kelty courtesy of a superior goal difference tally, with 27 goals scored and a defensive record of four clean sheets and only two breaches thus far.

Kick-off is 7.45pm.  Free entry.

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Douglas Samuel will be looking to pick up a win on the road which could propel his side back into the top four come 4.45pm on Saturday as he takes his charges to New Douglas Park to take on Clyde.

Last season saw the sides share the spoils on no fewer than three out of the four SPFL2 fixtures in a year that offered contrasting fortunes for the clubs.

Spartans were to take the upper hand in the other clash at Saturday’s venue last November, with Cammy Russell netting on the rebound after Blair Henderson crashed his effort off the bar before a Clyde Own Goal doubled the lead.  Peter Grant halved the deficit after the break however it was the tourists who headed home with the three points.

Both clubs will be keen to avoid any share of the points as they look to kick-start their campaigns in what is shaping out to be yet another fiercely competitive league.

Kick-off at New Douglas Park, Hamilton is 3.00pm.

Tickets for the game can be purchased here: https://clydefc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/clyde_v_the_spartans__5th_october_2024__spfl_william_hill_league_2

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It’s a visit to the City of Discovery for Jack Beesley’s Women’s team who will be keen to build on their 3-1 win over Aberdeen last time out in the SWPL 1 when they shape up against Dundee United at Foundation Park.

A spirited performance last week in the Sky Sports Cup away to Partick saw them edged out by the odd goal in five and along with that showing, two wins in their last three league games will give skipper Robyn McCafferty renewed confidence.

It’s a congested table outside the top five with just 5 points separating sixth place Partick from second bottom Aberdeen.  And whilst Sunday’s opponents may find themselves currently four points adrift at the foot, they will be familiar with the threat that former Spartan Katie Frew can offer.

Kick-off at Foundation Park is 4.00pm.  Admission Adults £7 Concessions £3.