This year marks the 120th anniversary of Winton Rovers Football Club

Its first documented game took place on 15 September 1900 at South Beach. The opponents were Saltcoats Rangers and the match ended in a 2-2 draw. Six weeks later, on 22 November, the same teams met in the first-ever game played at Winton Park. Saltcoats won 4-1.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: An early Winton team, circa 1908.An early Winton team, circa 1908.

At that time, football was unstructured and Winton’s games were ‘friendlies’ mostly against local teams with the occasional journey to Barrhead and Giffnock.

In August 1901, the North Ayrshire Juvenile League was formed. The competing teams were Ardrossan Celtic, Ardeer Thistle, Ardeer Wanderers, Auchenharvie, Irvine Saint Andrew’s, Kilwinning Rangers, Largs Neva, Saltcoats Seaside Rangers, West Kilbride Amateurs and Winton Rovers.

Largs, Wanderers and West Kilbride withdrew soon after and were replaced by Bartonholm Britannia, Kilwinning Eglinton Thistle and Warner.

Winton’s first League game was played on 31 August 1901 at Winton Park. The opponents were local rivals, Ardrossan Celtic who won 4-1. A player from each team was sent off and there was a crowd invasion.

Later that season, Auchenharvie and Warner withdrew and Winton finished sixth of eight clubs. In August 1903, the Juvenile League was replaced by the Junior League with five teams – Beith Juniors, Dalry Juniors, Kilwinning Thistle, Vale of Garnock Strollers and Winton Rovers who won the competition.

Winton’s first strip was blue and white. They wore light blue then red before adopting the familiar black and white hoops towards the end of their first decade.

In 1911, Winton reached the semi-final of the Scottish Junior Cup and repeated the feat in 1934 and 1970, each time losing to the eventual winners.

Apart from the 1960s, Rovers have won at least one trophy in every decade. Their most successful season was 1935-36 when they won the Ayrshire District Cup, Western League Cup, West of Scotland Consolation Cup and the Saint Vincent de Paul Charity Cup.

Winton’s last success was winning the Ayrshire District League in 2015.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: The popular Gala and Fun Day has been cancelled.The popular Gala and Fun Day has been cancelled.

A new League structure was introduced at the start of the 2018-19 season. Winton Rovers joined League One and narrowly missed promotion by finishing fourth in 2019. Their last game was against Troon Juniors on March 7, 2020. After that, football was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic with Winton top of League One.

Winton had plans to mark its anniversary but these have been postponed because of the pandemic. The popular annual Gala and Fun Day in May has also been cancelled in the meantime.

Football will eventually resume and when it does, Winton Rovers will celebrate its special anniversary – so watch this space. The Herald will keep you informed.