Johnstone Burgh (Scotland)

Johnstone Burgh FC are a Scottish Junior or ‘non league’ football club based in the community of Johnstone, which lies twelve miles west of Glasgow in the county of Renfrewshire. The football club were formed in 1956 as the conurbation grew to replace the long-lost former Scottish League club of Johnstone FC. 

This followed an article in the Johnstone & Linwood Gazette newspaper to see the reaction of locals to the idea. Since their formation, ‘Burgh’ has played at Keanie Park, named after James Y Keanie, the builder who donated the land. The club soon progressed and lifted the coveted Scottish Junior Cup in 1963-64 after a replay with Cambuslang Rangers.

The victory came under the management of Jimmy Blackburn. The feat was repeated in 1967-68 again after a replay, this time against Glenrothes, with Hugh Gilshan scoring the winning goal under manager Peter Donald. 

Three Central League championships and a couple of West of Scotland Cups were added during this halcyon period for Burgh. Bobby Dick and Alan Donohoe were leading players of the day, who are still revered by the club and its supporters. 

After a quiet period in the club's history, they returned to the Junior Cup Final of 1999-00. Burgh eventually lost 4-3 on penalties to Whitburn after the game had finished 2-2 after extra time. Colin Lindsay was one of the goalscorers before he would later go on to have a spell as manager of the side. 

The 2001-02 season saw Johnstone crowned as Central League Premier Division winners, as well as lifting the Evening Times Cup. Burgh suffered relegation but won the Central League Division Two in 2009-10. Around this plans were announced to relocate the club to the more central Thomas Shanks Memorial Park owing to poor drainage at Keanie Park. 

Another promotion came in 2012-13 as Burgh finished in third place in the Central District Second Division. Jamie McKim would become manager of the side, taking them to seventh place in Division One in the 2015-16 season, with the club joining the rest of the SJFA ranks in heading to the SFA West of Scotland League in the summer of 2020.

Their finish in Conference A in 2021-22 saw Burgh being placed in the First Division for the following season. After finishing seventh, a consortium, including someone with a long family connection with the club, bought Johnstone Burgh in July 2023, with big plans on the back of signing former Rangers star Kyle Lafferty.

Promotion to the Premier Division followed in 2023-24, before Murdo McKinnon was appointed as manager, with Graham Dorrans and other players with high-end Scottish League experience being signed. Burgh defeated Tranent to lift the Junior Cup for a third time while also finishing third in the league in 2024-25.

Off the pitch, big plans were announced for the redevelopment of Keanie Park, including new floodlights, an artificial pitch, along with facilities for the whole of the local community to enjoy.

An artist's impression of the redeveloped Keanie Park

Johnstone Burgh FC will play in the West of Scotland Premier Division in the 2025-26 season.

My visit

Monday 30th September 2013

I was in Glasgow for a couple of days exploring the city and the surrounding areas, along with many of the Junior football clubs on offer. As expected, I was not disappointed with the traditional venues that I had come across. My next train ride had been from Dalry to Johnstone.

As I departed the station, I climbed uphill, with the directions on my iPhone working a treat. I was quite surprised to climb the Auchenlodment Road in search of the ground. However, I was bang on target, and I soon arrived outside Keanie Park, where a gentleman had come out of what looked like the back of a stand and was inspecting the overgrowth over the perimeter wall.

I went across and asked if it was possible to have a look inside the ground. What followed is exactly why I love grassroots football. Rocky took me inside what turned out to be the club's headquarters and gave me a full guided tour. 

I believe that he was, in fact, John Rock, the club chairman. He explained that the old building had been destroyed in the sixties and the current structure had been purchased from Maryhill Barracks and then gradually divided into the several rooms it had on my visit.

I was taken into the changing rooms, the director's room, and a storage area where a magnificent large photo of the victorious day at Hampden in 1964 adorned the walls. Rocky told me that there were over 50,000 at the game. After a full tour, my new friend opened the door that led out onto the playing area.

Keanie Park was like many Junior venues. There was a large covered standing area on the far side and a smaller one in front of the large building, along with the dugouts. The rest of the ground consisted of large areas of shallow grass banking. I was told that over 15,000 had once attended in the sixties for a clash against near neighbours Greenock Morton.

We went back inside with Rocky concluding a wonderful few minutes by kindly digging out a few old match programmes. It was so nice to see a man so proud in his club and equally delighted that a genuine fan had been bothered to call in. 

At first, he had wondered if I’d been there before. He explained that a fellow ‘hopper’ had gained access over a far wall and then written to apologise. Rocky was delighted that they had made the effort and was happy to help anyone.

I walked back down to the station to take a train back to Glasgow Central with a huge smile with my faith in human nature greatly enhanced.

This page is dedicated to John Rock.