Saltcoats Victoria (Scotland)

Saltcoats Victoria FC

Ground: Campbell Park

Capacity: 2,000

Club Founded: 1889

League: West of Scotland League Fourth Division - 10th Tier (current level)

Located on the coast, Saltcoats Victoria FC battle with the elements as well as opponents, with the proud club continuing in the SFA setup after reverting from being a non-league outfit in the SJFA.

A Brief History of Saltcoats Victoria FC

Early Years as Leading Ayrshire Lights

The club were originally formed in 1889, becoming members of the Scottish Junior FA, before being re-formed in 1911. Victoria were crowned as Ayrshire District League champions in 1923-24. They went on to lift the Scottish Junior Cup the following season, as St Anthony’s were defeated 2-1 after extra time in the final. 

The club followed this with three more Ayrshire League titles before winning the league once more after World War II. The success came in the same season as their West of Scotland Cup win.The trophy was retained and more honours added before a period of decline.

Hard Times 

Many houses around Campbell Park were demolished, so crowds dropped. However, gates of over 3,000 turned out as Saltcoats reached the Junior Cup quarter-finals on a couple of occasions in the 1970s. Unfortunately, the grounds’ Grandstand was destroyed in a severe storm around this period.

The changing rooms below it remained in use until prefabricated buildings replaced them. After the Seasiders lifted the Ayrshire League Second Division title in 1992-93, Victoria shared with local rivals Ardeer Athletic for three years. New vandal-proof changing huts were installed, enabling the club to return home.

Recent Years

Victoria consolidated when they returned home, finishing ninth in the final season of the Ayrshire District League in 2017-18 under team boss Bryan Slavin, when the competition was absorbed into the West Region league.

Saltcoats were placed in the Third Division of the West of Scotland League for the 2022-23 campaign, in which they were relegated to the tenth tier of Scottish football. Stevie Wilson arrived as manager, hoping to correct the slide. 

My visit

Sunday 29th September 2013

It was a beautifully bright but windy morning on the North Ayrshire coast. I was in great form as I was seeing new and interesting places. My Daytripper ticket was doing me proud as I went about my quest of calling in at as many Junior clubs as possible. I got off the bus from Ardrossan on Canal Street, quickly realising that it was a stop too early. 

My iPhone map App soon put me right as I skirted along the side of the golf course, went past a factory and walked through the open gate of Campbell Park. A man was upgrading the changing rooms with his young daughter in attendance. Like the vast majority of folk I come across, he was more than happy to let me take my photos. 

He agreed with my point about how cold it must be at the ground in the middle of winter. Only a railway and a road separated the arena from the sea. It was little wonder that the stand was destroyed. Campbell Park was a very basic venue. Ship containers were used for the club facilities at the town end. 

A small cover stood on the area backing onto the seaside, but apart from that, the ground consisted of a few steps, hard standing and grass. All were without shelter. I told the man that I was thinking of walking to the next town, Stevenston, about a mile up the coast, to visit the home of Ardeer Thistle FC.

He was most helpful, directing me to a footpath by the side of the golf course to save time. Again, like many clubs, Saltcoats did not boast lavish facilities, but the welcome more than made up for it. If I were ever to visit for a match, the hat and gloves would definitely be on my list of necessary items!