Club History
31 Dec 2008

Craigneuk Amateur's were formed in April 1995 by current Club President, Scott Isaac and ex-player Franny McCafferty. Originally the club were formed to help get the youth of Craigneuk off the streets due to the number of young player's locally who were interested in being part of organised football. Initially the pair were unsure of whether join a Saturday or Sunday League. However after recruiting two experienced amateur players from Craigneuk, John McCafferty (Franny's father) from Gowkthrapple Amateurs and Frank McLauchlan from Gowkthrapple Thistle, it was decided that saturday football was the best option. Craigneuk Amateurs joined the Lanarkshire A.F.A and their first season was to be season 1995/1996. Craigneuk were managed by Frank McLachlan and played their home matches at Stalker Street in Craigneuk formerly the home of Shieldmuir Celtic, better known as the "Humph" and this proved to be beneficial for the club as they were undefeated at home in their first season. The pinnacle of that first season was in reaching the final of the Hannigan Trophy after they beat Glenmavis Dynamo in a nail biting penalty shoot-out. Ultimately they lost the final to The Mill 3-1 after extra -time at Loch Park, Carluke in front of a large Craignuek following.

Indeed there was to follow cup final heartache for the club over the next four years as the club lost in the Divisional Cup Final each year.

Craigneuk managed to break their cup final hoodoo in 2001 when they beat Larkhall Thistle 4-0 in the J.C. Wilson Trophy Final at Loch Park, Carluke. Goals from Alan Mooney, Derek Harkin, John Docherty and John McGhee saw Craigneuk lift their first trophy. Included in the Craigneuk side that night were current Team Captain Stephen Rooney and current Club Secretary, Gary Leary who won the Man of the Match in that final after pulling off several excellent saves in the final.

During the first seven seasons of the club, Craigneuk flirted with promotion races but never seemed quite able to make the step up to higher divisions.

At the start of 2002/03 season Craigneuk was to undergo a managerial change when club coach Jim Mckeown stepped up to become manager of the football team. Jim had played at the highest level of the amateur games, indeed he has won all the major honours in the Lanarkshire AFA as well as brief spells in both the Senior and Junior ranks. Over the next two years Jim changed the team around, moving on some of the older players and also bringing in some experienced players from clubs such as Colville Park and Wellhouse. His first season saw the club being defeated in the Belfast Shield final versus CDC amateurs. Season 2003/04 saw Craigneuk reach the Lanarkshire Cup final at New Douglas Park, the most prestigious tournament in the Association, although they lost out 5-2 to Premier League champions Carluke Hearts, with former palyer Steven Ferguson scoring twice. It was at this time that the club felt let down by the Lanarkshire Association as they were supposed to take part in a Play-Off with Overtown Hearts to see if Craigneuk would go into the Premier Division, or if Overtown would be relegated, Amazingly the Lanarkshire Executive Committee decided to set aside it's own constitution and rules at the time, scrap the play-off's and retain the staus quo in terms of league placings for the following season.

This sense of injustice seemed to focus the club for the following league season ahead. In a tough league section including Shotts Victoria, North Motherwell and Sheddens, Craigneuk managed to go through the season losing only once and drawing once in 22 league matches to claim the league title. The club almost completed the league and cup double but lost 4-3 to Shotts Vics at Hannah Park where they found themselves 4-0 down at half-time, however only a maginficent save in the last minute stopped the Champions from a remarkabe comeback. This season saw Davie Moon break the 50 goal barrier upfront for them in the second successive season.

At this point in time Craigneuk have had a number of people involved for over ten seasons, including president Scott Isaac, Club Secretary Gary Leary (as a player and manager). On the playing side several players have played ten seasons with the club including ex-captain Keith McMahon, Graham Rusk, Paul Wilson and from the current playing squad Team Captain Stephen Rooney. There are also a number of players such as Davie Moon, the clubs all-time leading goalscorer, with in over 150 goals, Darren Phillips,Craig Mcgowan and Paul Hepburn who have been with the club for a long time, whilst still relatively young.

The club has always prided itself on spotting young players and nurturing them. Craigneuk are proud of their local roots and although now the club is open to all players there is still a strong base from Craigneuk within the club through both the committee and players. Initially the club was run in conjunction with the Craigneuk Colts boys club's, this has ceased at this time, however the club would like to resurrect this highly succesful club in the future.