2023/24 PREMIER DIVISION REVIEW2023-24 Premier Division Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Kelvindale Town 30 18 4 8 55 32 +23 58 - Champions, IFCF Champions League, Copa de Campeones
2 Drumchapel United 30 16 8 6 53 36 +17 56 - IFCF Challengers Cup
3 North Drumgelloch Athletic 30 17 4 9 51 38 +13 55 - IFCF Challengers Cup
4 Drumry Athletic 30 14 8 8 45 33 +12 50 - IFCF Challengers Cup
5 Red Star Parkhead 30 14 7 9 41 31 +10 49
6 Partizan Castlemilk 30 14 6 10 43 34 +9 48
7 Heart of Clyde 30 14 2 14 43 35 +8 44
8 Firhill AFC 30 13 4 13 38 44 −6 43
9 Charing Cross 30 11 7 12 39 39 0 40
10 Possilpark Celtic 30 12 4 14 45 52 −7 40
11 Coatbridge Town 30 11 6 13 47 52 −5 39
12 Maryhill Town 30 10 8 12 46 46 0 38
13 Carntyne Wanderers 30 8 7 15 42 53 −11 31
14 Halfway 30 8 6 16 34 49 −15 30
15 Partick & Broomhill 30 7 7 16 23 48 −25 28 - Relegated
16 Govanhill Wharf 30 5 8 17 29 52 −23 23 - Relegated
Kelvindale Town are crowned champions as they won their fourth Premier Division - the second in a row. Marcus Faerro's side's first two trophies came in succession back in 2016-17 and 2017-18, and next year they will be hoping to make it three on the bounce rather than losing out again. Veteran striker Andrej Kalashnikov has showed he's still got it as he finished top scorer, but perhaps the keys to their success was the midfield quintet - particularly central midfielder Merlin Slatkin and attacking midfielders Joakim Srna and Fikret Višća. Slatkin was released by the club as an eighteen year old and spent two years in the lower leagues with Darnley FK before being bought back in 2013, and has been an ever present ever since. Srna was poached from rivals Red Star Parkhead in 2017 in a controversial move and helped his new club to the title in his first season, whilst Višća at just 16 is one of the youngest players in the side but perhaps the most exciting. They'll be without veteran captain Fabian Kovac and midfielder Roman Marashov next season as the pair announced they'll retire upon expiry of their contracts at the end of the season, but they'll both be pleased to have capped off their final season with a league win. They'll be missed as the country returns to IFCF football, but have promised fans they'll be in the stands at Ashburton Road as Champions League football comes to Kelvindale next campaign.
Drumchapel United, the most successful Glazgotian club, have fallen off a bit in recent years. A strong campaign, but not strong enough as they missed out on the title by just two points. The key for their regeneration is youth, as their aging side struggled to keep up with the younger, fitter teams in the division. Attacking midfielder Piotr Charters and full-backs David Pettersen and Eyvindur Trochowski could all be considered club legends, but the trio are all 37 and struggled a bit in those more physically-requiring roles. Young #10 Makhan Panesar is a player who the club have high hopes for as he looks set to replace Charters in the starting XI next year, whilst young defensive midfielder Hadžo Medunjanin looks like
the most promising Glazgotian youngster yet. New manager Johan Knockando will be excited to do some work in the transfer market as he looks to give the side a youthful boost, and has promised to win over fans with his style of football. Much better than before, but there's still work to be done if they want to compete with the likes of Kelvindale Town.
For those who aren't as familar with Glazgo, back when they burst onto the multiversal scene so to speak,
North Drumgelloch Athletic were a fresh face in the Premier Division after winning the inaugural Second Division back in 2010/11. They just avoided relegation in their debut season in the top flight, but something changed in the water in Drumgelloch and they've been top four contenders ever since. Few remain from that golden era now, with the likes of goalkeeper Piotr Flowson, striker Artem Mostrom and holding midfielder Niko Strommer still key components of the starting XI, the investment they have made in the community has paid dividends through the academy. Particularly with the Bosnjak ethnic community, where the city of Drumgelloch has one of the largest throughout Glazgo, with a number of talented youngsters working their way through the ranks. Attackers Zahir Mulahalilović and Bakir Hadžiadmirović are an absolute joy to watch, whilst the defensive pairing of Amer Imamović and Abdulah Šećerović have shown the combination of defensive steel and leadership required to make the grade. Watch this space - they pulled off a title win back in 2018/19, and doing it again is certainly a possibility.
Drumry Athletic seemed to come out of nowhere as they finished up in fourth place. With former Drumchapel United manager Pol van der Drum at the helm (what are the odds he'll end up at North Drumgelloch next, as he tries to tick all the boxes of clubs that have "Drum" in the name), they've transformed themselves from a mid-table rarely making the headlines to challengers for the top four - and their hard work has paid off as they secured the final IFCF spot by a mere point, beating Red Star Parkhead to the punch. No real individuals of note, van der Drum has assembled a strong team built on togetherness and determination and it has showed on the pitch, with his team battling valiantly in every game. Veteran playmaker Andre Chekov has inspired over the past ten years since he was plucked from lower league Kilncadzow Wanderers, and the likes of Isaac Flogard and Vladimir Buckley are also fan favourites since they made the switch from Lokomotiv Inverclyde. Like Drumgelloch, the Bosnjak community is thriving and whilst they haven't had as many names make an impact just yet, keep an eye on their youth teams with a handful of players likely to be involved next season.
Red Star Parkhead don't know whether they're up or down. Many thought they'd be Drumchapel United's closest league threat back in the day, but they never really seemed to hit the heights expected of them. New manager Vladimir Stefansson has turned it around this season though. The club legend was previously assistant manager to predecessor Vladimir Frank, but after some dismal performances the board had had enough and fired him at the start of the season. Stefansson took over and changed things up completely, and the new style has won back the fans who were known to leave the ground early as Parkhead flirted with the bottom half in recent years. Like their rivals, youth has been the key with young playmaker Akmal Abbas and midfielders Fiaz Zec and Mirko Helvetica all making a strong impression this season. A new striker is needed with veteran Fabian Haavikko set to retire and backup Petr Glyn-Webb not far behind him, so fans will be hoping Stefansson and the board will make a statement of intent in that department ahead of the new campaign. The trio of Abbas, Zec and Helvetica however will be the winning formula, and the Red Star faithful will hope they can hold onto their prize talents for years to come.
Another team who were once thought to be "up there" was
Partizan Castlemilk. Castlemilk, which has the largest concentration of Glazgotians of Semar descent has understandably always been football-mad. The likes of Valentin McKinnell, Isaac Sand and Max Bundgaard (plucked from lower league Gilshochill Hibernian back in 2016) comprise the Semarland-eligible front three, with captain Emil Kirkkegaard nothing short of a rock at the back. It's not all entirely Semar heritage though, and the club have arguably had one of the highest success rates of lower division players performing successively in the top flight. The aforementioned Bundgaard and Kirkkegaard, midfielders Vladimir Lonnot and Paul Razumovsky, and strikers Piotr Manucharov and Ruslan Bartnev all joined from the lesser leagues and have performed admirably since. It's an effective system and a low-cost one too, with manager Johan Tunnlinn certainly having a good eye for talent. Whether they can keep it up and fight back for their IFCF place that they feel is rightfully theirs is another question though.
Back in 2012, a number of new clubs were formed and added into the league system. The most successful of those is perhaps
Heart of Clyde. Led by former Drumchapel United centre-back Djartan Dunogodetsev, "Hearts" have performed steadily in the top flight bar a brief spell in the Second Division, but also have one GFA Cup to their name. Their captain, goalkeeper Anders Khamidouline was one of the original players, and is part of the key core alongside prior acquisitions midfielder Ibrahim Rashchupkina (Kelvinbridge Wanderers & Gilshochill Hibernian) and former Maryhill Town duo defender Demetrius Clackmannan (who has now announced his retirement) and their star player, forward Eirikur Cederland. Clackmannan and Cederland of course were part of the inaugural Glazgo squad at the Baptism of Fire and led Hearts to a fifth-place finish upon their arrivals in 2017. Fans will probably hope for a bit better than a 7th place finish this season and a better cup run than their exit to Second Division Barlanark United in the opening round, and more pressingly - can they find a centre-back that can match Clackmannan's calibre.
Firhill AFC haven't had the smoothest of rides but they're still standing. At the start of the campaign, fans merely wanted to avoid relegation but they did much better than expected as they grabbed the final top half spot. An aging squad, reinforcements are needed. Their best ever signing was that of former Red Star Parkhead goalkeeper Einar McKendrie, who will no doubt don the #1 shirt for Glazgo internationally, but other than that, there's no one really of note in the team bar midfielder Ellis Press, who's getting on a bit. They struggled in the goals department, failing to break the "40" barrier that the majority of clubs managed to do, and it is likely that area will be the first port of call in the upcoming transfer market. Their academy hasn't produced as much as they'd have liked, but Izmal Barbarez looks the most promising. A few cameos towards the end of the season was enough to get Firhill fans exciting, and many will cross their fingers in the hopes he'll be a part of the starting lineup next season, rather than just a glimmer of hope from the bench.
Charing Cross are maybe the other most successful of the "new clubs". Based on the outskirts of the capital, they've had luck in building up through the academy as they picked up on those missed by the likes of Drumchapel United from the city. Goalkeeper Dermot Ballan, full-back Ermedin Lulić and midfielder Johannes Karlo are all prime examples, along with original players Valentijn Cameron and Dietar Kennington, who failed to make the grade at the city's premier club. They managed to crack the four on their maiden Premier Division campaign, and also won the GFA Cup, but since then they gradually slipped down the league before suffering relegation at the end of 2019/20. Bouncing back up at the first attempt, they merely avoided the drop last season and fans will be pleased they weren't constantly in a relegation battle like before this year. There's a long way to go if they want to reach their original heights, but it's not the wildest of dreams and fans would rather play the waiting game than crash and burn.
Possilpark Celtic were a team that perhaps benefitted from their relegation seven years ago. Upon their return to the top flight they've turned Green Park into a fortress, and whilst they're not really hitting the top half, they're proving to be the pick of the rest. Club legend Gudmundur Soukherman is the man in charge, and he has a dependable enough team that can comfortably avoid relegation. The next step is of course breaking into the top half, and fans want nothing more to be more than just a mid-table club. Evander Slowenski is slowing down a bit up front and a quite a large handful of players will now retire - including the majority of their defence, so now is the best chance for Soukherman to roll the dice for his beloved Celtic and turn them into the best team they can be. Tahir Kurjak, Johan Davidsson and Islam Ibričić are their young academy highlights who they will hope to build their future core around, but with the big clubs lurking around Ibričić they may have to direct their finances towards a new contract for their young starlet to keep those interested at bay.
Coatbridge Town are another of those teams who just seem to be "there". After a yo-yo period between 2011-14 - promotion, relegation, promotion again, they've just stuck around since, never really troubling the top 4 save for one season where they managed to finish third (2020-21, where they also lost out in the GFA Cup Final). Since then, they've done nothing more of note but have always been good enough to avoid the drop by whatever amount. Players wise, they've actually got a good handful of players who could probably play for stronger clubs, such as the likes of Pavel Hjoch and Sergei Sorensen. Sorensen is their key source of goals but has been loyal to the team since joining from Dalmarnock Rovers back in 2014, whilst Hjoch is the creative force in midfield long coveted by the likes of Drumchapel United and Partizan Castlemilk. Loyalty pays off massively with the fans, who have gained a reputation for one of the country's best away supporters. With veteran strikers Njordur Marken and Tobias Karlsen set to retire, fans will hope they can gain adequate reinforcements
and hope that Sorensen's loyalty still continues.
Maryhill Town, like their main rivals Firhill, haven't exactly had a plain-sailing journey themselves, also spending time in the Second Division. Losing their two best players to rivals Heart of Clyde and others to retirement, such as goalkeeper Ivan Gunn and midfielder Eyvindur Pastorek, they've never really gained sufficient replacements and a result have suffered on the pitch. Their right hand side of full-back Artem Tukhbatulin and winger Adrian Toiviainen is still going strong and the duo are arguably the side's best players along with left-sided attacker Ruben Bentsen. But the trio are all approaching 34 years old now and it's time for a refresh - which is a common theme in the majority of Glazgotian clubs. Fortunately for Maryhill fans, the club has a bit of cash to splash in the transfer window, with funds still left over from the Cederland and Clackmannan sales that they never really cashed in on. They'll aim to propel themselves back into the top half and hopefully further, and restore their reputation.
The biggest fall from grace this year was that of
Carntyne Wanderers, who had spent considerable time in the top half before "cracking up" as the season went on. They've already turned to youth, with club legend Radek "The Razor" Allister's son Marek earning the vice-captaincy after establishing himself in the back three. A lack of creativity was their downfall after injuries to Darek Koprev and Erik Malashenko, and even star striker Konstantin Michelsen wasn't himself for most of the season. Worrying times indeed, considering they were just three points off relegation. Big changes are needed at Carntyne Park and fans will expect nothing less than a top half finish next season. Funnily enough, defense is their strong point, with the back three of captain Geir Blazevic, Martijn Shubukin and Allister all formidable and competent defenders. If they want success, they need to keep their key players fit and maybe invest in midfield, with options there (bar Matej Cech) unconvincing to say the least.
Halfway have been one of the more "up and down" clubs in the division since their arrival in 2012, and to their credit, they've seen a lot of their best players leave for other clubs. Their name is an apt one then as they bounce between the top two leagues, "Halfway there" if you will. They're nice enough to watch and always try their best, but perhaps their name has more impact on their fortune than you'd think. They just clinched survival this season, and all but captain Ceir Anderson (signed from AC Levenseat in 2013) are open for moves away. Whether clubs will be rushing to pick them up is another story this year though, as the majority weren't exactly convincing against the better teams in the division. Nevertheless, the effort is there though, and survival this season is better than nothing - maybe they'll keep it up next year.
The biggest shock of the season was
Partick & Broomhill who saw themselves relegated for the first time in their history. After surviving by just goal difference back in 2020/21, that looked to have woke them up with more secure performances in the following seasons. However, it was not enough this year. Only two points behind Halfway, there were plenty of "what if?" moments throughout the season and fans and players alike will be bitterly disappointed that they did not do enough to avoid falling down into the Second Division. Key player Pavel Hesso will surely hand in a transfer request as he reaches the twilight of his playing career, and will hope to have done enough to salvage a spot in the national team. Fans have some comfortat that striker Frimann Olsen and attacking midfielder Yannis Wikborg will stay and help them fight back for promotion, but the duo are also swiftly approaching retirement and they won't be around for long. On paper, they should bounce back up at the first try, but maybe some time in the second tier will do them some good as they can rebuild properly before they return, if they should manage that.
Govanhill Wharf are perhaps
the definitive yo-yo team of recent years, and their performances this year will have not helped them shake that claim as they finished rock bottom. Will they bounce up next year? Probably. Either way, there's work to be done. They'll be without striker Sal Willenstrom, once of Deaconsbank Centurions and Woodside Spartan - and the 37 year old scored over half of their goals this season, an alarming statistic whatever way you look at it. The tall forward will go down as one of the greatest Glazgotians never to play for the national team (as well as the definitive "tall striker" who was one of the worst in the air, and best with his feet), and fans will hope Sander Frohlander is found a good enough replacement as his strike partner. Like fellow relegated side Partick & Broomhill, maybe it's best they have some time down in the second division to rebuild and reboot, and for heaven's sake make up their mind what league they actually want to play in.
2023/24 Second Division Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Dumbreck Steel 30 25 4 1 64 17 +47 79 - Champions, Promoted, IFCF Liga B Champions Trophy
2 Dalmarnock Rovers 30 15 12 3 44 21 +23 57 - Promoted, IFCF Liga B Champions Trophy
3 Woodside Spartan 30 17 5 8 51 28 +23 56 - IFCF Liga B Champions Trophy
4 Garscadden Town 30 13 9 8 27 23 +4 48
5 Port Dundas 30 13 7 10 42 34 +8 46
6 Lokomotiv Inverclyde 30 13 5 12 36 28 +8 44
7 Garthamlock Town 30 11 9 10 36 37 −1 42
8 Kelvinhaugh & Finnieston 30 10 9 11 33 28 +5 39
9 Cowglen Town 30 9 9 12 29 31 −2 36
10 Gilshochill Hibernian 30 9 9 12 29 38 −9 36
11 Muirend Rangers 30 9 8 13 26 37 −11 35
12 Barlanark United 30 8 8 14 33 42 −9 32
13 Ruchazie Athletic 30 9 5 16 29 51 −22 32
14 Ruchill & Lambhill 30 5 13 12 27 40 −13 28
15 Scotstounhill United 30 7 7 16 22 36 −14 28 - Relegated
16 West Calder Athletic 30 5 5 20 24 61 −37 20 - Relegated
2023/24 Third Division Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Greenfield District 30 16 8 6 51 40 +11 56 - Champions, Promoted
2 Pollokshaws FK 30 14 8 8 47 34 +13 50 - Promoted
3 Auchinleck Thistle 30 14 8 8 54 42 +12 50
4 FC1. Rigside 30 12 13 5 38 32 +6 49
5 Cowcaddens Academical 30 13 8 9 43 36 +7 47
6 Barrachnie Town 30 12 10 8 37 29 +8 46
7 Darnley FK 30 12 10 8 46 40 +6 46
8 Thornliebank 30 10 10 10 41 38 +3 40
9 Thorntonhall 30 10 7 13 39 50 −11 37
10 Carstairs Town 30 8 12 10 38 37 +1 36
11 Kelvinbridge Wanderers 30 10 6 14 38 42 −4 36
12 AFC Yoker 30 8 11 11 37 40 −3 35
13 Easterhouse 30 7 10 13 43 54 −11 31
14 Deaconsbank Centurions 30 7 9 14 45 58 −13 30
15 Priesthill Mechanical 30 6 10 14 41 54 −13 28 - Relegated
16 Blochairn Town 30 5 12 13 38 50 −12 27 - Relegated
2023/24 North Conference Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Wyndford United 30 19 9 2 58 32 +26 66 - Champions, Promoted
2 Kilncadzow Wanderers 30 15 10 5 54 38 +16 55
3 Midcalder Athletic 30 16 6 8 53 38 +15 54
4 Provanmill United 30 13 6 11 41 36 +5 45
5 Temple Industrial 30 12 8 10 46 42 +4 44
6 Overnewton United 30 10 11 9 46 39 +7 41
7 Lilybank Athletic 30 11 8 11 45 39 +6 41
8 AC Levenseat 30 11 8 11 44 41 +3 41
9 Hamiltonhill United 30 11 7 12 38 41 −3 40
10 Barmulloch St. Bjorn 30 10 9 11 37 41 −4 39
11 IFK Broomhouse 30 10 7 13 41 42 −1 37
12 G31 Newbank 30 10 7 13 38 47 −9 37
13 Yorkhill Church 30 10 6 14 45 52 −7 36
14 Rapid Calton 30 8 11 11 39 43 −4 35
15 Possilpark South Side 30 6 7 17 33 57 −24 25
16 Budhill Town 30 6 4 20 40 70 −30 22
2023-24 South Conference Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Househillwood 2003 30 16 11 3 53 29 +24 59 - Champions, Promoted
2 Carmunnock United 30 16 7 7 56 36 +20 55
3 Strathbungo United 30 14 9 7 45 34 +11 51
4 King's Park 30 15 6 9 48 42 +6 51
5 Kinning Park Rangers 30 14 5 11 38 40 −2 47
6 FC Hurlet 30 11 12 7 50 46 +4 45
7 Simshill Rovers 30 12 6 12 49 53 −4 42
8 Hutchesontown United 30 10 10 10 44 40 +4 40
9 Roughmussel Maritime 30 11 6 13 41 42 −1 39
10 Mosspark Club 30 10 9 11 45 51 −6 39
11 Mount Florida 30 9 9 12 41 40 +1 36
12 Ibrox FK 30 9 9 12 37 46 −9 36
13 Carnwadric Athletic 30 8 9 13 43 48 −5 33
14 FC Shotts 30 6 11 13 35 45 −10 29
15 Corkerhill AC 30 7 8 15 33 46 −13 29
16 Dechmont Town 30 5 7 18 28 48 −20 22