Latest news with #WullieGibson
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Annan Athletic learn opponents in Premier Sports Cup
Annan Athletic will face Premiership club St Mirren in next season's Premier Sports Cup. The top-flight's sixth-placed side will take on the Galabankies in the 2025/26 group stage. The draw for the competition was made on Wednesday with Annan learning their four opponents in group D. Wullie Gibson's side, newly relegated to Scottish League Two, will also take on Championship duo Ayr United and Arbroath, and League Two rivals Forfar Athletic. 🏆 The Premier Sports Cup group stage draw for 25/26 ✅ Which tie are you most looking forward to? — SPFL (@spfl) May 28, 2025 The meeting with St Mirren will see Annan take on a side who finished in the top half of the top-flight table in 2024/25. Stephen Robinson's Buddies narrowly missed out on a second consecutive season of European football, and went unbeaten in their top-six campaign in the closing weeks of 2024/25. The Galabankies are preparing for life back in League Two after relegation (Image: News & Star) Of Annan's other cup opponents, Ayr finished third in the second tier under Celtic legend Scott Brown, before losing out to Partick Thistle in the Premiership play-off quarter-finals. Arbroath, meanwhile, romped to the League One title to seal a return to the Championship under Colin Hamilton and David Gold. Annan Athletic relegated after play-off final defeat Jim Weir's Forfar were strugglers in League Two, finishing second bottom, above basement boys Bonnyrigg Rose only on goal difference and the Loons narrowly avoiding the need for the play-offs to secure their own status. Dates for the fixtures are yet to be confirmed. They will form the first competitive games for Annan in 2025/26 following their relegation in the end-of-season play-offs. Gibson's side lost to East Fife in the two-legged play-off final to return to the fourth tier after two seasons in League One. Peter Murphy's Queen of the South, meanwhile, will take on Ross County, Partick Thistle, Edinburgh City and Stranraer in group B of the Premier Sports Cup.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Annan Athletic learn opponents in Premier Sports Cup
Annan Athletic will face Premiership club St Mirren in next season's Premier Sports Cup. The top-flight's sixth-placed side will take on the Galabankies in the 2025/26 group stage. The draw for the competition was made on Wednesday with Annan learning their four opponents. Wullie Gibson's side, newly relegated to Scottish League Two, will also take on Championship duo Ayr United and Arbroath, and League Two rivals Forfar Athletic. 🏆 The Premier Sports Cup group stage draw for 25/26 ✅ Which tie are you most looking forward to? — SPFL (@spfl) May 28, 2025 The meeting with St Mirren will see Annan take on a side who finished in the top half of the top-flight table in 2024/25. Stephen Robinson's Buddies narrowly missed out on a second consecutive season of European football, and went unbeaten in their top-six campaign in the closing weeks of 2024/25. The Galabankies are preparing for life back in League Two after relegation (Image: News & Star) Of Annan's other cup opponents, Ayr finished third in the second tier under Celtic legend Scott Brown, before losing out to Partick Thistle in the Premiership play-off quarter-finals. Arbroath, meanwhile, romped to the League One title to seal a return to the Championship under Colin Hamilton and David Gold. Annan Athletic relegated after play-off final defeat Jim Weir's Forfar were strugglers in League Two, finishing second bottom, above basement boys Bonnyrigg Rose only on goal difference and the Loons narrowly avoiding the need for the play-offs to secure their own status. Dates for the fixtures are yet to be confirmed. They will form the first competitive games for Annan in 2025/26 following their relegation in the end-of-season play-offs. Gibson's side lost to East Fife in the two-legged play-off final to return to the fourth tier after two seasons in League One. Peter Murphy's Queen of the South, meanwhile, will take on Ross County, Partick Thistle, Edinburgh City and Stranraer in group B of the Premier Sports Cup.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Annan target packed ground for play-off final showdown
Annan Athletic fans have called for a packed Galabank tonight as they bid for Scottish League One survival. Wullie Gibson's side host East Fife in their play-off final second leg, trailing 3-2 at the tie's halfway mark. The televised showdown with Dick Campbell's side has seen the Annan Athletic Supporters' Club (AASC) do its bit to help fans be Gibson's 12th man. They are paying for each of their members' match tickets, having also covered the cost of the team's coach travel to the first leg. AASC chairman Ross Johnstone said: 'Everything's to play for and it should be a great atmosphere. We need to pack the ground. 'We know it's going to be tough. East Fife are strong and we're missing some key players, but fans can – and will – play their part in spurring the team on by being that proverbial 12th man. 'It will mean everything to fans, players and everyone involved in the club if we were to be successful in maintaining our League One status for another season, then try to build on that. 'We're under no illusion that it's been a hard season, with a lot of injuries to key players, but we're hopeful that we can get the job done. 'Our fans have been great. Paying for our members' tickets on Friday is our way of thanking them for the tremendous support they've shown, home and away. We know it's appreciated by Wullie, his players and everyone at the club.' Annan's 3-2 defeat at Bayview in the first leg saw red cards for Scott Hooper and Layton Bisland. They will be suspended along with player-boss Gibson, who is out of the play-offs through yellow card totting-up. East Fife boss Campbell was also sent from the touchline in the first leg. Annan host East Fife tonight, trailing 3-2 from the first leg (Image: Ben Carmichael) The game is live on BBC Alba and Gibson has hailed the contribution of supporters. 'Our fans have been tremendous all season,' he said. 'They've really got behind me and the team. 'With everything that stands on [tonight's] game, I'm sure they'll turn out in their numbers.' The club's secretary Susan Bryson added: 'Our supporters are brilliant. The atmosphere on Friday should be fantastic. It's a game which means so much to the club and community. Fans turning out in force will make a massive difference to the players. 'We're really grateful to Annan Athletic Supporters' Club for their continued support.' Kick-off at Galabank tonight is 7.30pm. Season tickets are not valid for this fixture, with tickets available via the Fanbase app and the ticket page at as well as on the gate.
Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Annan Athletic fans urged to roar their side on to League One survival
A big crowd is expected at Galabank on Friday night as Wullie Gibson's side aim to see off East Fife. Annan Athletic fans are being urged to roar their side to League One survival. Wullie Gibson's side go into the second leg of the play-off final trailing East Fife 3-2 after Tuesday's feisty affair saw the Black and Golds finishing with just nine men. Annan Athletic Supporters' Club (AASC) is paying for each of its members' tickets for Friday's big match, having also covered the cost of the team's coach travel to the first leg. AASC chairman, Ross Johnstone, said: 'Everything's to play for on Friday. It should be a great atmosphere. We need to pack the ground. 'We know it's going to be tough. East Fife are strong and we're missing some key players, but fans can - and will - play their part in spurring the team on by being that proverbial 12th man. 'It will mean everything to fans, players and everyone involved in the club if we were to be successful in maintaining our League One status for another season, then try to build on that. 'We're under no illusion that it's been a hard season - with a lot of injuries to key players - but we're hopeful that we can get the job done. 'Our fans have been great. Paying for our members' tickets on Friday is our way of thanking them for the tremendous support they've shown, home and away. We know it's appreciated by Wullie, his players and everyone at the club.' Although Friday's game, which kicks off at 7.30pm, is live on BBC ALBA, a huge crowd is expected to turn out at Galabank to support Annan in their bid to secure a third successive season in League One. Club secretary, Susan Bryson, said: 'Our supporters are brilliant. The atmosphere on Friday should be fantastic. It's a game which means so much to the club and community. Fans turning out in force will make a massive difference to the players. 'We're really grateful to Annan Athletic Supporters' Club for their continued support, including stepping up to cover the coach costs this week. The tickets for their members on Friday is a tremendous gesture.' Ahead of the season, AASC pumped more than £20,000 into Annan's playing budget through its Wullie's War Chest fundraiser. Season tickets are not valid for Friday's match and tickets can be bought via the Fanbase app, on the gate and online at
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Football club aims to raise £100,000 with community share issue
Annan Athletic are aiming to raise £100,000 through a new community share issue. The Scottish League One club have announced the major revenue-raising drive as a way of boosting its ambitions on and off the field. Annan hope to raise the ambitious six-figure amount in the next month by offering fans the chance to buy shares in blocks of £5,000 between now and March 22. It is described as the fan-owned club's biggest one-off money-raising drive since the Galabank club became a community benefit society in 2017. Club officials say it is an attempt to reinforce Annan's financial stability as well as help fuel their bid to grow. Chairman Russell Brown said: 'Our fans are the beating heart of Annan Athletic. They are the owners and custodians of our club. "The board, management and players are grateful for their tremendous support, in every possible way. ⬛️🟨 LANDMARK COMMUNITY SHARE OFFER 🟨⬛️ — Annan Athletic FC (@AnnanAthleticFC) February 22, 2025 'This exciting community share offer creates an opportunity for those who wish to invest further in the club - and the wider community - by helping us build a solid base from which our future sustainability and success can develop.' Annan say their business plan includes supporting its SPFL squad to challenge for promotion, as well as helping the club's associated women's, youth, junior, walking and wider inclusive football programmes, along with other community-focused health and wellbeing initiatives. They are also planning upgrades Galabank, including improved parking at the north end of the ground, installing solar panels to make its power supply self-sufficient, expanding changing facilities, improving spectator areas and creating a fan zone. Annan have stressed that the new initiative will not change the club's one member, one vote shareholder governance structure. Community share offer investors will, though, be granted life member status and become part of a new group, Club 1942, named in honour of the year the Black-and-Golds were founded. The offer was opened and unveiled to fans ahead of their 4-3 home defeat to Alloa Athletic last weekend. Wullie Gibson's side are currently eighth in the table ahead of Saturday's trip to Arbroath. Brown added: 'It's no secret that football clubs up and down the country are grappling with financial challenges. Annan Athletic is no different. "It's difficult and we have to manage our budget very carefully. But this share offer will provide us with further stability. 'We want to build on our historic success of securing League One status by progressing further as an SPFL club on the pitch - as well as growing our wider work and ambitions to improve lives through football.' Potential investors can purchase up to a maximum of four community share offer blocks of £5,000 with the option to pay up-front or via an agreed payment plan. Fans can also still become shareholders in Annan Athletic with a £1 stake and a £10-a-year annual payment. More information can be found at or by emailing exec@
