GOTB AFC - Mid Season Review

The 2025/26 season marks GOTB AFC's fourth season in the Glasgow and District Sunday Football League (GDSFC), which has grown to become the largest Sunday League football setup in Scotland. Following back-to-back promotions in our first two seasons, we secured safety in the GDSFC Premiership last season, cementing our place as on of the premier teams in Glasgow.

Personally, I had to take a step back this year solely into a management role since suffering a severe knee injury in February 2025. I am delighted to be on the mend after surgery in January 2026 and I cannot wait to join my teammates back on the pitch in due course. However, I could not have continued in my role without the support from my committee and all the players. I would especially like to thank my assistant manager, Andrew McNee, as well as my captain and vice captain Scott Wilson and Matthew Houston. They have been instrumental in pushing the club forward in my periods of absence and taken a lot of weight from my shoulders when times have been tough.

We started this season looking to make a step forward and challenge some of the mid-table teams who finished above us last season and we felt we're at a similar level to ourselves. Every week in this league is a tough game so no 3 points can be taken for granted. Nothing emphasises this point more than the start of our season, wherein we lost our first 5 matches and we were conceding a number of goals each week. This was a reality check that reminded us the standard of the league was very high and we would need to perform to our best every week to guarantee results.

Despite a poor start to the season, I have to commend our players for the way they have turned things around in the past few months. Since the start of November, we have only lost 1 game in 8 matches and have gained 10 points from a possible 15 in the league. Most impressively, we have racked up wins against the current league champions Castlemilk Community and the current West of Scotland Cup holders Maryhill Milan. These performances and results have shown that, on our best days, we can compete with and beat the best Sunday League teams in Scotland. We need to continue this form into the second half of the season, as our recent form has taken us off the foot of the table and we are now in touching distance of the teams we identified as rivals at the start of the year.

In terms of cup competitions, we have a huge tie in the Last 16 of the West of Scotland Cup coming up against North End FC, a fellow Premiership team. We also have a Last 32 tie in the League Cup against Easterhouse FA which we will be hoping to progress. More than anything, we want to finally add a trophy to thee GOTB cabinet to evidence the fantastic work the club has done over the past 8 years. The development of the club, with the backing and support from FPF, is a phenomenal achievement and would not be possible without this backing.

However, what makes me happiest about GOTB AFC is the fantastic group of players we have got together, from all ages and backgrounds. Despite any inherent differences, the dressing room has a real tight-knit feeling to it - the players want to play for and with each other. We have a number of young players in their early 20s who we are seeing grow in ability and confidence every week which has been especially encouraging. We also have some GOTB stalwarts who have been with the club for 5+ years who really embody the ethos of the club. Even when we are losing, I am happy to be losing with a great group of guys who have the best interests of the group and the club at heart. 

We are extremely excited for the second half of this season, with the objective of continuing to climb the table and achieved a strong league position as well as progress as far as possible in the cups. Hopefully I'll be writing at the end of the season about a cup triumph and a trophy parade... Mon the Baw! 🟢🔴🟡

Michael Cotter

Club Director of Glasgow On the Ball