Balloch Juveniles Set to Return to 11-A-Side Football — With Carson Legacy Steering the Rebirth
Balloch, August 2025 — After almost half a century out of competitive 11-a-side football, Balloch Juveniles Football Club is excited to announce that its 2013s team will make the club’s long-awaited return. Spearheading the revival is Joe Carson Jr., son of former Motherwell great Joe Carson, linking a cherished local football legacy with a bright future for the next generation.
From Legends to the Next Generation
The Balloch name has deep roots in Scottish football. Joe Carson Sr., formerly of Motherwell, Arbroath, and Partick Thistle, played over 425 league games between 1972 and 1988, and earned the affectionate nickname “Big Joe” for his towering presence on the pitch.
Now, Joe Carson Jr. is carrying that legacy forward, helping re-establish Balloch Juveniles with the ambition to reconnect local youth with competitive football.
Joe Carson Jr. says: “Balloch Juveniles were a force in the 60s, 70s and 80s, and we want to give young people the chance to wear the badge proudly again. For us, it’s about more than football — it’s about community, discipline, and giving the kids a pathway to develop.”
A Club Reborn, A Future in Play
Balloch Juveniles were once renowned fixtures in the local youth football scene, but faded from operation during the early 1980s. The club’s resurgence was recently supported by sponsors like Dawson-WAM, who celebrated the return of the Balloch badge and its potential to nurture young players anew. dawsonwam.co.uk
Adopting a modern approach, the club has assembled a coaching team of UEFA-licensed instructors, promotes an “all coach, no parent” policy, as the get set for a full return to 11-a-side competition. This return will mark Balloch’s re-entry into competitive football after nearly fifty years.
“Having my dad associated with the old Balloch Juveniles, and now being able to carry that into the next generation, means a lot,” says Carson Jr. “We’re proud of where we’ve come from—and even prouder of where we’re going.”
So when the whistle goes this season, it won’t just be another debut. It will be a hand-off between eras: from the Balloch sides that last played competitive 11s almost half a century ago to a new crop carrying the badge forward. The 2013s are not only playing for points — they’re playing for a place in the town’s sporting story.