DETERMINED Whitletts Victoria manager George Grierson is calling on all football fans in Ayr to rally round the club as they prepare for their biggest match in almost a decade.

Grierson took over the managerial reigns of Ayr’s junior club in January with the team languishing in the lower half of the Ayrshire District League. But since then the club's fortunes have turned around with an impressive 11-match unbeaten league run seeing the club finish the season strongly and earn a play-off position for a place in the West Region Championship next season.

Now Superleague side Maryhill stand between Vics and a place in the second tier of junior football.

The first leg of the two-legged tie will be played at Lochburn Park in Glasgow next Monday, June 11 with the deciding second leg taking place at Dam Park Stadium on Wednesday, June 13, with a 7.45pm kick off.

It will be a massive two games for Vics and Grierson is clear that the club and players are ready to give their all to grasp the opportunity that they have earned

“Since I’ve arrived at the Club, the players have been absolutely magnificent for me” said Grierson, who added: “They are a talented group who for whatever reason, were under achieving but they have knuckled down and worked really hard to give themselves and the Club the opportunity for promotion to the new Championship.

“In many respects I wish it was only the midway point of the season as we’ve been on a fantastic run of form picking up 27 out of a possible 33 points in an 11 match unbeaten run in the league. That is Championship winning form and the only teams that we didn’t manage to beat during that run have both won promotion.”

However Grierson is under no illusions as to the task that awaits his side and is asking for the support of the local community to drive his team to victory.

He said: “I’ve seen Maryhill play and I know their manager was at our game against Dalry on Saturday so we have a good idea of how each other plays. They are a talented football side with Superleague experience and beat Darvel on their last outing so we know that we will have to be at our very best to overcome them. But our players are up for the challenge and we will go into the games against them confident that we can win the tie over the two legs. “I hope that the fact that Whitletts will be at home in the second leg will give us an advantage. The committee are extremely hard-working with a great vision for the Club within the local community, providing free coaching for local kids during the school holidays as well as free coaching sessions during the week.”

“The home support have been fantastic since I came here and it would be great if the local community could come out and give us their backing and be our 12th man to help us overcome Maryhill and win promotion to the Championship on what will be a huge night for the club.”