Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Colleges Saturday morning football has welcomed plenty of new faces for the 2026/27 season, with clubs adding players from across the amateur game and beyond.
Some arrive with experience. Others are taking their first steps into adult football. All have already given us a reason to take notice.
Here, Footy Focus writer Hugh Dunnit picks out 10 players embarking on their first Colleges Saturday morning football campaign who have caught his eye in the opening weeks of the season.
This isn’t a ranking of the league’s best players.
It’s simply 10 new faces worth watching as the season develops.
Johnny has caught Hugh Dunnit’s eye in the middle of the park, particularly through his involvement in Rutherglen Glencairn’s attacking play and his ability to dictate the tempo.
STR | Brandon Mann | Tollcross AFC
A clever attacker who has caught the eye with his goal threat and ability to cause problems in the final third.
New to the Footy Focus radar following Gladstone Athletic’s arrival in Colleges Saturday morning football, Gray has caught Hugh Dunnit’s eye with his early performances in goal
Parafery has caught Hugh Dunnit’s eye during Vale of Leven’s impressive start, with his tenacious and aggressive style of defending making an early impression.
Halligan has made an immediate impact at Greater Croftpark Rose, scoring twice in his first three games as GCR recorded three consecutive victories.
McGhee brings plenty of experience to Third Lanark’s attack. Hugh Dunnit remembers him scoring goals at U21 level, so seeing the striker still finding the net all these years later comes as little surprise.
Four goals in just 23 minutes on his league debut, despite carrying an injury, made Hamo impossible to ignore. The former Dumbarton U20 striker has made quite an introduction to Colleges Saturday morning football.
Maitland brings serious experience to Colleges Saturday morning football. The central defender is a former Scottish amateur international and captained Oban Saints during last season’s double-winning campaign.
A powerful, quick left-sided player, Fisher has caught Hugh Dunnit’s eye with his work rate and ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch.
Simpson is taking his first steps in adult football after progressing from Pollok United U20s. It’s still early days, but his performances have already been enough to catch Hugh Dunnit’s attention.
Ten players, ten different stories and ten names that have caught my attention during the opening weeks.
Some are experienced players adapting to Colleges Saturday morning football, while others are only beginning their journey in the adult game.
It’s far too early to know where those journeys will lead, but that’s part of the fun of following a new season.
These are my ten for now.
I’m pretty sure they won’t be the last new names to catch my eye.
— Hugh Dunnit
