Abbey Vale started life as an amateur team called Lochvale in 1971. As more players from the village of New Abbey joined the club, it was decided to change the name of the club to New Abbey and move to the village to play their games. However, to maintain their place in the Dumfries Amateur League, the new side had to keep the ‘vale’ part of the name. Joe Robertson, one of the players behind the move, cut a pitch with his tractor and cutter before an inspection by the league committee. They were very impressed with the ground and so, in 1974, Abbey Vale was born.
Although the club had a ground, there were no changing facilities so players had to change in their cars before and after the games.
The very first match to be played on the new ground was a cup tie against one of, if not the best team in the league, Heathhall Hearts. Abbey Vale did not disgrace themselves gaining a draw or a win (no one is really sure which).
During the next few seasons changing rooms were added, courtesy of an old shed then at the local bowling club until the current changing rooms were built in the 1990’s.
The changing rooms are called The David Neil Pavilion, dedicated to the memory of one of the founder players who died tragically young.
At the start of season 2001/2002 the club took a step up in competition by joining the South of Scotland Football League.
During our first season in the South league we also added a Tea Hut where hot and cold refreshments are available. The club is indebted to the three ladies who ran the tea hut, Christine Stenton, Eiledh Stenton and Jean Morton
Around the ground, there are many changes to see. The club has upgraded with new dugouts, separate changing facilities for officials, the changing rooms have been extended, there are fence posts around the pitch and more importantly, the tea hut has been replaced by a spacious lounge, The Ian Sharpe Lounge, named after another founder player who is sadly no longer with us. All this work has been done by the committee and in particular the chairman, Mr. Andrew Brolls, who has done the lion’s share.

We had always been a bottom half team since joining the league, until 05/06. We had made a number of signings in the close season and the team seemed to gel from the start. We kept on winning games and progressing further in the cups than we had in previous seasons. The confidence at the club was rising as the season progressed and up until the last couple of months, we were genuine contenders for the title. But we had a couple of poor results, particularly v Threave who went on to win the title, and we finished the season in third place.

But we won our first, and so far only, cup - The Tweedie Cup on a biterly cold day at New Abbey. We beat Wigtown 2-1 with goals from Scooby-on the stroke of half time, and Toby Copland midway through the second half. Strangely they were the only goals that both players scored that season.
The winning team was : Graham Wright; Garry Smith, Steven Wilby, Mark Little, Adrian Currie; Keith Stenton, Toby Copland, Greig Reid, Hugh Cameron; David Kennedy, Craig Little; Subs: Mark Hay, Stephen Thompson, Paul Wells

Many of these names will be familiar to SOS fans as the team broke up over the close season and the players moved to various clubs.