Post by Sumo on Aug 1, 2009 7:28:39 GMT
Haven't been on here in a while but sad to see the "bashing" my old regime has been getting... 
I wouldn't want other teams thinking we were a shambles before my auld mucker Stan took over the reigns. ;D
I'll be the first to say that my lot were a shower of lazy basts when it came to fund raising (not to mention the training) but they already know that (I told them often enough!). As all managers come to learn... it's about getting your best 11 out on a saturday (and sometimes you're lucky if it even is 11!!).
It's good to see the change of attitude at the club as I belive the numbers are now very good at training. I often turned up for a session only to turn and go home again for lack of bodies.
Pre season was always a different story though. That's when your players need to prove themselves, and you build your fitness base for the season.
It is only amateur football, and the 3rd Div at that, so I found that getting the odd training session in with a core group who regularly turn up, coupled with the fact that you have a typically hard fought 3rd Div game every week, kept the levels up. Quality usually won out over quantity... although the step up to the 2nd requires both!
In my four (almost five) years in charge we had 4 new kits, so we never actually went thread bare! On the pitch we made steady progression too.
In only our second year (04/05) we were narrowly beaten in the Paddy Dunlop Cup Final (promotion play-offs) and won the Sammy Moore for the first time.
In 05/06 we retained the Sammy Moore and were promoted in 2nd place.
06/07 saw that lack of training tell as we were immediately relegated from the 2nd Division and I felt I left a strong squad near the end of the 07/08 season (when my daughter was born ;D ) which Aidy guided into the play-offs.
It's good to see a new broom (I like the badge!) but it's also sad to see the old faces move on -
Beggsy (2nd place 3rd div player of the year 05/06)
Simon Murray (3rd place 3rd Div player of the year 05/06 and prolific goalscorer)
Wee Dale Kirkwood who I see was last year 3rd place player of the year!
Marrsy, Sloany, Orrsy, big Ryan to name a few (all great players in my eyes) and now wee Rab who always popped up with those all important goals (I take it Westend have forgiven you for coming off the bench to put them out of the Sammy Moore semi-final?!! ;D )
And it's good to see Wullie Crockard back! He was a fantastic player for us before and will be again. Let's hope he's still allowed to play after he gets married this month ;D ).
Oh well, that's enough of an essay, but just to say there was a club before and will hopefully be after.
Stan is building something new, so we should concentrate on that and maybe not keep harking back to the shambles (if relatively successful shambles) I ran ;D
Good luck for the new season... Veni, Vidi, Vici!
I wouldn't want other teams thinking we were a shambles before my auld mucker Stan took over the reigns. ;D
I'll be the first to say that my lot were a shower of lazy basts when it came to fund raising (not to mention the training) but they already know that (I told them often enough!). As all managers come to learn... it's about getting your best 11 out on a saturday (and sometimes you're lucky if it even is 11!!).
It's good to see the change of attitude at the club as I belive the numbers are now very good at training. I often turned up for a session only to turn and go home again for lack of bodies.
Pre season was always a different story though. That's when your players need to prove themselves, and you build your fitness base for the season.
It is only amateur football, and the 3rd Div at that, so I found that getting the odd training session in with a core group who regularly turn up, coupled with the fact that you have a typically hard fought 3rd Div game every week, kept the levels up. Quality usually won out over quantity... although the step up to the 2nd requires both!
In my four (almost five) years in charge we had 4 new kits, so we never actually went thread bare! On the pitch we made steady progression too.
In only our second year (04/05) we were narrowly beaten in the Paddy Dunlop Cup Final (promotion play-offs) and won the Sammy Moore for the first time.
In 05/06 we retained the Sammy Moore and were promoted in 2nd place.
06/07 saw that lack of training tell as we were immediately relegated from the 2nd Division and I felt I left a strong squad near the end of the 07/08 season (when my daughter was born ;D ) which Aidy guided into the play-offs.
It's good to see a new broom (I like the badge!) but it's also sad to see the old faces move on -
Beggsy (2nd place 3rd div player of the year 05/06)
Simon Murray (3rd place 3rd Div player of the year 05/06 and prolific goalscorer)
Wee Dale Kirkwood who I see was last year 3rd place player of the year!
Marrsy, Sloany, Orrsy, big Ryan to name a few (all great players in my eyes) and now wee Rab who always popped up with those all important goals (I take it Westend have forgiven you for coming off the bench to put them out of the Sammy Moore semi-final?!! ;D )
And it's good to see Wullie Crockard back! He was a fantastic player for us before and will be again. Let's hope he's still allowed to play after he gets married this month ;D ).
Oh well, that's enough of an essay, but just to say there was a club before and will hopefully be after.
Stan is building something new, so we should concentrate on that and maybe not keep harking back to the shambles (if relatively successful shambles) I ran ;D
Good luck for the new season... Veni, Vidi, Vici!
