It has happened before but I don’t think it has this season. All 3 adult teams won today and it feels good!

The morning team have had an up and down season and came through with an excellent 5 v 4 win today. I am sure the match report will be well worth reading. The 2nd team had a good 3 v 1 win away too. The guys were up against it as their terrible disciplinary record and injuries meant that they were very short of players. However a makeshift strikeforce of Simon and Paul Clinton (yes really) together with an afternoon cameo from wee Alec; led to a good win.

A tough game for us against a strong Dumbarton side ended in a 4 v 2 win, which gave us our 5th league win in a row, which I think may be a first for the club, I need to check the stats. Thats not really what’s most pleasing though. We have really upped the quality in training recently and that has definitely made training better and improved Saturday performances. We had a terrible finish to 2009 and to turn things around the way we have has been heartening. I definitely think training right through the cold snap helped us along the way.

Probably the most pleasing thing from a coaching point of view however is how well the boys have adapted and developed our new shape. Its not always pretty but it has been pretty effective.

And at the end of the day, that’s what counts. Boys want to win! No point in playing otherwise. I don’t hold with all that “its the taking part” although I do understand the sentiment, but every time I pick a team and every time I step onto a park, I want to win, no question.

The game lasts for 90 minutes.

Anybody who knows me knows I hate the old firm and all they stand for. And for a number of years I never watched the games. However, I  felt compelled to watch today’s game, I’m not sure why? Mainly because of the work I do and the number of you boys who seem to love these games, i guess.

However, today was a great example of the fact that the game last’s for 90 mins!

We were well on top for the whole of yesterdays game, but somehow could not score. But a mixture of fitness, concentration and a strong bench saw us through. The game is not over until its over! 3 goals in the last 20 mins says everything about the fitness and desire of a team and we proved how important both are.

I know its a cliche but its the old presbyterian way. What you put in equals what you get out. Effort = Result! We work hard and we are rewarded and 3  late goals tells us that. Do well and it will not be forgotten.

What we do in life; Echoes in Eternity!

The Gaffer

As anyone involved in running football teams knows; its a perpetual mission to raise enough money to pay the bills and to try and improve the facilities and equipment used by the players and coaches. Sometimes you get a wee bonus like I did last week when I got a small donation, not a huge amount of money but enough to enable me to buy training sweatshirts for the boys (with initials much to Gilly’s delight) to try and keep the cold out at training.

The Summer and early season are manic with loads of funds needing to be raised. Then you have a lull as things tick over and then as the final 3rd or so of the season looms the pressure is back on to pay for trophies and such like to see the season out. However, it is good when you can raise money and have fun and a night out at the same time.

The pinnacle is clearly the Adult Team’s Player of the Year night which will be held at the Pond Hotel on the 8th May this year, with a kids evening planned for the 11th and both should be a great events and a lot of fun while we recognise the player’s achievements.

Before that however we have two events planned. The Kids’ Teams race night is on the 29th March, details are on the Forum and Big Burnsy is organising an adult player’s night provisionally for the 27th March. Details will be confirmed soon. The last night out at the end of November was a great night so I am sure this one will be just as good.

So get all of these dates in your social diary and don’t miss out!

After pulling up with yet another injury at 7s yesterday, I found myself absolutely hacked off to the endth degree. How many injuries can 1 boy get on one season.  Its so frustrating when you train as hard and as often as we/I do to continually pick up annoying injuries. However I have to admit, I am not the only one. This season has been a frustrating one, and particularly hard if like us you don’t have a club physio.

The current injury list is myself (hamstring), Stevie (ankle), Andy (achilles), John G (hernia), Gilly (shins & back), Tam (ankle), Div (knee), Carl (knee) and Dobbie who has had ankle problems all season. What is this all about? Clearly some injuries can be played through, but some just cant, as John & Andy are experiencing right now.

We give up loads of time to play football. We are committed (and in my opinion for an amateur club), very professional in our attitude, training and game preperation. So why do these injuries keep occuring? What are we doing wrong? What are we doing right? These are the great imponderables. We are so contigious to being a pretty good team and having a pretty good season. let’s hope these injuries clear up soon.

Also, good luck to Pino in the Gala Rovers’ South of Scotland cup run. The big man is helping his new/old team towards another cup final. I am sure all the boys wish you well chief!

I’ve been thinking about our first 2 goals on Saturday.  I described them as fortunate in Sunday’s blog. But the more I think about it luck had nothing; or at least very little; to do with it.

First goal, we play a long ball into the box, the keeper fumbles and Neil scores. Was this luck? Did we get the ball in the box early as intended? Yes! Did Neil follow the ball in gambling on a mistake? Yes! Did Neil put the ball in the net? Yes! Therefore not lucky at all in my view.

Second goal, free kick is delivered into the box and Craig ‘controls’ the ball through the keepers body somehow. Are we good at set plays as a result of practising? Yes! Did we get the ball in the box? Yes! was it a good quality delivery? Yes! Of the 18 players in the box was it Craig who attacked the ball? Yes! Therefore not luck at all in my view.

As previously stated; I believe; you make your won luck in this game!

Another good performance yesterday provided another good result. Once again the boys worked really hard in training and got their reward on Saturday. I really feel that the boys are now grasping this, and once Stevie Brown gets fit enough to play a full 90 mins we will be flying! Talking about 90 mins, yesterdays was Lorenzo’s first full game since I had a full head of hair so well done to him, however conversly big Mo showed us once again that you/he/anybody cant afford to take 4 weeks out and expect to be match fit. Hopefully lessons have been learned.

I know big Amo was disappointed not to start but he has to do what all 0f us have had to do at one stage or another, dig in, work hard, show a good attitude and wait for your chance.

Anyway, what was most  interesting about yesterday was that we were making a small tactical error in the first 20/25 minutes yesterday in the back 4, and as a result we were vulnerable and  also therefore not making any chances in attack. Once the guys realised what we were doing wrong and sorted it out the difference was huge. We were less exposed and started to make chances. As long as the guys realise how important it is to listen and learn then the better players they will be and the better team we will all be.

All that led to a very satisfied feeling on Saturtday night as Kilbarchan were definitly much improved since we last met and a hard fought win and a couple of fortunate goals got us a great result. However, in real terms the goals may have been ‘fortunate’ but they were both a direct result of us sticking to our game plan. Get the ball in the box as often and as quickly as possible and reap the rewards!!!

Well done guys.

I have to say, I have never been happier to see a penalty missed than the skippers yesterday. After my Van Vossen miss of epic proportion shortly before Ronnie hooked me I was absolutely miserable. Despite playing fairly well (up for debate) my scoop over the bar from 6 yards out was; to put it mildly; outragous.

But then the drama unfolded. What was Stephen Brown doing up for a corner anyway, his forward prowess is up there with Dobbie and Amo! When his header was saved on the line by the big centre half (who had, had a really decent game up to then) I expected Craig to step up and put away his penalty as usual in the bottom left corner.

So when it hit the post, and he missed the rebound as well, I thought: THANK YOU SKIPPER!

On the subject of thank you’s I will shout out a couple while I am on. Robert, if there is a better corner kick taker in any level of football I haven’t seen them. Ronnie, a soundboard that every manager dreams of! Especially if you(me) are trying to play as well. John Drew, I am eating my words about you every week. Tam O’Sullivan, work rate and effort is exceptional and I know this is a difficult time for you. Marc McGill, an outstanding attitude. I could go on but I dont think I need too.

6 points in 2 leage games, 10 goals scored, 1 conceded. Thats good enough for me, thank you all!

Is it just me or has everyone had enough of this blinkin snow.Bad enough the disruption we’ve had already this season: then we get this week!

Training on Tuesday cancelled at 15 mins notice was ridiculous and CSG assure me that the ‘operatives’ responsible are in trouble for their inability to recognise that an inch of snow on a pitch may make it unplayable.

Then tonight we had the 99s + 2000s training called off no more than 5 minutes before its scheduled 5pm start.

I never thought I would see the day when I yearned for rain but I hope it p*shes from the heavens tomorrow so we can get out and kick a ball.

Saturday was one of those days that occurs in football where you have to look back and admit; we got battered! Our 1st half performance was unbelievably poor and we didn’t stick to our game plan. So, what to do? I think that this is a true test of character. Do you fall out with each other, blame everyone else, refuse to take responsibility? Or do you do the other thing; show character.

I am glad to say, that the guys took the latter route. They listened properly at half time, as we were able to point out what was going wrong. They took it on the chin and adjusted their performance and got on track. Obviously, against a team of Robslee’s quality, we were never going to overturn the result. But we were able to over turn the performance. That takes character.

We have a great bunch of guys at the club. They work hard at training, they help fundraise, many of them help with coaching the kids teams and local community kids. They come along every week and enjoy each others company. Many of them travel from across the city to be part of this club when it would be easier and cheaper to play more locally. There must be a reason for this, and in my opinion, its the character, shown by both the players as individuals and collectively as a club. As long as we have that, we will be successfull.

Not had time until now this week to comment on last week and Saturdays tremendous result and performance. But im sure that in this occassion its better late than never.

We went with the new system on Saturday and the guys bought into it and committed themselves in every way to winning the game. What a massive difference it makes when as a coach you have all your players working really hard and in good numbers at training. We were able to work on the new formation and the new strategy on both nights in training and the results were there for all to see on Saturday. (It also helps when Robert scores goals like that one on Saturday in the 15th second of the game; albeit normal service was resumed shortly after ha ha).

It just goes to show once again; the important and vital link between training and results. The guys worked really, really hard last week and got their reward. Its an old saying, but hopefully not a cliche, to say, that you get out the sum of what you put in, so well done boys!

A great example of this was Andy Murrays great win this morning in the Australian Open semi. Murray is a top four player but he isn’t happy with that, he wants to be the number 1. He doesn’t rest on his laurels; he trained harder and changed his routine so that he can improve and find that extra 1 or 2 per cent. A fine example to all sportsmen and women, professional and amatuer a like!

Oh, and Ciaran, I haven’t forgotten you big man, that’s all I will say for now!!!