Keeping with in the spirit of doing things differently this pre season, the 1st team have a different type of challenge this Saturday with our second pre season game.

We have been invited by Craigie Amts in Kilmarnock to play a pre season challenge game for a trophy with a bit of hospitality afterwards. Generally we play all our pre season games in and around Glasgow against opposition who play in our league set up. While we will be doing that the following week against Windlaw, this Saturday promises to be a welcome change to the norm.

We previously played Craigie in a West of Scotland Cup tie 2 seasons ago. We narrowly lost 3-2 in that match so it will be interesting to see how both teams have progressed since then. There is also the added personal incentive for me to do well as Craigie is one of my former clubs having spent a season with them in the mid 90’s.

Craigie’s manager, both then and now, was a prolific goalscorer in his time as an amatuer player and like myself, Campbell continued to play into his old age (only kidding Campbell) and has a great appetite for the amateur game.

So, we look forward to Saturday, both to a new experience and hopefully to bring back the trophy to Glasgow.

So we had our first pre season game on Saturday. The 1st team played a team made up of 2nd team and morning players to shake of the Summer rustiness and get the boots on for the first serious kick of a ball of the season.

It goes without saying that its been a blow to lose so many players over the summer. Its never happenned before but then again we’ve never had such a young team before so inevitably people will move on when the leave university and get jobs in other areas. However, as i’ve always said, quality is more important than quantity and and we had some good quality on show on Saturday.

A couple of well taken goals and some nice football made it an enjoyable game for the 24 boys who took part. What was particularly good about the game though was that due to reduced numbers, (holidays and a Saturday morning kick off causing most of the absentees) 22 of the 24 players got a full 90 minutes under their belt. This is very rare in pre season so it was a real bonus for the guys who played.

It was also good to see a couple of new guys in action. Its always good to have a couple of new players, especially when they are good quality players, at the start of a new season as it gives everyone a boost and refreshes the squad in a positive way.

So, we look forward to a good weeks training at Kirklee and another game next Saturday which promises to be a toughie down in Kilmarnock.

So I stepped off of the plane this morning to wind and rain and a grey sky. Hard to believe I was in Marrakesh 24 hours ago and it was 47C. Anyway, because of the way my flights worked out I missed last nights first pre season session, the first pre season session I have missed in 12 years!

Luckily we have an improved pre season venue where the pitch will cope much better with any rain. It should always be an exciting time of the year as the new season approaches. However we have had a couple of disasters with the rain in the past but we will be better prepared this season.

Anyway, I cant wait to get my boots etc ready for tomorrow night and start to sweat off the Moroccan Tajine and Flag Speciale!

Having been lucky enough to see the great Holland teams of the 70s it was really disappointing to watch a dutch team with loads of talent at its disposal employ two thugs in De Jong and in particular Van Bommel to destroy by fair means or foul any creativity in the world cup final.

De Jongs assualt on Xavi Alonso was sickening and god only knows how Van Bommel got through this tournament without a red card or suspension!

I can understand why lesser teams with limited talent would employ certain types of tactics; thats perfectly understandable. But does a team with Van Persie, Schneider, Van Der Vart et al available really need to play like this? Were Holland really that intimidated by a fairly one dimensional low scoring Spanish team!

Thats not how Cruyff, Neeskins and Krol would have done it, they would have risen to the challenge and refused to compromise.

Morocco like everwhere else in the world is gripped by world cup fever like every other country. I have lost count of the number of fake Messi, Torres et al strips I have seen on the backs of everyone. The kids kick replica Jabilani footballs across the dirt and beaches. It shows that football is indeed the peoples game which is articulated really well in an articlewhich Ciaran sent me. Hopefully he has posted it on the forum.

What it says is what I have always believed in. There should be Opportunity for all and there is no I in team.

I have noticed from the website that the Scotland manager is coming to take a training session, did he read about the 1st team coaching vacancy I wonder? Seriously; this is a great event for the club; well done to those who have brought it about and hopefully it will be a great event for the kids and coaches alike.

So the pre season schedule is planned and has been distributed to the boys. Hopef ully they are looking forward to it. Its always nice to get a  break from football but you never want it to be too long! Well I don’t anyway! Hopefully the guys have had the good sense to stay in shape and do some training over the break. I know that some of the guys have been playing regularly and some have been out pounding the streets (always a good idea to stay in shape) and I am sure quite a few have been in the gym.

We are doing things a bit differently this year which is great as its always good to freshen things up. We have a new venue as Ruchill Pitch is finally out of bounds as its being built on. (Another grass pitch bites the dust). But we are moving onwards as despite it being sad to lose the venue we now have the opportunity to try something new. Kirklee pitch is an excellent grass surface in a good location. The only downsize is that there are no hills!

Also, we are going to train all 3 teams together for the 1st two weeks at least. This allows the guys to get to know each other a bit better and also to experience different coaches and their methods. And; this year’s training programme has been designed by Davie Kelly, this also will give things a freshness and the opportunity for a new experience.

So, pre season looms again and as much as it often seems that things stay the same, things are in fact constantly changing. I am sure we are are looking forward to it!