Rain, hail, sleet and snow are OK, but not wind!
As our assistant manager, Derek Townsley, quite rightly told us after the game on Saturday, "We don't have the most talented squad in the division but we work our socks off for each other."
Obviously this wasn't the greatest compliment in the world, but after giving the big man a bit of stick we settled down and took his words of wisdom on the chin.
We do have good footballers in our squad - quite a few, in fact - but we know that our fitness, work rate and team spirit are the main reasons for our successful season so far.
Sitting in the dressing room with Dougie Calder and Bob Campbell, the three of us knew that, on paper, had a more talented squad than we did.
I'm sure the rest of the lads felt the same as they flicked through the match-day programmes before kick-off.
Despite this, I can honestly say that I sensed a confidence from every one of the players and the management team that we could get a result at the most difficult away venue in the third division.
As it turned out that confidence was justified as we ran out quite .
I say "comfortable" due to the fact that we limited our opponents to only one clear-cut opportunity when Derek Carcary should have equalised only minutes before we scored our second goal.
Sure, they had more possession than us in the second half, but we played the conditions brilliantly.
Once again there was a really strong wind and it made attractive football very difficult for both sides.
Now, although Saturday's match didn't quite fall into this category, I agreed entirely with Aberdeen defender Lee Mair's comments last week regarding the postponement of games due to .
I remember Falkirk manager John Hughes saying something very similar a few years back after a farcical game that he was involved in.
As a player I always look forward to playing in any conditions except strong winds. Give me rain, hail, sleet or snow any day, but a blowing gale just spoils the game for both players and supporters.
I'm keeping a keen eye on the weather at the minute as we are in action again tonight (Wednesday) at Galabank against .
The trees are beginning to sway and it's due to get worse so we could be in for a difficult evening once again.
After back-to-back wins against the top two sides, talk is continuing about the possibility of us reaching the play-offs. The manager has been great in playing all this down and the players are just getting on with the job.
We enjoy winning and took great satisfaction from Saturday's result - being in a dressing room like that is an absolute pleasure.
I've just had another peek at the league table and a win tonight would take us into fourth position, but as I keep saying we are only two defeats away from ninth so we can't get carried away.
While the majority of the country is glued to the television on Saturday night for the , we will be on our way back from Elgin.
The postponed match from New Year has been re-scheduled for this coming Saturday to avoid a midweek trip.
I had a quiet word with the chairman to see if it would be possible for us to stop off somewhere on the road back so the boys could watch the game.
I've not actually spoken to the players about this yet, and the chairman gave me short shrift anyway - only because he will be in Amsterdam at the game!
Come Saturday I'll have my fingers crossed for an Annan, Scotland double - although I won't be putting money on it.
I reckon it will be a draw in Amsterdam!
Good luck to everyone and their countries this weekend.
Hi there, I'm Chris Jardine, midfielder with Scottish Third Division side Annan Athletic. I hope, throughout the season, I can give you a good insight into life at the newest Scottish League club and maybe even a few laughs along the way.
Comment number 1.
At 25th Mar 2009, Rabster wrote:Chris,
Just wondered why you think Dumbarton (is it still Boghead?) is the most difficult away venue in the division. I do kinda agree that strong winds spoil games but then it doesn't really provide the danger of an icy pitch does it? I do not envy you the long trip to Elgin and back but sadly I fear stopping off to see Scotland being gubbed by Holland would not improve matters. I do hope (against hope) that I am wrong but I have little to no confidence in our national team for this campaign.
As usual, best of luck for the remainder of the season.
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Comment number 2.
At 25th Mar 2009, Rovers Return - HKR AWAY DAYS wrote:High winds are a real annoyance. I play rugby league and trying to get into position to catch a high kick in those kinds of conditions is near impossible.
I did play in snow before Christmas and got frostbit though!
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Comment number 3.
At 25th Mar 2009, Scotty aka PAFCScotty aka PAFCScotty20 aka PAFC20 wrote:cracking article... wind and sleet are the worst combination if you ask me; I used to play right-back for Bedwardine United in Worcester Sunday League division 6 and I still remember playing one November morning, sleet... wind... and blocking a fierce shot in such a way that the ball slapped right against my thigh... well not right against my thigh - there was part of me between the ball and the thigh... Dear God I hope I never have pain like that again!
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Comment number 4.
At 25th Mar 2009, umpiredice wrote:A long time ago I used to play for a team called Lupo United in the third division of a low-level league in North Vancouver (Canada). We played one match in horizontal sleet that I'll never forget. The winds wer gusting up to 80 km/h. the temperature was about one degree, and thick sleet made it difficult to see from one end of the pitch to the other. Really, the match should have been abandoned at half time. Late in the second half, I had the ball on the right side about forty yards out from the opponent's net, and I tried to switch it to the far side. I got the ball up in the wind, and it blew all forty yards down the pitch, over the keeper, and into the net. Strangest goal I ever scored. So yes, I do hate playing in a strong wind ... but I'm grateful for that one fluke goal!
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Comment number 5.
At 27th Mar 2009, ApacheArmy wrote:to be honest we'd been scraping through the last few games & it was only a matter of time before we came up against a team with the some fight in them! Taking nothing away from you the Annan boys came out & gave everything, fought hard for the full 90 minutes, while the Dumbarton players were pretty much passengers for the full game, very disappointing, as you point out we have, on paper, players that SHOULD be ggod enough to have one hand on the title by now but we have let it go past us .. gutting
Rabster, It's Strathclyde ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖs Stadium now & we have (I think) the best home record in the third division
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Comment number 6.
At 28th Mar 2009, Rabster wrote:Thanks ApacheArmy, I just cannot get used to all these grounds changing names. I believe the "Blue Brazil" have a superior home record but kudos to Dumbarton for a good season.
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Comment number 7.
At 28th Mar 2009, NeilG42 wrote:I can but only totally agree on the wind thing, I ride a motorbike and the one condition in which I hate riding is wind. Rain, snow, hail and sleet can be coped with through waterproofs and sensible riding, wind however is an absolute sod. Same thing applies to any sport really, you can cope with the rest but wind is uncontrollable at best.
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Comment number 8.
At 30th Mar 2009, Chris Jardine wrote:So it's not just the football that is affected by the wind then!
Rabster - although Dumbarton is a great place to play your football I just think that on their day they are the best team in the league so in that respect it is the most difficult venue to get a positive result, in my opinion of course.
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