Forced to cool our heels during cold snap
Hello everyone and a very happy New Year to you all. I hope you enjoyed the festive period as much as I did.
First of all I'd like to apologise for my lack of activity over the festive season.
My home internet has been down and I've not been able to access my column until recently, but I will get round to checking my comments from the last entry and ensure I reply to everyone.
It will come as no surprise that there are no games to report on as, like most other clubs in the lower divisions, we have been completely idle for the majority of the last month.
Our last match was a 0-0 draw at Montrose on 12 December and, because of Forfar's participation in the Scottish Cup this weekend, it'll be 16 January before we're back in competitive action.
As you would expect the training facilities have been too dangerous to use in recent weeks but I managed to pull a few strings and get use of the council sports hall.
It's meant that we've only missed one session (Boxing Day) from our usual training days/nights.
I must admit to regretting helping manager Harry Cairney out on Monday night, however, when he hit us with the bleep test!
The club have organised a friendly with Dumbarton on Saturday and we're keeping our fingers crossed that this manages to go ahead.
It's been pencilled in for Galabank - absolutely no chance - but hopefully Dumbarton are able to use the indoor astro-turf in Glasgow and we'll be all set for a 10am kick-off!
We've been very fortunate that all of our games have been called off with plenty of notice, and it's hopefully meant that none of the clubs have incurred any unnecessary travelling costs.
There's no doubt that clubs will have lost out with their home matches being postponed as you're never likely to get as big a crowd with the games now being midweek.
will definitely feel the effects having lost out on revenue for home games against both Livingston and Berwick Rangers on 19 and 26 December.
What this also means is that by the time we face Albion Rovers on 30 January, it will be eight weeks since our last home fixture.
We got an indication that Annan will be tightening the purse strings over the next wee while when Harry informed the players that we would be travelling up to Elgin next weekend on the morning of the match.
The players are always well looked after at the club and, since we've come in to the SFL, have always travelled to Elgin on the Friday afternoon for an overnight hotel stay.
Although it's not ideal it's completely understandable when you consider the recent loss of revenue and the weather forecast for the foreseeable future.
We certainly can't use it as in excuse for the game because Elgin made the same journey in the opposite direction last time they came to Galabank and turned us over!
I'm a bit late in giving my opinion on the appointment of
It would be unbelievable if we were in a position to pay millions of pounds to get a or a - but let's face it, that was never going to happen.
And because of that I was always in favour of the SFA going out to get Craig. I like the way he went about his business at Dundee United.
He re-vamped their youth set-up, got the best out of players that didn't cost a lot of money and had them playing some exciting football.
My only worry is that we could potentially have another or in that he could easily be lured back into club management before long.
He has never hidden his desire to return to English football and I just hope that we can keep him in the job for the long-term.
We need a Scotland manager that believes his responsibilities include promoting football at grassroots level.
I believe that man is Craig Levein and I just hope that he is in the position long enough to see it through.
Comment number 1.
At 11th Jan 2010, Rob wrote:Hey Chris,
I like reading your Blog. I am from PEI, Canada, and yes, we have some snow on the ground now also ; - )
I have played soccer (football) since I was 5. I have played all positions. I played Serie D in Italy when I was 19 (semi pro) and at the university level at home. I am married with 2 kids, and am a solicitor for the state.
I was over in Scotland in the summer of 2003 for trials with Queen of the South and Cowdenbeath. I was applying as a striker. I was 35 at the time (a wee bit old). I just wanted to try it, and see if anything would be offered. My first two sessions were at QofS and it went well. I got in a friendly preseason match, and again, going good, until I was chopped from behind and injured my hip, pretty severely. There went my trials ! Oh well, it was fun.
I like reading your blog and wondering if I had gone over earlier, and had stayed healthy, if I might have played a season or two...
Cheers !
Rob
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