NEW Oakley United boss Peter Goldie joked that sleep could be a problem on the eve of his first competitive match in charge.
The Blairwood Park side, promoted last season, entertain Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts in their first match as an East of Scotland League, Premier Division side.
Having stepped up from his role as head of youth development and under-20s coach, following the departure of title-winning gaffer Stewart Kenny, the weekend’s game will be a proud moment for local lad Goldie.
The O’s have enjoyed a productive pre-season, defeating Easterhouse Academy, Rossvale, and Lumphinnans United AFC, while also losing out narrowly to Lochore Welfare, as part of their preparations for the upcoming campaign.
Goldie, who has brought in goalkeepers Josh Irvine and Reece Beveridge, defender Lee Dawson, midfielder Aidan Kemp, and returning forward Derek Murray, is still on the lookout for fresh faces to add to his squad and revealed he has several injuries to contend with ahead of the Swifts clash.
Despite that, he said: “I’m looking forward to Saturday. I don’t think I’ll sleep on Friday night!
“It will be a tough game against the Swifts. They did really well last year, they’re a good club with good people there – I know Pat (Scullion, Swifts boss) well.
“It’s an exciting game, it’s a derby, and both teams will be up for it. I would like to be in a better place squad-wise but we just have to deal with it.
“Training has gone really well. In a couple of the friendlies, a few of the under-20s have played, and they’ve done very well. They’ve got an opportunity to come in, play at a decent level, and put themselves in the frame for other clubs to look at them.
“I know what they’re capable of as I was their coach last year. They’ve got an opportunity to step up and show that age is just a number. Sometimes, the best players are already at your club.
“There’s no pressure on them. I tell them to go and enjoy it, and play with freedom.”
Although he is pleased to give youth a chance, Goldie remains in the market for some experienced players to provide Oakley with the right balance for the challenges that lies ahead.
He acknowledges that Premier League football will be tough but noted: “We’re underdogs, no doubt about it.
“We know it’s going to be a hard season but we’re not there to make up the numbers. We probably went up early but we want to stay there. The guys are up for the challenge, and we’re up for the challenge. We’re looking forward to it.
“I wouldn’t take the job on if I didn’t think I was capable of doing it. The players have been fantastic. I’ve got a good bunch of coaches behind me, which helps, the drills have been tremendous, and the boys are buying in to what we’re trying to do.”
His Swifts counterpart, Pat Scullion, lost Brodie Strang to Kelty Hearts but was delighted for the player to earn such a move.
He is also content with his squad, which includes new faces Ben Ramage, Sean Cumming and Liam Evans, and said: “The game against Oakley will be very different to what we’ve faced in pre-season.
“There should be a reasonable crowd there, and their tails will be up after winning the league last season.
“We want to get off to a good start but it won’t define our season. We won’t be too high when we win, and we won’t be too low when we get beat.
“There’s a strong team spirit. There’s banter and laughter around all the time but, when the serious work starts and we ask them to take on a message, they might not get it right all the time, but they try. That’s all you can ask for as a coaching team.”
Elsewhere, Crossgates Primrose boss Alan Campbell believes that his squad are as “fit and sharp as I’ve seen” as they prepare for the new season.
The Humbug Park side, who finished fifth in the East of Scotland League Premier Division last term and won the Alex Jack Cup, head to Musselburgh Athletic for their opening match on Saturday.
They rounded off their pre-season programme at Thornton Hibs on Tuesday evening, having drawn with Lowland League East Stirlingshire, defeated Lochore Welfare and lost to Tayport and Spartans.
Crossgates during their match with Lochore Welfare in pre-season. Photo: Dave Wardle.
The loss of Darren Aitken to a suspected achilles injury against the ’Shire has been the one downside to their build-up but Campbell has retained the nucleus of his squad.
“We’ve got around 20 players to pick from. I think there was one pre-season where we brought in around 11 new players; the way we’re set up now, we don’t have to do that. It’s more about fine tuning,” he said.
“We’ve added four. It shows a bit of continuity; we’ve got a good group. Anyone coming into our group have got to be really good players.
“Credit to the club – the ones that we had targeted, we got, and we got them in early, so they’ve integrated within the squad.”
Looking ahead to the season ahead, following last year’s high achievements, Campbell commented: “It will be tough to repeat that.
“It’s going to be a very competitive league. I see 16 teams where anybody can beat anybody.
“We got to a final and won a cup, and got to a semi-final and lost very narrowly, so the players have had a taste for that, and I hope it spurs them on.
“We’re not a surprise package any more; maybe we’ll get a bit more respect from some of the other teams.”
Meanwhile, in the First Division, Rosyth are hopeful of making a challenge at the top end of the league having been promoted last term.
A seventh-place finish in Conference B of the First Division saw them earn a place in the second tier of the new East of Scotland League set-up, which also consists of Second and Third divisions.
Rosyth, in action last season, are hoping to enjoy a successful campaign this term. Photo: Dave Wardle.
The ‘Rec’ open their campaign at home to Dunbar United, one of the sides fancied for promotion, but co-boss Russell Craig, is confident his side can cause problems.
Although last season’s top scorer, Regan Lumsden, departed for Premier League Dundonald Bluebell, Rosyth have been boosted by the arrivals of players such as Jason Penman, from St Andrews United, and Arran Dair, on loan from Hill of Beath Hawthorn, and the return from injury of talismanic forward Tam Hampson.
“We’ve managed to keep the nucleus of the squad. We’ve made a couple of additions, and we’re still looking, but the market is slow,” Craig commented.
“We finished the season strongly. With the position we were in, we ended up giving ourselves four or five cup finals, and we won four and drew one. The boys did exactly what they were looking to do, so credit to them.
“No-one will like coming to the Fleet Grounds. I can’t see any team looking forward to playing on that tight park. We’re really looking forward to it and I hope the boys are buzzing for Saturday.
“We want to go again, we want to try and get promoted. What better opposition than to play one of the favourites?”
Saturday’s games across the leagues kick off at 2.30pm.
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