How new boss Ian made his ‘ Mark…
His side were dismissed at 50/ 1 for promotion
When Ian Patterson joined Craigmark Burntonians this time last year he had NO signed players.
His side were quoted at 50/ 1 to go up by McBookie and with just 25 points in the previous term, it looked like a long season was in store for the Dalmellington club.
That combined with appointing Patterson, who is just 28 and had no previous managerial experience, it’s not hard to see why ‘ Mark were unfancied in the Ayrshire League.
But Patterson, who is amongst the youngest managers in Scotland, got to work with his assistant Greg Gallagher and brought in no fewer than 14 new players, along with signing up Craigmark players who were out of contract.
And the former Troon and Girvan goalkeeper insisted the club’s above- par season wasn’t all down to him. He said: “The boys worked hard all pre- season and we done really well.
“We have a lot of young players and those are the ones who normally want to learn and listen.
“We also have a few experienced boys who help along the way.
“A few of the players who signed needed some experience so we played some amateur teams to get in the swing, they weren’t playing Junior teams straight away.”
Craigmark tended to finish bottom in the Ardagh Cup group stages year on year and hadn’t qualified for 20 years before this season. But Patterson’s side managed to see themselves through against all odds.
And early in the league season, ‘ Mark found themselves top of the league.
After just 11 games Craigmark had notched eight league wins, which is the amount they won the previous season.
Patterson said: “The first game we beat Muirkirk 8- 0, we went to Ardeer and won 4- 1 before beating Saltcoats 5- 0 to give us nine points from nine.
“That got us off to a good start but we then lost 4- 1 away to Irvine Vics - a game myself and my assistant couldn’t make because of other committments.
“But from what I heard we played alright but just couldn’t get the goals needed.
“We won 5- 2 against Lugar and then we faced Maybole. That was an important game to us as Maybole finished 10 points above in the previous season so we wanted to catch them. We won that game 2- 1 which showed how far we had come and kicked us on.
“We then won away to Whitletts and at home to Annbank.”
Patterson insists there was no chatter of promotion over the season. He said: “We just aimed to get seventh place which would have secured us a spot in the new League One.
“It wasn’t easy though as we don’t pay our players as much as other teams.
“Teams are spending more on wages a week than we do on travel expenses over a year.
“It’s frustrating trying to get the players in as other teams can offer more money.
“The season on a whole was just concentrating on getting points on the board however we could.
“If anything I’m disappointed we never won the league as we maybe could have towards the end, but the boys did amazing either way.”
Prior to Patterson’s appointment, Craigmark conceded 57 goals in the league.
But the young gaffer tightened his side up at the back, making ‘ Mark’s defence the second best in the league with just 27 conceded – only league winners Dalry shipped less.
Patterson’s side will now battle Junior football giants such as Arthurlie, who had been in the Super Premier for every season prior to their relegation, and the likes of Girvan and Rutherglen Glencairn.
But Patterson insists his side aren’t in the league just to make up the numbers.
He said: “We are working now to recruit. We have kept a core group of players as most want to stay.
“That’s great news for us as some of the players have had offers from Premiership teams but opted to stay. I think we just need to wait and see what happens, it’s going to be an uphill struggle, there’s no doubt about that.
“We are going to be competing against teams that are much bigger and have much better budgets.
“It will be an interesting league and there’s a number of teams who could win it.
“But it’s going to be a good experience for the team and for the loyal fan base who have helped us over the line. They have been there through thick and thin and deserve this success.
“It’s good for everyone involved, including the secretary David Conway who has been there for years through seasons the side has picked up one point and went through tough times.”