Hamilton’s impact at Thistle clear already
Future looking good for junior side
Fraser Wilson
East Kilbride Thistle’s new gaffer is having an immediate impact on the club’s prospects.
That’s according to club director, Peter Kelsall, who praised the manager for the bright future he believes the club now has.
Kelsall was speaking to the News after the launch of a new partnership wih the Blantyre Soccer Academy, which will see Thistle given first dibs of rising stars ready to make the move into semi-pro football.
And coupled with a renewed enthusiasm on the training ground this pre-season, the director says things are looking good for the future at the Show Park.
He told us: “The tie-up with Blantyre came about through Gary who knows one of the coaches there.
“They approached us because they were fed up with clubs just coming in and taking their players. They wanted to secure a link-up with a junior team and that’s what we have done.
“We will get first pick of their players that are ready or keen to make the move up to the next level. It’s brilliant for us and it’s brilliant for Blantyre players who now have a path to playing beyond the team.
“We were down watching them at the weekend and I’ve always been a believer in ‘if you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ – with that in mind, they’ve a lot of handy players.”
Thistle were themselves in action at the weekend in one of their first pre-season games this term. That saw them beat Duncanrig Amateurs 5-1. Goals on the day came from Ross Good and Tony Quinn, with skipper Derek McGrory securing an impressive hat-trick.
Kelsall said it was a comfortable win and a valuable run out for his team, who ‘already look fitter’ than previously – another trait that he believes they’ve the new gaffer to thank for. “We looked comfortable,” he added. “Our pre-season is more professional than it’s ever been and that’s because of Gary. He’s 100 per cent committed to making East Kilbride Thistle better. He’s come in with a better attitude and work ethic, and he wants to get us promoted.
“He has a big interest in the future of the club and that is what we’re after.”
With Hamilton’s approach having a “positive impact on the players and their attitude” too, a link-up with company SGS to look after the Show Park pitch will also see the good vibes dispersed amongst the Thistle family.
Peter added: “Things are looking positive for the future.”
Thistle have another pre-season match tonight (Wednesday) against Blantyre RGM, before a match against Scottish Amateur Cup winners, Colville Park on Saturday, then Eastfield Amateurs on July 22 – all to be played at the Show Park.
Their first competitive league match is against Larkhall Thistle on July 27.