Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Bankies to mount big challenge
THE Dundee Saturday Morning League (DSMFL) welcomed seven new teams at the AGM in June.
Bank Street Athletic have switched from the Midlands League and, having won honours in their stints in both Sunday Associations and back to back titles in the Midlands, they will be expected to hit the ground running.
Also coming into the DSMFL are Kelso who have re-emerged after a few years in abeyance and FC Boukir return to the League with a strong team from Carnoustie.
Charlies Accies and the Occidental transfer to Saturday morning action now the Sunday Association is in abeyance.
Boars Rock and Cleppie Social also dip their feet into the DSMFL.
Clark’s Cowboys and Dundee Central struggled last year and have decided to merge as Clark’s AFC, while Coldside have been rebranded as St James Athletic and will benefit from the support of the Fairfield Hub.
Wellbeat have been re-christened as The Beat and Fintry Rovers switch name to Fintry Athletic Sporting Club.
There have also been changes within the league committee with Graeme McKenna (DC Athletic) joining the line-up and last year’s president, Steve McSwiggan and secretary Iain Leith switching roles. Steve continues as disciplinary secretary. Stevie Pettigrew remains match secretary and treasurer, while Daniel Grossi (DUSC), Dale Kelly (Hilltown Hotspurs), Ian Anderson (The Beat), Jim Martin (Fintry Athletic SC), Bob Ogilvie (Charleston AFC), Alex Ross and Graeme Webb (unattached), make up the committee.
Premier League champs Hilltown Hotspurs are expected to give a robust defence of their title. They have impressed in pre-season.
Riverside CSC, who are buoyant after their Shaun Kelly Memorial Cup Final win over Hilltown, have brought in a number of ex-Junior players.
Doc’s Hibs are hoping to bounce back from a disappointing third place finish, while Medics will be ones to watch.
Newly-promoted teams FC Kettledrum, Park Tool and Fintry Athletic will find the going tougher i n the Premier, though Kettledrum have shown they can match the big boys in cup competitions and will fancy their chances of making an impact in the top league.
The Balgay Bar First Division has seen a number of decent clubs promoted with Stobswell FC undefeated in league action last year, FC Menzieshill, Cairdy Thistle, Charleston and RNL Dundee all expected to figure.
St James Athletic look to be the team to beat, having excelled in pre-season matches and having recruited from the juniors to challenge.
In the Trident Trophies Second Division, it’s hard to see past Bank Street.