Lichties are on guard

Hampden exit can work says French great Thuram

“We made our own history there quickly so it was OK, but I do think winning the very first game was important. We did that, so the fans left thinking good things.

“If Scotland go to a different stadium and are winning games there, then the fans will quickly like it. This is the way in football.”

He was in Scotland to lend his support as the Sport at the Service of Humanity Foundation announced ISPS Handa, an organisation founded by multi-millionaire Japanese philanthropist Dr Harushisa Handa, as its first global patron during a ceremony at the University of St Andrews.

While there, he took a training session with the Uni’s football team — something he was delighted to do.

“It’s great to help, and coming to St Andrews was a great chance to show how sport can change society, change attitude and change life.

“We can’t exist without other people and, when it comes to football, an important lesson I learned is that you can play as an individual, but you are part of a common goal and so you have to work together for the team.

“This means helping others and being helped by others and that goes for life as well.

“As a young player, all the coaches I had helped me, team-mates as well. I used to watch my team-mates in the dressing-room and take the positives and the negatives. There were some things I saw I thought I wanted to do and other thing I thought I don’t want to do that.” ARBROATH may have won 5-1 away t o Stranraer earlier in the season but they are taking nothing for granted when the Stair Park side come to Gayfield on Saturday.

“We have enormous respect for Stranraer and for the job manager Stevie Farrell i s doing t here,” commented Arbroath No 2 Ian Campbell.

“This is a massive game for us and we have a few players out injured.”

The Red Lichties are missing Steven Doris, O m a r K a d e r, G a v i n Swankie, Josh Skelly and Danny Denholm.

Ian went on: “The fact we have players out gives others the chance to come

Ian Campbell in and show what they can do. “Players have been doing that. We have a good team spirit at the club, one of the best I’ve been involved with, and the work ethic of the players is magnificent.”