Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
UP FOR THE CUP
Fans back for all-lanarkshire tournament
Airdrie, Albion Rovers, Clyde and Cumbernauld Colts will scrap it out at Broadwood this weekend for the North Lanarkshire Cup.
Airdrie clash head on with Lowland League Colts in the first semi-final at 12pm on Saturday, before holders Clyde face Albion Rovers to see who will be in Sunday’s final.
There will also be a third versus fourth play-off on the Sunday, with fans able to flock to the Cumbernauld stadium over the two-day feast of football, though tickets are limited.
Diamonds boss Ian Murray says the tournament presents a chance to get some game-time for his new-look squad, while possibly running the rule over some trialists.
He said: “It’s a really good opportunity for us to have a double-header and it doesn’t matter who we’re playing, it’s two games in two days, we know that, that’s good, and we can plan round that.
“It gives us a chance to get game-time for some boys and a few trialists as well, so we’re looking forward to it.
“It’s ideal, it’s local, which is good with the travelling restrictions as well, but it’s perfect for us because it’s just down the road.
“It takes us nicely into the Annan game in the League Cup the following week.
“It’s a really good week for us, with three games, so it’s all systems go again and it’s great.”
Rovers manager Brian Reid says his side will face a tough test in Clyde, who are a division above, but it’s all about getting his side fit for the start of the season and their League Cup group stages kick-off against Ayr United.
He said: “It will be a good tournament, there are some good teams in it, and it’ll be nice to see some supporters back in as well.
“And with it being local teams there might be a derby or two in there, so it’s a good competition for everybody involved, I think.
“You’re trying to utilise your whole squad, because you’ll have to, it’s over two days, so it’s tough to ask players to play for the whole time.
“We’ll probably use the whole squad and some of the younger ones as well.
“We are still a wee bit short, in terms of we have a few injuries as well, so we’ll maybe need to tap into the young reserves squad and maybe a couple of trialists as well.”
Reid added: “Clyde are a League One club, they’re a decent team and it will be a good test to start us off, but I’ve always said pre-season game results are not the most important thing.
“This is our first game as a squad, as a new team, so I’m just expecting players to get some fitness into their legs, and to work on a couple of things.
“It’s more about fitness rather than results, but I’m fully aware that supporters will still want to see you win.”
Cumbernauld Colts are hosting the event and gaffer James Orr says it’s a great experience for his players to test themselves against SPFL opposition.
He said: “I think it’s terrific. This is the second year we’ve done it and hopefully it keeps going.
“I think it’s great preparation for my team to play against higher opposition. It means we can work on a different game plan for how we keep the ball and how we chase the ball.
“It will teach me more about my players playing in this tournament than any training session will.
“Clyde won it last year and it will be great for us to play against these teams and see how we do.
“Who doesn’t want to win that wee bit of silverware before the start of the season?
“It’s great getting people through the gate. That’s what everyone wants, fans there face
to-face with you, not watching through streaming.
“It’s very exciting to have the fans back in to watch their team and see how their teams are looking in pre-season.”
Clyde gaffer Danny Lennon is also relishing the contest on home ground and he said:“this tournament is important to us.
“Pre-season games are always important in letting you get back, and letting you know one another, particularly with the turnaround of players that we’ve had.
“We’ve got the jigsaw, we just need to put it all together. I’m really excited and pleased with the business that we’ve done, and the most important thing is that these guys come in with something that we believe we’ve been missing, consistently, over the years, and that for me is‘good experience’.
“We’re experimenting with things at the moment but we’re building a squad that’s ready to compete.
“I’m really looking forward to working with the new group, and it’s got me excited.
“We’ve also got fans in for this and that’s what has been the missing ingredient – football’s not the same without them, so I’m really looking forward to that.”
Tickets are still available via the Clyde website www.clydefc.co.uk from £10 for adults and £5 for under-12s. There is no option to pay-at-the-gate on the day of the games.