SUN & GAMES LIFT THISTLE
CALLUM BOOTH believes a trip to the sun has triggered a sea change at Partick Thistle.
The Jags defender says a week in La Manga during the winter break allowed the squad to refuel and form a bond that has carried the club into a four-game unbeaten run.
After surging into the top six, Alan Archibald’s side face a Scottish Cup quarter-final against Aberdeen tomorrow and Booth is convinced the mood couldn’t be better.
He said: “Ever since we went to Spain we’ve managed to do well. We always knew we were capable of it but we needed to do it on the pitch and maybe get that wee bit of luck and a couple of decisions here and there.
“That trip away has refreshed us and the recent run has been brilliant. Three wins in a row in the league and through to the Scottish Cup quarter-final as well as clean sheets so everything is going very well just now. Long may that continue.
“It wasn’t long ago that we weren’t getting the rub of the green. We were conceding last-minute goals but we always knew we had the players who were capable of going on a winning run.
“There were a couple of new signings over in Spain with us and all the boys got on well.
“We have a great dressing room but La Manga was a big factor in where we are now. It’s the first time for many of us experiencing a winter break and getting away and it recharged the batteries.
“The manager was putting across his ideas and we worked hard and you can see the benefits. The trip forged something within the group.”
Booth’s record at Pittodrie is best consigned to history as he’s never been on a winning side there.
He added: “I’ve not had many happy experiences of Pittodrie. The best I’ve done is come away with a couple of draws here and there. But I hadn’t played in a side that had beaten Hearts until last week so maybe this is the time for these kind of things to be changing.
“We’ve done okay against Aberdeen. We’ve always been pretty decent but not managed to get that victory. Hopefully that will change on Sunday. We couldn’t be going into it with any more confidence.”
The 25-year-old full-back is also aware it’s about time Thistle flirted with reaching a major final. And he insists it’s part of the plan this season as well as a top-six finish. He said: “We’ve never been in the top six. The next step is either doing well in a cup or getting into the top six and we’ve given ourselves a chance of doing either or both.”
“It was all about trying to put a run together and we have managed to do that.
“Our win on Wednesday is the perfect example. We were leading but had it been earlier this season we would probably have conceded late on and drawn the game.
“Now we’re managing to see games out. We are hanging on and keeping clean sheets and that’s a great platform for us to build on.” Jags boss Archibald was at Aberdeen’s midweek game against Hamilton and despite seeing the Dons lose 1-0, he said: “I don’t read too much into the result because Aberdeen were outstanding.
“There will be a bit of a backlash and we need to be ready for that. But we think we’ve enough quality
to hurt them.” WHAT does £31 get you these days? Half a tank of petrol? Six pints of posh beer? Two into the pictures and maybe a large popcorn? Not an awful lot really. But if you’re a junior football fan down Ayrshire way in a fortnight it’ll get you everything you could possibly want from your Saturday football fix.
Kilwinning Rangers are offering supporters a “VIP package” including breakfast, a two-hour free bar and travel to Auchinleck and back for the Junior Cup quarter-final that has everyone talking – all for £25.
Throw in another six quid entry to Beechwood Park and you have the juniors’ version of Super Saturday.
VIP indeed – a Very Impressive Plan.
Almost has me convinced to hang up the boots and join the punters down the west coast. Almost.
The Ayrshire derby is the pick of the bunch in the last eight. A clash with local pride at stake and which, you could say, might put the hospital into hospitality.
Seriously though, Scottish football at times rightly gets a bad rep for forgetting about the fans. But it’s an accusation that can’t be flung at the junior grade.
Hard working committees are doing everything in their power to attract fresh blood to the game.
Maryhill are offering fans a £30 package for this afternoon’s rearranged Junior Cup clash with Linlithgow which gives you everything you’d want from your football experience.
Many clubs allow under16s free entry these days and there’s been an improvement in social clubs and facilities around the game.
The allure of the juniors might always be the value and its nod to the good old days of concrete terracing, pie and bovril.
But our clubs thankfully aren’t averse to trying new things and ensuring the supporters and local community remain at the heartbeat of their club.
Kilwinning and Auchinleck are in derby action this afternoon too in the pick of the Premier League fixtures. Talbot travel to Kilbirnie while the Buffs welcome Troon to Abbey Park.
In the east leaders Kelty Hearts travel to Dundonald Bluebell and Bo’ness are at home to Broxburn. 1936 Scottish double world motor racing champion Jim Clark was born in Fife. He was killed racing at Hockenheim in Germany in 1968.
ALAN ARCHIBALD