Playa partin major events
Sports fans in the town have been invited to volunteer at three major events coming to Glasgow.
Glasgow Life has launched recruitment for the LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships, the LGT World Men’s Curling Championship and UEFA Euro 2020.
Applicants can choose which event they would like to be involved in, whether it’s one, two or all three.
Applications will close on Sunday, August 25, for a variety of roles, including supporting spectators and visitors to the city during the events.
Across all three events, more than 1000 volunteers will participate in some of the biggest events in the world, providing support and a friendly, welcoming face to spectators, athletes, fans, staff and more.
Training is provided for each role and volunteers have the flexibility to request shift days which complement their existing schedule, whether it’s after work, university or in free time.
Each event will bring something unique and exciting to the city, with the first being LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships between December 4-8 at Tollcross International Swimming Centre. Swimmers wil compete in 40 short course medal events.
Next up is the highlyanticipated LGT World Men’s Curling Championship at the Emirates Arena between March 28 and April 5, when 13 teams from the UK, Europe, Canada, USA and Asia will compete for honours.
Completing the trio of international sporting events, UEFA Euro 2020 will grace the city next summer with Glasgow joining 11 other European cities as hosts to the 60th edition of the tournament.
Four games will take place at Hampden, with the city also offering an exciting programme of activity throughout the 31 days of the tournament.
The Volkswagen Mobility Maker Host City Volunteer Programme presents an entirely separate opportunity to UEFA’s stadium-based volunteer programme, and spans across the entire tournament.
This will see volunteers facilitate fan movement, showcasing what Glasgow has on offer during the event.
Volunteers can apply for any or all three of the events by visiting www.glasgowlife. org.uk/get-involved-glasgow PAUL THOMSON
Martyn McLaughlin has hailed gaffer Gary Hamilton for transforming East Kilbride Thistle on and off the park.
The Jags defender is entering his third season at the Showpark and not only has he been impressed with the team Hamilton has managed to assemble since his arrival in May, his work behind the scenes has also garnered praise.
Hamilton has helped secure a link-up with Blantyre Soccer Academy to bring young players through and insisted on sprucing up the Showpark to bring a more professional feel to the club.
McLaughlin, from Greenhills, said: “All the guys Gary has brought in are decent and I even said to him myself I was impressed with the players he managed to get in at such short notice.
“There was a quick turnaround from last season ending, the new manager coming in and the start of pre-season, but we’ve got a good squad here.
“There’s been big changes around the club as well with the way things are organised.
“The park is a lot better, there’s been work on the changing rooms and collectively there’s been a big effort behind the scenes to build the profile of the club.
“He has improved things off the pitch for the players, with sponsorship for our kit and providing the players with lunches, things like that.
“There’s the link-up with Blantyre as well, so it’s been really refreshing to see these things happening.
“A lot of small things can make a big difference.”
Hamilton has made no secret of his desire to win promotion from West Region One this season and despite losing 3-0 to league rivals Larkhall Thistle in the Sectional League Cup, McLaughlin reckons that target is well within their reach this season.
The 33-year-old added: “I’m feeling positive.
“I know we’ve played one team from our league in the cup and lost, but Larkhall stuck with the same team for most of that game, while we were trying different players and different formations in that game.
“When the manager came in he said he wasn’t bothered about the results in the friendlies or the league cup because it was about using them as pre-season and working on finding our best formation.
“Since the gaffer has come in, he’s been very positive. “There’s a good mix of guys in there. “I don’t want to single anyone out, but we’ve got technically good players, young players and more experienced players.
“For me that’s what you need to build a good team and we are not short on numbers, which hasn’t always been the case here, so I think we’ll do well.”
The Jags will need to up their game from last season, where they finished eighth in the table.
They did so after a couple of managerial changes during the season, following the departure of Alan Paterson to Cambuslang Rangers in February and then his interim successor Steven McClung quit with three weeks of the campaign remaining.
“Last season I thought we did quite well considering what happened and we had no money for players at all,” said McLaughlin, who helped the Jags beat Blantyre Victoria for the first time in seven years last midweek.
“We did well against the bigger teams and then didn’t get the result we wanted against the teams around us, so we need to fix that.
“Gary wants us to get the ball down and play stylish football, instead of banging the ball up the park.
“And we’ve had flashes of really good play in the games we’ve played so far.
“But the boys are fit and gelling quickly, so I think we’ll have a good season.”