Faddy desperate for Wee Gers to cancel holidays
KILSYTH RANGERS striker Alan McFadden says he is already longing for playing action to resume in the New Year.
It was only last weekend the 34-year-old played a key role in helping the Super First Division outfit to a 3-0 victory over Junior Cup opponents Scone Thistle at the fifth time of asking, yet summer signing Faddy believes the festive break is coming at the wrong time for him and his team-mates.
Counters from Andy McLaughlin, Gary Kelly (pen) and an own goal got Kilsyth through a hard-fought Farqhuarson Park contest to earn a fourth-round tilt at home to Carnoustie Panmure.
The pacey frontman insisted: “Saturday was one of those ugly cup games devoid of any real quality because of a gale-force wind blowing throughout the game, however we still hemmed Scone deep inside their own half but without any joy until scoring our first goal around the 70thminute mark.
“It certainly wasn’t one of our better performances but a win is a win, particularly in the Scottish, and it continues a run where only league leaders Petershill have beaten us in our last eight outings.
“There have been positive signs lately of us having turned the corner, so I’d have much preferred us to be playing again this week but I do appreciate some of the guys have other commitments.
“Hopefully we can fly out of the traps in the New Year because there are important league games against Irvine Meadow, Darvel and Kello Rovers to be played before Carnoustie come down to Duncansfield.”
The prospect of going up against one of the East Region’s Super League elite is not fazing Faddy, a losing semifinalist when he turned out for Arthurlie in 2007.
He said: “Carnoustie must be a decent side to have knocked out Petershill who are way out in front and still unbeaten in the title race, however I feel confident of giving them a game.
“We are looking a whole lot stronger now that players are coming back from injury not least of all Franny Kelly who has the close control skills to be a matchwinner on his day and we also have big Ian Diack playing at the very top of his game.”
The former East Kilbride skipper’s transfer to the Wee Gers during the close season appeared to have gone horribly wrong when the man who signed him – Keith Hogg – quit his post a matter of days before the new Junior season got underway.
Faddy admitted: “Settling in was not easy but this is a club where the people behind the scenes cannot do enough for you and my decision to stick around turned out to be one of the best I’ve ever made .
“Chris McGroarty was brought in as the new manager and he is never short of encouragement and excellent for me personally to the extent that I feel as if I’ve been given a new lease of life.”
Meanwhile, on the transfer list at Super First promotion challengers Cambuslang Rangers is experienced full-back Kris Gebbie whose previous clubs include Queens Park and Lowland League outfit B.S.C. Glasgow.