Glens boss goes all guns blazing for elusive West Cup silverware
GAFFER Willie Harvey’s determination to put Rutherglen Glencairn’s name back on the Junior footballing map will see him hold nothing back in tomorrow’s Ardagh Group West of Scotland Cup clash with Kilbirnie Ladeside.
Glens go into the new year proudly sitting top in the Championship but Harvey refuses to talk up his side’s prospects of securing silverware.
And, even though Glens have never won the West Region knockout competition during their 123-year history, the Glens boss refuses to get excited about the secondround head-to-head against the Blasties.
He said: “It’s the only trophy prize the club has never won and I’d love to set the record straight on that one, but hand on heart I’d gladly give up the chance to make history for winning the Championship title.”
Harvey revealed he had thought of resting some of his star turns for the West Cup game but decided instead to go with his strongest line-up.
“We have a massive three games coming up – Kilbirnie followed by back-to-back away games against promotion rivals Kilsyth Rangers and the holders Auchinleck Talbot in the Macron Scottish Junior Cup. It did cross my mind to make changes but our backroom team of Joe Pryce and George Fotheringham felt it more important for the guys to keep their momentum going, and I had to agree with them.
“Another consideration is that we want to be playing in the top division next season. Going up against Kilbirnie gives us an ideal pointer or two of where we might stand in the grand scheme of things.”
Many plaudits have been paid to Glencairn’s midfield playmaker Dale Simeon since his signing in summer and Harvey is looking forward to see how he fares against top-flight opponents.
“I’ve no doubts he will stand out against any of the top Junior teams and I just hope it’s with us next season.”
At Huntershill Stadium Rossvale meet troubled Cambuslang Rangers, whose Cup exploits in the West and Scottish are in stark contrast to their dismal Premiership run of six defeats on the spin.
And former trophy winners Arthurlie have recruited striker Aaron Miller on a loan deal from Clyde before heading down to face Port Glasgow.