League win tops the lot, says proud coach Ian

Paisley Pirates celebrate victory as they tame Dundee Tigers

Proud Paisley Pirates coach Ian Turley has heralded his side’s SNL title win as his “personal favourite” following another season of success.

Pirates secured top spot in the league with a thumping 6-0 victory away to Dundee Tigers on Saturday evening, following in the footsteps of their Scottish Cup triumph last season.

And despite having tasted success with the Pirates in the past, Turley admits that this is the one that he savours most.

Turley told Express Sport: “This league win is my own personal favourite, as, like I say, that’s about performance over a whole season, rather than a few games.

“While we won the competition four years ago, I feel the standard of competition and games has risen every year, so it’s especially pleasing to win a very tight league with little more than a point or two separating the top teams.

“There remains a whole lot to play for this season, though, so it’s back to training, and hopefully we can continue to bring pride to everyone who feels part of this club.”

He went on: “Winning the league is always the big one for me, not that we regard any of the other competitions as any less worthy of winning.

“It’s just when you win the league you have been the most consistent winners across a whole season, and not just maybe a few games.

“It shows a depth within the whole club, not only the players, but the management, the coaches, the fans, and like I say, folk within the local community who have bought into what the Paisley Pirates are all about and thus share in any success that we achieve, and the pride which follows.

“The boys will enjoy the fruits of their success over the next couple of days, but then it’s back to the serious business again, as we have an away tie at Kilmarnock in the first leg of our Scottish Cup semi-final on Saturday.”

Despite enjoying their win at the weekend, Turley admits that it wasn’t without its troubles as a nervy first period finished in a stalemate.

The players had to step up to the plate in the second and they did much to the delight of Turley, who says a brief talking to spurred them on to reach their full potential.

And he revealed that he was delighted to have matched the expectations of their supporters, who he says they have repaid for their backing.

Turley added: “In the first period it was evident that some of the players at least were suffering from nerves so when they came in at the first break at 0-0 we had a bit of a heart to heart, changed a couple of things.

“I felt that from there on, we always had the game under control.

“Since the end of the game we’ve been inundated by messages of congratulations not just from fans of the club and those closely associated with it, but also by other clubs and players, which is really nice, and it’s been great to hear from other teams and coaches in that vein.

“We’ve also been getting so many messages from people in the local area and it brings home to you just what the Pirates mean to the community, not just from those who maybe don’t get to many games, but who regard them as “their” team.

“We’ve been able to feel the sense of pride coming through in these messages and it really gives you a warm feeling.

“Everybody embraces what the club is all about, and I suppose at times like these, it comes home to you that the Pirates aren’t just an amateur ice hockey team, they really are part of the fabric of the area.”