Easton eager for SPL test

Jun 19 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON defender Brian Easton admits doing well against the Old Firm might stretch family loyalty – but he expects his dad, who’s a Rangers fan, to back Accies when they face Walter Smith’s men in the season ahead.

The talented 19-year-old left-back, who has already enjoyed a bit of banter with his father, is eagerly looking forward to August 11, when Accies kick off their SPL campaign at home to Dundee United in a match that will be live on Setanta.

However, Celtic and Rangers are the teams Eastie is most looking forward to testing himself against, and he relishes the prospect of lining up against the likes of Shunsuke Nakamura and Nacho Novo.

He said: “My dad is a Rangers fan so there’s always a bit of banter between us, but I’m sure he’ll be supporting Hamilton when we’re playing them and Celtic.

“Scoring against the Old Firm would be something special and I can’t wait for the chance. We’re going from playing in front of a few thousand fans to potentially 50,000 at Ibrox or 60,000 at Celtic Park. It will be a great experience.

“I’m really looking forward to playing against people like Aiden McGeady and Shunsuke Nakamura at Celtic and Rangers players like Nacho Novo and Chris Burke.

“You really want to test yourself at the highest level, and these guys are some of the best players in Europe.

“But to be honest, as soon as we get there, when we cross that line it’s down to business; we’re not going there to be tourists or be overawed – we’re going there to do our jobs and try to get a result.”

Brian says the reality of being in the SPL really hit home when the fixture list was released on Monday.

He said: “A lot of people said it wouldn’t really sink in until we saw the fixture list, and that’s true.

“You see all the players you’re up against, the stadia you’re going to be playing in, and I really can’t wait for the start – it’s brilliant.”

Accies were on the receiving end of a 3-1 CIS Cup fourth-round defeat against Dundee United at Tannadice on October 31 but Easton said memories of that clash won’t play a part in their league opener.

He said: “That game showed us that we’re capable of doing well against SPL teams, and away from home, as did the Aberdeen and Kilmarnock games.

“Winning the league last season was great, but we’re looking forward now to trying to stay in the SPL and doing everything we can to achieve that. We’re going to go out there and try to do ourselves proud; we want to stay there and establish ourselves as an SPL club, and I think we’re capable of doing it.”

Boss Billy Reid, currently enjoying a family holiday, was pleased with Hamilton’s opening fixtures but would have preferred a Saturday opener.

He said: “Saturday is where the buzz is, so we’d have loved to be playing then, but to start live on TV, unfurling the flag in front of our own supporters and on television, is a dream for this club and shows how far we’ve come.

“I’m looking forward to the game. Dundee United are a decent team, and their manager, Craig Levein, will have them fit. We’ll also be looking forward to playing on our new grass surface for the first time.”

l Accies defender Chris Swailes is this week sitting his ‘A’ licence coaching badge exam under the auspices of the Welsh FA in Aberystwyth, while James Grady is undergoing a similar course at Rangers’ Murray Park.