Former Bellshill favourites Rab Sneddon and Danny Drew go head-to-head in the dug-out for the first time.

Feb 4 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

FORMER Bellshill Athletic favourites Rab Sneddon and Danny Drew will put aside their friendship when Pollok visit West End Park on Saturday.

As manager and captain, respectively, Sneddon and Drew led Bellshill through their most successful era, winning back-to-back championships and a promotion slot, as well as lifting the Central and League Cups and qualifying for the prestigious Evening Times Champions’ Cup three times.

But on Saturday Drew will welcome his old gaffer back to West End Park as the two face each other as managers for the first time.

Pollok boss Sneddon was unhappy at his side losing last Saturday to Lanark United – so Drew is expecting a backlash.

However, Drew said: “My priority is to keep Bellshill in the Super Premier League.”

Bellshill, with six points and only one win from 13 matches, sit four points off bottom spot, as Kirkintilloch Rob Roy and Lanark hover just above them on 11 points, though with fewer games played.

Drew said: “With no league game scheduled I had hoped to watch Pollok play Petershill but we managed to fix up a friendly at home to Livingston.

“That gave everybody some game time and helped us build up a high tempo before we play Pollok. Livingston’s new manager had brought in eight players but hadn’t yet seen them play, so there was never any danger of us losing.

“Nikky Paterson’s penalty and a goal from Brendan Crozier gave us a 2-0 half-time lead and Lorn Gibson scored the third.

“I was happy with the result but it was a good exercise, which was the main thing.”

Drew added: “I was hoping Petershill would get the backlash from Pollok after the Lanark defeat, but now it could be us. But if we play against Pollok for the full game the way we played in the second half at Beith then we won’t be too far away.”

Drew’s only injury concern is long-term crock Mark Booth.

Bellshill were given a major financial boost on Saturday night when more than 150 people attended a Sportsman’s Dinner at the Strathclyde Hilton.

Main speakers on the night were former FIFA referee Willie Young and ex-Celtic and Scotland striker Frank McAvennie.