Junior clubs have made signings during the cold snap.

Dec 9 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

WHILE junior football action on the park has been wiped out during the past month, off-field activity has been fairly brisk – probably more so than for several years at this point in the season.

Lanark United, who are anxious to retain their Super Premier League status, have been one of the busier clubs.

They followed up their very successful close-season signing spree of Paul Woods, Stefan McCluskey, Mark Quinn, Willie Souter, Alan McCrum and Stuart Tullis by reinstating a number of young players from the senior ranks.

This includes ex-Albion Rovers winger Pat Walker from Annan Athletic, left-back Paul Burns from Queen’s Park, Declan McAvoy from Alloa Athletic and Jamie Galbraith from Albion Rovers.

Leaving the club are midfielder Jack Baptie, son of the former Motherwell defender Crawford, and forwards Stephen Baird – who was on loan from Albion Rovers – and ex-Rangers youth Bob Davidson.

Shotts Bon Accord have added to their promotion-chasing squad by signing striker Hugh Kerr from Alloa Athletic, after he impressed in a bounce game against an Airdrie United side at New Broomfield before the snow set in.

Bellshill manager Gerry Creaney has signed former Clydebank midfielder Nikki Cairney and transferred striker David McKenzie to St Anthony’s.

Centre-half John Clifford has probably played his last game for Newmains United before flying out to kick-start a four-year contract with American College outfit South Georgia.

John, the son of the namesake former Celtic midfielder who had spells as manager with varying degrees of success at Forth Wanderers and Stonehouse Violet, signed for Newmains in July after agreeing a deal with the US Men’s Soccer Scholarship scheme.

United manager Thomas Devine said: “When we signed John we knew it would only be for six months, as he had already signed the college contract while he was playing last season for Livingston United.

“It was actually John’s dad who tipped us off about young John, who said the lad who lives in Newmains was keen to play locally and keep himself fit until he was ready to head for America at the turn of the year.

“He did well for us while we were rebuilding after the summer exodus to Blantyre and most of our players attended his ‘going away’ party on Saturday. We all wish him every success in the United States.”

The Devine-Clifford link goes back several years when the Newmains player-manager played a key defensive role for Clifford senior during Forth’s memorable Scottish Cup run when they beat Dunipace, Greenock and Annbank before going out in a replay to Tayport.

Meanwhile, Bellshill have arranged one football fixture which is certain to go ahead – bad weather or not – and that’s the club’s annual dinner at the Strathclyde Hilton Hotel on Saturday, February 5.

Guest speakers will be former Motherwell winger John Gahagan and ex-Rangers, Manchester United and Northern Ireland right-back Jimmy Nicholl.

Enquiries about tickets, costing £40, can be made to Paul Fox on 01698 749840.