Snow chaos wiped out junior card

Dec 16 2010 by David Bell, Hamilton Advertiser

A FAVOURITE response from frustrated managers this week has been “another weekend without dropping a point” following a third successive Saturday fixture freeze-up.

And with the Emirates Scottish Cup third-round ties taking precedence, West Region secretary Scott Robertson has pragmatically issued a “same again” fixture programme.

With a scheduled card comprising 32 cup ties to accommodate, including five local clubs, with a county derby at Shotts, he has decided to stick with the five Central League matches he optimistically mapped out for November 27.

This card involves six Lanarkshire clubs featured in two all-county clashes, at Forth and Wishaw.

But with Friday's mild thaw overtaken by Sunday’s sub-zero temperatures and a forecast of further arctic ice and snow for today (Thursday) and tomorrow the junior football fixtures card looks set to be shelved again.

If that happens, Lanark United, Shotts Bon Accord, Bellshill Athletic, Larkhall Thistle and Blantyre Vics will still be holding an active interest in the Scottish Cup into the New Year.

It will also offer John Fallon, as he marks his first year as Thorniewood United, manager the chance to lift a Ne'erday glass to the Central League First Division pace-setters.

And in the Second Division, Carluke Rovers and Larkhall Thistle, currently nestling in second and third place, are set to kick off 2011 as strong promotion candidates along with John Brogan's pace-setting Yoker Athletic.

But as every manager will point out: “there’s still a long way to go!”

The weather-enforced shutdown has come more than a month earlier than usual - with the “traditional worst weather” period still to come in January and February, prompting calls for soccer bosses to switch the traditional soccer schedule.

Carluke Rovers manager Whitey Moffat put forward one suggestion this week - not for “summer football” as such but for an earlier start date and, depending on mid-winter call-offs, possibly a later finishing date.

He said: “I would suggest we kick-off in early- to mid-July and, allowing for a weather-hit shutdown in mid-winter, play our games well into May. That would still leave several weeks to re-lay turf in goalmouths and patch up other areas of the pitch.

“I would also suggest we think about playing games in Spring and Autumn on a Friday night. With many local football fans heading off to watch Rangers, Celtic and Motherwell on the Saturday some of them might just come along - maybe even with their family - to watch the Rovers on a Friday night. I think it's worth a try.”

The freeze-up has certainly fouled up the budding managerial career of Gerry Creaney at Bellshill Athletic.

The former Celtic and Manchester City midfielder, after a few months as coach, was appointed manager five days after Danny Drew left the club in mid-October.

It was a dream start for Creaney as his side beat promotion hopefuls Shotts Bon Accord on their own turf in his dug-out debut in the Super League First Division.

He followed his opening-day success by leading his side to a 4-2 win away to Glenafton in the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup - a few weeks after the Glens had beaten Bellshill 6-3 in a league encounter at West End Park.

Two league wins over Kilwinning Rangers and Annbank United followed as Bellshill began to climb away from the relegation zone. Then came the big freeze-up.

Creaney said: “I don't really see us playing again before early January but we've got to remain active and keep the players interested and involved.

“We've been lucky to get a few sessions at the superb Ravenscraig Indoor Facility, which has been a big help, and each of the players has been given a set of instructions as to what they require to do - on their own - to keep their fitness ticking over.”