Ardrossan Winton Rovers FC

Well lads we have come to the end of your first competitive season and to be truthful, I think it had everything in it and a wee bit more.

We started very well with a great bunch of players and coaches we also had a very good pre-season and were priviliged to be allowed a few training sessions at Winton Park and a couple of games, this was tremendous experience for all team players. The parents also enjoyed the games at Winton Park as they managed to get a seat in the stand, we were also given a great back flip from one of the players when ever he scored. The team were all looking forward to a great season, everything was on the up. Unfortunately, because of adverse weather conditions there were not a lot of games being played at the early part of the season. The team players were getting a little frustrated at this training every week only to see the game being called off on a Friday. When we did play the team could not get any consistancy to their play, but we had to carry on and that we did. Although the results were not going our way the team spirit was still quite high. We also lost a few players during this time. Then the first of our bombshells during the season came to light after a bad result against KSC Phoenix Andy Wilson our Manager decided enough was enough and throw in the towel. This left Fergy and I to carry on. An emergency was called with team players and parents being informed of the news. The meeting proved to be very positive. Two new coaches volunteered to come in and help out Jim Paul and Matthew Watterson. We also managed to secure the services of Kay Kelly who took up the Treasures job and Janette Isdale took up the role of First aid. This was to be a blessing in disguise as with Fergy's work committments I was wondering how I would keep the team functioning on my own most of the time. Getting Matthew into the coaching side also meant his son Matthew who was a good player would also play for the team. Things once more were on the up when the second Bombshell was to hit us, Jim just before he came into the coaching side of things applied for a job which he did not think he was getting, but, he was wrong, he did manage to get the job and through no fault of his own hade to leave the Club due to work committments. That still left Fergy, Matthew and I so again we plodded on. Once again we were subjected to another bombshell. Matthew decided to leave because of personel reasons which I wont go into. We were now back to Fergy and I then yes, you've guessed it Fergy decided to leave. Well I thought that was the end of the club, but, for my own reasons I decided to try and run things on my own I knew it would be difficult, I had to call on all my previous years experience of running a football club to pull through. I asked Robert Brown whom I work with in Lothian Butchers if he wanted a challenge to help run a young football team and he immediately said yes, John Jamieson one of the boys parents also heard of our dilmma and offered his services which we gladly excepted, although I don't think it was all John's decision to help I have a sneaky feeling Karen his wife had something to do with it lol. Never the less we had now a full coaching team in place once again which saw us through to the end of the season. Although the team did not have a great start to the season I am sure everyone would agree that we did finish very strongly by getting to our first 1/4 Final Tie then to a Semi Final Tie only to be beaten by an odd goal. We also picked up some late league points at the end of the season. There are a lot of positives now to take into the new season. Most of the team have signed up again for the new season with the exception of two Kyle Paul who is moving to Edinburgh and Dean Wilson who has not given me a reason as to why, but, I suspect he is dropping down to his own age group. Both players will be greatly missed. I am sure that when I wish them lots of future success in what ever they decide to do in the future it comes from everyone connected to Ardrsssan Winton Rovers. Thank you lads for your services with our club.

As we have only 14 players signed, hopefully we can bring in one or two players for the start of the new season.

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