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Official Kit Supplier to SUFC
Main Sponsors
Tracksuit Sponsor
Saturday 1st Team Sponsor
Saturday 2nd and 3rd
Team Kit Sponsor
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The 2nd Annual Preseason Tour for the lads of Strathclyde University Football Club began on
July 27th 2008 as the players convened at the University Union, ready for the journey north to Lossiemouth. New Club Captain Pete “Website” Hamilton had worked like a beagle in a laboratory to ensure accommodation, training facilities and strong opponents had been organised (but he didn’t organise breakfasts – more on that later), whilst sole coaching staff Vinny Bryson was there to organise training and ensure pre and post match routines ran smoothly. Vinny was really looking forward to the tour, as well as getting to know some of the players he hadn’t worked with before.
“I was really looking forward to the tour for many reasons, chief of which was seeing how our lads went against the likes of
Highland League opposition in Lossiemouth and Cove Rangers. However I had only worked with about half the squad we were taking up north, and I was looking forward to working alongside the lads who hadn’t played in my team the season before. It was refreshing to see how committed everyone was to training, pre match routine and the general camaraderie of the tour. I don’t think there was a cross word uttered the whole time we were up there, and it was just a really positive occasion for a young coach like me.”
Starting out with a long drive up north to Lossiemouth were drivers Andrew “Capp” Hornell and David Hill, who would play every minute of the tour and were key contributors to every on and off pitch event. They were real strong people to rely on for both Vinny and Pete, and Capp had even bought his new car a week before he had planned to due to the lack of transport available for the boys! |
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Travelling up north was a pleasant drive and the boys made it to their fairly luxurious hotel in
Elgin to be met by new Club Vice Captain Murray Duff and SUFC Legends Ricky Shade and Scott Rae. SUFC has a long history of attracting players from the north and several Aberdeenshire and Highland-based players were on Pete’s squad list for the tour. Scott Birse, Louis Robertson, Alan Drummond, Calum MacIver and Owen Robinson joined Pete, Murray, Capp, Davie Hill, Sean McBride, Calum Murison, Timo Fotheringham, Ricky Shade, Scott Rae and Vinny at the ground, and the lads went into their excellent warm up routine in the balmy surrounds of Lossiemouth, where a fairly decent crowd watched them dominate a game they should have won, but drew 1-1. An excellent goal finished by Owen Robinson and stand-out performances by Sean McBride and Callum MacIver set the tone for the footballing excellence displayed throughout their stay up north, with Scott Birse hitting the post with a penalty that would’ve given the ‘Clyde a deserved win. SUFC Legend and former Captain and Sports President Scott Rae shared his thoughts on the tour…
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“As an SUFC old boy, I really enjoyed joining up with the North of
Scotland tour, especially as it meant a trip home for me. Coming up against two
Highland League sides was a good test, and to be honest with the talented players we have and cracking coaching set up we were more than comfortable at that level. Against Lossiemouth in particular we really showed a gulf in class, hitting the woodwork about 5 times I think. That set us up for a great occasion against Cove Rangers in front of a good crowd, and I think we did well against the
Highland League champions despite losing 5-3. Certainly I met the coaching staff of Cove Rangers on a
Scotland trip and they had nothing but praise for the professionalism and calibre of the SUFC team. I think the club is quite rightly making a name for themselves in the amateur game, and the ability to compete at a higher level is testament to the special nature of all those involved at the club. Plus it was brilliant to jibe Birsey again”
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After the match and some warmly received plaudits (and sandwiches) from the Lossiemouth coaching staff and players, the lads went back to
Elgin and tore up the dance floor of Joanna’s nightclub. Self appointed “Generals of Team Handsome” Hill and Hornell led the much-hyped “Hunt” of 14 fit young lads and returned with… a kebab. The rest stays on tour…
The next morning started brightly, with the players off on an expedition to play crazy golf, leaving Vinny to get the kit cleaned and “explore”
Elgin. Upon receiving the clean kit, Vinny rendezvoused with the players and they were all halfway through an excellent lunch when Pete’s phone rang with a fairly irate owner of the hotel in
Elgin regarding an incident between Scott Rae, Ricky Shade and an ironing board… The rest stays on tour…
Loading up the cars, which were now heaving under the weight of an extra 3 people and their kit, Murray Duff navigated the lads towards
Aberdeen and their next stop. The rather Spartan surroundings of
Aberdeen
University halls of residence welcomed the lads, but the banter quickly flowed and everyone quickly adopted a role to make the place a bit more homelike. Capp showed off his culinary expertise whilst the rest of the lads shopped for bread milk and the next days’ pre match meal of chicken and pasta. |
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Calum Murison guided Vinny down to the local park where a plush 11-a-side grass surface saw an excellent low-intensity training session take place. Pete Hamilton went through kicking and crossing drills, whilst the rest of the lads worked on shooting and conditioned defensive games. The next nights team selection would be augmented by the arrival of Scott MacLennan, Mark Shanta, Max Walker and Nicky Heggie although the ‘
Clyde lost Birse, Shadey, Calum, Owen and Alan Drummond to foreign holidays! Thursday night was very quiet, with Sean McBride the “big” winner at the poker table.
Friday morning saw the team rise early and head for breakfast, which Pete Hamilton had quite simply failed to organise. Had Team Handsome not been around the boys would have starved, however Capp charmed the nice dinner ladies at the halls and Pete was left to sit on his own, ostracised for not looking after his team mates. After Breakfastgate, the team hit the tennis courts for a hotly-contested game of head tennis, which Vinnys team won hands down… Next up was a “winner stays on” tennis tournament where Murray Duff hustled the rest of the lads off the court. He then revealed he had played
County
Level tennis until 2 years earlier… Cheat.
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The afternoon saw the boys load up the cars and wander down to Aberdeen union Street where Capp and Pete took the boys on a guided bus tour of the city (no, they really did) before heading back to the residence for their pre-match meal and prep for the game against Cove Rangers. After some fairly poor driving from Murray Duff, the lads made it to Coves ground and met up with the new arrivals from
Glasgow. The usual excellent pre-match warm-up took place and was followed by a fine performance against the Highland League champions. Any thoughts of a night out were replaced with rest and a good meal as the lads were due to play the Sportsman’s Amateur team the next afternoon. Skipper, Kitman and general Mr Do It All Nicky Heggie was a proud 1st team Captain after the Cove game:
“I was very proud to be part of and especially to lead a young side that gave the top Highland League team a real scare through positive attacking football so early into pre-season. As regards the tour in general, you can’t buy the team spirit and togetherness that is formed on these tours. The quality football, banter and especially nights out are what makes Strathclyde University FC the club it is." |
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After another hotly contested game of head tennis (Vinnys team wins again – Older and Less –Handsome Shanta fails to perform) and a very sluggish although professional 3-0 win over Sportsman’s, the boys thoughts quickly turned to the Aberdeen nightlife amid much talk of numbers and conquests. The remainder of that night and the next morning will of course stay on tour… However the Aberdeen Constabulary will never forget the sight of an excited Flying Potato…
“After lots of worry leading up to the tour, the quality of player, and more importantly the quality of people associated with the club shone through. This year’s tour turned out to be an exhibition of the past, present and what will likely be the future of SUFC. The combination of football and banter was another unforgettable SUFC experience to add to the memories... And with regard to Aberdeen Constabulary, as ever, I was the victim of a vicious rumour created by the SUFC coaching staff, no one SAW anything....”
To sum up, the tour was an excellent occasion, filled with great laughs and no shortage of excellent football displayed by the ‘Clyde boys, as well as commitment to the cause from numerous lads who travelled far and wide to meet up with the team and offer their support. It was a great 5 days, and hopefully the next one is as successful and enjoyable. Roll on
London ’09!!
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