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Chappie's Chat
2006 Archive
(12/5/06)
Edition 41
I’m sure that you will all be glad to know that this will be my last column for some time! You are probably bored of my chat by now and wishing that you had never suggested open channels of communication! Seriously, I hope that this column has helped bring you closer to the club.
On the playing front, this has been the most difficult period of the season for me personally. I have worked intensely with this bunch of raw, young players for some time now and have grown close to them. I cannot detach myself from them and it has been tough and emotional telling them that they are being freed by the club. I feel complete sympathy for these young players who have given me everything they have.
I have assured the players that, while I am in charge, there will be an open door for them at Cliftonhill and that they will always be welcome at the club. We are trying to link them to other clubs and will monitor their progress. Some have their own plans and ideas but we will assist them as best we can.
The following players have been released, in addition, to those I stated earlier this week : George Wallace and Lee Wilson.
The rest of the players have been offered deals but, as I said, there are no guarantees that they will sign. They have hard decisions to make : I have made them aware of exactly what I expect at the club next season.
This may be the end of the season for many, but for me it is the beginning of the new season. We will not be caught cold again. I intend to organise a couple of trial matches to accommodate the requests and recommendations that I receive. As I have said, I have a network of scouts and supporters across Scotland that send me information throughout the season. These matches will be similar to the exercise we carried out last July but this year I have a benchmark and I have the nucleus of a squad.
Throughout June, the players have a close-season technical programme to follow, this will allow their bodies to recover from the physical demands of a difficult season without switching off completely from football. Pre-season starts officially on the first of July and I have been working on a programme of ten physical development sessions that should ensure that we are ready for the demands of the new season. I am awaiting confirmation of some games, but these will be difficult games. There is nothing to be gained from pitching ourselves against sub-standard opposition.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my backroom team for all their hard work and support throughout the season. I would also like to thank David Crichton and Bill Walker for giving me the forum to communicate with the fans through this website and the programme. But, most importantly, I would like to thank you – the fans – for your support. We knew it would be difficult and, at times, disappointing. I hope that you enjoyed the football we invariably attempted to play, even when results did not go our way. I hope you will all come back next season!
As is my wont, I will end with a quotation. This time, however, I will quote from a plaque given to me by the Chairman at the Player of the Year function : “Achieving starts with Believing”. Let’s all believe in ourselves and our team and progress as we hope in the new season.
With all good wishes for a great summer,
Jim
(25/4/06)
Edition 40
As promised, this week’s column is a résumé of Saturday afternoon’s Question and Answer session. I would like to thank those of you who stayed behind : I think that it is a mark of the passion we all share for the club that the Chairman had to draw proceedings to a close at 7 o’clock on a Saturday to ensure that we all went home!
The Chairman introduced the session by expressing his relief that the season was drawing to a close. He felt that much of the off-field work of the past nine months had been spent fire-fighting rather than progressing matters. The next three months will be spent focusing on the playing surface. He recognised that we have all had unrealistic expectations at times this season, both on and off the pitch. Three weeks before the season there was no Manager and only three signed players. He went on to thank the players for the efforts over the season and acknowledged that there would be some comings and goings over the next few weeks. The Chairman then mentioned the manager’s position : he feels he has an open and honest coach who has had a tough time within some of the most stringent financial boundaries anyone has ever operated in at the club. He mentioned that my only constant complaint appears to be the condition of the pitch, so the Chairman joked that this probably meant I enjoy having no money! He then gave me the dreaded vote of confidence… but acknowledged that I am very generous with my time and commitment to the club, that I am very honest with the fans. The Chairman finished his introduction by thanking me for taking on the job.
It was then over to me for the Questions and Answers, although you will see from the responses that it was a double-act between the Chairman and myself!
I came in promising clear channels of communication and would like to think that I have kept my side of the bargain. Yes, there have been difficult periods but I have never hidden away. I would like now to publicly thank the boys for their fantastic efforts over the season : they deserve credit given their backgrounds and where we started. Some have signed up for next season and they know what we need to move things forward. I have identified potential targets and I know the areas I need to strengthen. Yes, we may be operating in a tough financial climate; most clubs are (or should be); but it does not cost money to be a professional – it’s all about attitude, desire and sheer hard work. Most of the players at the club do not get enough money each week to pay for a tank of petrol! This is Year 1 of the plan finished and it is now time to move forward. I would also like to thank you all for your unstinting support throughout the season.
The pitch is in a terrible state; what is going to happen to prepare it for next season?
When I first came to the club last July, my first visit to the ground encouraged me : fans were physically involved in tidying up the ground and painting areas. Let’s not hide away from the fact that no-one was sure what was happening and work started later because there was a genuine fear about the long-term future of the club. We have no training facility, so the park is overused. We play good football and would relish playing on a decent surface. The reality of football at this level is that we have trained on every surface imaginable : sand-based
astro, ash, blaes! I am meeting with North Lanarkshire Council to try to secure a long-term let on an appropriate facility. We now also have the magnificent tie-in with JJB.
The Chairman then added to this : there is a charity match at Cliftonhill this Sunday (30th) and the contractors arrive on Tuesday (2nd) to tend to the surface. No significant work has been done to the pitch for over ten years. The Chairman’s number one priority this season has been to secure the future of the club but there is now a full pitch-maintenance programme in place for the close season. He reminded us all that the club can only work with the resources it has and that priority has been having a club and team to play on the pitch.
What is the situation with the proposed stadium development?
The Chairman answered this question. Discussions are ongoing with Noth Lanarkshire Council and a series of meetings are planned over the next few weeks. There is a willingness on the part of North Lanarkshire Council to keep the club in Coatbridge. MP Tom Clark and Councillor Tom Nolan attended Saturday’s match.
There is a lack of pace in midfield
I will always back my players publicly. Every player at any level has strengths and weaknesses. All my players work hard for you and the club.
How are you going to address our lack of success in the final third of the park?
We are all aware that this is our main problem area. The statistics of the games show that we create numerous chances but the “goals for” column shows that we do not take them. The top goal-scorers in most divisions are attached to the top two or three teams in those divisions. These players with their composure and experience, however, cost money. I would be more worried if we were not creating chances. I am looking to strengthen this area but it must be the right player for the club. Scott Chaplain is our top scorer from midfield as indeed midfielder Lampard is the top scorer at Chelsea; I would happily have a striker that lays up goals for midfielders if that player fitted into my philosophy.
I am pleased with the players we’ve got and I think the football is good. How would you sum up the season?
We have played well and lost a number of times this season. I feel that we sometimes lack the experience and mentality to kill games off. I often use a boxing analogy with the players : when you have someone on the ropes you need to finish them. I am not convinced that a 20-goals-a-season striker is the answer to our style of play. We need all our players to be ruthless in front of goal. The prime examples are the two Stenhousemuir games where we dominated but failed to gain any points.
What are your plans for next season?
Can I start this response by urging caution? Our goal this season was stability. I am never happy : I always want more and will never settle for mediocrity. I believe that this season we have built a good foundation from which we can move forward. I know the resources I have; and I know the right additions I need to make to my squad. My goal for next season is to finish mid-table.
Will you have more resources next season?
No! I will have the same budget as this season. We will not mortgage the club’s future by chasing things and paying excessive wages to players that don’t deserve it. The Chairman then added : the club is close to breaking even financially this season and may indeed make a small profit at the end of next season. It is a tough gig for the manager but it is more important that the club is here. He reiterated that the action that the Board took last May and June stabilised the club. The Chairman stressed his two-year plan when he arrived was : year 1 still be here; year 2 move forward. He then broached the subject of sponsorship : it is not always about cold, hard cash. In-kind support can be just as effective : the free footballs from Asda; the JJB facility. A new scheme is also being developed that will enable fans to pay their season tickets by instalments over the season. There will also be a family season ticket. If an additional fifty people came to home fixtures, the club would be in a more comfortable position. Attracting fans in Coatbridge is not always easy but we are doing the right thing by going into schools. The club had a full-time set-up for years but we were not active in the local community with twenty full-time players in the area. This begs the question, why? He then asked fans to consider giving an hour of their time to the club on match days to help out. The Chairman ended by pointing out that the current squad of part-time players had done better than last year’s full-time squad. Ending the Skillseekers programme will also reduce the overheads at the club by 60%. I came back in to remind people of one of my favourite quotations, “Vision without action is just dreaming” : we must act on our plans and you, as supporters, have an important rôle to play.
We were told that the Skillseekers programme was self-sustaining, is this not the case?
The Chairman answered this question. The programme pays wages and travelling expenses. It does not cover coaching expenses, coaches’ fees, travelling to matches, match-day expenses, pitch hire and overheads when the Stadium is open every day. There is still a lot of work to be done off the pitch; the first thing the club needs to do is to continue to manage it’s finances then we can focus on improving performance.
What kind of help does the club need on match days?
We are looking for people to help selling 50/50 tickets, selling programmes, stewarding, advertising in programmes, advertising trackside, staffing the bar, selling pies, etc. We need help throughout the summer too.
I think the commercial side has really improved too.
The Chairman answered this question. The atmosphere at the last two games has been fantastic. While the entrance tickets were free, we have also generated considerable non-football income through catering, programmes, 50/50 tickets. Next season there will probably not be a league sponsor so we need to look closely at increasing revenue in other ways.
What’s your budget for next season?
Our income has halved over the past five years. The budget will therefore be the same next season.
Have you identified players for next season?
Yes, I spend most evenings watching junior games but the financial climate there is different, with players picking up substantial fees. One player in the juniors can command weekly the equivalent of my entire team’s budget for two months! Let me use Ciaran Donnelly as an example of the type of player I want at this club. Ciaran has had an outstanding season : his partnership with Gordon Lennon has been fantastic. I knew Ciaran as a boy when he was involved in the South Lanarkshire development squads, he then moved on to Hamilton Academical and then went to Aberdeen. When things didn’t work out at Aberdeen, Ciaran came to Cliftonhill to make a fresh start and has more than made his mark in this division. That’s the type of player I want; I won’t let players walk away from the game because one club doesn’t work out for them. Ambition, rather than money, will bring players here. That’s why I have asked for patience and understanding. I have to say, however, that they boys have played beyond my expectations this season. Come the 15th of May, however, there will be 350-400 players out there looking for a club. I know that Albion Rovers will not be the first choice club for many of them but it will offer them a chance to get back on the ladder.
We have had a couple of trialists at the club this season, but they did not sign. Why not?
The reason, as I’m sure you’ll understand, is purely financial. Other clubs came in for them with better offers. The Chairman openly states that I will be sacked if I am 1p over my budget and we will not compromise the long-term future of this club. I have a professional opinion on the loan scheme : why should I take a player from another club to the detriment of one of our own who will have to sit in the stand? Derek and I have significant contacts in the game but if we take a player on loan we are liable for their full wages.
You once said that you had 6 assistants, but latterly you have appointed Derek Ferguson as your number two. Why?
Derek helps with everything around the club, from kit to coaching. I said I would work without an assistant until the right person came along, Derek is the right person; he shares my coaching philosophy and I have faith that Derek is not here to take my job. The most important thing for me is to have the right team behind me : Jimmy McLaughlin deals with the kit, Eric does the admin and team lines, Derek Kelly has had a busy season in the treatment room and Derek and I deal with the football. I am a track-suited, hands-on coach during the week but I wear collar and tie on matchdays. While I have been beavering away to sign up players for next season, I need to confirm my backroom team too. I don’t feel that I have had a chance to coach the boys properly yet : much time has been spent working on shaping and generic coaching. I am confident that Derek and I are first-rate coaches. I know where we are going but we need your support and patience. Players win matches; managers lose matches. You pay your hard-earned cash to support us, the least you deserve in return is 100% effort. I know we lack mental strength but that is in hand for next season.
Which players have committed to the club for next season?
Jamie Ewings, Jamie Doyle, Ciaran Donnelly, Gordon Lennon and Steven Donachy have all re-signed for next year and I have made my intentions clear to some others. I know there are very difficult decisions to be made but I will endeavour to assist any player leaving the Club to remain within the game.
Thank you for your questions. Next week’s Chappie’s Chat (the final for the season) will take the form of an end-of-season analysis! Thereafter I will keep you au fait with important developments through this website.
Let’s hope we can get a result at Stenhousemuir on Saturday! Thanks again for your support.
Jim
(21/4/06)
Edition 39
William James once said, “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind.” I don’t think I need say any more about last Saturday. My opinion on our performance has been well reported.
I was, however, encouraged by the performance of Mark Quinn in goal. Forced into action for the second half as a result of an injury to Gary McGlynn, 17-year-old Mark deserves credit for his performance and may be in line for a home début tomorrow.
I am relishing the post-match “Ask the Manager” session tomorrow. One thing you know you are guaranteed from me is truth and honesty. I will get feedback through your questions and opinions : you are as important to this club as I am. You also know that I can give as good as I get and I may be a great warm-up for the comedian…
I would remind our far-flung supporters and anyone unable to attend tomorrow that they can still put questions to me through
RoversPR@aol.com and there will be a synopsis next Friday for Chappie’s Chat.
Tomorrow’s match sees Stewartfield Boys’ Club return to Cliftonhill as ball boys and I would like to welcome them to the club. Their coach, Dave McKenna, has submitted an appendix to Chappie’s Chat as well as a photograph of the boys. It was too late to include this in the match programme. The boys will be participating in a sponsored penalty shoot out at half-time and I hope you will give your full support to them.
Thank you again for your support.
Jim.
Hello! I am David McKenna from Stewartfield Boys’ Club in East Kilbride and I would like to give you a little information about the boys who will be at the club tomorrow.
We went off to Barcelona on 8 April with the boys and I have attached a snap from the trip. we had just won penalty shoot out to qualify
for semis. Overall we played 7 games, won 4, drew 2 and only loss was 1-0 in semi. Played teams from Germany, France and Belgium. Won Cup for 3rd
place, out of 30 teams again on penalties , so expect big things on Saturday!
Thanks for the support for our fundraiser, we will make this a great day out for
our team. No pressure on Mr. Chapman and his players, but another 3 points would be nice !!
We are having a great season and the work Jim with us over the last couple of years through his job with South Lanarkshire Leisure has been a big factor. All of the boys have benefited, no more so than our son Rudi. He has become a complete athlete and improved so much he is now captain of school team. Of course I am biased, but he is a great example of what can be achieved with the right support.
Dave McKenna
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(14/4/06)
Edition 38
Those of you who follow the news closely may have read or heard the Queen’s speech at the Sovereign’s Parade at RMA Sandhurst on Wednesday. HRH uttered the phrase “…this is just the end of the beginning…” – I did not quite realise how influential and well-read last week’s Chappie’s Chat was…
The season is quickly drawing to a close for us now and we really are down to the bare bones of our squad. Tommy Lennox and Iain Chisholm are possibly out for the last three games, along with Jamie Doyle and Jamie Ewings. It remains, however, a testament to the hard work of Derek Kelly that we have been able to field a decent side for the entire season without the players having the benefit of a proper pre-season programme to build upon. Minor niggles and slight strains heal much more quickly if the body is prepared for exercise.
Tomorrow we head up to Tayside for our final fixture against Arbroath. There are still a number of players who have to prove that they are worthy of an extended contract and I will be casting an eye over some of them again at Gayfield. The lighter nights mean more evening matches for amateur and junior sides; I will be spending a considerable amount of time observing these games and looking for players to ensure that we are ready to compete next season.
Next Saturday (22nd) sees our final home fixture and, once again, tickets will be given out to the local schools. It would be great to sign off for the season at Cliftonhill with a bumper crowd so I hope all the schools will take up their allocation. After the Montrose game I will be hosting an “Ask the Manager” session for the supporters. I am, however, aware that we have fans who cannot necessarily attend matches; therefore if you have a question you would like answered, please e-mail it to RoversPR@aol.com and I will do my best to include it. In addition to this, “Chappie’s Chat” in two weeks time will provide a synopsis for our fans to see. You asked for clearer channels of communication and I am genuinely doing my best to play my part.
I’m starting to run out of suitable quotations : you almost got a blast of “My Way” this week…so during the close season “Chappie’s Chat” will not be a regular feature. I will, however, ensure that David is informed of any news so that it can be posted on the website.
I would like to take this opportunity - on behalf of myself, Derek and the players - to wish you all a very happy Easter.
Jim.
(8/4/06)
Edition 37
I suppose I ought to start this week by offering my apologies : I tried to assist David with his April Fool’s wind-up! It showed a vivid imagination and was an intricate effort, although it would be fabulous for the Club to be granted entry into the Third Round of the Scottish Cup. (Any chance of arranging that this tie be at Ibrox or Parkhead?).
I attended a conference recently about a World Class Coaching System, where the principal quotation was : “ Vision without action is only dreaming”. Well, our game against East Stirlingshire clearly outlined that a lot of action has taking place and it was a great sight to see so many supporters, and potential future supporters, at the game.
A lot of credit must go to Pat and Al for all their hard work in distributing the tickets around the community and this typifies the hard work and necessary action that the Club needs to take if we are to realise part of our vision. It can happen, it is not dreaming and we all have a responsibility to ensure that we build upon this memorable day and yes, the date was April 1st, but let’s work hard and stick together to make sure that Albion Rovers Football Club is no longer anyone’s Fool.
The reception and support for the players gave them a huge boost and I felt that they responded very well to this and turned in another good, exciting and attacking performance. We know that this is our responsibility as it will be the product on the pitch that will inevitably keep the supporters coming back and will compliment all the hard work that is happening off the pitch.
We have a few injuries and doubts for this afternoon’s tough game against Cowdenbeath with Tommy Lennox joining Jamie Ewings and Jamie Doyle on the treatment table. The players know the extent of the challenge they face but from the response and attitude shown in training this week, it is one that they are looking forward to.
As we enter the closing stages of season 2005/ 06, a period when there have been major changes, tough decisions, doubt and scepticism throughout all areas, I would like to leave you with this thought (borrowed from Winston Churchill):
“This is not the End, nor is it the beginning of the End; but it is the End of the Beginning”
Jim.
(31/3/06)
Edition 36
This week’s “Chappie’s Chat” is a little shorter than usual as I have decided to present it
bi-lingually because of the potential link and exchange with Red Star 93 on the outskirts of Paris. I am currently learning French and this has all tied in quite nicely.
Bonjour à tous mes amis à Paris et, bien sûr, au pont des manteaux…
Le saison de foot ‘05/’06 se termine vite et demain nous jouerons notre dernier match contre l’équipe de Stirlingshire de l’est. La
pluie, promise par les météorologists, n’est pas encore arrivée donc il n’y aurait pas de problème avec le terrain de foot. On m’a dit que le temps fasse aussi mixte en France qu’ici et alors on aura les mêmes concernes l’année prochaine pendant notre
échange!
The above may or may not make perfect sense to you, but please excuse any errors as I’m only a few weeks into my intensive French course. The more linguistically astute amongst you will, however, appreciate my fleeting use of the subjunctive!
Tomorrow is indeed our penultimate home fixture and the visit of East Stirlingshire brings about a very different mental challenge for the team. We have had a number of good performances coupled with some disappointing results. We are expected to win tomorrow and that expectation brings its own set of pressures. The whole concept of sports psychology is something we will work strongly on next season : I have a number of contacts in the world of sport that are keen to help us out in this area. We are a young and inexperienced side, so it has not been a key element of training to date. We will be a more competitive, stronger team come July and that in itself will change the psychological demands on the team.
I hope that the supporters will continue to provide the team with the fantastic backing we have had to date and that the schoolchildren attending tomorrow will join in. I listened today to a renowned businessman talk about the “boomerang effect” in public relations : it’s not enough to get them there, you have to make them want to come back again. I think that is my message to you all tomorrow : let’s give the children a great experience - on and off the park - and ensure that they are drawn back to Cliftonhill in the future.
Et, pour terminer, je voudrais remercier David pour l’info en ce qui concerne l’échange avec l’équipe de Red Star 93. Je
suis, bien sûr, aussi très heureux de faire parti de son poisson d’avril…
Jacques Homme de Type
(24/3/06)
Edition 35
Last weekend I have been thinking about success and football. We were in the midst of a disappointing run of results, yet an impressive run of performances. Football, however, is a results-driven business and I was struggling to come to terms with how so many good performances could yield so little in terms of results. So, I started thinking about the difference between being a “journeyman” player and being an “élite” player. I wonder how committed the former is to his club : how much does it mean to him to win? Is he willing to chase every ball, even the so-called lost cause? Is he a team player or is it about saving himself to impress on the bigger stage? Is training just a necessary evil to be avoided for the simplest excuse? The term “journeyman” does not necessarily refer to a player’s ability, but rather to his demeanour and attitude. I’m sure you can all think of players who had all the ability they could want, but they lacked the ambition, drive and focus to realise their potential. We cannot afford to have journeymen in our side.
Top-class players focus fully on the game for 90 minutes : they anticipate where opponents may play the next ball; they want to win at all costs; defeat hurts them. Quality footballers sacrifice many things to achieve excellence : they will hone their skills at every opportunity; they will give everything in training and they will replicate training practices in match situations. It has been widely reported that David Beckham used to spend three hours every afternoon practising free kicks from all over the park. This extra work was done without Sir Alex Ferguson telling him to do so. He wanted to be the best. While we cannot expect to have this level of player at the club, we need eleven men on the park every match day who are striving to become élite players.
The next few months will see many players, the length and breadth of Scotland, come to the end of their contracts. There will be hundreds of professionals looking for a club for next season. No-one should hold back from maximum effort on the field of play or they will find themselves wondering “what if?” for a long time.
Jim
(17/3/06)
Edition 34
It has been an emotive week for Scottish football, a week in which we have lost a great stalwart in Jimmy Johnstone. In a day where exaggerations are bandied about, Jimmy was a player who truly deserved the epithet “World Class”. The untimely death of the Celtic legend has cast a shadow over the week and I have paid tribute to him in tomorrow’s programme.
There has been something of a mini French Revolution over at the other side of Glasgow too and I am a keen advocate of the French system of football development : it is one of the most complete programmes in the World. Unfortunately it does not lend itself to direct integration into Scottish society. In this Gallic vein, a quotation from Anatole France, a French Nobel-prize winning author, caught my eye this week : “To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” We have been playing well without taking our chances. I will make changes for tomorrow but planning is not enough : we now need to believe in ourselves too. Your support has been fantastic when the boys have seen scant return for their efforts; my task is to ensure that their belief in their ability to score is not lost. I hope that things will improve in the final third tomorrow.
This week, as promised, Derek Ferguson will be writing the column for you. I moved quickly to secure the services of Derek when I heard that his playing career had been ended by injury. Derek brings a wealth of experience to the club and I am happy to hand my column to him this week.
Jim
Hello! Firstly, I would like to thank you all for the warm welcome that has been extended to me since I came to Cliftonhill.
I was delighted to be asked to work alongside Jim at the club when I had to stop playing. I have known Jim for a number of years through my own coaching development : I have worked as a casual coach with South Lanarkshire Leisure when he was Football Development Co-ordinator there. I have also been fortunate enough to pass some of my coaching badges under the guidance of Jim.
In my long playing career I have worked under some top coaches, but I rate Jim highly. He is not from the old school of dictatorial coaches; he can frequently be heard asking players “Why do you think we are doing this?” He is genuinely committed to player development. I make no apologies for highlighting his strengths : the team is going through a difficult period but we are working hard as a unit to try to fix things.
Since my arrival I have been very impressed with the attitude of the majority of the players at the club. There is still room for improvement and they need to learn to be more disciplined. I was guilty of not dedicating myself totally to the pursuit of excellence in my youth and I am determined to be as heavy-handed as required to ensure that none of the players at the club makes the same mistake. My experience allows me to pass on good practice I have gleaned from years of playing at various clubs : training circuits, nutrition, habits. I am here to help Jim make Albion Rovers a club to be proud of again.
I have to say that I was impressed by the standard of play in the Third Division. I think Rovers play good, creative football and are better than many of the sides in higher leagues. Of course, our failure to score has been well documented and we are trying to rectify this. Hopefully we can change things tomorrow and, as Jim said earlier, get some belief back when we are in the box.
Tomorrow, we have Elgin City at home and I want to see a victory and some goals. I hope to see a good crowd of you there!
Derek
(10/3/06)
Edition 33
When I started this job back in June, I mentioned that I managed to work 23 hours a day, with an hour for lunch and sleep. This week it seems to have reached the 23½ hour working day, so I hope you will excuse this shorter-than-usual version of my chat.
This week saw training as usual, coupled with a bounce game on Thursday night. That allowed me to cast my eyes over a few options for the future. Gordon Strachan said this week that he hopes to have completed all his transfer dealings prior to the World Cup. Unfortunately that timescale is not an option at this level and budget, but I hope to have things finalised in sufficient time to allow us a strong and focused pre-season. I am always on the look-out for new players and anyone who can strengthen the team without breaking the bank will be considered. I am also retaining many of the current squad for next season; some have already made that commitment with others to follow. I will make a fuller statement on this next week.
Last Friday I was delighted, for once, to have “gone to the dogs”! I refer, of course, to the excellent evening organised by the Supporters’ Trust. It was nice to be called a “bar steward” for a change, it sounded remarkably similar to some of the things I’ve been called at 4.40pm on a Saturday! It was a great night, well supported by the local community, not just Rovers’ fans. It is indicative of the Club’s long-term plans that we aim to strengthen and enhance our community links. I wasn’t even complaining at 2am when the fire alarm didn’t set properly and firemen arrived from Coatbridge and Bellshill!
Thanks again to the Supporters’ Trust for organising this event.
Tomorrow we head to East Fife and let’s hope for a positive result! Next week my new Assistant Manager, Derek Ferguson, will be sharing his wit and wisdom with you – and no doubt plugging his forthcoming autobiography!
Thanks again for your support,
Jim
(3/3/06)
Edition 32
In last Saturday’s matchday programme article I said that I was looking for a few answers. Stenhousemuir are the benchmark for the rest of the Third Division. I threw down the gauntlet to our young squad to show me how they compared, both collectively and individually, to the pace-setters. That we had sixteen attempts on goal and dominated the match tells me all I need to know. I believe we have the nucleus of an excellent side here and I am adamant that, with experience under their belts next season, we will be able to challenge in this league. After two successive matches against Stenhousemuir, I am satisfied that we are making great progress. We dominated for 45 minutes against Cowdenbeath; we held strong for 70 minutes up at Montrose and then we manages to sustain our form for the full ninety minutes in both the Stenhousemuir fixtures.
Yet Winston Churchill once said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. I am beginning to sound like a stuck record (if that’s not showing my age) when I mention our failure to capitalise on chances in a match. I share the frustrations of our players : we are working hard in training to rectify this. It has not helped that both our strikers have been out injured but we are determined to make our efforts count. The team is hurting after taking nothing from these two games but they see the benefit of experience. I am satisfied that they tried to play creative, passing football despite the unfavourable pitches. So it is disappointing that tomorrow’s match has been postponed but we were expecting the decision given the harsh frosts of the past week.
We would all like to thank those of you who braved the sub-zero temperatures at both matches. Adrenalin and the side walls on the dug-outs protect us from the cold, but we are all aware that you are there for us. The team were so grateful that you applauded them off the park after both games : they were very disappointed that their efforts had not brought 6 points, but they felt heartened that their supporters recognised their efforts. As I have said before, do not underestimate the value of your support; it means a great deal to us all.
We have, of course, played a trialist in the last couple of fixtures and, unfortunately, we have not been able to secure his services. The club, as you are all aware, is not in a situation to enter into a competitive market in terms of players’ salaries and we are not prepared to compromise financial stability for players.
I hope that this cold spell will pass and that we can get back to competitive action on Tuesday night against Arbroath. I look forward to seeing you all at Cliftonhill for that game.
Thanks again for your support.
Jim.
(24/2/06)
Edition 31
With a home fixture tomorrow it is the norm to hand this column to a player. As a result of events at the club this week, however, that will not be the case today. A number of things have been stated on this
website, about Jimmy Lindsay and I, that are both factually inaccurate and indeed defamatory. I offered Jimmy the chance to write the column and set the record straight about this decision, which was solely taken by the Board of Directors and based purely on financial grounds. Jimmy has, as you would expect, had a lot of things to sort out as a result of the decision and will hopefully be writing this column for you next week.
Jimmy has had carte blanche to deal with the youth side of the club since my arrival and I have trusted his judgement implicitly. It is testament to the professionalism of Jimmy that the set up has been in operation for the past decade. I have had no input to the youth set-up and only learned of the decision to axe it at an official club meeting on Monday morning.
I understand that this is an emotive issue for everyone involved but much of the personal sniping posted here aimed at Jimmy and myself is unacceptable. No-one would want to see the club in this position but the decision, as I said, was based on financial grounds. Please recognise that many outside agencies access this website and you may be doing untold damage to people’s reputations based on hearsay and misinformation. David Crichton does a great job in trying to regulate the site : he is not trying to stifle your right to freedom of speech but merely to protect against potential litigation.
The demise of the youth system at the club is a disappointing but necessary step; apportioning blame to Jimmy or myself is achieving nothing. We must pull together, draw a line under these events and face up to the future. Albion Rovers is not the first club to axe its youth development programme, and it certainly won’t be the last. Scottish football is in a precarious state and clubs at all levels of the game are being forced to take unpopular steps to secure their long-term survival.
I would like to thank you for your understanding at this difficult time for the club and trust that you will offer both Jimmy and myself your full support from now on. I look forward to seeing you at Cliftonhill for the Stenhousemuir match tomorrow.
Jim
(17/2/06)
Edition 30
This week's chat hasn't actually had any input
from the head-coach himself and has instead been done by chairman Frank Meade.
It came as a bit of a surprise when Jim asked me to do the Chat this
week. I have to say that having already given me a vote of confidence earlier in the
season (which demonstrated that he didn’t understand the concept), my main concern was that he would resign before I could sack him!!! (Note: That’s a wee joke, Jim).
It’s hard to believe that we are fast approaching the latter stages of a season, which was always about transition on the field and stabilising things off it.
On the field Jim has put together a competitive squad within the budget constraints imposed on him by the Club’s financial situation and he has instilled a real team spirit, which augurs well for the future. We have already seen significant improvement in terms of general fitness levels and game awareness. However, the team is very much a work in progress and this season has been about putting in place a sound infrastructure, which will enable the Club to progress over the next couple of seasons. Supporters have a major part to play in lifting the players and I do think that the support the team has received so far this season has been first class. Thanks and keep up the good work.
The addition of Derek Ferguson to the back room team as Jim’s assistant demonstrates that we are all united in trying to raise standards at the Club. Derek joins us with an excellent pedigree and on behalf of everyone at the Club I welcome him and wish him every success in his new role.
Behind the scenes the Board continues to make progress on future plans for the Club but there is no silver bullet solution to the financial ills of Scottish football. Everyone at the Club is learning that we must continue to live within the Club’s means and that affordability is the key to our short and medium term future. The Board’s strategy has to be focussed on optimising the Club’s limited resources and that means facing up to some tough choices in order to secure the future.
We are already planning for next season and are working hard to bring in additional commercial revenue in the absence of any information on the replacement for Bell’s sponsorship of the
SFL. With this in mind I am delighted to welcome our new Commercial Manager, Patrick Rolink to the Club. Patrick has a wealth of contacts and fundraising experience and I am sure that all Rovers’ regulars will give him every assistance going forward.
The Club will be holding an Advertisers day at the Elgin City match on 18th March the objective being to target them for next season. Apologies in advance but the lounge area may not be available for normal business on that day but I’m sure you will all support this initiative.
Finally, regular readers of Chappie’s Chat will know that Jim likes his quotations, so in line with tradition I’d like to offer “the worst you can do is aim low and miss” (not a message to the strikers!!) and assure all Rovers’ supporters that we are certainly not aiming low and with your continued support we won’t miss. Enjoy the rest of the season.
(10/2/06)
Edition 29
Thomas Edison once said, “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave
up”. I have been pondering this concept for a few days in the wake of last Saturday’s defeat at East Stirlingshire. We fell behind to an early goal caused by a defensive mix-up. Did we fail to win the match because that early setback caused us to give up and stop trying? No. We worked hard and held the majority of possession for the 85 minutes after the goal. We created ample chances to win the match but we failed to capitalise on these chances in the final third. Again, I pondered Edison’s quotation, but our lack of goals was not down to lack of effort. Yes, it was disappointing to come away empty handed but the lack of sharpness in our finishing cost us dearly. Without sounding like a stuck record, injuries to our key front men have hit us hard and we are struggling to compensate.
Tomorrow’s game against Cowdenbeath gives us the opportunity to get things back on track. There may be the prospect of fielding a couple of trialists who will have to prove that they are better players than those already at the club. I hope you will all afford any trialists and new arrivals the courtesy of a warm welcome to Cliftonhill.
There has been a lot spoken and written about the current injury situation at the club so I would like to take this opportunity to clarify the situation. I will never compromise the long-term playing career of a player to rush him back into the team for a particular fixture. Rehabilitation from injury takes time and every player at this club will be afforded the appropriate time to recover fully from injury. We are not in the fortunate position of having a private policy that enables players to access private healthcare but this is something that we would like to secure – probably through sponsorship – in the longer term. Derek Kelly is my guide in terms of rehabilitation time and, I reiterate, no player will ever be rushed back into action.
On a much more positive note, Jamie Ewings is now back in training and will be looking to force his way back into the squad in a few weeks. Tommy Lennox is also back in training. Andy Sim returned to training last week but broke down. Andy is a young boy and will be given all the time he needs to regain the sparkling form that saw him make such an impact in his first couple of games for the club.
The next few weeks are a busy time in terms of finalising preparations for pre-season. I am currently confirming pre-season training facilities and training programmes for season 2006/7. We started this season on the back foot and I firmly believe that preparation is essential. We will not be starting from the back next season. I will also be tying up the nucleus of the squad for next season as well as starting the recruitment process to enhance and improve the current squad.
Tomorrow’s match will be a difficult fixture but we will be giving our all as ever.
Thanks again for your support.
Jim.
(3/2/06)
Edition 28
The transfer window has now closed and it is a reflection of the Spartan times in Scottish football that so few players changed clubs in January. From the SPL down to our own SFL Third Division, clubs are learning to live within their means.
Here we saw Alan Creer move on to Alloa Athletic in a deal that benefited both the player and Albion Rovers Football Club. I have always said that I will give young players a springboard to move on to bigger things and Alan now has the opportunity to ply his trade in the Second Division for the remainder of the season. I would personally like to thank Alan for his time at Albion Rovers and to wish him well in his future career.
Lee Wilson has returned on loan to Dunipace Juniors. We have the option to recall Lee at any time. There is no guarantee of first-team football for anyone at the club and we felt that it is in Lee’s best interests, at this time, to be playing regular football.
Tommy Franch and Kevin O’Neil have both been released on compassionate grounds.
Gary McGlynn joins the club as part of the deal that took Alan Creer to Alloa Athletic. I am delighted to welcome him to the club and hope that he will be an intrepid figure between the posts! He brings a great deal of experience to our young side and will, in fact, be the elder statesman at the ripe old age of 28!
There are still one or two issues to be considered and I will keep you updated. I will, of course, always be on the lookout for new talent that can add to our developing squad and I am already focusing on the summer recruitment period. In addition to this, I will be using reserve fixtures and bounce games to assess the quality of all the players at the club and also to enable trialists to come along and stake their claim for a place in my team. This will necessarily include a thorough review of the youth programmes.
There is nothing new to report on the injury front ahead of tomorrow’s fixture. Jamie Ewings has started jogging again but we have no fresh worries.
We have once again hit a difficult phase following our good run of form. It is unrealistic to think that we could absorb the loss of key players and not be affected and that has proved to be the case. Your support when we were defeating our rivals was incredible; we need equally vocal support now. I look forward to hearing it tomorrow – we will do our best to give you something to shout about!
Thanks again for your support,
Jim
(27/1/06)
Edition 27
Last week’s column, with its reality check, turned out to be ominously accurate. We did not perform well at Elgin and they deserved the points. Tomorrow is an opportunity to get things back on track but, with Berwick Rangers over their slump in form, things will not be easy. We still have a few injury concerns but it is another chance for fringe players to stake their claim for a starting place. There have been some coming and goings at the club this week and, at the time of writing, I am working to finalise a deal for tomorrow. I will use next week’s column to give you a comprehensive update.
This week I am handing my column over to Scott Chaplain.
Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at Cliftonhill tomorrow.
Jim
My name is Scott Chaplain and I am 22 years old. I have had quite an illustrious upbringing in the game, learning from Bobby Russell and Sam Beck at Rangers aged 10-16 and then moving to Ayr United where I was educated by Campbell Money and Gordon Dalziel.
By day, I coach children in a variety of sports and it has been quite a change for me moving from full-time football at Ayr United to the part-time régime at Albion Rovers. The condition of the pitch, however, is my only real concern at the club.
This season I would like to see the club finish as high up the table as possible and, on a personal note, I would like to play and score in as many games as I can. Beyond that, I would like to get back into full-time football at a higher level and then move into coaching or management.
If I won tonight’s £100 million on the Euro lottery, I would buy myself a luxury house and a sports car. I would also invest in a football club!
Scott
(20/1/06)
Edition 26
Last Saturday brought about our second successive home victory and I was pleased with the overall performance of the team. I urge caution however, the ultimate goal for the season – securing stability – has not changed so let’s not get carried away and foist unrealistic expectations on my young side.
I believe that there is a thin line between self-belief and disrespect. Earlier on this season when we encountered some disappointing results our self-belief dropped and it is not easy to turn that around. By highlighting the positives from performances that did not necessarily end in our favour, we have succeeded in raising the players up psychologically. Yet any team playing under the guidance of Jim Chapman will never disrespect opponents. Irrespective of results and form, my teams will always afford our opposition respect without arrogance. They say that pride comes before a fall, and players at this club know that they must never disrespect their fellow professionals.
“Professionalism” is an overused and hence misunderstood term. In a sporting context, “professionalism” is not inextricably linked to financial gain : I expect my players to respect their opponents; I expect my players to operate within the SFA “Fair Play” policy we advocate at this club; I expect my players thus to try to win matches by matching the playing capacity of the opponents technically, tactically, physically and psychologically. No player associated with the club will ever be sent out to try to gain advantage by any contemptuous means. This is the code of conduct our players commit to when they represent the club.
In my last offering, I welcomed two new players to the club. This time you have all had the opportunity to meet my new signing prior to my introduction. I would like, however, to formally welcome Andy Sim to the club. I signed Andy from Hamilton Academical a couple of weeks ago and you have borne witness to his rapid, tricky play. He brings excitement to the terracing and has blended in well with the team and been well received by the players.
The past two games have been encouraging in that we scored goals from all areas of the park. Let’s not, however, overlook the progress made by our defensive unit. We were all quick to criticise them when things were tough earlier on this season and they now look a more assured and secure unit. In midfield too we have made progress and we can now offer strength and competition in that area of the park. We have, as I said, scored some excellent, exciting goals.
This period of the season inevitably sees forced changes to the side as a result of injuries and suspensions. These changes will test the strength in depth of our current squad. One player’s misfortune is another player’s good fortune. I will be watching the commitment and desire of the starting XI very closely in the coming weeks as I challenge the incoming players to match the qualities demonstrated by the players they are replacing. No player has a divine right to a starting place in my team and I want there to be competition for the jersey in every area of the park.
Your support of the side last Saturday was absolutely fantastic. It really was appreciated by everyone associated with the side. My aim is to field a side that plays attractive, exciting football and I think I have demonstrated that in the past few weeks. I would love to see more fans at the game and I urge you to bring your friends, families and neighbours to Cliftonhill to future matches.
Tomorrow we visit Elgin where we aim to make amends for disappointing results – home and away - earlier this season. Whilst cautiously optimistic, I remind you of my opening caveat : let’s not get carried away!
Thanks again for your support.
Jim
(13/1/06)
Edition 25
I was delighted to secure our first home win of the season last Saturday and am looking forward to tomorrow’s match as we aim to build upon that. This week we still have two main injury concerns : Jamie Ewings and Lee Sichi. Both players have played key rôles at the club since joining in the summer. This week I am handing my column over to Lee to help you to get to know him a bit better.
Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at Cliftonhill tomorrow.
Jim
Although I am still only 22 years old, I had spells with Dundee and Celtic in my teens before joining Maryhill at the age of 19 and staying there for three years. I spent a season at Drumchapel United Under-21s before joining Albion Rovers. I am grateful to my parents who have been the biggest influence on my career.
I combine my part-time football activities with a daytime job as a debt collector – not door-to-door though.
Coming from Drumchapel United to the Rovers has been a culture change for me : it’s far more intense and you have to be willing to work seven days a week as opposed to the one night a week that most amateur or junior teams train. Even on nights we don’t train, I find myself keeping fit either through jogging, swimming or going to the gym. You find you don’t really have a night off and you are always keeping your fitness levels topped up.
My hopes first and foremost for this season is for everyone to stick together : fans, players, management, etc. I want everyone to work hard and hopefully for the team to finish in the top five or six. I think this is realistic considering how things ended up last year and the amount of new faces that had to be brought in. I also think that a top five or six finish is possible because of the talent we have at the club and because we have an enthusiastic and clever manager who is improving the players and adding to their game every week.
In five years’ time it would be nice to be playing in a higher league and, you never know, hopefully with Albion Rovers. On a personal level, I would hope to be a much-improved player : mentally, physically and technically.
As I’m only 22 I would hope to still be playing top-level football beyond that. If not, it would be good still to have some sort of involvement in football in a management or coaching rôle. By that point I would hope to have different ideas and experiences passed on from managers I will have worked under.
Personally, I would like to see more money invested in the club. If more money were invested, not only would the club benefit off the park, but on the park too. Perhaps we could sign some players on full-time contracts so that they could train and work with each other every day. This would mean that players would improve and that the club could increase the pace of the progress being made at present.
If I had the money to invest, I’d build Albion Rovers a 60 000 seater stadium and somehow fill it for our games!
Thank you all for your positive support and comments since I came to the club, I hope to be back playing soon.
Lee
(6/1/06)
Edition 24 (Q & A)
They do say, “ask no questions and hear no lies” but I have tried to be as honest as I can with these!
Q - Do you feel now most teams have seen us twice they will start to respect us more as they see we are not a bad team?
JC - I have been quite disappointed by the comments made by the opposition when we
achieve a positive result against them. It is always because they played poorly and not because we actually played well. Respect is something you earn and I
believe that our team is now earning, and more importantly worthy, of their respect.
Q - Did you attempt to sign Iain Diack when he left East Stirling or would you like to sign a striker with that kind of record at this level as it seems that’s what we need at this moment?
JC - I have made no attempt to bring this player to the Club. I am always looking to improve all areas and if the appropriate quality becomes available then I will do everything possible, within limited resources, to bring them to the Club.
Q - If you could pick any player from another Div 3 team to add to the squad who would it be and why?
JC - I find it very difficult at times to pick my starting eleven and 5 subs from our Team because of their standards and abilities at that is all
I am interested in.
Q - How proud do you feel that players you "discovered" like Lennon and Donnachy are receiving interest from other clubs ?
JC - The players brought to the Club this season came from different backgrounds and levels of football. I have got to give most of the credit to my contacts within the game for their recommendations and also from my own background in football which helped secure the signings of some players of whom I have worked with in the past. The players deserve all the recognition they get and of course it is very pleasing and hopefully they are becoming better players under my supervision and I will do everything possible to maximise all players' potential and help them achieve their full potential.
Q - If we were to reach a play-off spot this year would you feel that promotion would be too much too soon at this early stage of your redevelopment plan?
JC - Play - offs don't guarantee promotion!! Although we are trying to achieve the highest position in the League, this year is all about stability. Anything more would be a fantastic but I am very much a realist. This target is very much in the 5 year development plan and if we continue to progress at expected rates then maybe achieved sooner!
Q - What has surprised you most about the club since you joined?
JC - Nothing!!!! I came in with my eyes very much open and with a complete honest and open mind. I have been very impressed by the positivity around the Club now and I want that to continue. This Club needs good honest, hard working people and I feel that we have this.
Q - Is Alan Creer as crazy as he looks on the park?
JC - No, he's a lot worse!! I have known Allan for many years and he has everything to become an excellent goalkeeper: height, physical strength, strong hands, good kicking ability and daft as a brush!! Need I say more.
Q - Considering the amount of games that have been called off in recent weeks do you think it would just be better if we had a winter break for the lower divisions at this time?
JC - When would the break start / end? The weather here is so unpredictable so it would be difficult to get the right time for a winter break. Better facilities and pitches may help ease some of the problems. Better access to appropriate training facilities would leave the main pitch for games and as long as a proper
maintenance programme is in place, then maybe the pitch could handle some of the
inclement weather, but not them all!
Q - Do you think the club will be able to hang on to the star players we have found this year in so we can build a team around them?
JC - Like all football players, everyone has a value. If an offer is made for any player, then as long as it is the right one for both the player and Club then it will be considered. The player has to consider it regarding his continued development and the Club must be rewarded for everything they have invested in the player.
Q - Do you think "Big Abou" has been had too much of a build up in the fans minds or is he really that good?
JC - Abou has potential like the other players at the Club and I wouldn't have persevered with him if I didn't think so.
He received deserved applause for his performances during pre-season, but has missed the last four months so has
a lot of catching up to do. Added to the fact that the team is doing well at present, he will have to work very hard and be ready to take his opportunity, like many others, when it comes.
Q - I know you don't like specifying particular games, but are there any of the games that we have played this season where you think the team have turned the corner? Personally I feel the away win at Arbroath I just knew we would go from strength to strength.
JC - I have always maintained that we need time and a lot of patience with this team. I have always took the positives from our performances to date and continued to build on these. Even during the bad spell of results I identified that we were making progress. May I remind you all once again that there is a very long way to go before I will feel that the Club has "turned the corner" and some difficult times lie ahead similar to the previous bad spell, so....!!
The Arbroath game gave me the sign that these players care and have the passion, ability and willingness to compete at this level and more importantly they believed it as well.
Q - On a lighter note, I'm a great believer in the saying "character is more important than skills". I think we are quite strong in the
goalkeeping department, from what I have seen our two keepers have all the necessary attributes. Jamie Ewings looks totally focused and Big Allan Creer looks a bit "aff his heid". Any thoughts?
JC - A specialised position which requires a special type! Both Jamie and Allan are excellent young goalkeepers and have the right ingredients to progress and succeed in the art of goalkeeping. They have of course their own personalities and I know what both require and believe me it's not easy!!
Q - Do you not think that charging £10 into the games is driving away any chance we have of getting casual football fans to our home games? Why is it that the away grounds are all £8 or £9, we are the most expensive in the league.
JC - I cant make any comment on this as I'm unsure if the League specify minimum
/ maximum entrance prices to games. I know it is not cheap to bring two or three members of one family as most people
don't have a lot of disposal income nowadays. My own preference would be to have 1000 people paying £5, rather that having 500 people paying £10
Q - Is there any reason why our home form is so poor yet we can go away to places like Partick and Berwick and get excellent results?
JC - Sometimes there is added pressure on the home team to force the play and this can assist the away team as we have found to our benefit. I feel I must also mention that the playing surface may suit some teams better than others. Of our own pitch,
a lot of necessary work was missed during the summer and although our ground is improving it will take time to give an appropriate surface that suits the type of football we wish to play.
Q - You said you didn’t want to highlight individual matches as highpoints but what has been your favourite game since you have been in charge at Rovers?
JC - I have enjoyed every day, training session and game since taking charge at Albion Rovers. It has brought about many different challenges and experiences and the enjoyment on the young players faces when winning is especially pleasing. We have had many encouraging performances and I hope there is plenty more still to come although the Scottish Cup games against Partick were especially pleasing as so many people doubted the ability of the players and team beforehand.
Q - I see John Hughes bringing in special knowledge coaches at Falkirk, are Rovers using any special knowledge coaches or is this not right in our division?
JC - The demands of the modern day game means that players must be fully aware of their responsibilities and requirements and we must try to
assist them in any way we can. The application of Sports Science and Psychology may assist some but not all and as long as everyone receives the appropriate support,
guidance and education, together with accepting their own role, then it can only assist with their development.
Many thanks for your questions and I hope you enjoy my response.
Jim.
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