The Chazz McLean Column
A talented striker and scribe!
12th Edition 2nd May 2003
The Chazz McLean Column
A talented striker and scribe!
12th Edition 2nd May 2003
So big Yards may not have scored the hat trick I predicted in last weeks “three is the magic number” scenario. However, the number three still played a significant part as Mark is 33 years old and scored both goals in the space of, yes you guessed it, three minutes.
The
Stirling Albion game was played on a little bit of a knife-edge after they
scored their only goal, though as usual we persevered and saw it through to a
suitable conclusion. Winning in style would be nice, but at this stage simply
winning is the most important thing. The first half performance was particularly
pleasing and we can take heart from that even though this week we will need to
perform for the full ninety minutes to overcome Peterhead.
On
a personal level I was delighted to be back in the starting line up, yet
disappointed not to score. Braddo is back this week and although I would be
disappointed to lose my place I am glad to see more of our players returning to
action as we need as many as possible fit and ready to play.
Special
mention must go to Graeme McCaul who played very well when he came on against
The Binos and in the reserve matches I have played with him, he has shown enough
to suggest that he has sufficient quality to make an impact at first team level.
Well done also to little Squib (that’s young McKenzie) who made his first team
debut on Saturday and handled the occasion with suitable aplomb.
It
seems that everyone has thought about the various possibilities to provide us
with a route to the second division and if I’m being honest, then I must admit
that the development of the circumstances we find ourselves in has weighed on my
mind occasionally since the Stirling Albion match.
Once
again I find myself coming back to my original thoughts on the matter of how we
will win promotion and my summary is still that we are the masters of our own
destiny in a perfectly poised situation. If we can be of sound mind and strong
will, confident and assured in our play, then we can return from the north of
Scotland victorious. Although I would never take the collection of three points
against anyone for granted I do believe that beating Peterhead will give us the
confidence to overcome East Stirling at home the following week.
I
have said all along that if we desire to be promoted then all we have to do is
win. It may a fairly pragmatic supposition, but it still holds true.
So, we head to Peterhead and the
players are pleased that we are travelling the night before as it gives us ample
opportunity to prepare on the day of the match. The bus journey will be
interesting as usual. As always there will be a card school, which attracts the
occasional visitors, unaware that when swimming with the sharks you may get
bitten. In fact, those who may wish to take part in the card school would be
well advised to call their bank and increase their overdraft before stepping on
the bus.
There
will be a video to watch and although I am a fan of Billy Connolly I would
certainly appreciate one journey up north without him this season. In addition,
we will have an in-flight movie blockbuster special which always goes down well.
There will be the usual reading material in attendance with a selection of
national newspapers from various sources. The Celtic View is of course supplied
by, well me, John McCaig will bring the 4-4-2 magazine, FHM will appear from
somewhere and there will be a magazine full of pictures of ladies in various
states of undress that is found on a newsagent’s top shelf provided by a
certain southbound goalkeeper whose name shall remain a secret!
A few of the lads in our youth team have been asking why they never get a mention in the column and I can only say that it is simply that I do not see enough of them to comment on their abilities. The few who have appeared in the reserves have done well enough to suggest that Rovers have a steady stream of talent coming through the ranks. Hope this mention suffices and keeps them happy.
What’s
Goin’ on?
First
rule at Albion Rovers is that there are no rules.
I
have said it before and during the warm up at Tuesday night’s training
session, a discussion took place as to what time we are supposed to arrive at
training. It was then put forward by the most senior member of the squad that
not only do we not know what time we start, we are pretty unsure which on days
we train. On many occasions this season players have turned up to find the
ground in darkness or indeed that there are only a handful of players who have
appeared, as everyone else was told a different night. At least we see the funny
side.
This
was again demonstrated on Monday when a few players turned up only to discover
that training was taking place on Tuesday. As the Gaffer was there and we had
two goalkeepers, we decided to do an extra night’s training and those of us
there worked on our shooting. Dismayed as I am to say it, the Gaffer beat me by
fifteen goals to fourteen, if I remember correctly.
Big Jordan informs me that it was the Gaffer’s finest performance of
shooting at training ever as he is usually keech, but scores the occasional
wonder goal.
Some
of the more senior players in the side have held a symposium regarding the
training, discipline and other aspects of football life at Cliftonhill. The
general consensus seems to be that should we succeed in gaining promotion or
incredibly actually winning the league, then the SFA coaching mafia from
Inverclyde can take their courses and manuals and stick them in the dark crevice
where most people believe they really belong. The Albion Rovers’ football
philosophy could be the biggest thing since the catenaccio revolution in the
sixties.
Since
the Gaffer beat me at shooting practice, I feel that it is time we spoke about
our manager in a little more depth. Let’s start with his catchphrases; Peter
Hetherston is the catchphrase king. Some of his favourites include “On a more
serious note!” “Lively!” and “So you did son.” I would like to use
them all in context, but I want to finish the column today.
With
his snappy catchphrases and recently becoming a public house landlord, the
players have likened him to a soap star, so much so in fact that Jim
Mercer has now christened him Alfie Moon after the barman from Eastenders. All
the lads are happy with that and it has now more or less replaced Gaffer as his
name. So if the supporters should feel like singing “Alfie, Alfie, Alfie Moon,
Alfie Alfie Moon” the next time they see him at a game, then the players would
certainly appreciate the gesture.
On
behalf of all the players congratulations and best wishes go to Scott Shearer on
his well- deserved transfer. We will be sorry to see him go as we will have no
one to bring “those magazines” on our away trips next season! However, he
feels at this stage in his career he has to take a step back to break into the
lucrative English market and is signing for Coventry in order to achieve that!
Peterhead beckons so I bid you adieu. It could be a very interesting weekend.
Chazz
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