Before our last game before Christmas down at Victoria Park in Innerleithen versus Vale of Leithen we have the small matter of the above picture.
17th Dec 2019 – DECISION POINT – EAST KILBRIDE OFFER JOB INTERVIEW
+ 1 Star Rep, Ticket Price £8 (£2 for Civil Service), 90 Season Ticket Holders (13 for Civil Service), Av. Attendance 214 (111 Civil Service), Own their own stadium,
– Insecure Finances, Stadium only holds 400, very small squad, Only 8th in same division, much longer commute (double the distance, 75 mins each way)
I won’t be taking this interview – Insecure finances coupled with a ground only holding 400 means growth will be very difficult. The commute would be so much more stressful as well – relocation would be required and I don’t think that is happening until you go up a level.
I’ve taken a look at our attendances over the last season and a half to see what chances there are of getting enough fans to (maybe) help out with the finances If I’m looking to stay longer.
So we’ve got an increase of home fans (The above shows just the home fans at Christie Gillies Park) from the low 60’s last season to the low 90’s this – a 50% increase on last season so far. In reality we will need much higher ticket prices than we have currently (£2) and season ticket holders (13 @ £25) for us to get anywhere near our gate receipts helping cover our costs but it shows we could potentially be looking at 145 home fans per game next season…but this is one of the main reasons why I feel i need to leave to further my career.
I think I can say I’m with Civil Service until the end of the season now unless a League 2-or-above team comes in for me soon.
Our Reserves have played a game – winning 4-0 v Dunipace Res – All kids scoring (Callum Brown, Eddie Kirkwood, Colin May, Johnny Devers).
So onto today’s game v Vale of Leithen, who are currently in 5th, just 2 points behind us. The season preview predicted them to finish 2nd bottom so they’ve really over-performed so far. Looking back to our 1-1 draw with them we were playing 4-1-2-2-1 Control back then, and Lumsden ended up with 5 key headers and 75% completion on 16 headers in that game, so the wing-play tactic here should really pay dividends.
Mair & Coll get chances on the left, Balfour changes to a Mezzala in an attempt to get him playing well, Glasgow starts up front in a proper 4-4-F**king-2. Vale of Leithen go 4-4-2 as well, should be a good match-up.
HT Vale of Leithen 0 Civil Service 1 (Churchill 42)
Remind me to see if Nike/Adidas make Flippers – i’ts bloody raining again. A good solid start from Vale, but in the 8th minute Civil Service were awarded a Penalty for a push on Lumsden, Coll stepped up and had his effort double-saved magnificently (It was going top-left bins for the penalty). We were definitely the more attacking team with highlight after highlight, and save-after-save keeping them in it. And then in the 42nd minute a cross from Burbidge was headed clear, but straight to Churchill who finished well from just outside the area to make it 1-0 Civil Service. And the half finished 1-0 – Should be 3 at least by now except for their keeper Lyle (7.0, 7 Shots saved, 3 held, 2 parried, 2 tipped) and the woodwork (twice). Keep it up boys!!
FT Vale of Leithen 1 (Raiker 88) Civil Service 2 (Churchill 42, Andrew Mackay 86) Att 106 (3 Away)
A slight change at half time – Underlap right instead of Overlap – I want to see Balfour making that far post run. A solid start from both sides, Kinnear saving a worldie of a shot from 35 yards from ex-Civil-Service player Hopkinson. Scott Mackay on for Burbidge on 60, Newall on for Coll on 70. Andrew Mackay on for Mair on 80. And in the 87th minute Andrew Mackay scored a beauty from just outside the D after a cleared set-piece – 2-0. But Vale got one back in the 88th – a unmarked back-post header from Raiker. Squeaky Bum Time. But it ended 2-1, another really good win!!
Still 3rd, but now only a point behind Dalbeattie Star who drew with Edusport – Down to ten men for most of the 2nd half so a good point. 11 games left, that Queen’s Park game at Hampden Park (28th March, penultimate league game) might hopefully turn out to be the league decider if we can keep winning. Next up is Whitehill Welfare at home in 7 days – Happy Christmas 2019 🙂