Catch Up Q&A with Graeme Robinson
This week I caught up with East Kilbride YMFC player manager Graeme Robinson. I have interviewed Graeme ahead of their season opener away at John Street AFC and it is very interesting read below.
Name? - Graeme Robertson
Club? - East Kilbride YMFC
Role in club? - Greater Glasgow Team Player/ Manager
Which manager/player would you compare yourself too and why?
It’s hard to say but I like to think I am a bit of a modern day manager with a touch of old school when required. A mix between Jimmy Calderwood and Jurgen Klopp is how I would best describe myself as a manager. As a player at the moment I would be likened to Owen Hargreaves(dodgy knee and always injured). I think got as many minutes last season as Daniel Prodan did in his whole Rangers career.
New signings? How has pre season gone?
I have managed to bring a couple of players back who missed out last season due to work commitments. I have not had to add too many new faces as we finished up with a really strong squad at the end of last season. I have had a major over haul over the past two season and I wanted a smoother transition for this season with little disruption. I always look to improve the squad and I hope to add maybe 2 or 3 in specific areas but if not then I am happy going in to the season with the squad currently at my disposable. Pre season games has been great playing teams from higher division and arguably better leagues. We have been competitive Winning 2, Drawing 3 and losing 2 by the odd goal.
First game soon, how do you feel it'll go?
First up is away to John Street AFC in the League Cup Section. Not played against them for a couple of seasons now as we bye passed each other with us being promoted and them being relegated in the season 2015/16 but they used to always provide a competitive game down at their home park in Glasgow Green. They joined the league at the same time we re-joined around 2013/14 and they were certainly a really good side back then gaining promotion in their first season. It will be a tough start but one I am looking forward to and just glad to get back to competitive football.
Which team do you support?
I don’t like to mix professional football with amateur football so for this interview I am an East Kilbride YMFC fan. We have other teams in the Caledonian League and Scottish Amateur Football League along with an under 19’s & 17’s and I go and support them whenever my team don’t have a game. We all train together as one big club so I’d say they are definitely the team I support most on a Saturday.
Who is you sporting hero and why?
Again a hard question, I am not one for following the big names and always like to see an underdog win things. I have a lot of respect for the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson & Jose Mourinho for what they have achieved in the game. However the real sporting heroes in my eyes are the guys who give up their own time to run amateur clubs purely for the love of the game.
Goal for the season?
My goal for the season is to win the league(Division 2) and get to a cup final. I have been building this squad now over the past 12-24 months and I feel this year will be a big one for us. I have belief we can win any match we play in the Greater Glasgow league but there are a lot of strong sides and if I can keep a settled squad I am sure we will compete on all fronts.
Proudest moment as a sportsman?
I won a league and cup double as player for East Kilbride YMFC back in 2011. My dad was the manager and my brother also played in the same team which made it that bit better. We had the best group of boys I have ever had the pleasure of playing football with and every player gave 110% every week. We are still the last EKYM team to win a league title but hopefully that will change this year.
Quickest Player?
We have a few quick players, Mikey Carroll who has recently been called up to our First Team was definitely extremely quick when he could be bothered.
Worst Dress Sense?
That’s a hard one as on match days we just wear our club tracksuits. I am going to go for the goalie coach Stevie Irvine. Absolutely shocking attire.
Who tells the jokes in the Club?
Zander McMillan hands down tells the most jokes at the club but the same ones every week. He never lets us forget his time as a pro at Dundee United and constantly winds up the youngsters. He has a bit of old school dressing room banter about him in comparison to young ones these days. We hopefully won’t lose him through retirement this season as his presence in the dressing room would be missed.
Who plays the music before a game?
The speakers for the music have gone missing over the last few months so we will need to get them back first.