Greater Glasgow Preview : Can the unbeaten teams be stopped?

I had the pleasure to speak to Alan Gray, the manager of South Lochaber Thistle, and he has been the leader that has turned a tough start into a very good run of forms.  

He has been a great leader and the second placed club are enjoying a great start to the season. I’m sure you guys don’t want me to rattle on for too long, so last thing, if you want to do a Q&A with me, please get in touch and we can arrange a time to do so. Be sure to follow on twitter for more! 1 An excellent start to the season Alan, SLT have been excellent, how are the current end of season goals? We had a poor start to our campaign but we lost 4 or 5 players who were regulars last season the local semi pro side so it was always going to be time of flux! Promotion has to be the target but we take the season game by game. 2 What’s the atmosphere like the SLT camp? The atmosphere in the camp is a positive and competitive one. The boys fight for each other and training s fast paced and full on. With the nature of our team line ups can change a lot week to week so it's important that everyone feels valued and I think we've struck a nice balance. 3 If you could compare yourself to any manager, who would it be and why? HAHA Mike Bassett England manager 😂😂 Not sure really, I'd love to say a big hitter like Wenger or Ferguson but more likely to be along the lines of Craig Levein - I am always learning and our squad is young and I'd like to think that each players development is important to me and I take great satisfaction in seeing the young lads get and take an opportunity. Not a flashy manager but gets the job done 4 What has been your proudest moment as the manager of SLT? You would expect my proudest moment as the manager of SLT to be the Challenge Shield victory against Newshot last season however simply starting the club and having upwards of 30 players having a place to play football that otherwise didn't is by far the thing I am most proud of 5 How does the day of the game go for you as manager, what is the routine? Get up, Eat, get the dog (Gus) and I to the park, set up the park, get the kits sorted and make sure the teamlines are in place. Make sure the lads are all good to go and tell them the team and numbers. Usually like to give each player what I expect from them in the game and what system we'll adopt. The game just happens! After I like to give a team talk and debrief by it depends on the performance! Back to the local pub with the teams then back home to my girlfriend and the kids for a relaxing elfamily evening! 6 When your days of management are done, how would you want to football community to remember Alan Gray? Giving players an opportunity that they would not have had 7 You have played at many venues, but where is the best away day you have had with SLT? 7. Best away day would technically be a neutral venue but the Challenge Shield Cup Final against Newshot last season. Went through every emotion having been 2-0 up then 2-2 after extra time. No feeling like it!! 8 If you could give any bit of advice to a young footballer, coming through the ranks, what would it be? 8. Be patient and stick with it. Play as much as you can and trust your coach to develop you at the correct rate. Too many players get annoyed if they don't start a couple of games and kick off or leave. They then regret it!! 9 Sporting Hero? 9. My sporting hero would have to be Javier Zanetti - the consumate professional. The dedication he had to be able to play aslong as he did at the highest level 10 Goal for the season, and beyond? 10. The goal is always to develop each and every player to be the best they can possibly be. As a team promotion this season and to make the club as successful as it can be 11 Which team do you support? I'm am Aberdeen fan, from the north east so they were my local team growing up!!!! 12 Dream signing, who would it be? The dream signing for SLT would be Duncan Shearer in his prime!! Had to go local!!! 13 Quickest Player in SLT? Quickest player would have to be Calum MacPhee 14 Worst Dress Sense in SLT? Worst dress sense would have to be Craig Cameron there is only so skinny skinny jeans can be!!!! 15 Who tells the jokes in the club? The joker of the team has to be Nico Scally! He's a sandwich short of a picnic! 16 Who plays the music before the game? Non-Stop Noble is our resident DJ (Sean Noble) 17 Which of the three people would you want to be stuck on a desert island with? Alex Ferguson, Elvis and Tom Hanks 18 If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy? A house!! 19 What series are you currently watching on Netflix? American Horro Story 20 What is the perfect day in the life of Alan Gray? My perfect day would be by the pool with the family enjoy a cold drink and no work to worry about or footy to organise!!!! 21 If you could have personally witness anything or been at any event, what would it have been? (One football, one outside of football?) Football would have to be Aberdeen v Real Madrid cup winners cup final 1983!!!! Outside football would be pink Floyd live in Pompeii Scottish Cup (Round 3 Replay) >Singer Community (GCAFA) vs. Calderglen Last weekend, it was a draw between Singer Community and Calderglen in the Scottish Cup, and nobody could edge out the victory. They do have another shot at it though. The replay takes place this weekend, in the all important Scottish Cup game. Both clubs will be up for the match, it will be an important fixture for both clubs. Division 1 >Cambria vs. Erskine An exciting game in Division 1 this weekend, between Cambria and Erskine, two clubs who have had an excellent start to the season. Cambria are currently unbeaten having played 7 games this year. Cambria are on a roll, and will have no plans to slow down their momentum. Erskine are currently in 4th place in the league and are 5 points behind Cambria with 2 games in hand, so it is all to play for in this fixture. The clubs will be up for this one, and usually free scoring Erskine will have to try and score past a very good side defensively, who have conceded just 9 goals in their 7 games. The clubs have been awesome, and this is going to be a good match. I spoke to Roddy McDonald, manager of Cambria this week, and he said, "Big game this weekend as we host Erskine at Stepps, Erskine historically finish well up the league and we are in no doubt this will be one of our toughest games of the season so far, we will of course be looking to keep our unbeaten league run going, but if we just turn up like the first half last Saturday and not be prepared to battle we will be chasing our tails from the word go." >Dynamo East Kilbride vs. Strathclyde University In form Dynamo East Kilbride have been brilliant in the league and the cup competitions and they have also been known as the comeback kings. They have won two out of their three league games, and come back from behind in both of those wins. Dynamo East Kilbride have also won an exceptional Scottish Cup match on Saturday and will be ready for the next round, when they take on Glenburn. But they will be focus on this weekend’s game, against Strathclyde University. Strathclyde University have had a tough start to the season, having won their first game of the season, but they will be looking to get their season on track this weekend. They know it will be tough against a brilliant Dynamo East Kilbride team. I spoke to Del, from Dynamo East Kilbride, and he said, "we're at home v Strathclyde uni in the league where hopefully we can take our recent good form into this one in climb the league !! A couple of injuries from last week but a couple of experienced players back in who missed last week's Scottish cup win" >Eaglesham vs. Jordanhill Two clubs that are looking for the spark to ignite their season, as Jordanhill travel to Eaglesham in Division 1. Eaglesham have picked up a few wins along the way, but both clubs will know the importance of this match. Jordanhill have been good and picked up some good win in the cup, but they will be ready to get on the park and hope to pick up their first win in the league. I spoke to Jordanhill today, and they have said, "Tough tie away against Division 2 champions. They are always a physical side, but we are looking forward to the challenge. Hopefully the pitch holds out and we can get a few more points on the board." >St. Patrick's FP vs. Eastwood Parkmount A This will be an excellent contest between two very good teams, St. Patrick’s FP are currently 5th in the league, and Eastwood Parkmount A are currently third in the table and have been excellent. Eastwood Parkmount A have been brilliant win this season and have won four out of their 5 opening games, and they are on a roll as a late! St. Patricks FP have been in good form as of late also, they will be up for the next test this weekend, a very good Eastwood Parkmount A side. >Newton Vale vs. Glasgow University A The visitors Glasgow University A will be up for the tough challenge this weekend as they face the league leaders, Newton Vale. Newton Vale have been in exceptional form all season long and they are top of the table by a point, with a game in hand. They will look to extend that lead at the top this weekend, when they host a very good, strong and quick university team. Newton Vale have won 5 out of the 6 games this season, and the other game was a draw, and they will not want to face their first loss this weekend. This is going to be a good game, and Newton Vale will be up for the challenge. I spoke to Newton Vale this week, and they have said, "Just hoping to carry on this momentum that we have going and keep picking up points. You don’t get many easy games in this league and Glasgow Uni will be right up for it and were a side who liked to get the ball down and play like ourselves so should be a good match on Saturday." Division 2 >Ashvale Victoria vs. Rannoch Two clubs that are looking to kick start their season go head to head in this one, and they are both coming off very good performances last weekend. Ashvale Victoria drew away from home, in a tough game and played excellently. Rannoch however picked up an important win, at home beating Colquhoun United 2-1. The clubs are going to want to climb the table, and will hope that this weekend is the start of that. >Eastwood Parkmount B vs. Third Lanark Fifth place Eastwood Parkmount B have started the season well, and appear to be getting stronger and stronger. They have won over half of the their games, and have a good side, that have pulled off wins over strong teams such as Crookston Castle. They will know however, that they are expecting a very tough game against high flying Third Lanark. Third Lanark have won an incredible eight out of eight in the league. They have been in brilliant form scoring 34 goals, but most impressively, have conceded just 7 goals in their 8 games, and picking up the maximum of 24 points. They have a deep and excellent squad and they are going to be a dangerous side going forward. They will take every game as it comes, and expect stars such as Marc Corlett and Alan Semple to be in more excellent form. The clubs will know this is a huge game, and the very good Third Lanark are going to be up for this contest. >Glasgow University B vs. Crookston Castle Third placed Crookston Castle will be delighted with how they have started the season having won four out of their five opening games, and they will be on the road to Glasgow University B this weekend. Crookston Castle are coming off an 11-1 win at home and will look to continue their form and take confidence from that game. Glasgow University B played against Third Lanark and played well despite the result. This will be an important game for both sides. >John Street vs. East Kilbride YM John Street have been excellent this season and they are at home this weekend in what they know will be a tough match. John Street will look to pick up a huge win this weekend against East Kilbride YM, who currently sit second in the table. East Kilbride YM have started the season in fantastic form, especially star striker Scott Campbell. East Kilbride YM will know the importance of this game, and they will know they must win to keep up with runaway leaders Third Lanark, who have won all 8 of their opening games. East Kilbride YM have been excellent and they know that they are coming up against a very good John Street side, and it will be tough day out. I spoke to Graeme Robertson of East Kilbride YM this week, and he has said, "We play John Street away in what will be a real tough contest. We played them at the start of the season in the cup in which we won 5-2 but we were 2-0 down that day and got a bit of luck due to the wet and windy conditions to come out convincing winners. We have won 3 games in a row now to try and keep the pressure on run away leaders Third Lanark at the top and hopefully we can continue that this Saturday. We have a few players missing through injury and a charity event this Saturday but we will hopefully continue the good form." >North Kelvin Sports vs. Westerlands GG It has been a tough start to the season for North Kelvin Sports and they will hope to turn their season around this weekend at home to Westerlands GG. Westerlands GG however has had a good start to the season. They won, drew and lost, 2 of each this season, and will hope to pick up three points this weekend, they will know this is a big match. Division 3 >South Lochaber Thistle vs. Westcliff In the past month or so, South Lochaber Thistle have been exceptional, and they keep picking up wins, and scoring a lot of goals. South Lochaber Thistle, had a tough start to the season, but they have totally turned that around, and have been in excellent form. They will be excited to get back on the park this weekend and hope to continue their form. They scored 6 goals last weekend, but another side that have scored 6 goals last weekend, are their opponents, Westcliff. Westcliff are playing well and will be delighted with their win last time out and will be ready to get this Saturday’s game started. This week, I managed to speak to SLT, and they have said, "SLT look to continue their fine form with the visit of Westcliff. The home side are on a roll but will be wary of a side who won 6-1 last time out. Changes to the squad will be necessary with bloodied hero Darren Duncan out for 10 days after his slashing head wound against Busby.” >Boswell vs. Carradale The away team, Carradale will be hoping this match against a Boswell will be good one. They have the long journey to make, and this is a re arranged fixture, as last time, they couldn’t make it due to their bus breaking down. This time they will be ready. They will be against a very good Boswell side, featuring the brilliant Steven Odunewu, who will be a dangerous player and one to watch this weekend. I spoke to Boswell this weekend, and they have said, "got a goalkeeper crisis for Saturday Bobo the goalkeeper/manager has injured himself at work and struggling to be fit for Saturday and with Paul Quail announcing that he taking time out of football could leave us with no keeper. need to have players try out at training. We have carradale at home here’s hoping there bus makes it this time." >Helensburgh vs. Busby At the moment, Helensburgh are unbeaten from their two league games, and have played months of cup matches, and will be delighted to get into league action this weekend. They have played two games in the league and they have won them both, so they will be up for this clash. Busby are a good young side and they are going to be up for this match. I spoke to Helensburgh, and they have said, "Game being swopped to Sunday as our school park is closed on Saturday. Brings its own issues with guys not able to make it but that’s the benefit of a big squad. Other guys have their chance to shine. Need to be at our best against a young Busby team who will no doubt be looking to progress up the league" >St Thomas vs. Bellaire It has been a tough start to the season for St Thomas and they know they are going to be in a tough match with Bellaire this weekend. Bellaire currently sit third in the table and they are unbeaten. They have played three, winning two and drawing the other. Bellaire wil be looking to continue their excellent for this weekend when they are up against St Thomas, this is game that could go either way, and one that both sides will be looking forward too. I managed to speak to St Thomas, and they have said, "finally got a strong squad again after a month of holidays and every other thing coming up so looking forward to it." Ian