Published: Thursday, 24th July, 2008 08:45
Burgh tipped for Premier League glory
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Musselburgh are many people’s early favourites to claim the Premier League title following their promotion challenges over the past couple of seasons.
Olive Bank boss Davie McGlynn has strengthened an already impressive playing pool with three astute close-season signings.
Veteran midfielder Iain Ramage joins from Whitburn Juniors and will also be part of the club’s coaching set-up; his vast experience of the Junior game with Whitburn and Linlithgow Rose can only be an asset to the team.
Highly rated midfielder Chris Gordon, the former Tranent Juniors lynchpin, joins Burgh after two seasons with Penicuik Athletic.
While ex-Cowdenbeath striker Ryan McCallum has been recruited following consistently good performances for Arniston Rangers.
On the way out of the club are strikers CJ Osazuwa, set to switch to rugby, and Ross Barnes. Midfielder Jamie Hawkins has joined Edinburgh United.
For only the second time in their history, meanwhile, Haddington faced English opposition last Saturday, when Northern Alliance outfit Killingworth visited Millfield for a pre-season friendly.
Neither side had much knowledge of the other, but the match proved a highly worthwhile exercise for both (see pic).
A young Killingworth team made up for their relative lack of experience with an energetic approach and, despite Haddington having most of the play after a fairly even start, there were no goals before the interval.
Against the run of play, the visitors went ahead six minutes into the second half. But four minutes later, the Hi Hi’s longest-serving player Alex Finlayson struck a sweet equaliser. There was to be no further scoring in what was a competitive 90 minutes.
Millfield boss George Bowmaker approaches his fourth season in charge with some significant changes in the ranks.
The starting 11 against Killingworth contained five new faces, with another two on the bench.
Stalwart goalkeeper Chris Hill has departed for Newtongrange Star after six seasons; while midfielder Kevin Murray, five years at the club, was expected to complete a transfer to Edinburgh United this week.
Centre-half Scott Gibson seems set to move on after less than a year at the club, with his sights set above the South Division. But Polish star Lukasz Rusin’s future isn’t yet clear.
Dunbar’s first game under new boss Davie Lees took place on Monday evening when they took on Northern Alliance outfit Berwick United at New Countess Park.
Two Steven Girdwood goals in the first half, the second from the penalty spot after Craig Livingstone was felled in the box, gave the Seasiders an interval lead.
Midway through the second half the visitors pulled a goal back, but a Darryl Fraser header restored Dunbar’s two goal lead before the best move of the game ended with Livingstone tapping home from close range.
Fraser’s second goal of the evening wrapped up an encouraging first 90 minutes from the new look team.
Davie Lees and his backroom staff of Stuart Brown, Ricky Rogers and Aiden Forbes have assembled a squad composed primarily of youngsters, with more than half having played for the club last season.
Five players have followed Lees and Brown from Tranent – Ryan Gibb, Mark Burke, Mark McEwan, Darryl Fraser and Steven Devine.
Also coming in are Ross Hastie (Berwick Rangers Reserves), Josh Hebdon (Kelso United) and Craig Livingstone (Selkirk). After the turmoil surrounding the club late last season a number of established players have left.
New Tranent boss Brian Johnston’s close-season recruitment campaign has so far resulted in a dozen new players putting pen to paper.
Only five of last season’s squad remain at Foresters Park – James McPartlin, Keith Auld, Joe Murray, Steven Tait and Craig Smith.
They are joined by the following signings: Mel Graham (Arniston Rangers); Penicuik Athletic trio Brian White, Chris Gray and Gary Small, the latter two returning to Tranent after two years in Midlothian; prolific goalscorer Graham Purves (Ormiston), highly rated midfielder Alan Horne (Haddington Athletic under-21s).
Six players have followed the manager from Pencaitland – Chris Smith, Dan McFarlane, Brydon Fairgrieve, Jules Anderson, Jerry Draper and Gareth Gray.
The trio of Smith, McFarlane and Draper have all previously worn Tranent colours.
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