Armadale Thistle
“The Football Club is going through
something of a transitional phase at the
moment. However, I firmly believe that
we have a very talented squad with a
good balance of experience and youth.
On our day the Dale can play some of
the best football I’ve seen at the Volley in
a very long time.
“I put this down to the fact that we
have a very experienced management
team in Derek Strickland and Jamie
McKay. Consequently, a few games into
the season we are now starting to see the
team play the way we know that they
can play which should stand us in good
stead for the remainder of the campaign.
“The Club is committed to
continually improving the ground and
strengthening our ties with the local
community. This year we are currently
developing funding applications to
help improve the derelict east terrace,
upgrade and landscape the south terrace,
lay a new access road into the ground
from the main gate and upgrade the
floodlight system which hasn’t worked
for many a year so it’s a very busy time
for the Club at the moment.
“We are currently investigating the
potential for starting a youth team for
next season and as such we have just
recruited a new committee member who
is an experienced youth coach and he
has been tasked with setting up a youth
team for the Club next season. The health
and welfare of the young players at the
Club is crucial, the Club has a dedicated
officer trained to look after the needs of
young people and vulnerable adults.
“We are also currently investigating
the merits of joining the UK Sport
Chaplaincy scheme. This scheme is open
to any sporting organisation whereby a
club can request to join the scheme and a
Chaplain will be appointed to work with
the club. There are currently 274 football
teams involved in the scheme.
“Armadale Thistle has been at
the heart of the community since its
inception back in the nineteen thirties.
The Club organise and support a
number of community fundraising
events throughout the year and also help
to raise money for various local charities
and worthy causes.
“Last year the Club helped raise
money for the annual Armadale
Children’s Gala-day, the Armadale and
District War Memorial Fund, the British
Heart Foundation and we helped raise
money for two local young women who
went to teach English in Thailand for a
year.
“Furthermore, we welcome local
youth teams that ask to play at the
Volley providing their match doesn’t
coincide with one of our home games.
The kids love the atmosphere of playing
Armadale Thistle forward Callum Robertson against Stoneyburn FC
Image courtesy of Mr Ian Cunningham
at the Volley and whole experience of
running down the tunnel out onto the
pitch in front of a large 800 capacity
enclosure enclosed on three sides by old
style terracing.
“Some of the challenges facing the
Club include trying to get the local
community to get behind and fully
support us by coming to home matches,
playing our weekly Lotto, buying official
Club merchandise and attending our
various fundraising activities.
“Also, during the close season we
saw a mass exodus of teams from the
East Region Junior League as a number
of Clubs decided to leave the Juniors
to turn Senior. However, this may
well prove to be an opportunity for
the Armadale Thistle to re-emerge as a
strong Junior football club now that a
number of the big spending teams such
as Linlithgow Rose and Boness United
have turned Senior.
“We are currently drafting up a
detailed business plan and as part of
this process over the next five years we
aim to strengthen the team as much as
we can within our financial constraints,
create a sustainable youth set up,
investigate the possibility of developing
a woman’s team and continue to invest
in the infrastructure to ensure Armadale
Thistle and the Volunteer Park remain
valuable community assets for many
years to come.”
Armadale Thistle Midfielder
Liam Kane
Image courtesy of
Mr Ian Cunningham
www.footballfocusmag.com
25