Carnoustie
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teams out from S1 – S6. He has also put
in place coaching in all primary schools
in the area and this has brought in many
new junior players.
“Our Youth section is very buoyant
and has well over 100 players from micros
up to 18. Next season we will see players
coming into the FP’s to play; this is the
first for many years. This will also help to
build up to having a regular 2nd XV out
playing.
“The youth side is very important
to any club as they are the future FP
players, so we try to help by having
FP’s along to training and kids come
along as ball boys and mascots to
home FP matches. They love
joining in after the match with
the players and having food
and juice.
“The mood this season has
been mixed. We started the
season in Caledonia 1 after
being promoted and have found
it hard with injuries from the 1st
game which has proved to us that
you need a big squad of players to
turn out a winning XV every week.
“Nine weeks into the season
we lost our Head Coach due to work
commitments. We were fortunate that one
of our players who was to retire stepped
into the role. It has taken a couple of
months to get into the swing of things not
helped by the bad weather with games
being cancelled and our training pitches
under water.
“Colin has now his training
programme in place and the players are
fighting for a position each match. Colin
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has brought the players together, they are
now enjoying the new training regimes
and the general mood of the club is high.
We now have to take this onto the pitch
and win the last few matches to stay up in
Caledonia 1 next season.
“Our aim this season was to maintain
a position in the league to build on next
season. Most of our 1st XV players are
young enough to be available for some
years to come so once we are secure in the
league we can build on that and aim for
promotion to the National League.
“Like all clubs, Carnoustie relies on
an army of volunteers, coaches, team
organisers, pitch markers, kit washers,
providers of post-match meals, bar staff
and many others give freely of their time
and without their efforts we could not
function the way we do.
“This year one of our oldest volunteer
helpers Jock Anderson will be retiring
from running the line after his 80th
birthday in April. The club thanks him for
all the years he has given and yes we will
be seeing him watch the matches with
his buddies Jim Waugh and Boyd
Rankin on the side-lines.
“Running a club is expensive,
especially when you have coach
hire for a match with an over 500
mile round trip. The support of
our sponsors is essential and we
are grateful to them. Rembrand
Timber with whom we have
enjoyed a long and happy
relationship have been superb.
Stewart Milne (Housebuilders)
is a new sponsor and hopefully
they will continue to support us
for years to come.
“Our aim for the club is to build
on what we have, attracting more
players and supporters. The great aim is
to have our own pitches with a clubhouse
overlooking them. We can dream but with
lots of fundraising and support perhaps
dreams can come true.
“Carnoustie is a club that have had
disappointments and success but the
future is looking good, from the micros to
over35’s, supporters and volunteers.”