The men's league season kicks off on Saturday with all but one team in competitive action and a very busy day at Auchenhowie.
The Men's 1st Team look younger with every passing year and this exciting side has a demanding start to 2016/17. They face Menzieshill at home on Saturday (1330) followed by Kelburne away seven days later.
Their preparation has been good. Harry said, “We have made a big investment in pre-season this year, with the sole objective being a great start to the season. Playing Menzieshill and Kelburne first will make this challenging, but I am confident of putting a well-structured and organised team onto the field for our first matches.
“Western will be even younger this season,” he went on. “With more of our young talent now coming through to the first team as starting players and not bench players. Although this makes the team young, it also makes it faster, fitter and exciting, some of those dynamics we have not had in a few years.”
Western have a full squad for what should be a cracking game. Be there to support if you possibly can.
The 2s will look to build on their excellent second half to 2015/16 although, with the first team scooping up some of their most able players, they will look to some new faces to freshen things up and take them forward. They welcome Grange 3s (1030) and will be hopeful of a winning start to their campaign.
The 3s and 4s are both in West District Division 1 for the first time in a few years. These sides have proved their worth over the years in helping to develop some of the exceptional youngsters we now have in the top two elevens and each will continue in their role as development teams.
Their squads have been split equally and this could lead to a very interesting rivalry as the season develops. The 3s are away to Kelburne 4s (1500) while the 4s are at home to Clydesdale 3s (1630). Neither game will be easy but both Western teams look to have a nice balance of youth and experience and so will take the field with confidence.
Finally, our long-suffering 5s find themselves in what could be a very enjoyable Division 4 consisting of just seven teams (each of whom plays the others three times). Last year’s bottom division of 15 was far too unwieldy and the district’s decision to reconstruct the competition in a 10-10-10-7 format looks ideal for their needs. They’ll have to wait to get started, though, as their game away to Ayr 2s has been postponed due to essential pitch maintenance.