Juniors Magazine

LOCHEE UNITED

t's a period of transition for Lochee United FC both on and off the park.After winning the East Super League title for the second time in 2007/08, it has been a relatively barren spell for the club with just two trophies since, the East of Scotland Cup in 2009 and the DJ Laing Cup in 2011

Previous manager Paul Ritchie has departed the Bluebells and handed over the reins to Steven Leahy. Paul did a sterling job in his three years in charge, but due to work commitments and the Impending birth of his twins, felt it was time to

His successor, a former player who knowS the club wel, s a highly respected youth coach with Dundee United and has formed a new backroom staff, including ex-Scotland star Lee Wilkie.

They have brought a fresh, youthíful approach to the club and nine new signings have been made: Brian Clark from Carnoustie, Danny Cavanagh from Dundee FC, goalkeeper Mark Fotheringham from Dundee North End, Gary Robertson, ex-Tayport, David Beedie from Montrose FC, Fraser Smith from Kirrie Thistle, lan Petrie from Dundee City, Andy Ritchie, ex-Dunfermline FC and latest addition Kasim Urek, who formerly played for Turk1sh top league side Antalyaspor.

I's not been an easy start to the season for the

Bluebells. An opening day loss to Camelon was evened out by a 2-0 defeat of Carnoustie Panmure, but since then Leahy's men have found wins hard to come by. Although they're scoring freely, they just can't seem to keep the ballout their own net, as evidenced in ther recent game against Hill of Beath, when Lochee scored three, only to let in six at the other end.

It will take a bit of time to gel with so many young players, but the club is confident that it is on the road to success.

At the helm is club president Tom McMillan.

When he walked through the doors of Thomson Park 22 years ago the club was on its knees, with no money and an ageing committee.

"The social club had just collapsed and that was what had kept the club going" he recalls.

"We were in the Second Division of the old Tayside League and in my first year we gained promotion tothe First Division"

During Tom's tenure the club has amassed l6 trophies, establ1shing itself as a Super League side, winning the title twice and also finishing runners up in the Scotish Cup. Helping Tom guide the club Is a hard working committee and long-term secretary Larry Duncan, who serves on the SJFA and ERJFA management committees.

COMMITTEE DETAILS:

President: Tom McMillan

Treasurer: Moira Gorrie

Secretary: Larry Duncan

Comnitee Members: Maggie Muir, Bill Gorrie and Graham Oldershaw

Media: Dale Carrie

Club Photographer: Andy Walker

Ground staff: Neil McDonald, Joe Heary, Tim Drysdale and John Gall

Web: www.locheeunited.co.uk

Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Lochee-United-FC

Twitter: @LocheeUnited

Off the park there is an ongoing refurbishment programme to improve the facilities. The home and away shower areas have been transformed, and the toilet areas and referee's room are in the process of being renovated. The kitchen and food preparation areas have also been upgraded to meet the stringent environmental health standards.

With a 70 seat function sute and a 35 seat players' lounge, once all theworks are completed, Lochee United will have a facility that is second to none in Junior footbal.

All the works have been carried out voluntarily friends and sponsors, to whom the club ovwes an enormous debt of gratitude

Lochee United is renowned in Junior footballing circles for its hospitality and that is down to the amazing Bluebell Ladies who work tirelessly during the week and on a Saturday.

Hospitality is the main source of income at the club and the Bluebelles ensure that Lochee's hospitality package is one of the best.

Lochee lost its groundsman during last season, but its two groundstaff and kit men, Neil McDonald and John Gall, stepped up to the plate and their efforts were rewarded during the close season when they took delivery of a new state of the art grass cutting machine, kindly donated by one of the

club's main sponsors.

Special thanks also go to SKN Electrical, Kensington Properties and RBS Muir for continuing to sponsor the club's match day kit.

Lochee United has a good fan base with 110 season ticket holderS who assist with the weekly lottery and various other fundraising activities and the club would like to repay them by once again challenging for the Super League title.

Agood run in the Scottish Cup wouldn't go amiss, either. It's the only trophy the club hasn't won aftera final defeat in 2005 and three semi-final losses.

The club will be holding its second Hall of Fame Dinner at the Invercarse Hotel on November 24th, where eight luminaries will be inducted. Former Dundee FC manager im Duffy will be MC with speakers Chic Charnley and comedian Sandy Strang.

FIXTURES FOR NEXT FEWW WEEKS SATURDAY 12th 0CTOBER

LOCHEE UNITED V Linlithgow Rose SATURDAY 19th OCTOBER

LOCHEE UNITED V Musselburgh Athletic SATURDAY 26th OCTOBER Scottish Junior Cup - Drawn on 9th October

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BLUEBELLS

THE GAFFER

Steven Leahy explains why he couldnt turn down the boss's job at age 29.

Tm an ex-player who enjoyed five or six seasons at Thomson Park playing under previous bosses

Fddie Wolecki and Ray McKinnon Secretary Larry Duncan had lways bantered that r'd be geting the ob at some point

The club spoke to me some months ago, after Padl Rtchie had intimated that he would be giving up the post, about joining the dub this season, not s the manager, but as part of anew coaching staff, 1gave it some thought and had half agreed to (ome in as a coach, but out of the blue one Saturday morning Larry called me up and said they wanted me to take the manager's job, t carne as a total shock because up until then 1 was still swithering over accepting the coaching offer Iwas stillplaying at that point and people had advised me not to give up playing because Iwas still only 29, but the prospect of taking the manager's job here tipped the balance was worried that they might gve it to someone else and it might be another three or four years before the opportunity came around again. ld be 33/34 then. Irealised that, within those three or four years Icould develop myself and also hopefuly, develop the cdub.

"t was an opportunity I couldn't turn down.

"Despite being only 29 | think my experience of coaching helped get me the job. I'm fulltime at Tannadice working with the academy players, and my knowledge of local players is fairly extensive I know what's happening at the Senior clubs, I know who's getting released and who might be able to 0a job in the future for Lochee United.

twas great to able to bring in Lee Wilkie as my assistant He's a former Scotland international and has had extensive experience of the senior game with Dundee and Dundee Utd and last season as

"Ifeel that the fact there was no relegation last season kind of made it a false league. Linlithgow ran away with it and there was nothing left to play for

"To date Ihave to say our results haven't matched our performances We started pre-season well. Injuries haven't helped but everyone gets them. Hopefully, once everyone's fit things willstart to go in our favour.

The majority of last season's squad is still here, there are players who have been here a good few years who know allabout the dub and I've brought in some young, energetic players to complement them.

"The minimum we're aiming for is to be the best in the region and hopefully get a good run in the Scottish and the local cups."

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THE CAPTAIN

Bluebells skipper Greg Kirk on his surprise at being handed the captaincy.

"Athough this is my sixth year at the dub, which is quite a long time in Junior terms, there are a number of players who are longer serving than me, so it was a bit of a shock to be asked to skipper the side Ireally don't know why Iwas given the role, think possibly it was about having someone to lead from the back

"Craig Robertson retired at the end of last season and Charlie Cargillmoved on to the backroom staff, so there was Phil Hagan and Paul Blackwo0d, who have been here as long or longer than me I'm the longest serving player from the curent back line so that's possibly why the new gaffer handed me the honour.

"There are a lot of young boys here. I'm a committed player who always gives 1009% so I'm hoping my leadership rubs off on the younger ones This is a very tough league to play in, especially for younger players.

1was at Broughty Athletic before previous manager Ray McKinnon asked me to sign. After Ray, Paul Ritchie took over and now the cdub's in the hands of Steven Leahy

"Stevie's freshened things up quite a lot He's brought in a lot of young players. We are playing pretty well, but defensively we've not been great. The performances have been all ight, the strikers have been doing a good job of putting the ball away, but we have to tighten up at the back and I'll take my share of responsibility for that

"To be fair, because of injuries and the like we've sometimes been forced to play a makeshift back four. We've had left sided midfielders playing right

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back and right sided midfielders playing left back, and we only have three outright defenders at the dub. However, there's no excuse for the way we've been defending because there's still a lot of experience in the team.

"Despite the start we've had (two league wins out of six), we can stillhope to get ourselves into the top half. I's a tough ask but it's a realistic aim.

" love it here, the whole club's great. There's a good feel about the place. Everybody from the team to the backroom staff, to the tea ladies, it's a great place to be I'm looking to spend a few more years here yet Until I'm told to leave I'll be right here"

assistant manager at Montrose.

Bluebol Lsdies

The Bluebells ladies with captain, Greg Kirk and manager, Steven Leahy

Amelia Fyfe, daughter of club sponsor, Jim Fyfe of JF Heating Ltd presenting new rain jackets to Steven Leahy &Danny Cavanagh