Lochee Harp Amaturers a background………
Our team started up after the Riverside 03’s and 04’s time had came to an end. The 2 teams joined up and adding some more boys from other teams we would previously have competed against.
Our oldest player being 19 we started off our first season in the Dundee Saturday Morning League.
First few pre season games went well, then lost our last one heavily and followed it up with a heavy loss in our first ever game. Since that day though the boys have been competitive in every single game they played, picking up plenty compliments about the way they played and finishing a creditable 5th after beating 6th place Claverhouse 6-0 in our last game.
As anyone who has ever helped run a football team will know, it can be hard work at times. We started this team with nothing, managed to get 2nd hand strips from Lochee Harp Juniors with coaches paying for nets, balls and extra socks and shorts. We did a couple of World Cup sweepies which eventually got us out of the red, getting through the season without a single sponsor.
This is a little update regarding the club. On Saturday past (6th Jan 24) the boys were elliminated from the Scottish Cup in Glenrothes
The boys made the trip to Fife and were greeted by by a pitch that had frozen parts all over it, the ref gave it the green light and it was game on.
We had a change in goal and 3 changes to the defence from the last game due to injuries but felt that we were still as strong. After 15 mins, the defence lost the ball in the sun and when it broke to the opposition on the right no one reacted to the cross and it was a simple header for 1-0.
Finlay T had the best of our chances in the first half, one just going wide and another when he is one on one with the keeper, but again lost the ball with the sun in his eyes.
We started the 2nd half well, knocking it about for 15 minutes without having a cutting edge. Then
had a 5 minute spell where we couldn’t get up the park. Unfortunately, that was our undoing, when the Scotia player rose unchallenged for a free header to make it 2 off a corner. Boys tried to the last whistle, but couldn’t get a goal back to put a good, solid, experienced team under a bit of pressure.
Scottish Cup run is over for another year, boys were a bit gutted they didn’t play to their full potential, it was a scrappy game, both teams trying to get something going on a grim surface.
Massive thanks to Balgonie scotia 1896 for their hospitality today, great set up and a brilliant bunch of boys. Exactly the way it should be. All the best for the rest of the season.
Onwards and Upwards
Mon the Harp