|
| » Latest News - May 2008 |
stranraer 3 montrose 0 (03/05/08)
 Montrose Football Club’s ambitions of playing second division football next season were left shattered after they lost 3 – 0 at the hands of Stranraer at Stair Park on Saturday in the play off semi final second leg. Derek Ferguson’s men now line up to face Arbroath for a place in the second division next season.
The Gable Endies had the majority of the play at Stair Park on Saturday without scoring but once the crucial first goal went in their was going to be only one winner.
How Montrose must rue their missed chances at Links Park on Wednesday night when they would have had the tie wrapped up and out of site, but this came back to haunt them. Some poor finishing was their downfall with the standard not improving much at Stranraer at the weekend.
Although everyone at Links Park was down hearted after the result they must look back on a great season in which they achieved their goal of reaching the play offs. There have been some wonderful performances from the team and some great results on the way. The side had the best defensive record of goals conceded away from home in all four Scottish Leagues, the third division’s top goalscorer and also a player nominated for the third division player of the year by his fellow professionals in John Baird.
» Lineups
» Match Report
» Pictures |
Montrose Youth supporters bus (01/05/08)
 Montrose Youth Football Club are also running a supporters bus to Stranraer on Saturday 3rd May for the playoff semi-final second leg at Stair Park. The bus will be leaving at 8.30am and everyone who has booked a seat should meet at Links Park for 8.30am sharp. |
montrose 1 stranraer 1 (01/05/08)
 Montrose and Stranraer battled to a draw in the first leg of the Division Two promotion play-off. Garry Wood had given Montrose the lead during a period of relentless pressure from the home side, but Stephen McConalogue equalised for the visitors nine minutes after the break following an uncharacteristic error from Montrose goalkeeper Mark Peat. Montrose’s misery was compounded when referee Alan Freeland sent manager Jim Weir to the stand and dismissed John Baird.
» Lineups
» Match Report
» Pictures
» Video Highlights |
CAPTAINS MESSAGE (01/05/08)
 So the season is nearing an end, but we've got the added bonus of making the play offs. Since we clinched our play off place the whole place has been buzzing, I think it's a great achievement for all those involved at the club, from Leeps and Ronnie to the programme sellers, everybody has played their part.
During a pre season team meeting the Gaffer and Kevin set down a target for us to reach the play offs, and all of the squad were confident that we could achieve this. It would be great if we could go one step further and obtain promotion through the play offs but we have two really hard games against Stranraer who are a good side.
Since the Gaffer and Kevin have came in things have been a lot more organised, the training sessions have been high tempo and enjoyable, also the team spirit has been great. This being reflected on the park, with us playing some really good stuff.
Were still a young squad and I think the youngest on average in the league but since Jamie Buchan signed he has pushed the average age up!
One of the highlights of the season had to be our 5 - 0 win over Arbroath on January 2nd; all of the players know how important this game is to everyone connected to Montrose FC. It was a great result and it could have been more to be fair, but we settled with the 5.
Personally it was also a great honour for me when the manager made me club captain when Barry moved to Forfar Athletic during the transfer window.
The supporters have been great this season home and away and the average home gate is well up on last season. All of the boys really do appreciate your support, hopefully you can get right behind us during the play offs as this would push the boys on even more.
We had our player of the year dance last Saturday and we all had a good night. Well done to all of the award winners they were thoroughly deserved, John Baird had the PFA awards on Sunday and narrowly missed out on winning the top award.
All of the squad have been brilliant this season but wee Bairdy has been immense, and he could play at a higher level no problem at all along with other boys in the squad.
A special mention has to go to Stephen Thomson who has been out for so long with an ankle injury, Thommo has been working really hard doing his rehab and it was great to see him rejoin full training last week and he's looking in good shape. With the squad being so thin over the last few weeks due to suspension and injuries the manager had to bring in a couple of the youth team players Daryl Nicol and Mark Russell.
The two young lads have shown a great attitude during the training sessions and have acquitted themselves very well.
The boys were gutted for Daryl last Saturday when he was so close to scoring with his first touch on his debut against Elgin. "Steiny" played a great ball across to him but he just couldn't adjust his feet quick enough. Daryl has great ability and is definitely one for the future.
I want to thank finally Brian Leiper and Ronnie Marquis on behalf of all the players. Brian and Ronnie work so hard for the club and the players really do appreciate this. The two of them go out of their way to make sure the boys are all well looked after. Last week at my request Leeps gave the boys a taste of Dundee after the training session. He made the boys mince rolls as the Glasgow and Edinburgh lads had never tried this before, they went down like lead balloons I think.
On Thursday we went over to the Links Hotel for a team bonding bite to eat. The meal was good and we had a good crack. Ross Gardiner's meal sounded really good!
Anyway hope you enjoy the play offs and get right behind the team.
Cheers Gibby |
DEBUT (01/05/08)
 18 year old striker Daryl Nicol made his Montrose debut in the last home match against Elgin City when he came on as a late substitute for top goalscorer John Baird. The youngster almost scored with his first touch when he got on the end of a Jay Stein cross only to fire straight at goalkeeper Ridgers from close range.
Daryl who has also had a spell on loan at Montrose Roselea this season has been a regular goalscorer in the Under 19 side this season.
Daryl's Father is former Montrose player midfielder Derek, who had a four year spell at Links Park between 1979 - 83 when he made 29 appearances scoring one after signing from Aberdeen junior side Lewis United.
Daryl's debut now means that three current Montrose players have also had their Father's turn out for the club the other two being Craig Forsyth (Stuart) and Ross Gardner (John). |
BAIRD HITS TWENTY TWO (01/05/08)
 John Baird took his season's goalscoring tally at Links Park to 22 with his two goals against Elgin City. The first goal was a close range effort from a Paul Stewart and the second a penalty his seventh of the season (John has also missed two).
John has now scored 28 goals for Montrose in 41 + 5 substitute appearances since signing in March 2007, firstly on loan from St Mirren.
This season's Division three top goalscorers are as follows - 22 - John Baird (Montrose) 17 - Paul McManus (East Fife), Roddy Hunter (Montrose, 13 for Albion Rovers) 15 - Bryan Scott (Arbroath) 13 - Gregory Tade (Stranraer), John Gemmell (Albion Rovers) 12 - Andrew Brand (East Stirlingshire), Darren Shallicker (East Fife), Scott Dalziel (Stenhousemuir), Michael Mullen (Stranraer) |
PFA Third Division Player of the Year (01/05/08)
Congratulations go to East Fife centre half Jonathan Smart who picked up the Royal Mail PFA Third Division Player of the Year award last Sunday at a dinner in Glasgow. The former Raith Rovers and Dundee amateur player picked up the award ahead of our own John Baird, Elgin City's Zander Sutherland and East Stirlingshire's Andrew Brand.
 The Players also voted their team of the season and it contained six players from East Fife and two from Montrose - Baird and Mark Peat. The full side was as follows - Peat (Montrose), McDonald, Tweed, Smart (all East Fife), Dempsie (Elgin City), Fotheringham, Stewart (both East Fife), Brand (East Stirlingshire), Sutherland (Elgin City), McManus (East Fife), Baird (Montrose) |
MURDO BACK (01/05/08)
 Centre half Chris McLeod will return to the side tonight after completing his three match suspension. Also available after injury will be goalkeeper Mark Peat who has been rested for the last two matches and Keith Gibson and Garry Wood who returned to the side after injury at East Stirlingshire on Saturday. Only Stephen Thomson is unlikely to be fit for the match although he has now returned to training after an ankle injury. |
THANKS (01/05/08)
The club would like to thanks the Montrose Football Club Supporters' Club, the Gable Endies Supporters Trust and Montrose Youth FC for all their help, support and fundraising on behalf of the club this season. It has been greatly appreciated by everyone at Links Park Stadium. |
Supporters Club AGM (01/05/08)
The Supporters’ Club AGM is to take place on Friday 27th June at 7.00pm in the Willie Johnston Lounge at Links Park. |
EX GABLE ENDIES (01/05/08)
 Jim Moffat was sacked as manager of Forfar Athletic after their 2 - 0 defeat at Stenhousemuir two weeks ago. Willie Garner has been put in side of the team on a temporary basis. Sandy Wood missed out on Forfar's final match of the season against Dumbarton due to injury. Andy Reid (pictured) took his place in goal for last Saturday's 1 - 1 draw with Dumbarton which saw the Station Park finish bottom of the lowest league in Scotland for the first time in 30 years. Winger Graeme Sharp was on the mark for Peterhead in their 5 - 2 away win over Raith Rovers. Kevin Tindal scored a last gasp winner for Cove Rangers last Saturday at Clach meaning a win this afternoon at Lossiemouth will give John Sheran's men the league title. Marco Andreoni scored from the spot in Airdrie United's 2 - 1 win at Ayr United at the weekend. In the juniors Calum Watson scored a double for Ralph Brand's Montrose Roselea in their 2 - 0 victory at home to Forfar West End last midweek. His side need all the points they can as they try to avoid relegation out of the Whyte and MacKay Premier League. |
Supporters buses to stranraer (23/04/08)
 The Montrose FC Supporters Club and the Gable Endies Supporters Trust have teamed up to provide subsidised bus travel to the away play-off semi final match at Stranraer on Saturday, 3 May.
The Trust will make a donation towards the cost of each bus thus ensuring that the fare is pegged at £5 per person.
Bookings can be made by contacting Ted Parlett on 01647 677600 or at the club shop at Wednesday's play off semi final first leg. |
|
|
Craig Ferguson models the new Montrose FC third kit |
