Sides prepare for tough assignments

Kelty Hearts will be in the Lowland League while Hill of Beath Hawthorn, Dundonald Bluebell and Crossgates Primrose will be in the East of Scotland League. Meanwhile Lochgelly Albert and Lochore Welfare will be in the Juniors' South Division.

This week we look at the Haws, Bluebell, the Welfare and the Albert.

HILL of Beath Hawthorn boss, Kevin Fotheringham, is looking forward to the coming new era for his club and his made just one new signing at the moment for the East of Scotland League adventure.

Joe Kirby, the young former Lochgelly Albert forward, had been recruited giving the manager 17 players in the first team squad with 18 players in the Under 20s set-up.

Haws are in Conference A of the new East of Scotland League and he feels that he has the squad to make an impact on this.

He said: “We rebuilt the squad during last season and they showed in the closing months of the Super League they were quite a handy unit.

“They all re-signed for us so I have been going down the line that we only get more on board if they are going to improve our strength.

“Also the Under 20s we used last season showed that they were very capable of competing well and our set-up is now part of the way ahead which sees the youth side of things very much a key part of the club.

“We are all looking forward to getting involved in the various competitions coming up, especially Conference A, and our aim will be to get a good start to the season.”

TIMES PREDICITION: The Haws will be very much in the leading placings in Conference A and will be prominent in the various cup competitions.

DUNDONALD Bluebell have come a long way over the past three years and now are set to embark on a new phase in the Moorside club’s history.

They are set to embark on Conference B of the East of Scotland League and manager Jason Dair feels his squad is well placed to compete for a key top five place.

He said: “We have re-signed all bar one of last season’s squad, with striker Greg Meikle choosing to join Whitehill Welfare.

“We have fixed up three players. Midfielder Jason Penman, who we had on loan for a spell last season from Kelty Hearts; wide player Michael Ness, who was on a scholarship in the United States; and attacker Derek Wallace, from St Andrews United, who played for the Bluebell a few seasons back.

“There are a couple of others I have eyes on and we will see how things develop.”

The Bluebell have beaten Glenafton and Edusport in their two friendlies and Jason was happy with what he saw: “We have a pretty good squad and our initial aim will be to finish in the top five and also do well in the various cup competitions.”

TIMES PREDICTION: The Bluebell have a tough Conference with the likes of Bonnyrigg and Boness in it, but they have more than enough quality to finish in the top four and will cause a few cup shocks in the various competitions.

LOCHORE Welfare a couple of seasons back were in danger of disappearing but now they are strong on and off the park.

They are looking forward to competing in the new East Juniors South Division set-up and manager Andy Healy has put together a squad of 20 players which he hopes can make an impact on the league.

He lost talented winger, Ben Rolland, to Berwick Rangers, and defender Scott Warrender has left also but he has recruited experienced striker Sean Johnstone from Burntisland Shipyard; streetwise midfielder Wes Lockwood, from Crossgates Primrose; midielder Murray Fraser, who was a highly successful player in University football in the USA; and young striker Ewan Sutherland from Aberdour 19s.

Said Andy: “It was a shame to lose Ben but what a great opportunity for the young lad and we wish him well, while Scott wanted to try and get a club where he could get a guaranteed regular start.

“The fixtures have us against the South Division’s top two of last season, Pumpherston and Armadale Thistle, in two of our opening fixtures which is a hard start.

“This is a bit of an unknown situation for us but the lads showed last season that they were getting better all the time and hopefully we can enjoy the new experience and make an impact on the league.

“We looked sharp in our friendly against Scone Thistle on Saturday and drew 1-1 with Adam Haddow scoring and Sean Johnstone hit the bar, so we are going into the new season in a positive frame of mind.”

TIMES PREDICTION: The young Welfare side will be in the top half of the South Division and may even break into the leading four clubs. Watch out for them doing well in this season’s Scottish Junior Cup.

LOCHGELLY Albert are currently trying to piece together a squad for their East Juniors South Division campaign.

The Berts lost a lot of players at the end of the season and their manager Steve Kowbel resigned, so it has been a case of starting from base camp.

Barry Cockburn has taken over as manager and will be assisted by Kevin Smith, the former Dundonald Bluebell player, and the pair of them are currently busy in trying to add to the five players the club had had signed at the start of the summer.

Secretary Ian Patrick said: “Off the park things are looking really look with the drainage problems of the past being consigned to history and other aspects about Gardiner’s Park looking good.

“However, on the park Steve Kowbel’s resignation left us losing a few players we would have preferred to keep.

“However, Barry and Kevin have been using their contacts and hopefully by next week we will be able to announce a number of signings.”

TIMES PREDICTION: It is going to be tough for the Berts to be as prominent as last season but the new management team will piece together a squad that gives them the chance to have a decent season.

Next week the focus is on Kelty Hearts and Crossgates Primrose.