A source close to the Gretna 2008 management team has confirmed that Annan have a serious interest in Nicholson, Rayson, Reynard and Carmichael.

It'll be interesting if the young lads are prepared to make a footballing committment for the opportunity to play senior/semi-pro football or are quite happy playing within themselves with their mates.

An even bigger question? Do the kids know of Annan Athletic serious interest in them?

RENYARD is the right way to spell Davids name, thanks.

I am reliably informed that Gretna 2008 will never stand in the way of any player's progress and to answer your question - yes the lads concerned were informed (why wouldn't they be?) and it was their decision and will always be a players decision if any club makes an approach Who are Annan Athletic anyway There are bigger clubs than Annan Athletic interested in these lads and each of them have made the correct decision in my opinion.

Time is on their side and when the right team comes along, they will move and do very well.

Annan Athletic seem to be thinking they are some kind of big time outfit now they are in the SFL, get real, Spartans will show them how strong the EOSL league is! They got lucky that "blazers" run Scottish Football and not common sense

Must not laugh

So these lads have big clubs looking at them who will give them a realistic chance of first team football do me a favour, they are playing in a league that is on a par with most amatuer leagues in england, in any other part of the country these players are ten a penny.
Brilliant post keep up the good work and don't give up the comedy quality

Interesting to see how quickly fans of a club think they are better than where they come from. So you leave EOS league what a few month ago and now it is an amateur league word insulting and make mockry of???? This would be same organisation that you finish 7th out of 12 in top level and still get into SFL????

Gretna player will be far better off playing well in successful Gretna team than loiter in bottom half of Third divisions. As for you - remember your roots...

You have missed my point completly i know where i have come from and what i have seen so my point is not a swipe at the East.
I hope these lads do go onto big clubs and make it likes of Mcguffie and Macmenimim but these stories are few and far between.
The east is no way as strong as it was say 10 years ago and the quality of player that is in these leagues is not as strong. I would say go to any major amatuer league in england and the quality of player will be on a par if not stronger than the east premier never mind the 1st division.

Gretna fans from old will surely agree would you say that the lads in question were better than you seen in the unibond? The likes of your Gateshead, Vauxhall motors yar Blyth Spartans or Barrow be very surprised if this was the case.
Even the gretna teams, would the boys in question be better than say a young Dobie or Degsie or Monaghan if so they may have a chance all am saying is be realsitic of the level of football and players we are talking about and i include the third division in that.

You've missed my point also - as I ask who are Annan Athletic? A few months in the SFL and your acting like some big time club and it seems that you've taken the hump big time that these four boys have had the sense to turn you down!! You talk about playing in an amateur league Maybe Annan Athletic should show a wee bit more professionalism in their approach when attempting to attract players to sign for them instead of going to the press naming the lads and trying to unsettle them, such as todays article in the local News & Star and I quote Degsie "We made a formal approach but Gretna have told us that the lads aren't interested" However Annan are unlikely to be detered after being given the intial knock back in their bid to lure four of Gretna's youngsters to Galabank it goes onto say!! How many ways can you spell NO.

Very unprofessional in my opinion, hanging your dirty washing out tp dry springs to mind and maybe the person who started this thread and a few others on any message board he could reach - "Everyhomeneeds1" who registered on this site only as recently as the 26th October are you an Annan committee member in disguise? Even suggesting he got the information from a source close to Gretna FC 2008 Show a wee bit of dignity, just accept that these boys dont see you as a development in their football

By the way Degsie or Dobie wouldn't get a sniff at a starting place in this team and any major amateur league in England could be on par with the SFL league

Gretna 2008 Playing their football in Annan in front of 10 meth heads and 6 greyhounds

No disrepect guys but this threads done and dusted. The boys don't want to take the opportunity at this moment in time to try their hand at senior football and thats got to be respected. The fact that Annan are taking an interest can only be a good point for local young footballers and move them into the senior game.

Thing is London Scottish i've this distinct feeling that Gretna 2008 hasn't seen that Gretna team you were on about because to say they wouldn't have got in the existing Gretna team is a load of bollocks.

Take it your spelling is the same standard AMATEUR poster

But still better than playing at Galabank according to Nicholson, Renyard, Rayson and Carmichael

You just can't beat the banter on here

Hi Hugo, your rain dance last weekend so you could get to the re-scheduled game worked a treat. Disappointed that the young boys can't see the opportunity of working with Jardy and Degsie (still have fond memories of his goals against Motherwell) but that's football I guess and everyone respects their decision. I understand Frank Lampard doesn't want to join us as he doesn't fancy competing for a place with Dan G.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sat and "reminding you boys where you came from"!

Thing is Annan DIDN'T respect their decision, when told NO, Annan decided to go public in local papers and name the boys, to me that's very disrespectful and amateurish, some may even say underhand but I am sure the authorities will take care of it and Annan's dealings in future will be watched very carefully!!

For what its worth Hugo Biano, I have seen many teams representing Gretna probably before you were born my friend do not assume that every Gretna fan were not supporters before the mileson period, these fans are now sitting at Galabank, which you will probably know fine well My first sighting of Gretna was as a young boy probably in 1965 or 66, the days of Billy Cross etc. now a young Billy would certainly get into the current team, do you know who i am talking about Can you say you saw Annan play Gretna in Carlisle & District days?

Just for the record of comparisons, I would say in my opinion, Degsie = carthorse and Tony Nicholson = thoroughbred

Now the thread's done and dusted

Will your warm up for the Alex Jack final V Kelso be on ?

Annan now/Gretna not so long ago - Pot/Kettle?

Different Gretna all together....

Yes

What is wrong with that. As your own fan pointed out this is a different Gretna. I for one used to follow Gretna rignt til the end. I was devastated when they folded. I have no allegiance to the new Gretna. I come from Annan thus Annan being the new sfl club, the choice was easy. I don't like non-league football. If I was a glory hunter I hardly think I would have chosen Annan. I think the glory hunting former Gretna fans will be at Palmerston.

Surprisingly maybe, the hardcore of Gretna fans - most of the 80 or so that went to the away games last season in the SPL are pretty much still following the new club. Most that refused to go to Motherwell last season on principle, have returned to the fold en masse and are present at games both home and away!

It's ironic how last season we were slated for low crowds and yet this season, on many an occasion, we now get compliments for the "army" of fans present at games now!

Thinks it's great the support the new Gretna have and this alone justifies the decision to keep a club in Gretna(well nearly Gretna) and hats off to the people who have made that possible.

How's that ironic?

You've dropped from SPL to EOSL, if the crowds that go to games now had gone last season they'd still have been poor in contrast to the other teams in the division.

I'm trying to think of a comparisson in England, but to be honest there isn't one.

Totally irrelevant. Gretna 2008, management etc. as stated in numerous posts has f--- all to do with Gretna FC. Its in the past and we have moved on.

I know what your saying but lets say they were still in Division 1 and that guy had bought them like he was going to, Gretna would be playing at Raydale in Gretna and i would say would have had a 500 + support.

Did you really think Gretna were going to turn up in the EOSL with a 500+ support, Get Real.

Yes Tony I for one never missed a game at motherwell. Good for you if you have changed your team to the new Gretna. I see you were in the Annan social club last week. Were you planning on going to the game?

Yes, me and my pal decided to go to the Annan game last week as we knew our game had been called off the day before Chris. Neither of us had been to Galabank previously and as well as going to all the Gretna games, my mate is also visiting the 42 league grounds. Annan would have been his 31st I think. Shame the game was called off though. We were in The Shed when news filtered through at 1.50pm but we still decided to visit the clubhouse for a beer whilst we were in the vicinity. You should have come over for a chat.

Incidentally I don't consider I've changed my team to the new Gretna - the fans are what makes the team and the fans are still the same apart from those that have moved on.

I thought it was your good self. I would have but was pretty pissed off at the late call of, so was trying to phone my mrs to come get me. If you decide to return to an annan game let me know and i'll have a beer with you.

I only say changed team as the gretna 2008 fans make a point of telling everyone it is a new club. No offence was meant Tony.

No offence taken Chris.

the 4 players in question are good players but not as good as the 100 or so folk at the side of the park rant on about. saying that havin seen gretna probably think they would give annan a fair run in a game would be interesting to see. gretna are awesome at attackin but lost a little talking with the big guy Birch missing at the back. all the best for the season from a very neutral neutral.

mark birch only played one game for us and to be honest he wasnt really that impressive. he seemed even slower than when he played for gretna in the sfl.

a think the gretna fans who travel to watch an entertaining team play are to be applauded.
They came to Hawick a few weeks back and were a pleasure to have ... they swelled the bar takings 5 fold which is something we havent said in Hawick in a while!!!!
They were a real friendly bunch and the banter before during and after the match was excellent, your welcome back to Hawick anytime guyz

Super day out. Your hospitality was, to say the least, top drawer. This is my first venture into EOS football and I have loved every minute, win or loose. Best of luck for rest of season.

I 2nd that gileramv.

Like it or not CT, you are a new club all be it a continuation of the old club in terms of name and fanbase. This is something I know a bit about as a fan of (AFC) Wimbledon (FC).

Out of interest, can any Gretna 2008 fans answer a few questions? :-

1. What is the latest on getting back to Gretna - either playing at Raydale or another venue in Gretna?

2. What's happened to the history and honours of the now defunct Gretna FC? Has there been any attempt to get them back for the community of Gretna? Perhaps they should be put on display at a local library/community hall to remind people what happened to the club?

3. How do the fans remember Mileson, now he has passed away? With fond memories, contempt or something in between?

What is the ambition of the club longer term? New ground? Get back in the league should the opportunity arise? Be the best non-league team in South of Scotland?

TIA

ps. Gretna_ed, i know i owe you a beer but I haven't mae it up to a Gretna 2008 game yet - bit worried about games getting cancelled!!