Kilwinning Rangers 18/19

[Marlowe]

1 hour ago, parkcircus said:

Our constitution isn’t very good, a new one has been written by the previous committee but we didn’t bring it in.

At the moment you become a member of the club and your entitled to a season ticket, sort of the wrong way round.

https://www.netlawman.co.uk/d/football-club-constitution

£23 inc Vat.   Covers everything and you modify / amend to suit

In the late 70s the Co-op Bank financed a model Constitution & Rules for Social Clubs, Working Mens Clubs and Junior footie clubs which they insisted any clubs who banked with them either adopted or had a similar one already. 

[lonewolfie]

This thread seems to have peaked. Is there summit up with it? 

[Scotlad]

Ben Lewis Testimonial

Sunday 22nd July

Kilwinning Rangers v Kilmarnock

2pm KO

[Marlowe]

Hoi Benji, sumbdy's photoshopped you and given you Jordan's left tit ... I'd ask for an edit if I was you

[Louis Mooie]

Any news on the transfer front. Did not make the Shortlees game the other night, any trialists playing. I saw the other day that Gary Fleming previously with Dumbarton was linked with Pollok, Strain played with him at Meadow saying that he was one of the best players he had ever played with. This is the type of signing Kilwinning need to be making to kick on this season and not stand still. I believe Fleming is a midfielder who could add a touch of quality alongside McGuinnes and Wardrope.

[Marlowe]

I'm not sure how long each half lasted, maybe 35mins but Shortlees gave the Buffs a hard game and there were some tired legs by the end of the game.   Buffs had some young guys stripped and one I noticed from the under 17s was Bradley wearing 20 and he came on for the last minutes and showed great pace on the right wing competing with a swift left back.  A young guy as 2nd choice keeper to Adam Strain came on for the last period of the game and did ok.   Wardrope was much more involved in midfield than usual  and gave a lot of effort but sometimes overdid the twists and turns and lost possession frequently although Shortlees strategy seemed to be to overwhelm the ball carrier and it worked for them.  Shortlees no 7 looked a class act and strong in possession going forward and scored an excellent goal from distance.

Buffs have an excellent squad with the addition of McKenzie and could do worse than sign the Shortlees No7 as well.  

Edited July 21, 2018 by Marlowe
typo

[Louis Mooie]

3 hours ago, Marlowe said:

I'm not sure how long each half lasted, maybe 35mins but Shortlees gave the Buffs a hard game and there were some tired legs by the end of the game.   Buffs had some young guys stripped and one I noticed from the under 17s was Bradley wearing 20 and he came on for the last minutes and showed great pace on the right wing competing with a swift left back.  A young guy as 2nd choice keeper to Adam Strain came on for the last period of the game and did ok.   Wardrope was much more involved in midfield than usual  and gave a lot of effort but sometimes overdid the twists and turns and lost possession frequently although Shortlees strategy seemed to be to overwhelm the ball carrier and it worked for them.  Shortlees no 7 looked a class act and strong in possession going forward and scored an excellent goal from distance.

Buffs have an excellent squad with the addition of McKenzie and could do worse than sign the Shortlees No7 as well.  

Chances are the number 7 would be Kerr Knapp who by all accounts runs riot for Shortlees and by some distance is their best player. Think he played for Troon in their play off game against Girvan and scored a couple over the two legs.

[Viewparker]

4 minutes ago, Louis Mooie said:

Chances are the number 7 would be Kerr Knapp who by all accounts runs riot for Shortlees and by some distance is their best player. Think he played for Troon in their play off game against Girvan and scored a couple over the two legs.

That’s a shame Troon didn’t sign him then. 

[buffy1899]

Good player ,who would do a job at a top junior team,suspect temperament though.

[Ayrshirejuniors]

1 hour ago, buffy1899 said:

Good player ,who would do a job at a top junior team,suspect temperament though.

That  boy has had junior offers for years but always declines. He just enjoys playing with his pals on a sat. 

[buffy1899]

Lot 2 b said 4 that,just hope when he looks back he doesn't regret it.think he's just the type of player(box 2 box midfielder)the buffs could do with.

[Ayrshirejuniors]

1 minute ago, buffy1899 said:

Lot 2 b said 4 that,just hope when he looks back he doesn't regret it.think he's just the type of player(box 2 box midfielder)the buffs could do with.

from what I heard he won troon the tie in the play offs. Good to see that a boy has some loyalty to his mates and club. 

[buffy1899]

Aye it is,2 b fair u get a lot of that at the better amateur teams.if he's 2 step up he'd go straight in 2 a premier team.aye heard he was outstanding 4 troon ,but again a bit fortunate not 2 b red carded.worth a try though.

[Louis Mooie]

On 20/07/2018 at 23:37, Louis Mooie said:

Any news on the transfer front. Did not make the Shortlees game the other night, any trialists playing. I saw the other day that Gary Fleming previously with Dumbarton was linked with Pollok, Strain played with him at Meadow saying that he was one of the best players he had ever played with. This is the type of signing Kilwinning need to be making to kick on this season and not stand still. I believe Fleming is a midfielder who could add a touch of quality alongside McGuinnes and Wardrope.

Strain must have read my post, Fleming signs for Kilwinning.

[Jan Vojáček]

Gaz Fleming is an astoundingly good signing for you guys. He was excellent for us, and is easily good enough to play at the top end of League One. Keep him fit and motivated and he'll be the best player in the Juniors.

[funky monkey]

4 minutes ago, Ross Forbes said:

Gaz Fleming is an astoundingly good signing for you guys. He was excellent for us, and is easily good enough to play at the top end of League One. Keep him fit and motivated and he'll be the best player in the Juniors.

Good to hear. What's his best position?

[buffy1899]

Strain must have read my post, Fleming signs for Kilwinning.

Didn't realise at the time it was same player,buffs bn chasing him for weeks and heard Beith were interested as well.Good 2 c a bit of ambition,as fans were getting worried the squad was thin.another defender n we 'll b up there again.

[funky monkey]

Just now, buffy1899 said:

Didn't realise at the time it was same player,buffs bn chasing him for weeks and heard Beith were interested as well.Good 2 c a bit of ambition,as fans were getting worried the squad was thin.another defender n we 'll b up there again.

Need back up for Adam and a ball winner with Ricky and Finlay gone. Other than that, we should be good to go. Chris seems to be investing wisely.

[buffy1899]

Need back up for Adam and a ball winner with Ricky and Finlay gone. Other than that, we should be good to go. Chris seems to be investing wisely.

I worry we've not got much cover at the back.could maitland do a job as the ball winner in the middle,has looked lot fitter this season.

[Jan Vojáček]

19 minutes ago, funky monkey said:

Good to hear. What's his best position?

For me he's at his best as #10, driving at players from deep in midfield. Alloa's seemed to play him as more of a sitting midfielder though, and he sprayed some stonking crossfield passes in the playoffs.

He played a huge part in the most successful period in our recent history, and was arguably our most consistent player throughout the run from relegation certainties to an established Championship side (albeit not anymore!). I always got the feeling that the relationship between him and Stevie Aitken wasn't the greatest, and he had a few personal problems, so it wasn't a great surprise to see him move on at the end of the 2016/17 season.

I wrote this for the Lennox Herald when he left.

On Thursday evening Dumbarton Football Club reached the end of an era, as it was announced that long serving striker, local hero and fans’ favourite Garry Fleming would not be offered a new contract.

Despite the 2016-17 season being, by a distance, his poorest at the club, the Dumbarton lad remained a hugely popular figure with fans, and played as big a role as anyone in establishing the Sons as a Scottish Championship team. 

Signed by Alan Adamson in the summer of 2012, Fleming’s addition was hardly one that had the Championship shuddering with fear. In fact it was one that raised more than a few eyebrows amongst the club’s own fans.

In a league featuring forwards of the calibre of Stevie May, Kris Doolan and Lyle Taylor, Fleming’s arrival from Junior side Irvine Meadow highlighted just how big the gulf between Dumbarton and many of their rivals was.

These doubts were dispelled early on however, as ‘Gaz’ went on to become one of the standout performers during a difficult start to life in the second tier.

His style was unique, unorthodox and certainly rough around the edges. When deployed in central midfield he had a habit of flying into challenges, whilst on the wing he was more of a battering ram than a dynamic, tricky wideman.

It didn’t matter though, because he was effective. The sight of him bullying players, and quite literally barreling his way through defences was a joy and - unlike many other members of Adamson’s team - he played with no fear or respect.

Despite being signed as a forward, his game was about much more than goals. It took him until January to finally score his first for the Sons, against title chasing Morton at Cappielow. He took a pass into his feet on the edge of the box, swivelled and crashed a left-footed effort beyond ‘Ton ‘keeper Derek Gaston and into the net.

Fleming’s goal was the opener in a shock 3-0 win for Ian Murray’s side.

His second and third goals for the club came against similarly high ranked opposition, with a brace in a 3-1 away win against Falkirk. A result that put Dumbarton on the brink of pulling off one of the greatest escapes in recent Scottish football history.

Fleming’s second season at the club was Sons’ most successful as a team, but also one of his most frustrating personally. 

Faced with stiff competition for a starting position from new signings Mitch Megginson and Colin Nish, and then on-loan St Johnstone goal-machine Chris Kane, Fleming would start just 15 matches in the newly renamed Championship.

Despite this he managed to score seven goals, including winners against Queen of the South, Falkirk and Hamilton. His performances became more rounded, and his movement suddenly began to resemble that of an outright goalscorer. 

2014-15 saw him return to the starting fold, and finish as the club’s top goalscorer - albeit with just six goals. Ian Murray’s last campaign saw a change in ideology, from an attacking ‘you score four we’ll score five’ approach, Dumbarton became more cagey and defensive. New signings Archie Campbell and Chris Duggan lacked the quality of their predecessors, and that put a heavy burden on Gaz to provide the goals.

Despite only scoring six times, three of them were as important as they were impressive. A stunningly powerful free-kick in a crucial 3-1 away win over Cowdenbeath days after Christmas was the perfect late present, whilst two late volleys against Livingston in November and March gave the Sons vital away wins.

Murray’s departure to St Mirren in the close season saw Fleming offered full-time football with the Saints. It was a move he turned down, something St Mirren must still regret!

His career under Stevie Aitken started poorly. Substituted against East Fife, Fleming was visibly angry with the decision, and stormed down the tunnel.

It was an early test for the relationship of player and manager. How would Aitken respond?

He did so by handing Fleming the captain's armband for the opening league game of the season against Hibernian, an opportunity he relished, leading by example in a famous 2-1 victory.

The following week he showed nerves of steel to bury a late penalty winner against St Mirren. It wouldn’t be the first winner he’d grab against the club who were desperate for his signature just a few weeks earlier either.

Having set himself a target of reaching double figures in goals early on in his Dumbarton career, Fleming finally reached it in 2015-16. His 11 strikes featured one of the most memorable in recent history.

Knowing that a win was needed to secure survival, Dumbarton welcomed neighbours St Mirren to the Rock in April 2016. Future Son Calum Gallagher gave the Buddies an early lead, before Keith Watson turned Mark Docherty’s cross into his own net just before half-time.

Then, ten minutes into the second-half, came the defining moment of his Dumbarton career.

Jamie Lindsay’s pass deflected up off Stevie Mallan, and dropped towards Fleming. As the Rock collectively held its breath he unleashed the perfect dipping volley from the edge of the box, an effort that flew over Jamie Langfield and right into the top left-hand corner of the net.

It was a goal that he will always be remembered for.

This season was a frustrating one for Garry, and something just didn’t look right. He was lacking sharpness, fitness and, above all else, that little bit of fire that had been the hallmark of his time in white and gold.

He still contributed crucial goals, another winner against St Mirren, and match winning efforts against Queen of the South and Falkirk - but something just didn’t feel right. Fleming started just 19 games, with the form of Robert Thomson and Christian Nadé limiting him to just one since January.

His final goal for the club, against Raith Rovers in March, encapsulated him perfectly as a player however. Heading for the corner he quickly changed his mind, drove through three challenges and beyond the ‘keeper before planting the ball in the bottom corner.

Power. Desire. Unpredictability. 

Garry leaves the club having made a total of 179 appearances, grabbing 33 goals. Wherever he goes next he’ll always be most welcome back at the Rock, and will be forever remembered as a true modern day Dumbarton icon.

Spoiler

The goal that I mentioned against Raith is here:

Oh aye, and let him take a free-kick. He only ever did that once for us...

 

Edited July 23, 2018 by Ross Forbes