A fans' preview of the Scotland's Division One season
AIRDRIE
Jim Milton
How will your team do? Well we made the playoffs last season when nobody fancied us, so the same again must be within our grasp. Much will depend on manager Alex MacDonald’s close season activities.
Most important figure? With the club about to return to its roots with the opening of our new stadium, chairman David Smith’s role in relaunching the Diamonds within the community will be crucial.
New piece of merchandise? A Johnny Martin goalkeeping doll that burps, farts and swings on a replica crossbar.
Change to matchday environment? Bring back the target golf or referee/goalie mime troupe which proved so popular years ago at Bloomfield, and dump all these pointless mascots.
AYR UNITED
Hugh Dunlop
How will your team do? As a promoted club, just staying up would be an achievement: a big gulf has developed between the First and Second Divisions.
Most important figure? Manager Gordon Dalziel, who took a job no-one else seemed to want 18 months ago and saved a club that was going nowhere.
New piece of merchandise? Anything that does the dirty on our Ayrshire rivals Kilmarnock, such as souvenir teatowel, bedspreads and jigsaws commemorating their 6-2 setback at Stirling Albion in the Coca Cola Cup a few weeks ago.
Which player most divides the support? Difficult to say as we’ve got about ten new players, several of whom are clearly rubbish so there’s no real division of opinion. The player who causes most confusion at present is a Dane, Brian Kristensen, who looks pretty good on the ground but is a complete disaster in the air, always jumping at the opponent rather than the ball. If he could be fined every time his feet left the ground, he might turn out to be a success.
Change to matchday environment? Happily, we have no half-time entertainment whatsoever. We’re not big on funny animals in Ayr.
DUNDEE
Alan Pattullo
How will your team do? Has to be top spot. This season – our fourth in the First Division – makes this the longest spell Dundee have ever had outside the top division.
Most important figure? There are two of them actually, the Marr brothers who bought the club this summer from the previous, mostly absentee, landlord, Ron Dixon. The pair are rampant football and Dundee fans – unlike Dixon, who was wont to call goalkeepers ‘goal tenders’ – although optimism is tempered by their business being retirement homes and Dundee’s recent policy of signing somewhat venerable players.
New piece of merchandise? A Jacki-in-the-box with moving body parts (arm to mouth especially) to commemorate the projected signing of 35-year-old Polish striker and noted hell-raiser Jacki Dziekanowski. Crafty tykes that the Marrs are, they realize most of whatever they pay Jacki will be recouped at weekends in their Dundee nightclub (the retirement homes sideline).
Which player most divides the support? Probably goalkeeper Billy Thompson, who enjoyed a long and distinguished career across the road at Dundee Utd. Not even a match winning performance last season against United where he saved two penalties could quell the odd “Bloody Arab” jibe. May have the heat taken off him now Jim McInally, another long-time Arab, has arrived.
Change to matchday environment? Our ground, Dens Park – once quaint, now just plain archaic.
FALKIRK
Paul Hutton
How will your team do? Top three.
Most important figure? I’d like to say the manager, but it’s probably the Chairman. Falkirk need a new ground. If he can’t deliver on that we’ll go out of business within five years (my guess).
New piece of merchandise? A first team strip. The club produced a new strip for the Scottish Cup final, but they couldn’t get any to actually sell to the public. Seriously, in the run up to the biggest match the club faced in 40 years, the general public couldn’t buy the strip. It only went on sale three weeks into the new season, with the Chairman’s company as a shirt sponsor.
Which player most divides the support? Paul ‘Mowgli’ McGrillen. Gets dog’s abuse because he won’t sign a one-year deal and is holding out for more dosh. And because occasionally he’s pretty iffy. On the other hand, most of our players are occasionally pretty iffy, and Mowgli did score the winning goal in our cup-semi win over Celtic. That buys you a bit of time in my book.
Change to matchday environment? I’d like a roof over the home end please. Maybe I’m getting old, but being wet on match days has gotten boring.
GREENOCK MORTON
Richie Evans
How will your team do? As we have recently sold our best striker, Derek Lilley, to Leeds United, and lost two key players, Rajamaki and Lindberg, on the Bosman ruling, we will struggle to compete with teams such as Dundee, Raith Rovers and Airdrie who have superior resources.
Most important figure? Undoubtedly, this onus falls on the shoulders of new owner Hugh Scott, who has taken control of a fragmented board, stabilising a poor situation. His promises will be expected to bear fruit almost instantly from a long-suffering support.
New piece of merchandise? At the time of writing, the club shop was a casualty of the recent takeover as it was run independently by members of the previous administration. However, when it resurfaces, they could do worse than market a compilation video centred around former star Andy Ritchie, arguably the best player in the modern era never to play for Scotland.
Which player most divides the support? This has to be Peter Cormack Junior, son of the former club coach, the one-time Liverpool and Scotland star. There was a faction who felt that he got his break at the club because of his dad, and the same people are mystified as to why he gets a game now ahead of obviously superior players.
Change to matchday environment? As we do not currently have separate seating for away fans we are, foolishly in my opinion, forced to share the seated area with away supporters, which can create an air of menace to proceedings, particularly when we meet our most bitter rivals, St Mirren.
HAMILTON
Colin Mitchell
How will your team do? If Accies retain the current squad, we should finish mid-table. If, on the other hand, we lose some star players we will struggle to avoid the drop.
Most important figure? The Chairman, James Watson. The same man who along with ex board members ‘appropriated’ £1.2 million out of the club when selling our old stadium. The club were left with only £650,000 to build a new ground. Now this man and his friends are back in control and the fans are talking about boycotting home fixtures.
New piece of merchandise? A James Watson voodoo doll. Or a plasticine figurine of Accies’ much-heralded new stadium.
Which player most divides the support? Our record purchase, Gordon McQuade. Some including yours truly, appreciate him as a player who has never been played in his true position. Nevertheless, his ability to skilfully evade five opponents before missing an open goal can be a trifle frustrating.
RAITH ROVERS
Gary Oliver
How will your team do? This looks to be the weakest First Division for several years and may not take much winning. Anything less than claiming the title is unthinkable.
Most important figure? We will look for new chairman Alan Kelly to invest in the team and pray that reinstated boss Jimmy Nicholl recaptures his managerial muse. But an even more critical figure is goalkeeper Colin Scott: providing he remains on the sidelines, and is not between the sticks, we will have every chance.
New piece of merchandise? David Craig’s Lucky White Heather. Our centre-back has been relegated – with Dundee United and Hamilton as well as Raith – in each of the last three seasons. Contrary to popular belief, his middle name is William, not Jonah.
Which player most divides the support? Lanky, enigmatic winger Kevin Twaddle last season created more opportunities than everyone else combined. Yet he often appears to loiter without intent, prompting some to suggest that he is aptly named.
Change to matchday environment? Many fans would appreciate having a bookmaker located in the new home stand. After all, you have to be a gambler to support Raith Rovers.
PARTICK
Geddes Thomson
How will your team do? Thanks to the policies of the Chairman, we will be relegated.
Most important figure? The Chairman (James Oliver), unfortunately.
New piece of merchandise? None of my ideas are legal, so I won’t bother you with them.
Which player most divides the support? Players?! We’ve only got four at the moment. If you turn up in a Thistle strip you’ve got a chance of playing.
Change to matchday environment? I hate sitting on my arse like a good little boy as we now have to do at Firhill. Bring back The Shed.
ST. MIRREN
David Steel
How will your team do? Well, considering that we exceeded our expectations last season by finishing fourth, I guess we are heading for a season of mediocrity: mid-table is our best hope.
Most important figure? The most important figure at the club this season will be the guy who sits in the Centre Stand at every home game and reminisces about the Scottish Cup win in 1959. Since no one at the club has the ability to look forward he takes the club line and looks to the past.
New piece of merchandise? The tee-shirt which says “I was there in ‘59!”
Which player most divides the support? It has to be Mark Yardley, the man who plays with his back to the opposition goal and can only really run the way he is facing… On the odd occasion when he is facing the correct way he can score some blinders.
Change to matchday environment? The eleven players wearing Saints shirts.
STIRLING
Kevin Croall
How will your team do? Better than last year, probably ending up in a safe mid-table position.
Most important figure? The Chairman, Peter McKenzie, as he has personally funded Stirling’s switch to full-time football.
New piece of merchandise? They’ve only just got around to selling strips, pens and mugs. Anything more adventurous than a tea towel would cause major problems.
Which player most divides the support? Steve McCormick, who won the fans over with 32 goals in his first season but has since become a target among those who resent the fact that he is looking for another club at a higher level, while others lie the blame at the door of his agent.
Change to matchday environment? Enough programmes to go around, stewards to get a sense of humour and a tannoy would do for getting on with.
From WSC 128 October 1997. What was happening this month