Armadale AFC are hoping to mark their debut season in style by being crowned Scottish champions.
The club have enjoyed a remarkable maiden campaign which saw them win the Airdrie and Coatbridge AFL Championship. Now, they get the chance to go for national glory as they take on Edinburgh East in the Sunday Trophy final in Hamilton.
Armadale head into the clash full of confidence and while the occasion is an unexpected bonus to a successful season, they’re in no mood to simply be content with reaching the final.
They want to prove the doubters wrong and bring the trophy back to West Lothian.
Gaffer James Gibb said: “It’s been about nine or 10 years since the Harvester won the Sunday Trophy and a lot of folk at the time said a West Lothian team would never win it again.
“Here we are in the final and we’re desperate to bring the trophy back home. I think we’re viewed as underdogs but I don’t really know why if I’m honest because we’re a very good team.
“Maybe there’s a bit of shock or unknown because we’re a new team while Edinburgh East have been about for a few years but we’ve got great players and we’ve proven we’re a good side.
“We deserve to be here and I’m sure the boys will go out and put in a decent performance on Sunday.”
He added: “I think they’ll be a big, physical team and play that way but that’s fine, bring it on. We can definitely mix it with them and we come to the fore a bit when games get like that.”
Gibb is part of a management team that includes Thomas Hendry, Colin Dudgeon and John Kirkland while the team boasts a host of former Junior and East of Scotland players.
It’s also a family affair for skipper Sid Easton as the former Bathgate Thistle and West Calder United man lines up alongside his brothers Gary Easton and Kaelan Murphy who are believed to be the first set to three siblings to represent the same team in a Sunday Trophy final.
And Kirkland believes a huge part of the club’s success is that family environment within both the coaching staff and players.
He commented: “Obviously for the Eastons it literally is a family environment but I think we get that throughout the squad.
“We can moan and argue and have a laugh but there’s also a real level of respect and belief for every member of the club. We’re all willing to chat, listen and learn because we know everyone is on the same page and wants the same things.
“That can go a really long way in football, when you’ve got everyone together and I think we’ve shown that throughout the season.”
While Sunday is a literal cup final, Dudgeon says their schedule over the last couple of months will stand them in good stead because they’re well used to playing in must win games - and they’re determined to start off on the front foot in Hamilton.
He said: “We’ve been chasing Blantyre in the league and playing big cup games so honestly every game over the last two or three months has felt like a cup final. They’ve felt like games we’re going into needing to win and we’ve done it.
“We’re used to playing in big games and having that pressure of needing to win and the players have thrived in it to be honest.
“We’ve been really going at teams from the first whistle and getting a fast start. In the semi-final against Old Inn we scored three goals in the first 15 minutes.”
The team, who will be staying in the Hampton by Hilton in Strathclyde on Saturday night, are hoping to be cheered on by a vocal support with Gibb adding: “The support has been great and we’re hoping that we can give them plenty to cheer about during the game.”
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