Threave Rovers boss Vinnie Parker says he’s looking forward to competing in the West of Scotland League next season.
The Castle Douglas side’s application was approved at Saturday’s AGM after they quit the South of Scotland League at the end of last season.
Parker said: “It’s a different brand of football which the area doesn’t have.
“It’s a journey we’re looking forward to. We’re well equipped for it, we’ll go and give it a bash. It’s hard trying to talk these higher level players into coming to play for you in the South of Scotland, with no disrespect to the South, but because this is a bit fresher and newer it’s allowed boys to take that gamble to come to us.”
Threave will start their West of Scotland League adventure in the fourth division, which is further down Scottish football pyramid than the South sits, at tier six.
Regular games against former juniors such as Auchinleck Talbot and Darvel will need to wait, with upcoming opponents including BSC Glasgow, Easterhouse and Harmony Row – a Glasgow club with strong links to Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
And there’s also the prospect of a 450-mile round trip to face Campbelltown Pupils.
Parker joked: “When the boys saw that the first thing they thought about was it’s an away day! It’s something new. Our aim is to try to climb up the leagues, however long that takes us to do, and we’ll put the hard work in. I know there was a talk because of our set-up and our facilities to go in a bit higher but I never thought for a minute it would be voted any other way than start at the bottom which is fair enough. We’re a new club so I don’t have an issue with that.
“The club has invested in a bus so we’re well equipped for these away days.”
Threave began pre-season preparations last week and step things up on Saturday with their first friendly which sees them travel to Edinburgh to face Lowland League side Spartans.
“You can see the players we’ve brought in have lifted us in terms of their quality on the ball and in training. There’s a big difference in the changing room as we’ve brought in six or seven characters who like a bit of banter. They’re great for the younger lads.”
