THORN ATHLETIC youths have taken to the skies and the roads to clock up the miles over the past few weeks.
Author: Mark McGee
Final Hits Big Screen
THORN ATHLETIC are delighted to announce that our League Cup Final clash with Dumbarton will be professionally filmed.
For the first time ever, Caledonian League officials have struck a deal with FilmMyMatch company to provide a full package for each of their three showpiece finals.
And our club will be one of the first beneficiaries when we travel to Clyde’s Broadwood Stadium on Friday, April 7.
Their specialist HI-POD equipment enables them to film at a height of up to 30ft above pitch level, giving them the optimum view of any match.
The equipment is mobile and can be used at any facility, from park pitches to Premier League stadiums, providing ‘Match Of The Day’ style footage that can be kept as a unique memento of the match or used as a superb coaching tool.
Footage is uploaded to their secure online video sharing platform within 2-3 days of your match. Your footage can then be viewed and shared online on your PC, laptop or mobile device. Or it can be downloaded and burned to multiple DVDs, saved to memory stick or uploaded to YouTube as you see fit.
Thorn manager James Donnelly said: “This is a wee incentive for the players to go out and play well and also for family, friends and supporters to come along and watch.
“It is a nice touch that the boys will be able to look back on the final in years to come and perhaps show their kids and family.
“We are grateful to the league for facilitating this and adding to the occasion for both teams.”
Access all areas at Celtic
FOUR Thorn Athletic officials were given an amazing behind-the-scenes insight into Celtic’s Youth Academy at the club’s prestigious recent International Coaching Convention.
Pie and Bovril hits the spot!
SCOTLAND’S favourite football forum has got everyone talking once again after backing Johnstone’s top side Thorn Athletic.
Pie and Bovril attracts millions of visits from fanatical supporters across the globe debating every level of the national game from grassroots right up to the top flight and Gordon Strachan’s international team,
And now they have thrown their support behind the Thorn 2006 team with a strip sponsorship deal that proves they know the score in youth football.
The team play in the Paisley and Johnstone District Youth Football League and have enjoyed considerable success in progressing players to pro-youth level.
Now the players will be the talk of the town with their stunning new yellow and blue Adidas strip bearing the well-known Pie and Bovril logo on the front.
And Pie and Bovril spokesman David McDonald, who lives in the local area, said: “Pie and Bovril is the number one Scottish Football Forum, attracting millions of visits from Scottish Football fans all over the world every month.
“We have members of all ages, discussing every level of our favourite national obsession on our website and mobile apps.
“Our members are painfully aware of the extreme financial pressures that exist at all levels of the game in Scotland, none more so than at the all important grassroots level.
“As such we decided we should try and give something back to a local team, and a chance conversation with coach Steven McKnight introduced us to the talented lads of Thorn Athletic.
“We were delighted to help the boys out with some sponsorship which helped them get their new kits. They look really smart but it’s the smiling faces we saw that really made the project worthwhile.”
And delighted coach McKnight added: “Pie and Bovril is synonomous with Scottish football and we are delighted to have the support of such an iconic brand.
“The boys will wear the new strips with pride and they are all absolutely loving them and the new logo on the front. It’s great that David had been able to put something back into grassroots football and we greatly appreciate it.”
Three Picked for Caley Select
CALEDONIAN League Select Team manager Raymond Masterson has called up three players for the Inter-League Trophy competition.
Jordan Devine, Ryan Crawford and Jamie White are set to face Glasgow Colleges AFL in the first match of the competition.
Striker Devine, who has bagged 11 goals in nine appearances this season, was part of last season’s squad.
But it will be the first involvement for new signings White and Crawford, both of whom have been in excellent form so far this campaign.
The match is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 20 at Dalziel with a 1pm kick-off.
Meanwhile in the other matches Strathclyde Saturday Morning AFL face Central Scottish AFL also at 1pm at Dalziel.
Lothian and Edinburgh AFA v Scottish Amateur FL 3pm at the same venue.
Thorn manager James Donnelly said: “It’s well deserved for all three, who have had excellent starts to the season.
“We could possibly have put more players forward as the squad is firing at the moment but we also have a busy schedule.”
The full squad is:
2.Stuart Wilson Gartcosh Utd
3. Craig Fry Giffnock North
4. Andy Duff Hamilton FP’s
5. John Whitford Milton
6 .Mark Shanta Giffnock North
7. Stewart Mitchell Milton
8. Mark McGinty
9. Scott Cronie Dalziel HSFP’s
Midfielders
10. Gary Close Dalziel HSFP’s
11. Niall McClure Doune Castle
12. Peter Gemmell Giffnock North
13. Ryan Crawford Thorn Athletic
14. David Neale Gifnock North
15. Jamie White Thorn Athletic
FORWARDS
16. Nicky Moore Larkhall Thistle
17.Jordan Devine Thorn Athletic
18. Andy McLay Glasgow Harp
19. Conner McCann East Kilbride YM
20. Paul McAuley Larkhall Thistle
21. Cammy McCulloch East Kilbride YM
22. Grant Drummond Larkhall Thistle
23. Chris Ogilve Doune Castle
24. Mark Taylor Milton
Hampden Role for McKnight
HIGHLY-RATED Thorn Athletic coach Steven McKnight is heading for Hampden after landing a role with SPFL side Queen’s Park.
The 37-year-old 2006 head coach has been rewarded for his hard work with the Johnstone side and will now take up a role both coaching and scouting for the Glasgow side.
McKnight, who was also recently approached by Falkirk Football Club for a similar role, will deliver coaching for Queen’s 2010’s side at Lesser Hampden and search out new talent for all age levels of their academy.
Thorn are delighted with Steven’s news and also that he will continue with the club’s 2006 side where he has blazed a trail sending dozens of boys onto the next level with pro-youth at some of the country’s top teams.
He said: “I received a phone call from Ian Campbell who is head of player recruitment for the Falkirk Academy and he invited me up to the stadium. I met up with him on a Sunday afternoon at the stadium and took in a couple of pre academy games.
“I was also introduced to Michael McArdle who is Head of the Forth Valley academy which incorporates Falkirk, Stenhousemuir and East Stirling and was told to hand my C.V. in with the possibility of a coaching role at the academy. After a long afternoon and a good chat I was offered a role of scouting for Falkirk in the Glasgow and Renfrewshire area.
“The very next day I was contacted by Gardner Speirs who is in charge of the Queens Park Youth Academy and I was invited in for a chat at Lesser Hampden.
“I was offered a scouting role and also coaching the u14’s which I had to decline as it was such a big commitment Monday, Wednesday and Friday and most of the day on a Sunday as they play all over Scotland.
“I eventually agreed to a coaching role at the under 10’s which is Tuesday, Friday and Sunday’s all at Lesser Hampden plus a role of scouting for the club at all academy age levels.”
A Thorn Athletic spokesman said: “The quality of Steven’s coaching has brought amazing rewards and represents a great example to everyone at the club.
“He has really honed his skills and shown great dedication to the kids he has worked with. We are sure he will excel in his new role.”
Pre-Season Round-up
NOT long now until the big kick-off this weekend in the Caledonian League.
During the course of an extended pre-season the Thorn Athletic camp have been busy preparing themselves for the campaign ahead.
Sizzling Summer Camp Success
OUR first ever summer football camp was given a huge thumbs up by everyone who took part.
Almost 30 kids signed up for the action-packed five-day event that ran from July 25-29 at the McMaster Sports Centre in Johnstone.
It was run in conjunction with Thorn Athletic 2006 head coach Steven McKnight and fellow coach Alasdair Buchanan.
Kids were treated to five fun-filled days of drills, ball mastery, enjoyable games and various activities that helped improve their football skills.
The Thorn camp was just one of three hugely successful week-long camps run by coach McKnight which was split into morning and afternoon sessions either side of a lunch break.
And such was the quality of skill on show that scouts of some top senior clubs popped by resulting in two players training at Rangers’ Murray Park this week.
Club spokesperson Mark McGee said: “We were delighted that the club was able to promote and host our first ever camp last week.
“It was universally enjoyed by all the kids and they all had a fantastic time. Feedback from kids, coaches and parents alike was superb.
“The quality of coaching delivered by Steven is of the highest standard and the end results are demonstrated by the real progress the children have shown in just a week.
“This is another milestone for the club and we would like to place on record our thanks to Steven and Alasdair for putting on such a great event.”
Dinner Raises The Roof
A BUMPER 150 crowd turned out to see us crown our star men at a glamour dinner at St Mirren Park.
Top table speakers former Scotland manager Craig Brown and ex-referee Willie Young kept the guests entertained after a fantastic three-course meal.
Striker Jordan Devine won the Player of the Year award along with the top goalscorer gong for his haul of 35 goals during campaign 2015-16. Former Aberdeen and Motherwell gaffer Brown handed over the engraved glass trophy.
Midfielder John Hay emerged with the Players’ Player of the Year and received his award from fellow guest and current UEFA observer Young.
Also recognised on the night was attacker Craig McGlone – the Thorn’s all-time top goalscorer – who was presented with an award for his long service to the club from Thorn Athletic life member and club stalwart Jim Allen.
Fundraising efforts on the night from the, giant football card, raffle, auction and silent auction saw just over £4,000 raised to boost the team ahead of their first season in the Premier Division of the Caledonian League.
It was a memorable night for the organisers and everyone was delighted the event was a rip-roaring success.
The club’s sponsors Direct Engineering, Graeme’s Butchers, The Thorn Inn and McDoc Caravan Hire were all instrumental in the success of the night with most represented on the night and others donating great auction or raffle prizes.
Club secretary Mark McGee said: “It was our first attempt at doing something on this scale and it was a resounding success. The support from players, family and friends was tremendous.
“We would like to thank everyone who made it happen, in particular Campbell Kennedy at St Mirren for his help organising the event and his valued support on the night itself. It’s a great venue.”
Both guest speakers spoke highly about the club as they addressed guests and afterwards the ex-Scotland boss Brown – the last national team manager to lead the country to a major championship, said: “It was a very enjoyable evening in great company. Good luck to the club going forward, you deserve the best.”
- All the pictures from the night out can be viewed on the Gallery page of the site.
We are the Champions
WE finally ended a six year wait this week when the club’s adult side were crowned Caledonian League First Division 1B champions.