Tuesday August 4th 2015
Bonnyrigg Rose Manager, Robbie Horn
“This is my first of a weekly “Manager’s View” that I will try to keep going for you throughout the season.
Firstly I’ve got to thank everyone connected to the club who have made my family and I so welcome at the club, it’s been greatly appreciated. The committee have been first class and they have done everything possible to help me settle into the role. The work that people put in at the club is incredible. There has been days where I have popped into the ground for a blether and people are working away. I’m starting to think that Charlie, Bob, Ray, Pauline and Andy live in one of the containers at the ground!
The result of the hard work though is a pitch and ground that is immaculately presented. The playing surface on Saturday is something you would expect in the Premier League. As Charlie says “…if they cannae play on that then they cannae play at all!”
Pre season couldn’t have gone any better for us to be honest. The players have worked really hard in training and games and their fitness levels have been good. Four wins, 21 goals for and only 1 against is not too shabby but we all know that it is only pre season and the real test will come on Saturday when we face a difficult trip to the newly promoted St Andrews. The one disappointment in pre season has been an injury in training to Wayne McIntosh. Wayne looked sharp in our first game against Civil and banged in a hat trick and set the tone for the rest of squad with his work rate and enthusiasm. He is a miss but Fraser and Kieran have shown that they are more than capable of filling in.
On the new faces at the club we have Billy Bald an excellent experienced goalkeeper, Ewan Moyes a dominant centre half, Andrew Kidd a powerful and skillful midfielder, Adam Nelson a top Super League player, Lewis Turner a quick, energetic and skillful midfielder and Wayne McIntosh and Fraser McLaren who are both top strikers and proven goalscorers.
The other two signings which have perhaps raised eyebrows are Kieran McGachie and Chris Tobin. Both lads have been full time and have perhaps lost their way a bit since being released. Kieran had a spell on loan at Bonnyrigg before but wasn’t really given much of a chance and was lacking in confidence before moving to Civil Service while Chris also ended up there too. Kieran has the attributes to be an important player for us big, powerful, quick and hard working which can be a handful for any centre half while Chris is a very gifted footballer, slight in stature but also hard working with a great attitude. These boys are still young and have been given a chance to fulfill their potential at a top Super League team and I have every confidence that they will do that.
When you add these players to the quality that was already here we have the makings a good squad. The players have bought into the way I want to play pretty quickly and know what is expected of them. First impressions for me are they are hard working group of players with no egos amongst them with an excellent captain in Ross Archibald who leads by example. Everyone in the dressing room knows the aims for the season and if we continue to work as hard as they have done, show the same team spirit and play the same quality of football throughout the season we’ll do fine. I still hope to add a couple of players to the squad and hopefully a couple will again feature against Davie McQueenie’s Easthouses Lily side on Tuesday who will provide another test for us.
I must mention my assistant Davie Burrell. When I was offered the job he was the first name I thought of, the committee were exactly the same. It was important for me to have someone alongside me who knew the club well, is respected by the committee, supporters and players alike. I worked with Davie’s brother Jamie at the Vale of Leithen, so kind of knew Davie through that and he has impressed me with his coaching and knowledge of the junior game. He’s a genuine good guy, very loyal, demonstrated by his 12 years at the Rose as a player, a Bonnyrigg legend he tells me!!! Jim McQueen and Danielle make up the back room team and they offer continuity at the club which is great for everyone.
Fingers crossed for a good season starting with a good result on Saturday.”
All the best!
Robbie
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