An update from our Assistant Manager
When Haynesy phoned me to ask if I’d be interested in coming in as Assistant Manager, I was absolutely delighted and didn’t need to be asked twice.
It was an opportunity to get back in the game at the club where it all started for both of us back in 2002. I have lots of great memories of my time as a player, it’s a proper community club where the players, committee and fans all feel part of the club.
I have been so impressed with the club since day one. The new committee, players, fellow backroom staff, and the Supporters and Supporters club have made me feel very welcome, and have got great ambitions to take the club forward.
The club is in great hands. It’s also been brilliant seeing old (maybe I shouldn’t say old haha), familiar faces from all those years ago.
My second stint at the club started off great with a hard fought 2-1 win against Broxburn. We were outstanding in the 1st half and defended superbly in the 2nd half to hold on for the 3pts.
We have a good blend of youth and experienced players in our squad, and I have been impressed with the quality.
Our league campaign has gone relatively well, and has probably surprised a few that we are doing so good. We all understand our goals and ambitions, and we don’t get too down or too high with results with the odd exception, (which I will touch on in a bit).
The league is very competitive, and outside the top 2, everyone is beating each other. We have competed well in the majority of league games, with only the away performance at Linlithgow dropping well below the standards that Haynesy and myself both expect, as well as the standards that the players have set over the course of the last couple of months.
I touched on highs and lows earlier and not being too emotional win, lose or draw, with exceptions, our first Scottish Cup tie as a club was such a massive day, it really can’t be underestimated how big an occasion it was, the players, management, committee and more importantly the town.
If back in 2002 you would have said Haynesy and I would have led out the club in its first Scottish Senior Scottish Cup tie, I would have said you were dreaming. It was such an amazing day. The weather was superb, the club was buzzing, and the town came out to support us to a famous win!
The boys deserved it on the day against a really good Broxburn side. It just felt like everyone was in it together, and we celebrated a momentous day into the early hours. The next round saw us draw Camelon at home. Another cracking game awaits both teams. It would be great to see New Countess Park bouncing again a week tomorrow.
On to tomorrow’s game, and we are in cup business (South Challenge Cup) for a cracking East Lothian derby against high flying Haddington. A superbly run club which I have greatly admired over the years, who have good people behind the scenes and have always had good attacking sides.
A wee connection between the two clubs is that both management teams have played at Dunbar together. Scott Bonar and Giggsy have continued the great job Joe Hamill had been doing at Haddington, and they have got them flying and scoring loads of goals. It sets up for a cracking game on a superb playing surface.
I hope to see as many fans as possible as we look to continue the good start the season.
All the best
Dunny