"tales from the technical area"

Today was my debut for Tranent Juniors Football Club - as first team coach, not as a player!

'Junior' football in Scotland is the semi-pro level between the amateur teams and the senior game. The players get paid, but won't get rich any time soon. The players also receive a generous 'signing-on' fee each season that is good money if you are young, or a student.

Make no mistake; this level is hard, both physically and technically. A lot of players play at this level before being discovered by the big senior clubs.

This is the ground at Harthill Royal, probably the poorest facilities in the league. Most of the other grounds are of a decent standard.

For the record we won 2-3 and go top of the league. Yippee!

This image shows the subs sitting waiting patiently to be called, and the replacement goalkeeper who knows he'll only get a game if the #1 keeper gets hurt - talk about mixed feelings...