Forfar Athletic v Clyde – Match Preview

Venue – Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park – ko 3pm.
Saturday 3rd August, 2024
William Hill league 2 – Match No 1

Stand admission charges are;-
Adults £16
65 & over £10
Under 17’s £5

Terracing admission charges are;-
Adults £15
65& over £10
Under 17’s £5

Payment on the day by cash at turnstile. If anyone would like to purchase a ticket online in advance, they can be purchased at https://forfarathletic.ticketco.events/uk/en/m/e/forfar_athletic_v_clyde Please note that anyone purchasing a concession or u17 ticket online may on the day be asked to produce proof of their age and entitlement to a concession ticket, failing which entry to the ground with their online ticket may be refused.

Forfar Athletic Season Tickets are of course valid for this fixture.

1984 Lounge
The 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open to supporters from 12.30pm. to 2.50pm. The lounge will re-open again on the final whistle till approximately 8pm.

The Refreshment Kiosk and Club Shop will be open as usual at the fixture.

50/50 tickets will be on sale from vendors within the ground and pre-match in the 1984 Lounge.

PREVIEW
The ‘Loons’ begin their William Hill League2 campaign with a real ‘tasty’ encounter when Clyde are the visitors to the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park on Saturday.

Manager Ray McKinnon is relishing the season ahead. He is in no doubt that it will be an exciting league to be a part off in the months ahead with interesting acquisitions having been made by many of the ten competing clubs as they prepare to battle for the vital promotion spots.

Saturday’s visitors the ‘Bully Wee’ under the management of Ian McCall have brought in around ten new faces over the summer and are one of the bookies favourites for top spot come early May.

Only four of those new signings were in their starting eleven against Montrose last weekend, but the line-up did include high scoring front man Jordan Allan who has returned on loan from Falkirk.

Clyde still based in Hamilton this term had two excellent away results in their Premier Sports section, a 5-0 trouncing of Edinburgh City with five different goal scorers on the night being followed by an odd goal in five success over old rivals Partick Thsitle, former ‘Loon’ Logan Dunachie notching a brace in the Firhill encounter.

Back to the home team and Ray is delighted with the way his side have performed in their Premier Sports Cup section, especially in the matches away to Championship outfit Dunfermline and at home to league1 side Cove Rangers, five points accrued on the field of play out of a possible six in those fixtures.

The manager is also delighted with the business done over the close season with all the summer recruits impressing at some point in the four competitive matches to date.

Ray still hopes to add another couple of new faces to the Station Park ranks before the end of the month, but is willing to bide his time to hopefully recruit players who will add specific qualities to his match day squad.

The strength of any teams credentials can often be seen by the strength of their ‘subs’ bench and though still just a little short numerically, there were certainly ample options and no little talent available to the ‘Loons’ management team on the touchline in our final two League Cup group stage fixtures in particular.

Many in higher echelons in the Scottish game are envious of the fact that the ‘Loons’ still have Marc McCallum in their ranks, while settled defensive unit from last term of skipper Stuart Morrison, Matty Allan and Adam Hutchinson has been augmented by the arrival of youngster Bayley Klimionek on the left flank.

Blair Malcolm will undoubtedly add bite to the engine room while up front where we lacked depth last term, there are options aplenty.

Certainly the opening three league fixtures away trips to Peterhead and East Fife to follow Clyde’s visit would be considered a tough test of any side’s credentials, but Ray and his squad head into battle confident of giving a good account of themselves prior to the visits from Edinburgh City and Elgin City as a hectic first month of the season which will also SPFL Trust Trophy involvement comes to a close.

Referee on the opening day of the campaign is Duncan Nicolson.

The ‘ Bully Wee’ are likely to bring a more than reasonable support with them, hopefully the Athies fans to will turn out in good numbers to give their early season backing to the home side.

C’mon the ‘Loons’

Hospitality Guests – Alan Davie Transport Ltd, Liam Godfrey & Friends, Peter Kidd & Friends, Tannadice Trophies

Saturday’s other William Hill league2 fixtures;- Bonnyrigg Rose v Peterhead, Edinburgh City v Stirling Albion, Elgin City v East Fife, Stranraer v The Spartans