Poor Rolly
Saturday 8th June was a sad day for dog lovers everywhere as loveable Giant Poodle Rolly from East Kilbride was finally put down after an agonising wait for the final round of SAFL Premier Division fixtures to be played. A victory for Saints by two goals or more over relegation threatened Thorn Athletic would have saved Rolly but unfortunately for Rolly, or Rolls Royce East Kilbride as he is sometimes known, Saints could only manage a 1 - 0 win which sealed Rolly's fate.
Saints Treatment Room
Things might well have turned out differently if Saints had a full compliment of players for this match. However with six players still nursing injuries sustained in the bruising encounter with Hillington in the Jimmy Marshall Trophy Final, and a further four players unavailable through work commitments, Saints resources were stretched to the limit. Even with long term absentees Graham Douglas and Allan MacKay returning to the fold Manager Iain Jackson could name only a thirteen man squad the night before the match. The squad was further depleted on the Saturday morning when Sean Ford declared himself unavailable as he had to travel to Aberdeen to start a new job.
Saints left Oban early on Saturday morning hoping to pick up a few hitchhikers on the way to make up their numbers. With no suitable candidates found Manager Iain Jackson named himself and coach Peter MacCallum as substitutes alongside Allan MacKay who was returning after a sixteen month injury lay off.
With their first choice white kit still soaking in bleach, Saints Secretary Davy Buchanan announced that Saints would be playing in new colours of orange shirts with pink sleeves.
Sean Ford and Paul Kerr model the new orange and pink shirts
Returning striker Allan MacKay declared there was no way he was wearing orange and vowed to leave Saints to sign for Oban Athletic as he had heard they were ditching their orange strips. MacKay promptly took to his phone to negotiate terms with Oban Athletic Manager Calum Fox.
The match got underway in front of a large crowd of spectators many of whom were Rolly fans who had travelled to Johnstone from East Kilbride to cheer on the Saints. Saints started strongly sensing the nervousness of their opponents. Roared on by Rolly supporters Saints were dominating their hosts when they received yet another set-back. Saints midfielder Willie Gemmell conceded a free kick for a strong challenge a Thorn opponent. During the stoppage in play Donald Campbell, was discussing with Allan MacKay on the sidelines their mutual hatred of the new orange kit. remarked that he "hated the orange b******s". The referee, presuming that Donald was referring to him, immediately produced the red card and sent off the bemused Saints striker for threatening behaviour. The Saints camp protested bitterly but the referee's mind was made up and Saints were reduced to ten men for the remainder of the match.
Despite being a man light Saints continued to dominate proceedings with Thorn content to hold on for a draw. Meanwhile on the touchline Allan MacKay received a phone call which prompted a massive change of heart and a request to Iain Jackson to re-sign for the Saints. Manager Jackson requested an explanation for this sudden change of mind whereupon MacKay replied that Calum Fox must have "turned" because Oban Athletic will be playing in Red, White and Blue next season which was even worse than Orange!!
Jackson immediately sent substitute MacKay into the action but reminded him that the Oban Times photographer was present and that he probably wouldn't want to be pictured scoring and celebrating a goal dressed in orange. The substitution did little to disturbed Saints rhythm and they continued to probe for an opening in the well marshalled Thorn defence. With the match entering the closing stages and Thorn looking increasingly likely to secure a share of the points proceedings took another twist. Saints midfielder Craig MacEwan went down in the box under a fairly innocuous challenge from a Thorn defender. To everybody's amazement the referee, probably mindful of his earlier blunder in sending off Donald Campbell, pointed to the spot. With usual penalty taker Donald off the pitch and substitute MacKay not willing to risk being photographed, it fell to Captain Keith Millar to take the penalty kick. Millar calmly dispatched the penalty past the Thorn 'keeper and an extremely nervous closing ten minutes beckoned for Thorn.
The Saints players sensing a first every victory over Thorn and a chance of relegating them to Premier Division 1 pressed forward in search of the killer second goal. Chance after chance came Saints way but they were thwarted at every turn by the resolute Thorn defence. In the dying seconds the best opportunity of the match fell to Allan MacKay. With the 'keeper off his line and the goal at his mercy it seemed that MacKay must score but mindful of his Manager's earlier warning he struck his shot wide and the match ended 1 - 0 to Saints.
The Thorn players and staff celebrated wildly and the Rolly supporters trudged away from McMaster Park dejected. The Saints players, although happy to have secured victory over bitter rivals Thorn, were deeply saddened that Rolly would be put down. Saints Manager Iain Jackson reminded the players that the recent draws with East Kilbride had helped considerably to end Saints title hopes and they shouldn't feel too sorry for Rolly.
Rolly with Management team Den, Angie and "Princess" Sharon Watts.
It's a letter from the SAFL Ange. They've had a complaint from Iain Jackson that Rolly bit him on the arse twice this season. They say Rolly must be put DAHNN!
Tears for Rolly.
More Tears.
Rolly and his pal Little Willie in happier times.
That's the season finally over for Saints and the players and management can enjoy a well earned rest before the new season kicks off with traditional curtain raiser the Keyline Tournament on Saturday 13th July.
#monthesaints
