Gartcairn gear up for friendlies as co-boss eyes WoSFL First Division title this term
The Airdrie club are looking to bounce straight back to the top flight and start preparation on Saturday in a friendly with Lowland League Broxburn Athletic
Gartcairn have lined up five pre-season friendlies as they prepare for a West of Scotland First Division title tilt.
The Airdrie club host Broxburn Athletic on Saturday and then travel to Cowdenbeath on July 5, and welcome Edinburgh City to MTC Park three days later.
Camelon are visitors on Saturday, July 12, before Gartcairn head to Musselburgh on July 19.
Co-boss Ryan McStay, who works alongside Darren Barr, is delighted with their programme.
He said: 'We've got five friendlies lined up, which is a really good test for us that we're looking forward to.
'It will be a really good gauge on where the squad is.
'Things are looking really well, we're singing off the same hymn sheet, and can't wait to get started.
'We need to start the season well and we'll be hoping to challenge for the league.
'Darvel have retained a few of their top performers, and the likes of St Roch's have recruited well.
'There will be other teams that will look at it and think it's a season to try things, with eight teams going up.
'We've signed a few young boys, trying to give them experience and blood them in to the team. But we're still going to try and win the league.'
McStay says Gartcairn definitely have their stamp on them, and is eager to get going.
'When me and Darren came in it wasn't really our team in the last six games, but we've kept the boys we really wanted to,' he said.
'That's a solid base from last season, and we've done our work over the last few months.
'We've missed out on a few targets. We missed out on Paul Frize and Robbie Scullion [both from Beith], because we've dropped down from the top league.
'But we want players who want to come and play for us. We've signed a few that have a lot of experience in the West of Scotland and the senior game as well.'
Meanwhile, McStay has parted company with six players over the past few weeks.
Goalkeeper Kieran Hughes, defenders Ryan Lockie and Scott Rumsby have departed alongside forward trio Kenny Barr, Ross Caldwell and Robert Thomson.
A club statement read: 'As the squad get ready for the hard work ahead, we'd like to say a massive thanks to the players moving on to pastures new. Thank you from everyone at the club all the best for the future.'
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