Cambuslang Rangers co-boss Billy Campbell says his team can anticipate a ‘huge’ step up next season – but they have to revel in their West of Scotland Football League Conference B title win.
The Somervell Park side rounded off their league campaign with a 2-1 win over Thorniewood United, thanks to goals from Scott Anson and John Gemmell.
Silverware was already secured prior to the match but now Campbell’s men will have eyes on a double, with their WOSFL Cup campaign still to finish. They face Wishaw in that competition on April 23 after winning their league by 15 points.
A spot in the Premier Division awaits next term and the Camby gaffer reckons consistency, alongside a mix of older heads with youths, has proven a perfect formula.
He said: “It’s the culmination of a season’s worth of hard work. I am really pleased for the team as this has been a long time coming.
“We talked about the squad we have at the moment last week as it’s brilliant, with regards to their attitude in training and their application.
“We have very rarely had any problems with players not turning up to training and things like that. We haven’t had these type of excuses this season. We have managed to maintain a bit of consistency with the squad and who we have in it.
“We have tried to settle it and we haven’t had to change it too much. That tells you all you need to know about the level of the players we have, and the mix of experienced and younger guys who have helped us get this over the line.
“These guys have dug in and talked the others through it, the boys who have had the quality but maybe not the experience.”
Promotion comes off the back of a tough time for Cambuslang Rangers amid Covid-19. The club had to start their squad from scratch after the 2020/21 was whitewashed due to the pandemic.
There were off-the-pitch problems navigated in this period too, but Campbell has been buoyed by the response of fans, sponsors and players alike this season.
He explained: “When we had to withdraw from the league due to the Covid situation, the fans came back and have been brilliant with us. The sponsors were great too as we had to start from nothing.
“It’s been a lot of hard work from a lot of people at the club to get us here, but most importantly, from the players. Nobody can say they don’t deserve it.”
Now a return to the top of the WOSFL game beckons and the Wee Gers co-boss knows it’s a different beast.
Campbell added: “We are looking forward to it (next season). It will be a huge step.
“We need to make sure we’ve got a decent squad for it and that we perform well.
“We have the older heads in there and there’s a good mix of experience, as it has been difficult for us in a couple of moments this season.”
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