John Gemmell says he couldn’t have asked for a better season after notching his 100th goal at Junior/West of Scotland League level on the day Cambuslang Rangers wrapped up the Conference B title.
The Lang striker, nicknamed ‘The Beast’, netted their second goal in a 3-1 win over rivals Gartcairn on Saturday to help the club land their first league title in five years.
It also kept up Gemmell’s impressive run of tasting success in each of his three years at the Wee Gers, having been at the club when they won their last league title in 2016/17 and when they won promotion the following season.
Alan Reid efforts either side of Gemmell’s strike crowned Camby champions with two games to spare and there were jubilant scenes at Somervell Park when the final whistle blew.
The 37-year-old club captain said: “You couldn’t ask for a better season. We’ve drawn one, lost two - and the two games we lost were to Gartcairn and St Cadoc’s.
“I was delighted and it couldn’t have gone any better.
“I have over 100 goals at senior level and now I’ve got it at this level as well, with the majority of them at the top level of the Juniors/WoSFL.
“I’ve had a great time in my spells at Cambuslang. This is my third year with them and the second league I’ve won. The other year I was there it was promotion, so all I’ve ever known at Cambuslang is success.
“When you get to my age you don’t expect to still win stuff or play as much of a part as I have.
“I have played nearly every minute of every game, but I’m happy it is over and I’m looking forward to a nice rest.”
Camby won an incredible 23 games in 26 outings on their way to glory and Gemmell, who has played for the likes of Hurlford and Troon, added: “The consistency of this team has been great and so has the professionalism.
“The squad has been quite small. We’ve only been working with a squad of about 18 and five of them are under-21.
“Andy Wilson has done well in goal and we don’t have a reserve goalkeeper. We’ve all really clubbed together.
“There was a good crowd there on Saturday as well and hopefully we can get a good wee support when we get the trophy in a couple of weeks.
“We had a good celebration on Saturday. I only stayed for an hour, but I think the boys were still out on Sunday, so I’m sure they had a good time.”
Camby were able to savour the moment on home soil, having missed out on the win they needed last week when they fought back with 10 men to draw 2-2 at Renfrew.
And finally getting over the line was a relief for the squad.
Gemmell added: “We just wanted to get it done and dusted.
“We knew after the Renfrew game we were never going to lose it, there was never going to be a 30-goal swing.
“But it was good to wrap it up at home and now we also have a couple of home games left to get some other boys game time.
"It also allows Paul and Billy to look at players and decide who to keep for next season and who isn’t up to it.”
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