St Patrick’s FPs hope to mark their 70th anniversary by being elected to senior football for the first time in the club’s history.
The Lennox can exclusively reveal that the Dumbarton side, who look set to celebrate a third straight Central Scotland AFL title this season, have applied to join the West of Scotland League – which would see them playing senior football as part of the pyramid for the very first time.
And coach Zander Diamond, a former Aberdeen player, believes it’s a natural next step for the club – who have a rich and successful history in the amateur game.
Zander told the Lennox: “St Pat’s is a club with a great history.
“For us as a football club it feels like a natural move. We’re always asking, where do we go from here?
“I’m ambitious, Johnny is ambitious and Tommy is ambitious. The whole football club is ambitious.
“It’s the next step. It might not happen, and we understand that some people don’t like change and could view it negatively. But we believe it will happen and we are confident that we have the infrastructure behind us to move forward.
“Who knows where it might lead. It might bear fruit for us or it might not.
“But this year marks 70 years since St Pat’s were founded. What a time it would be to get into the semi-pro leagues.”
Zander says he and Saints’ management team of Johnny O’Brien and Tommy Graham have already started preparing for life in Division Four – and will be ready to go if the club’s application is approved.
He continued: “We’ve started speaking to players from higher divisions to come in and help this group of players get to the next level if we’re elected.
“We’ve said to the players with us this year that we want them to be part of the journey as we aim to swap from amateur to semi-pro.
“When I first came in I sat down with the manager Johnny O’Brien and we looked at whether or not it would be possible and feasible. And it absolutely is if it’s what we want to do.
“We have everything set to go to the next level, and that work that has been going on behind the scenes is something that very few people see.
“Day in, day out people have been working hard to help us take the step. Tommy Graham, coach and club secretary, put together a great presentation for the West of Scotland League.”
And Zander believes that becoming the fourth senior team based in the area (following Lowland League side Broomhill’s move to Dumbarton last week) would be great news for the community.
He explained: “If we don’t get in then we don’t get in. It’s just one of these things.
“But I believe that the hard work will be rewarded and we will get into the league.
“That would be massive, not only for the football club, but for the area. We could have league matches between the Vale and St Patrick’s. What an attraction that could be for fans.
“It would bring people to the area and it would bring a buzz to the towns. That’s what you strive to do with football.”
Saints will find out their fate at the West of Scotland League’s AGM later this month.
Matthew is League's top talent
St Patrick’s FPs Matthew Doherty has been named as the Central Scotland Amateur Football League Young Player of the Year.
The talented OLSP pupil has starred for the Saints since joining from Partick Thistle, and caught the eye of league officials - who selected him as the division’s best young player.
Proud coach Zander Diamond said: “Any individual recognition is fantastic for the player himself, but as a player you’ll always look at your teammates first of all to thank them for their support along the way.
“Matthew is a great young kid who had a setback when he was released by Partick Thistle.
“We want to be a club that can give kids a platform for a second chance.
“Matthew winning this award should only be the beginning for him.
“I’ve told him to puff his chest out and, hopefully, come with us into the West of Scotland League having coped so well with amateur football.
“We want the club to be a vehicle for young players, and Matthew is a great example of that. He’s had a knockback at Partick, he’s done well in the amateur game and hopefully now he can continue to move forward.
“This area is a hotbed of talent with other young players in the same position as Matthew.
“I’m delighted for Matthew individually, but it’s also great recognition for the football club as a whole.
“If Matthew comes on the journey with us then that will be great. Hopefully we’ll be in a position to give him a step up.”
