Lochcarron Boss Pleased With Team’s Improvement. | |
06 December 2010 Lochcarron first team manager Murdo John Fraser is pleased with his team’s improvement during the 2010 shinty season. Speaking on Cuillin FM’s Sports show on Saturday 4 December 2010, Fraser said, “Our target was to get off the bottom of the table where we finished at the end of the 2009 season. So we are very pleased with how the season ended and our fifth place finish. It is the league that tells you how well you have done. We were in the top three or four places for most of the season and we used some younger players at the end of the season. I don’t mind the team getting beat as long as they give 100% and the crowd appreciate that. The one disappointment was the Caberfeidh game when I made a couple of bad substitutions. I take responsibility for that but we have set a standard now. We are very short on numbers and we had a couple of injuries at the end of the season and that is when we can struggle. We were unbeaten in the league at home until our last game. The highlight was coming back from 2-0 down to beat league champions Kilmallie at home. They are a first class side and I think they will do well next season in the Premier Division.” Fraser is clear about why his side’s fortunes have improved, “The players turned it around themselves. I think they realised that they could do more and they’ve done well. If you train well, then you get your reward on a Saturday. Training is difficult for us with so many players based away from Lochcarron. The ones at home are good attendees and they always phone me when they can’t make it. There have been a couple of younger boys who have also come back to training which shows how training builds up the team spirit. It’s a good influence on the young ones. We train in the hall in the winter and on the pitch at the rest of the time.” Looking at the club’s future development, Fraser was optimistic, “We are looking for the second team players to get into the senior side every now and then to learn as there is a big difference stepping up. Some 19 to 20 year olds have had their chance and they have learned a lot this season. It’s a good learning process for second team players when they get their chance. It’s also about getting the young ones from the U14 and U17 to progress.” Travel is a major obstacle for a club like Lochcarron. “Its mainly been cars for away trips but we hope to have a bus for next season but transport is so expensive,” said Fraser. “The community is very much behind us and it’s noticeable when you have a good result that everyone wants to talk about the game. Crowds have been great, especially when we had a couple of Friday night home games. We all appreciate the effort that our boys put in travelling from places like Glasgow to play.” Looking to the 2011 season, Fraser said, “I hope to get the job again next season and the final decision will be made at the club’s AGM. The final league placing is the measure of how well a club has done and if we can get one or two places higher in the league, then I’ll be pleased. However the Balliemore Cup is one that I’ve been unlucky in in the past. I’ve lost two finals and lost countless semi finals as a player and I would like to do well in that one.” Fraser is also sure where the main title challenges will come from. “Shiel and Lochaber are the main threat for 2011 if they can keep their squads together. I think Shiel under achieved last year, losing their first 3 games. They will be dangerous and I was pleased to see them win the Balliemore Cup.” When asked by Presenter Drew Millar Fraser his thoughts on Skye Camanachd’s title chances, he said, “It was almost a different Skye team every week last season. We lack the pool of players Skye have and a lot depends on their injury situation which was horrendous last year. I enjoyed the games we played against them last season. If Skye have their full side next year then they will be a threat.” Presenter Drew Millar then raised the subject of Murdo John Fraser’s playing career for rivals Kinlochshiel. “I’m a Lochcarron man through and through,” laughed Fraser. “But I did cheer Shiel on in the Balliemore Cup Final. We have good banter and good derbies with both Shiel and Skye. You get better shinty in the summer and you have much better facilities these days compared to when I played and players today are very lucky. Shinty is also a great social event too. I played for years with the likes of Johnny “Ach” MacRae and you can go anywhere in the world and you are guaranteed to met a shinty player.” |