Arbroath vs Queen’s Park – Match Preview
Match Day 01 – Ladbrokes League 1 – Season 2017 / 2018
Saturday 5th August 2017, Gayfield Park, Arbroath, 3.00pm kick off.
*REMINDER – Flag unfurling at 2.50pm. Tomorrow is a special day at Gayfield but the match also coincides with the SeaFest. The Area around Gayfield will be busier than normal and parking will be limited. Please make sure give yourself plenty of time to get down and inside Gayfield to see the presentation and Championship Flag Unfurling*
Tomorrow marks the start of another season in the History of Arbroath Football Club. Only 91 days after an afternoon in the Sun at Stirling that we will never forget and proves why we love Football so much – drama, tension, comebacks, never-give-up-spirit and lots of passion.
The Management Team, Coaches and players have been working hard over the summer as has everyone at Gayfield in preparation for kick off.
We hope that it is another memorable season and most importantly we hope we can count on you to support everyone at the club on and off the pitch for the next 36 matches.
We welcome Gus McPherson and his Queen’s Park side to Gayfield. We haven’t faced each other since the 2015 / 2016 season when Queen’s Park got the better of the Lichties in every game that season.
As always we expect Queen’s Park to be well organised and tough to break down defensively and they still have a few players in their squad from the last time we met. Including goalkeeper Wullie Muir and Bryan Wharton in defence.
Queen’s Park Arrivals:
Michael White – Goalkeeper – Petershill
Michael Bailey – Defender – Yoker Athletic
Dominic Docherty – Defender – Partick Thistle, loan made permanent
Ryan Docherty – Defender – Rutherglen Glencairn
Kevin Green – Defender – Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
Chris Duff – Midfielder – Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
David Green – Midfielder – Kilbirnie Ladeside
Luke Whelan – Midfielder – Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
James MacLennan – Striker – West Park
Thomas Orr – Striker – Greenock Morton
Queen’s Park departures; Joe Bradley (Beith Juniors), Liam Brown (Motherwell), Ryan McGeever (Brechin City), Jamie McKernon (Glenafton Athletic), Craig McLeish (East Kilbride), Josh Watt (Clydebank), Gavin Mitchell, Aidan McIlduff (Celtic, end of loan), Kalvin Orsi (St. Mirren, end of loan), Dario Zanatta (Queen’s Park, end of loan)
Queen’s Park Form Guide – Betfred Cup – Finished 3rd – 7 Points
Berwick Rangers 2 – 3 Queen’s Park – Tuesday 25th July – Win
Goals – Rutherford 1, Thomson 83 – Millen 9 (pen), Brady 33, Galt 39
Queen’s Park 3 – 0 Edinburgh City – Saturday 22nd July – Win
Docherty 20, McKee 55 (og), Brady 62
Morton 2 – 2 Queen’s Park (Morton won 4-2 on penalties) – Tuesday 18th July – Draw / Defeat
McHugh 85, Barr 90+2 – Wharton 70, Orr 81
Queen’s Park 1 – 5 Motherwell – Saturday 15th July – Defeat
Cummins 23 – Cadden 10, Tanner 53, Bowman 74, 77, Moult 85
Arbroath vs Queen’s Park – Head to Head.
Arbroath last played Queen’s Park in the 2015/2016 season where Queen’s Park were promoted to League One via the play offs after finishing 4th in the league. They defeated first Cowdenbeath and then Clyde to win promotion and have cemented their place in League One since.
Arbroath 1 – 2 Queen’s Park – 22nd August 2015 – Scottish League 2 2015 / 2016
Goals – Victoria 89 – Woods 4, Burns 48
Queen’s Park 1 – 0 Arbroath – 12th December 2015 – Scottish League 2 2015 / 2016
Goal – Duggan 11
Arbroath 0 – 1 Queen’s Park – 20th February 2016 – Scottish League 2 2015 / 2016
Goal – Carter 5 – Henry sent off
Queen’s Park 2 – 1 Arbroath – 19th March 2016 – Scottish League 2 2015 / 2016
Goals Woods 32, McGeever 90+1 – Hester 54
With Gavin Malin moving to Edinburgh City, Dick Campbell has 18 players at his disposal and everyone is expected to be available for selection for tomorrow’s match.
Suspensions;
Neither team have any players suspended.
Officials;
Referee will be Gavin Duncan and he will be assisted by Gavin Harris and David Watt.
Admission;
Admission prices have been set for the new season and are as follows.
£14 for Adults
£8 for Concessions
£17 for the Adult and Child Gate.
Matchday Programme;
Tomorrow’s programme will be on sale just inside of Gayfield and is the 2nd programme this new season and is priced at £2.
SeaFest;
Please be aware that the SeaFest is on tomorrow so Gayfield and the surrounding area will be busier and normal with car parking spaces limited. Please make sure you plan your day to arrive early.
Championship Flag Unfurling
We are urging all supporters to be inside of Gayfield before the ceremony starts at 2.50pm sharp so that all fans can watch the presentation on the pitch and then to watch the flag being proudly raised.
The ceremony itself will start at 2.50pm and will involve the Arbroath players coming out to a special stage on the pitch before a special presentation party (including SPFL member Anton Fagan) join them with the SPFL trophy.
We are also delighted that former Chairman John Christison will be part of the presentation party to help raise the Championship flag.
These events are very special and don’t come around very often so we are urging as many Lichties as possible to come down to Gayfield to support the Lichties and watch this special event!
Good luck to everyone involved with Arbroath FC for the new season!
C’mon the Lichties!
