A Season like No Other for Alloa

Photo credit - Craig Brown DAFC

Seven long months have passed since Alloa Athletic, and many other lower league sides, last graced the pitch for some competitive action. All was beginning to look rosy at the Indodrill in our last game as Peter Grant's classy side swept away promotion hopefuls, Inverness, 2-0. Form was beginning to pick up, stalwarts like Neil Parry were making their way back and the arrival of some exciting youngsters were catching the eye. Of course those youngsters being Scott Banks and Lee Connolly who brought such flair and guile in the last victory of the season. 

Photo credit - Gettyimages

So, Banks hitting the scene, Parry back in the sticks, Trouten and O'Hara on fire ... the promotion push was on! However, it was all too good to be true as the football season came to an almighty halt before the crunch tie against Partick Thistle. Alloa sat in 8th position. After a very smooth and transparent process, that position was confirmed final and Peter Grant had achieved the season goal of staying up. 

The several months since that decision have been quite a rollercoaster of drama and emotion for the fans. What's happened? A heck a lot of negativity with a sprinkling of positivity. Let's not labour the legal drama and voting procedures. Nor, the financial turmoil the game is in with endless testing and little incomings. Instead, we'll focus on what matters for now, on the pitch with Alloa Athletic.

Before highlighting the stories that everyone wants to talk about like signings, it is worth noting the innovative strides taken by Mike Mulraney and the club to combat this pandemic. Alloa were a key driver in forming the first Covid-19 partnership with Dunfermline Athletic. As well as that major development has been ongoing at the Indodrill to ensure that football activities from the first-team to the kids can take place smoothly and safely. This, with many other examples, showcase how well ran this club is from upstairs and definitely should be applauded. 

Photo credit - Gettyimages

Moving back onto the pitch, it will be a different viewing for the Alloa faithful this campaign as we tune into our laptops and televisions from home as the turnstiles remain firmly locked. However, there'll be a bigger change. The absence of a certain slick-haired maestro in the heart of midfield. Myself, alongside many, went through what can only be described as symptoms of a tragic break-up as Iain Flannigan ended his seven year spell at the club in the summer. After putting in stand-out performances against sides like Dundee United in the previous campaign, nobody expected the player of the candidate to hang up the boots. Flanny has been a mainstay in the Alloa midfield for the last few years now and without his presence, eye for a pass and odd classy finish it definitely leaves a major gap in the Alloa midfield. The baton may find it's way to Stevie Hetherington who looks to have raised his game once again in the pre-season friendlies. 

Photo credit - John Howie

As well as Flannigan leaving, the other obvious departure is Kevin O'Hara. What was perceived as a risk last summer certainly paid off as he went onto contribute half of the side's goals with his fourteen goals and ten assists. Not many try as hard, run as fast and finish as many as Kev so our loss is definitely Dunfermline's gain. Without a direct replacement as of yet in this area, this is still a slight concern entering the season.

Now we have the doom and gloom out the way, we can look forward to the new season. It's going to be a totally unpredictable season with Covid-19 still looming large in society. Not only fans being locked out, some team's can see their squad list plummet with a single positive test as well as finances still hanging over many boardrooms. The question marks will of course surround that but what is more interesting to think about is Peter Grant's signing spree this summer. 

The signing of the manager's son, Ray Grant, is definitely the pick of the bunch for me. Taking away the whole Peter element to this, the signing on paper is a real intriguing one. Grant has been exceptional during his time at Broadwood and it was clear for all to see he was going to make the step up soon. Thankfully for Alloa, he knocked back the lure of full-time football to attempt to fill the boots of Flanny. With the club paying a fee for the player and him coming so highly regarded, many fans will be watching with a keen eye to see how this one pans out.

The skipper, Andy Graham, is close to making a triumphant return to the side and he will be joined alongside two new centre halves. Both Nicky Jamieson and Edin Lynch both offer an interesting outlook on the season as the youngsters make big step up's to the second tier. Coming from Kilmarnock youth's and Queens Park, the pair have certainly picked well to ply their trade as they look to become the next young defender to play with Andy and kick on. Names like Jamie McCart, Sam Roscoe and Robbie Deas show what can happen if they do grasp this opportunity. The incomings are finished up with the return of Lee Connolly and the arrival of Hibee, Innes Murray, who has sparked excitement on social media. 

Photo credit - Shutterstock

Personnel wise, there are still minor tweaks to be done but the side are more than ready to hit the ground running on Wednesday evening with the core of the side still maintaining the hunger for success at Alloa. Betfred Cup group H will set the side up before a shortened Championship which will boast big name players like Craig Gordon, Steven Naismith and Charlie Adam. We'll stay warm and save the travel costs over the next few months but nothing will replicate a piping hot bovril and steak pie on a winter's day.

Game one is less than a week away and it sees us return to Airdrie as the 'plastic pitch' group kick starts. There are some tasty fixtures as we can get one over local rivals Stenhousemuir as well as Livingston and Edinburgh City who have pipped us in cup competitions in recent years. Those four games will hold a whole host of benefits for our opener against Morton on the 17th. The cut league season looks set to be another monumental challenge for the Wasps but it is nothing that they aren't used to. 

There is plenty to look forward to though and I for one, will be snapping up my Airdrie TV subscription and waiting in my living room with great anticipation as the Wasps return. Unlike last season, which was a slow-burner due to the fact that the manager had just come through the door when the action started, everyone will be tuned up and raring to go. Fans began to see the fruition of the ideas Peter Grant was implementing on the side after the turn of the year. 'The best passing team' according to the Inverness management will look to continue that free flowing style of football in what will no doubt be one of the toughest seasons yet. 

From wherever you are in the world and whatever new game-day rituals you partake in, enjoy the return of the real football. I know I won't take for granted watching a team of eleven individuals, consisting of wonder-kids to electricians, pull on the black and gold to play football!

Photo Credit - Alan Harvey SNS