JC: We’re not here to prop up the table.

Jon Connelly admitted his side needed a game of that standard after they came off the back of a 4-1 defeat to the hands of Pollok on Wednesday as he looks to compete on all fronts next season with his Fauldhouse side.

He said; ” They’re (Pollok) the team to beat, i don’t see us playing a better standard of team through in the east this year. We needed a result like that tonight, it showed us what standard we needed to be playing at to be competing for honours this season. OK, we did well last season getting promoted first time of asking but we saw tonight we have still got a lot to do to be ready for the Super League this year. I thought the score didn’t flatter us towards the end of the game either. You get games like this though that come along and give you the kick up the rear that you need.”

JC also commented on his new signings coming in and bedding into the squad during pre season;

“The new boy’s have been brilliant, they’ve came in and done really well as far as i’m concerned. Joe (McCafferty) I thought did really well tonight even though his mistake lead to the third goal (See Lok’s Adventure here). All they’re attitude has been different class and they’re trying to play football. I’m really happy that I’ve been able to get them on board for this season. They’ll be crucial to the squad.”

Fauldhouse kick off their league campaign away to Broughty Ferry on Saturday. JC commented on his side’s opening fixture, saying:

“Look its a tough start, i feel that they’re going to be right up there at the top end of the table at the end of the season. But again we can only play what is infront of us, and take it a game at a time.

“I certainly dont believe that we will be towards the bottom of the league this year, i see us competing up towards the top and hopefully get the club a wee cup run too, keep the success on the park coming. Games like this tonight and against Airdrie on Thursday can only mean good things for us as it sets us a standard that we know we regularly have to play at and to keep a set intensity throughout.”

On the note of Airdrie, Fauldhouse can boast a fine record of helping four players progress from the juniors up to the senior game. JC expressed his personal delight in being able to help four lads progress through the ranks.

He said; ” Aye its a personal success for myself and Patrick (Pyrott) but its a success for the club. We’ve been able to get four boys Jake, Ben McGhee and young Matthew who sparked “Bawgate” and Patrick all go and earn contracts at Livingston, Airdrie and Clyde respectively. As a manager i want to help young players kick on to the next level and help get them there, i get a buzz off of that, its brilliant for Fauldhouse and the junior game.”

Jon’s message to Fauldhouse and surrounding areas was; “Get involved, come along and support us, we’re not here to be fighting relegation this season, Fauldhouse are in it to go and give it a good crack and hopefully go and do something. Maybe try and fly the flag for the East region in the Scottish Cup even though there’s still a good few decent sides left. Who knows what could happen but hopefully we can so something.”

JC enjoying early management life.

By Steffan Coutts

Fauldhouse gaffer Jon Connolly has performed at all levels and has been around the proverbial footballing block, he’s ‘a well kent face’ on social media and is affectionally known as JC to everyone who knows him and his lovable rogue character.

But his hardest challenge to date has been transforming from goalkeeper to player-manager to all out boss after taking over the Hoose reins at the tail end of the 2016-17 season as they were on the verge of relegation to the East Premier League.

JC transformed from shot-stopper to manager in less than six months

Fast forward a year and the 37-year-old former stopper has risen to all challenges and defied the odds to secure promotion back to the East Super League after just a season away.It’s been an impressive maiden season for JC and his underdogs with the securing of promotion, and progress in the three major cup competitions that was cruelly ended by just the one goal in each match, which shows how fine the margin is at this level.

And now the season is over JC has had some time to reflect on the past year and how it has affected him as a person on and off the field.He told GoalmouthScramble:

“I’ve enjoyed my first full season in charge and it’s new to me and the coaching staff and what I’ve noticed is my own full-time job has taken a wee bit of a back seat.

“I used to hear gaffers saying do this and that and it’s a 24/7 job and I thought ‘aye right, no bother’, but it is and you deal with everything and everyone and it’s challenging.

“To be fair I’ve been speaking to other gaffers like Pollok FC’s Tony McInally and Mark Cameron who has been different class and when I took the job came in and helped with training and gave me pointers.

“I have some good contacts who I speak to every week and they’re at the top end of the game and very supportive and I can’t complain as every little helps.

“And looking back everything I’ve been through has taken a while to sink in because I’m quite stubborn but I’ve a new appreciation for managers as everything is 24/7 –  I’m lucky as my family is very supportive and so is my manager from my job.

“I’m looking to do my badges next season as well as it’s a requirement and it may help me further down the line if I want to do something else.

“We’re looking at the bigger picture as Fauldhouse are now in the top league and when you look at the bigger picture then we’re trying to strengthen for the next challenge.

“Now we’re back in the top league it’ll be a lot easier to attract better players to the club plus we’ve got quite a few players travelling some distance to get to View Park.

“We know what we need and how we get about it I mean last pre-season was a nightmare as I started with three players and we just let the rest go then brought the rest in.

“To do that and achieve promotion to the top flight in our first attempt and when you strip everything back is some achievement for the club.

“Planning for this season was done and we we’ve played on the park is that we’re a team full of energy that likes to get the ball down and knock it sharp and it’s worked.

“The club gave me a five year deal and that’s the first year of it completed and I’d say we’re a wee bit ahead of where we wanted to be and to be honest we didn’t think we would win the league but second was obtainable.

“And to finish with automatic promotion considering with what we’ve had to do by stripping everything right back including me coming out of retirement to play in goals is some achievement.”

Junior football:

“You don’t know which way the Junior game is going to go now as it’s a touchy subject but the game could do with an injection of new blood to freshen things up after the shake up.

“We looked at the situation and to be honest the travelling is not ideal to stay in the Super League but you’re going into something that’s unknown.

“So we’ll let the other teams jump and we’ll go into the Super League no problem and I actually see them leaving giving us an opportunity to do something and that’s not just staying up but making a difference.

“With what I’ve got here and what I can bring in I’m looking to progress and if you win that league next season then you’re straight into the Scottish Cup – the teams that have left need to wait years before they can even do that now.

“To be fair to us we had the chat about staying or leaving but staying gives us a chance to do something within the Junior game and try to make Fauldhouse a bigger club and a bigger name in the game.”