Match Preview
Tomorrow afternoon Thistle will be embarking upon what you could almost consider a trip into the unknown. The draw for the Co-Operative Insurance Cup First Round back in May handed Thistle an away tie with Annan Athletic that represented not just our first ever visit to Annan’s Galabank home but also the first competitive fixture between the respective first teams. It’s been a fixture that has been keenly anticipated since that draw was made.
While Annan Athletic and the town of Annan may be a little unfamiliar to the bulk of the Thistle support travelling tomorrow that’s not the case for manager Ian McCall.
“I know Annan very well with my father spending all of his working life at Annan Academy. I know that the Thistle fans are really looking forward to making this trip and I know too that they will receive a warm welcome in Annan. The people involved with Annan Athletic are great people and I know that the hospitality that will be shown towards us on Saturday will be first class.”
“As warm as the hospitality will be we are aware that this is a game that Annan will be very keen to win and we are under no illusions that this will be anything other than a very tough test for us. Annan have a good record at home, something that they enjoyed even before they joined the League, and we know that we will have to display the right attitude if we are to make it through to the next round.”
“From having had a multitude of selection problems last week we are in the happy position of having just Alan Archibald and Jackie McNamara, who are both coming on really well, on the injured list now. Iain Flannigan and Chris Erskine are added to the squad as is Paul Cairney who missed the Clyde game through suspensions. Although obviously having these players available is a big boost for us Ryan MacBeth will keep his place in the team. In doing so it hopefully sends out the message to all the young players that if they get into the first team and perform well they will keep their place in the side.”
Annan, managed by Harry Cairney, were founded in 1942 and won a host of honours during their time as a non-league side including the South of Scotland League Cup which they won for a fourth time in season 2007-2008, their final season before becoming members of the Scottish Football League. Their highest finish in the Third Division since being admitted to the league is 7th.
Capacity of their Galabank home ground is 3,000.
They started this season with a 3-2 defeat against Stenhousemuir at Ochilview.
Match Details
Co-Operative Insurance Cup First Round
Saturday July 31st 2010
Annan Athletic v Partick Thistle
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Prices
Adults £10
Concessions £5
The Co-Operative Insurance Cup Family Fun Day
Match Officials
Referee: Charlie Richmond
Assistant Referees: Brian Templeton and Graham McNeillie
Travel
Supporters Bus
Other Co-Operative Insurance First Round Fixtures
Dundee v Montrose
Elgin City v Ayr United
Dunfermline Athletic v Arbroath
Stirling Albion v Forfar Athletic
Albion Rovers v Airdrie United
Ross County v Livingston
Stenhousemuir v Brechin City
Raith Rovers v East Fife
Clyde v Cowdenbeath
Peterhead v Berwick Rangers
Stranraer v Morton
Queen of the South v Dumbarton
East Stirling v Alloa Athletic (Sunday)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Queen’s Park
