MARK COWIE

How football, and life for that matter, can change in a blink of an eye.

This month’s section could have been so much different had events on Saturday 30th November not turned out as they did which in turn led to dramatic start of December on Monday evening.

The month started with an away trip to Strathspey Thistle in the league. On paper everyone saw this as a straightforward Fraserburgh win and were asking how many we would score. I have been in the game too long now and have always stressed on how difficult every single game in this league can be.

We won the last meeting against Strathspey 11-0 at home which saw us finish the season 3 points off the top. However this new Strathspey team was a long way from the one we had played a few months earlier. They have seen significant investment in both playing staff as well as facilities which if continued and managed correctly, will only see them climb the league table.

We had previously lost any chance of winning the league, so I see opportunities this season to try things and introduce youngsters more regularly to give them the exposure which will hopefully stand them in good stead for years to come. Some of the things I try will look great and work but there will be things that I try which maybe don’t work as well but it is all learning curves. We went into this game with a different formation and had a couple of players maybe playing out of their natural position.

Anyway, it did not work in the first forty-five minutes so we changed it at half time. Some may say that was too late and despite dominating large spells, we drew the game 2-2 which resulted in more dropped points.

This result led on to one of the lowest points in my management career to date. I always try to protect my family from football and the emotions involved in it but sometimes I can not help it.

Despite what some may think, I don’t go home and be all happy after poor performances and results. I do have a face on me as I am human, but I try not to let it affect my family life. As I get older, I learn to deal with it better and I can move on quicker from disappointment. That doesn’t mean to say that I do not get down about our scores. I do get angry but not because of the score, more because I know what this group of players can achieve and when we drop below a level which we have set, then I do take this to heart.

During the weekend there were some negative comments about me and my ability to manage this club with question marks over whether I should still be in charge or not. I appreciate that this is part of the job and that everyone is entitled to their opinion. However my kids are now at an age that they are seeing these comments, so they hit home that little bit harder.

Believe me, if I feel I can not take this club any further, then I will step aside and let someone else do it. Additionally, if the club feel a change is needed then I would respect that. This club has given me more in the last 10 years than I could have ever imagined. I think we have had a very successful 10 years to date with some unbelievable memories and hopefully we can build some more. But these will ultimately take time as we can’t expect the youngsters coming in to pick up the baton right away. They need the older experienced guys around them to protect and guide them until they are at the stage where they can take the club on themselves.

Of course we still want to compete in everything but it will get harder and we have to accept that, however I believe we can still be successful whilst sticking to our model.

Anyway, a couple of free weekends for one reason or another and we finish the month off with a home tie in the 3rd round of the Scottish Cup against League One side Annan Athletic. I will give you an insight in to what you do not see. On Saturday 23rd November, we were supposed to be at home to Wick but the game went off with the weather warning in place. So the whole country had a weather warning in place yet the Montrose game at home to Annan was still on. Kick off was delayed twice and it eventually started at 5pm. James Duthie (Assistant Manager) and Matthew West (Youth Manager) both travelled down to the game to watch Annan and come back with more ideas on how they play, their threats and weaknesses etc. These two guys took time out of their lives to go and do some background work on our opponents in the cup whilst I had a day off. I can not stress to you enough the work all of my backroom team do to help me and ultimately help the club. Not many would have taken in this game.

We compiled a report on the Sunday and planning started the Monday after. The planning worked and we played in my opinion the best, most complete 90 minutes in my term as manager and won the game 2-0. We were a constant attacking threat and should have scored at least two more. We weren’t under much threat however the pressure that was there was expertly kept at bay by our defence first and foremost. It was a game that has given me so much pride in the group and I was delighted for the club to get in to the hat for the fourth round – if only we knew what lay in store!!

A much better weekend with a lot of positive comments which were so richly deserved as the players were unbelievable.

Then Monday nights draw comes around and we are pulled out of the hat to play Rangers FC at Ibrox. The emotion I am sure we have all felt has been unreal.

Financially for the club this will be huge, but I am more overjoyed with the experience and the memories this will give the current group of players. We had this tie a few years back however you only need to speak 2 minutes on it to Finlay and Jason and you will appreciate yourself the effort they both personally put in to it along with many others.

However, this time that stress won’t be there as much as we play at Ibrox Stadium with hopefully a lot of fans watching. I know the Broch fans will be as loyal as ever so hopefully the Rangers faithful are the same and not only get a ticket to support their loved club, but also help support little old Fraserburgh from the humble Highland League.

It gives us something special to look forward to however we have a lot of important games before then which, at this time, take priority. The message from me will always be one game at a time and that’s what we focus on.

I will finish by saying that this trip to Ibrox will be great for the club and of course the management and players but I am delighted that we have been able to set this up for you the supporters and also Fraserburgh and the people who call this place home. It takes true fans to travel to Wick Academy and Brora every season, to go to places such as Strathspey Thistle and Rothes in the depths of winter so please take the time to enjoy this experience with us. It is one that we all need to look forward to and embrace.

I said to the players that it isn’t luck that this is happening. It is happening because of the effort they constantly put in and what they did in rounds one to three. It isn’t luck, it is earned, and they deserve it –YOU THE SUPPORTERS ALSO DESERVE IT.

Thanks as always, Mark