WILLIE WEST

What a month…

Not a lot of games played but plenty of drama!

When Steven Naismith pulled out ball number 16, Fraserburgh to play Rangers at Ibrox, I was in a bit of shock. Having just got my loon Zack to finally fall asleep I managed to stay quite calm but the messages started to ping in.

Absolutely magic! Again! Neither I nor the team got much sleep that night through excitement and so for the cup game to be cancelled against Keith was perhaps not a bad thing!

I’m chuffed for the fans as hopefully everyone who wants to go will be able to get a ticket this time. I am sure they will have a great day and hopefully they can support in their numbers!

It feels like some time ago but the players also had our annual team night oot in November. We decided to venture out to Aberdeen to enhance the team spirit and camaraderie.

Excellently organised by Hayser,we started out the evening at the Legends Bar where we got to play some pool and darts. Not only can Keezo leap 8 foot into the air to win nearly every aerial battle, he is also quite the hand at pool and won the competition. Hopefully he can get his hands on other trophies before the end of the season!

We then moved on to a couple of bars before heading to a KaraokeBar where some of us got to show off our other talents! Thankfully (for me), our taxis had come early to pick the Brochers up. Again, the big man didn’t disappoint when Hayser walked in fashionably late into the taxi with some nutritious meals for us all! Top man Bryan!

Weather (and Storm Bert) caused havoc with the schedule and we only managed to play three games. We trained in some horrendous conditions but I’m pleased to say there were very few gripes from the squad.

We did get to play some football in November but it didn’t start as well as we would have liked when making the journey to play Strathspey. It had been noted that it had been some time since we have ‘enjoyed’ a long journey home and that was unfortunately to continue having drawn 2-2. Strathspey were definitely much improved from last season, but it was a hard one for us to take especially when we had been making some strides up the table.

That was to be the only league game in November with the Wick game being cancelled.

Next up, Forres in the League Cup which is a competition the group is particularly keen to do well in. We also wanted some revenge after drawing with Forres earlier in the season in the League where I thought we deserved more! It was a solid performance and win with the reward being with an away tie against Buckie - this won’t be easy as we have learned from playing there twice already this season!

The Scottish Cup - it doesn’t feel too long ago when I said to the media that I had only ever beaten League opposition once in my career. Since then we have overturned Stranraer, Forfar and now Annan… although I’m not sure if I can include Annan, having only contributed five minutes!

My injury resulted in a great tactical change from Mark and Bax though, getting Aidan on to the park to cause havoc. I didn’t see the first half as,thanks to the great medical staff we have on site at the Bellslea in Gayle Noble and Sarah Robertson, I managed to get stitched up in the changing room ready to watch the second half and avoid a wait at the hospital. A big personal thanks to them both. Hearing the cheers from the fans when the goals went in certainly eased any pain I had.

Watching on with my Dad and Grandad in the second half, the players’ desire and discipline was a joy to watch. I couldn’t single any one of them out, what a shift they all put in and I was so proud of them all.

It was great to see the highlights too with Fig setting up both goals and Connor right place, right time with a straightforward tap in to continue his habit of scoring big goals!

As I said earlier, Big Keezo leaped 8 feet in to the air to score a trademark header which was really important to give us that cushion and lead into the 2nd half.

Lastly, a big congratulations to our All-Time Top Goalscorer Scott Barbour making his 400th appearance this month.

Also,in case anyone thought I had come into some riches last month, I can confirm that it was mistaken identity and I was not the lucky Bounty winner of £10k! Rangers away is better anyway, haha.

Congratulations to the other William West, yes there is two of us!

Come on the Broch!

Willie