MVP: dLW

Team DPs: 116

MON are rivals to 1 teams.

Season 51: Strength in age with a good experienced GK and backline with a goal threat from Kempes,if we can get the ball to him. Midfield weak. Need a quality ball player in the middle. Yout

Season 51: Aging squad which will make any success near impossible so the only aim is to remain in the top division. Solid looking starting 11 (minus quality midfielder) but no real back up across all key postions. Relegation a real possibility, Manaaged to complete Season 50 by winning the play off. Another longm tough, demoralising season ahead.......

Season 50: Well I managed to keep MON in the top flight despite my best efforts. Long season ahead. GK that needs trained though 3 x aged 3 skillful defenders should help. Middle to front weak and needing some lifesaving surgery otherwise season will be over before its started.I'm not even going to do a review of Season 49. Seems I need to work at long-term planning and EL management. 

Season 49: Back in the top flight after a successful season. Strong squad and with the right youth signings we should be able to stay up. Though manager Legowski has never managed to keep a newly promted side in the top flight. Couple key signings needed. Experienced Goalkeeper suppported by a strong backline should keep the goals against down. Middle to front MON need some reinforcements; some youth. 

Season 48 (preview): Big striker needed and although Kempes has the potential he may need traded away for a top drawer, experienced forward to help push MON to promotion challengers. Strong, youthful back line that needs trained with 2x aged 2 quality midfielders. Could be an interesting season.

Season 47, so we stayed up, heaven help us not sure why as it now means another really tricky season, we need some help, I am absolutely knackered, will the team still have a manager come the half way stage of the season, we do have a decent keeper, some tasty wingers, midfield players to be cpd but we do need a few more players in those positions , like I say, the board need some influx of up beat positivity and can I give to them, probably not so time will really tell this season as to whether the fans and the board can put up with it.

Season 46;, well it was a depressing nightmare last year, almost relegated at one stage and the board ready to kick me out, we fought back and put together a run mid way through the  almost won is the sponsor award, but sadly Stranraer pipped us to sixth, we did reach a cup semi final but otherwise it was a poor season, three new apprentices will help of course, a decent keeper is here and we have a couple of decent forwards but more strength and depth is required and we will be hoping to benefit from the new apprentice scheme, could do with trading them now though not at the deadline, but hey ho four players age six and level 10 will get us a new player apprentice that before we would not have got anything for👍

Season 45 Again it was a season of hope turned into nightmares, we came close to winning a trophy but in the end got nothing, finished 5th in the league and Tb has been a real struggle, time will tell if Compton stays, management and board are currently undecided about what to do, can we revitalise the team and bring in some new blood to generate some youth back again, as has been discussed previously a new goalkeeper and a striker could be Required, some really strong teams in the league again and I think Hearts could be the team who win the league this season.

Season 44 Not such a great season in the end, we took the Cecil cup I think at least from memory, couldn’t keep the pressure on Airdrie or Queens Park despite beating them this season, so it’s onto another try, what do we hope for, world peace, the lottery win 😁😁no the 1st division title🤞🤞, unlikely though as some great teams to battle it out this season from the likes of hearts, Airdrie again could they make it three consecutive seasons and St Johnstone always there of course, who knows but good luck to all who want it badly enough and good luck to those in it for fun as that’s what it’s all about😁

Season 43 Its been a great season here for the new man, winning the Cecil Cup was a particular highlight, the constant battle with Airdrieonians has been spot on, we just couldnt get a result against them though, drew at our place and lost away to them 1-0, a few to many defeats could mean the league title is to large a gap to bridge but 9 games to go. Sadly we couldn’t keep up the pressure on Airdrie, well we kinda of did but they went unbeaten, so runners up it is but two cups so really happy with a great season, it’s been fun blogging and earning all that cash , some wheeling and dealing kept me interested and on y toes as we aim to keep up,the pressure next season with a really strong front three

Season 42 So New Manager Compton takes over the reigns at Montrose, incredible i hear you say, fans wondering if the board know what they are doing, yes Compton took Hamilton to the Division 1 title but that was some years back now and look at them , languishing at the bottom of the Division 3 with a new manager there to try and revive them, how have we lost our main man they ask.

So plenty of money, a very young team, lots of resources and some good quality strong and experienced players we should do well this year, are you kidding me! If we stay up i will be surprised , will the team back him, is up to the job, who knows tune in a few weeks time to find out!

Season 40 Update - 2018 finds MON back in Div 3 and with a new manager at the helm.

The squad is old and sparse.  Auction player arrivals are key to any progress. 
MON start with 740k in bank..... just 10k under minimum 750k needed to buy any pre season CP.  One blog in the last 6 months would have resolved this.

Links Park fans deserve attacking football.  Wingers will feature alot - but 2 FW's are required. 
Every team will know what to expect when they journey to Links Park, no holds barred attacking football. Some teams may come and stall and sometimes we will break you down with press.  Run and hide you Stallers.  Run and hide.

The budget has been set for season 40.
Age 1 players will be sold for CP.
Montrose FC community trust win an award at Hampden this week (picture below) so will more silverware follow for MON by the end of 2018?
Buckle up.  The journey begins again.

_______________________________________
Season 39 Update - here we go again

So my prediction came true, MON were able to compete in Division 3. In the first part of the season  we were able to dominate at home. The players seemed to respond to the Links Park fans and played some awesome football. Every team knew what to expect when they journeyed to Links Park, no holds barred attacking football.  It didn't matter whether you were league leaders, unbeaten  or  whatever . A lot of teams came and stalled and sometimes we just weren't able to break them  down. Away from home was another story as we struggled to find a way to play and it showed as we invariably won at home and then lost away. The second half of the season saw us win a few away games which in the end made the difference and we were able to take a promotion spot. Our midfield stepped up the intensity and this showed as Hadley and Webster made the top 10 Division 3 scorers. MON swash buckled their way through the season high scoring but also high at letting them in. When we lost sometimes we lost big. The philosophy was to entertain the fans and ATTACK. This seemed to work and much to my surprise we got promotion. Looking forward to  season 39 the squad  moral is high, however it is in need of some youth but with little funds they'll have to join as money becomes available. Last season players developed early but this season development will be spread throughout the season a lot more than normal. To be clear to all the teams of Division 2, MON will continue to play the same way - ATTACK. We expect a lot from our key players like Millar, Clarke, Wallace, Templeman and van Dijk. Our midfield  veteran dynamos Hadley and Webster will still be a force, so don't be surprised if they pop in your penalty area and slot one home. Big Smile. The season starts at home to Hibs in the Cecil Cup and the whole team is keen to show the fans more MON football. Our only expectation is to score goals, if we can do that, we'll be happy. Whatever comes with that we will take. Go MON  

Season 51: 6 months into new job and secure further promotion which was the aim.. Exactly 5 years to the day that I started with SFRS. Numbers have increased so a little less pressure to be available 24/7. Family all good with both younger boys thriving. Two eldest children are wokring hard in their choosen professions and overall super proud of my family. Still playing 7s once/twice a week to try improve fitness (though takes me 3/4 days to recover). All good. 

Season 50: New job, still in Children's Residential. Sideways step with eyes firmly fixed on moving forward. SFRS still in the mix.....for the time being. The Unit is down to the bare bones and I just can't give any more time so maybe time to step down. Keeping up my involvement with SESL and SFLSL though dropping OASL. Family all good. 11 year has loved his new taster session of watersports and now committed to going to EK Livesaving Team 3/4 times a week. All good. 

Season 49: Not much has changed, fulll-time work is crazy busy. So much so I haven't been able to fulfil my commitment to SFRS. Hoping it will settle down next week. Balancing the work with family has been difficult but have made an effort to teach my 11 year old new skills. Kayaking and paddleboarding so far. Great fun. Looking forward to the football season starting back and hopefully back to 'normality' with fans. Family holidays all but cancelled this year, hopefully next year our family will be able to create holiday memories. 

Season 48: Change of Manager- Marc Legowski leaves Glasgow Celtic to join Montrose hoping to turn around his fortunes as an SESL manager. COVID restrictions means lots of time to tinker with his new team and build for a promotion challenge. Family all well; wife and I continue to work fulltime as key workers and I continue to support my local community as a retained firefighter. 4 kids, 3 dogs and 2 cats. Madness. All good though.

Season 47 , crikey COVID is still here, a season only takes six months really,  play every it should be slowed down, still my eldest is lib ping away with her boyfriend and my middle daughter is away at Uni, so just Lynne and Tom at home now, it's much quieter , football has started back again and this is really time consuming,,running two teams u18s and u13s girls, plus the secretarial work and to top that Covid works around the club which prove more confusing as ever , work has been up and down but we are still employed but it's strange times and the political side of real football can really bring you down🤔

Season 46 So It's lockdown, been lockdown for what seems like an age 45 days is it to date, May 11th and no release, keep distancing, the family are all at home as uni is shut for Sophie and Tom has no schooling and his GCSEs will be calculated upon what he has done to date, let's hope that's enough and Katie is furloughed working for Cristian D'ior and is waiting in instructions and getting bored, lynne and I are still working as she is a town clerk and is very busy and we have moves still happening for banks and nhs and essential working. No football is really frustrating for coaching and players as we wait for decisions to be made about when we can restart.

Season 45 So Sophie succeeded in her bid to get all As and Bs in her sciences and maths so she can study at Loughborough university, so she has been there  now since last September and is settling in nicely, Tom is in his gcse year and his potential grades are looking optimistic with 8s 7s and 6s, he doesn't know what he might do though sadly, but sixth form for his levels are being reviewed as we speak. The girls and boys teams keep me active and busy along with work which is currently not to bad.

Season 44 Into another season, the eldest moves out and in with her boyfriend, now living in Sheffield, scary that is and we will miss her but they grow up spread their wings and fly, will we cope😂😂. Elsewhere my middle is sitting poised waiting for results from her a levels , wishing her every success. Tom 15 now and next year GCSEs, badminton and football

The boys football at u16s will be a challenge, they lose interest, can’t get enough players but we persevere, the girls at u12s keen as mustard to get back to train and want some matches, holiday season though so it’s tough to find matches to play, but we had better crack on👍

Season 43 So 2019 starts , the girls and lads football going well, the girls now have 11 players and 5 training only but are really enthusiastic so for our club that is really good, the boys continue to win and lose and the parents keep saying will we have a team next year, who knows only you do, get them to commit and we can work towards that👍, so the family grow, working, alevels and gses next year, it’s all go, work is a pain with changes galore so not happy there and need to review what to do.

Season 42 Update:  Oct 2018: 
Simon Compton in.  Jim Clarkson out to HAM. The family are looking forward to the move, where the heck is Montrose said Mrs C, the children said they are not moving we like it hear, you have to come ---- dont you, No we could stay here in the comfort of our home, but what fun is that said Compton, come on get on board for the journey, the daughters can run the cake and coffee stands and the mum can run the accounts, Wow hang on there tiger, we have no money when Mum runs the accounts, lol,  lets rethink that one!! Looking forward to it he said, lets get packing.

___________________________________________________________________________________