Brechin were back in the 1st division for their centenary year after romping the 2nd division the season before. City fans felt we were more ‘equipped’ than the last time we were in the first division and we knew what to expect in what was arguably a weaker league than the one City finished bottom in a few seasons ago. One of the problems that season is that we took too long to find our feet and by the time we started picking up some kind of form it was too late.
Manager Ian Campbell made five signings during the summer to bolster his squad as he aimed to keep City in the 1st division. John Hillcoat, Craig McEwan, Darren Smith, Gary Bollan and David Craig were all snapped up by Pink ahead of the close season. Pink also attempted to get Gerry Britton during the summer but the experienced striker opted to become assistant manager at recently relegated Dundee.
As expected, Brechin were among the relegation favourites at the bookies but this time a host of sides were expected to be down there battling with them. Stranraer, despite strengthening greatly during the summer were among those expected to be fighting bravely against relegation while Clyde basically replaced their entire team in a somewhat controversial way as hundreds of players all did trials with the club as part of a cost cutting exercise. Airdrie United meanwhile lost the services of several first team stars during the summer in Owen Coyle, Alan Gow and Marvyn Wilson and were also expected to be down there come the end of the season.
Before any pre-season friendlies, the squad went on a trip to Newcastle where the team put in a number of training sessions. While the squad didn’t play any games, it was a worthwhile trip to allow the players to get to know each other better.
City started their pre-season schedule with a trip to East End Park to take on SPL side Dunfermline Athletic. Brechin put in a good shift in a 0-0 stalemate and while City created few clear-cut scoring opportunities, they were very professional in the way they defended and the way they chased and harried Dunfermline in the midfield.
The pre-season build up continued at Glebe Park three days later when City defeated Angus neighbours Forfar Athletic. The game saw both sides field very experimental line-ups with Brechin having no less than five players making their first start for their new team. Graham Gibson and Steven Hampshire were on target in a 2-1 victory.
The next friendly was the battle of the Campbell twins as Ian’s Brechin side and Dick's Partick Thistle squad went head to head. It was Ian Campbell's side that emerged victorious, thrashing the jags by four goals to nil. Stuart Callaghan scored a spectacular opener while goals from Graham Gibson, Scott Walker and Kevin Byers completed the rout against their full time opponents.
City celebrate yet another goal against the Jags.
The next match was a local derby against 3rd division outfit Arbroath at Glebe Park. Steven Hampshire and Kevin Byers put Brechin 2-0 ahead early on without really getting out of first gear but a headed goal from former City man Greg Miller gave them something to think about. City restored their two goal lead when Paul Ritchie netted but another former City midfielder, Marc McCulloch, scored from the spot to make it 3-2 and that’s how it ended as City continued their unbeaten pre-season schedule.
Toorie congratulates Kevin Byers after netting the 2nd goal against Arbroath.
City were finally beaten in their last pre-season friendly as 2nd division newcomers Peterhead scored the only goal of the game to win 1-0 at Glebe Park.
Finally, the long wait was over and competitive Scottish football began as City were paired with Clyde in the first round of the Bell’s Cup. City had done well in the Bell’s Cup in recent years and were hopeful of progressing to the next round against a Clyde team with a lot of gelling to do.
Alex Williams gave Clyde an early lead but Paul Ritchie equalised for the home side with a tap in from close range. With ten minutes left on the clock Graham Gibson headed City into the lead but Neil McGregor popped up with 85 minutes on the clock to equalise for Clyde as the game headed into extra time. Steven Hampshire nodded in the winner for City in the first half of extra time to give City an ideal start to the season.
Steven Hampshire wheels away after netting the winner against Clyde.
