Yoker are seven off drop zone
48
Clydebank Post
Post Sport
Wednesday April 19, 2017
INSIDE
GOT A SPORT STORY? CALL 0141 435 8845 or email [email protected] RACER KERR PICKS UP HIS FIRST SILVERWARE Page 45 AT KNOCKHILL
Yoker are seven off drop zone NNYOKER Athletic boss Steven Reilly is hoping his side can make their way up the table after securing two vital wins in the last two weeks. The Whe-Ho beat promotion hopefuls Irvine Meadow 3-1, before claiming a 1-0 victory on Saturday against Shotts Bon Accord. The result means they now move seven points clear of Shotts, who occupy the last relegation spot. And Reilly praised returning defender John Harvey for his impact on the side’s fortunes. He said: “It was like a cup final that game against Shotts, if we’d lost that they’d have been a point behind us with a game in hand and we’re looking over our shoulder again. “But other results went for us and now we’re looking upwards, we jumped over Cumbernauld “We’ve only lost one game when he’s [John Harvey’s] played. “When you have a back four playing together for three or four weeks, getting a bit of continuity - that’s the way we want it. “But when we’ve got guys with work commitments it splits the back four up and things don’t go to plan then you’re struggling but it’s good to get those guys back in.” And Reilly’s side are in good form, winning three of their last four games, with that one loss coming against this weekend’s opponents Renfrew. He added: “We’ve been playing really well andI felt we did well in that game but silly mistakes cost us.” This Saturday’s game against Renfrew at New Western Park kicks off at 2pm.
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BANKIES LATE SHOW TO CLAIM VICTORY AGAINST UNITED Page 46
Keeper’s career looked over at 15, but nine years on...
Stopper Zander is living the dream By DAVID BROCKETT [email protected] WITH his shoulder in a sling and a job interview with the council, Clydebank-born goalkeeper Zander Clark feared his chance of professional football had passed him by. Nine years on, the St Johnstone stopper has celebrated his breakthrough season at the Perth side by signing a two-year contact extension. Clark was just 15 when he dislocated his shoulder playing for Hamilton Accies, which saw the 6ft 5in keeper ruled out for six months, before being released by the Lanarkshire club. He said: “At that stage, I didn’t think I’d go into full-time football and I was just looking for a normal job. I had interviews for the council and other joinery companies, so I just thought that would be the avenue I’d have went down. I was lucky that two of the boys I played with at Hamilton were at St Johnstone, and they were looking for a goalkeeper so they put my name forward. I went in for a trial, but I was still quite rusty after six months out. Thankfully everything seemed to fall into place for me and it’s been a bit of adventure since.”
Zander Clark has made 30 appearances for St Johnstone this season The 24-year-old has played 30 times for Tommy Wright’s side this season and admits his breakthrough year has surpassed his expectations. He added: “I played six times last season, so I had the taste for first-team action. Coming into this season was only really about bettering the six appearances, and I bypassed that rela-
tively quickly. “I always knew it was going to be tough to get in the team, but I felt confident enough in myself that when I got the chance I could take it.” Clark admits he was keen to put pen to paper in extending his stay with the Perth outfit until 2020. He said: “I’m obviously de-
Photo: Jeff Holmes/PA Wire lighted to get the new deal finalised. I still had another year left, but the club wanted to extend it and it was something I was keen to do as well. “The club has been good to me so I felt it was only right to repay that loyalty. Now it’s just a case of trying to get back to fitness and into the team.” Continued on page 46
Clydebank Post
Post Sport
Wednesday April 19, 2017
INSIDE
GOT A SPORT STORY? CALL 0141 435 8845 or email [email protected] RACER KERR PICKS UP HIS FIRST SILVERWARE Page 45 AT KNOCKHILL
Yoker are seven off drop zone NNYOKER Athletic boss Steven Reilly is hoping his side can make their way up the table after securing two vital wins in the last two weeks. The Whe-Ho beat promotion hopefuls Irvine Meadow 3-1, before claiming a 1-0 victory on Saturday against Shotts Bon Accord. The result means they now move seven points clear of Shotts, who occupy the last relegation spot. And Reilly praised returning defender John Harvey for his impact on the side’s fortunes. He said: “It was like a cup final that game against Shotts, if we’d lost that they’d have been a point behind us with a game in hand and we’re looking over our shoulder again. “But other results went for us and now we’re looking upwards, we jumped over Cumbernauld “We’ve only lost one game when he’s [John Harvey’s] played. “When you have a back four playing together for three or four weeks, getting a bit of continuity - that’s the way we want it. “But when we’ve got guys with work commitments it splits the back four up and things don’t go to plan then you’re struggling but it’s good to get those guys back in.” And Reilly’s side are in good form, winning three of their last four games, with that one loss coming against this weekend’s opponents Renfrew. He added: “We’ve been playing really well andI felt we did well in that game but silly mistakes cost us.” This Saturday’s game against Renfrew at New Western Park kicks off at 2pm.
85p ISSN
1356-8655 1 6
9
771356 865155
BANKIES LATE SHOW TO CLAIM VICTORY AGAINST UNITED Page 46
Keeper’s career looked over at 15, but nine years on...
Stopper Zander is living the dream By DAVID BROCKETT [email protected] WITH his shoulder in a sling and a job interview with the council, Clydebank-born goalkeeper Zander Clark feared his chance of professional football had passed him by. Nine years on, the St Johnstone stopper has celebrated his breakthrough season at the Perth side by signing a two-year contact extension. Clark was just 15 when he dislocated his shoulder playing for Hamilton Accies, which saw the 6ft 5in keeper ruled out for six months, before being released by the Lanarkshire club. He said: “At that stage, I didn’t think I’d go into full-time football and I was just looking for a normal job. I had interviews for the council and other joinery companies, so I just thought that would be the avenue I’d have went down. I was lucky that two of the boys I played with at Hamilton were at St Johnstone, and they were looking for a goalkeeper so they put my name forward. I went in for a trial, but I was still quite rusty after six months out. Thankfully everything seemed to fall into place for me and it’s been a bit of adventure since.”
Zander Clark has made 30 appearances for St Johnstone this season The 24-year-old has played 30 times for Tommy Wright’s side this season and admits his breakthrough year has surpassed his expectations. He added: “I played six times last season, so I had the taste for first-team action. Coming into this season was only really about bettering the six appearances, and I bypassed that rela-
tively quickly. “I always knew it was going to be tough to get in the team, but I felt confident enough in myself that when I got the chance I could take it.” Clark admits he was keen to put pen to paper in extending his stay with the Perth outfit until 2020. He said: “I’m obviously de-
Photo: Jeff Holmes/PA Wire lighted to get the new deal finalised. I still had another year left, but the club wanted to extend it and it was something I was keen to do as well. “The club has been good to me so I felt it was only right to repay that loyalty. Now it’s just a case of trying to get back to fitness and into the team.” Continued on page 46
