Clydesdale teams battle for football cup

It’s that time of the year when the close season comes to an abrupt end with the flurry of fixtures to decide the destination of the Clydesdale Cup.

Under two weeks from now, the whole tournament will be over and we’ll see if Carluke Rovers can hold onto the trophy it won – some say against form – last year.

The hectic activity gets underway at Carluke’s John Cumming Stadium on Monday night when the Rovers are at home to their deadly rivals, Lanark United.

Well, not SO deadly as all that, according to Rovers boss Colin Slater, indicating that this will have nothing of the bitter rivalry of an Old Firm match about it.

“After all, I played for Lanark United for ten years myself and I’v e still got a lot of good friends there,” said the man who took the Rovers reins three years ago.

“We were a good side back then and won a lot of trophies but I’m the Rovers manager now and so we’ll be going all out to get a victory against United on Monday night.”

For more on the lead up to the matches, pick up a copy of this wee’s Carluke and Lanark Gaszette.

And go along to the games: Rovers v United at John Cumming Stadium, Carluke, on Monday at 7pm; Forth Wanderers v Gow on Tuesday at 6.45pm at Kingshill Park, Forth.