Carluke Rovers ready to launch new under-20s team next term

Rovers committee man Stevie Kane is delighted that the club has very quickly recruited 18 players for the youth team with plans to also play their home games at John Cumming Stadium.

“There is a path for these lads to get to the top team,” Stevie told the Carluke and Lanark Gazette.

“The young guys are signing the same contracts as the senior team players and it gives them something to aim at in terms of moving up to a higher level.

“It’s all quite exciting. There might be a few nuggets in the under-20 set-up that can help the senior club.

“And if we’ve got a couple of older age players that are coming back from injury then they can help out the under-20s.”

Anyone who wishes to organise a trial for Carluke Rovers under-20s (or the 2006s kids team) should email [email protected]

Meanwhile, Stevie revealed that Rovers first team gaffer Mark Weir has already re-signed all 16 of last season’s squad on one-year deals.

Next term – due to restart in August but subject to Covid-19 restrictions easing – will see Carluke in the 16-team Conference B in tier seven of the senior pyramid.

One new signing arriving at Carluke on July 1 is striker Lewis McDougall, a former Rovers player who has also turned out for Lesmahagow.

“We have signed Lewis because he is a goalscorer,” Stevie said. “Every team is looking for goalscorers. He will complement the guys we’ve already got up there and adds strength in depth to the squad.

“It’s definitely a boost to have so many players signed already for next season.

“There is a good camaraderie in the squad.

“Obviously we went through a tough time last season when we only had about five or six players at one stage so it’s been backs to the wall.

“They have all been part of that recovery process if you wish so there’s a good strong bond with relationships in the dressing room. They all feel as if they’re part of something.

“The new West of Scotland League set-up is helping too. It’s upping people’s interest and giving them a fresh outlook.

“I think all the divisions are tough and I’m quite happy with the league Rovers are in.

“It’s quite a good thing that we are not playing too many local derbies.

“It’s good to get a break from the likes of Lanark and I’m sure they feel the same.

“Hopefully when we play them in cup games it puts a wee bit more into those games.

“It’s also great to be playing against teams who were previously playing in higher divisions.

“I actually don’t think that outside the Premiership there is that much between the teams in the different divisions anyway. We should definitely aim to be in the top half next season.”

Boss Weir is hoping to make more new additions this summer with a view to further bolstering the squad for Rovers’ first season out of the junior league ranks.