Docherty is a fan of Black and Gold
The Match of the Day in the Third Division this weekend takes place at Recreation Park between the promotion chasing Athletic sides of Alloa and Annan. The clubs had never faced each other in action until last season’s Second Division Play-Off Semi-Finals and they have now met five times in quick succession.
There has been one League game and two Scottish Cup meetings as well as the two legged Play-Offs and the Galabank men lead the way after three wins and two draws.
One player who has played in all the meetings is Mark Docherty although he was worn two different shades of gold and black to do so with the Alloa man now looking to help his side to that first ever win over previous boss Harry Cairney’s outfit this weekend.
Docherty played for Annan in last season’s Play-Offs whilst on loan as a Brechin City player before switching to Clackmannanshire and the left sided player, who has already made one journey from the Third Division to full-time football, is hoping that starring for Alloa will see him make a repeat journey back to being a full-timer.
The 23-year-old started off at his home town club of Albion Rovers before moving to the SPL as he explained: “I was with the youth set-up at Albion from when I was a kid of 13. I then got the chance to move to St. Mirren and that was a great opportunity.
“I played in the first team against Gretna and living the life of a full-time footballer was great and it remains my ambition to get back to that. Indeed, I was on trial with my Paisley Managers Gus MacPherson and Andy Millen during the summer and although they could not offer me a deal at Queen of the South, they helped me continue my career at Alloa.”
Docherty was at Love Street from 2005 until 2008 and he also gained first team experience in the Third Division at Montrose.
He explained: “I went there as Kevin McGowne was the assistant to Jim Weir and he had been the captain at St. Mirren. I was only 17 but gained great experience and scored my first senior goals against Arbroath and Berwick.”
On leaving St. Mirren, Docherty moved to Second Division Stirling Albion and their Manager at the time, Allan Moore, left a lasting impression with the Alloa man saying: “Allan is a really good Manager and I keep in touch with him still. He is always enthusiastic and despite being the boss, he enjoys being one of the boys and goes on nights out with them. He gets you to want to play well for him.”
After a year at Stirling, Docherty faced a spell out the game and he was due to play in the Daily Record’s 'Gie us a Game' programme when he got a phone call from then Brechin City boss Jim Duffy.
Docherty said: “I was due to play in a 'Gie us a Game' match at Clyde where lots of scouts had been booked in but Jim called and asked me to play for Brechin in a friendly. I went there and played and after the game, I was offered a six month contract. Jim explained he could not give me a longer deal based on only one game but if I did okay, he would extend it. I decided to take that opportunity.
“Jim was as good as his word as after a few months, I was given an improved 18 month deal. We got to the promotion Play-Offs that season after defeating Airdrie in the Semi-Finals and faced Cowdenbeath in the Final.”
It was to end in disappointment as Docherty said: “It was a strange week as Stirling, still under Allan, won the League at our Glebe Park ground so I watched my old team-mates celebrating whilst knowing we still had the chance of going up via the Play-Offs.
“We did well in the first game at Cowdenbeath and drew 0-0 but in the second leg, they gave us a bit of a doing in the first half and were 3-0 ahead.”
Duffy left in the aftermath of that campaign and Jim Weir came in and altered the Glebe Park squad with Docherty finding himself squeezed out of a midfield role as he explained: “We had seven or eight midfielders looking for starting positions and the club also brought in Calum Booth from Hibs so I was finding myself on the bench more and more often.”
Brechin drew Annan in the Scottish Cup and Galabank Manager Harry Cairney used the replay between the sides last January as an opportunity to discuss a loan move to the club.
Docherty took him up on the offer saying: “I wanted to play so I took the chance and I went there and started featuring a lot on the left hand side of midfield and then Harry also used me at left back. I scored a good goal against East Stirling not long after I joined and I enjoyed my spell there with a good bunch of lads.”
Play-Off disappointment was experienced again with the pain a lot sharper this time as Docherty said: “We beat Alloa at Galabank and then drew at their place to go through to the Final against Albion Rovers. The first leg was at Coatbridge and a whole lot of my friends and family turned up to see the game and I made a mistake that cost us a goal. It was a real looking at the ground and hoping it would swallow you up moment.
“We lost that first leg 3-1 and gave it a real go after going one down in the second. We turned it around to 2-1 and almost forced extra-time.”
Docherty’s contract at Brechin had ended by this stage and he took up an offer from the recently installed management team at Queen of the South of MacPherson and Millen to train with them over the summer.
Unfortunately, a move back to full-time football never transpired with Docherty saying: “I have a lot of respect for Gus and Andy and it was great to do a pre-season with them. It never quite worked out the way I would have liked it to as they cut their squad down to the bare bones. I never got offered a deal but Gus helped me sign for Alloa.
“Paul Hartley had called him a couple of times about me and Gus had been positive. I know Paul’s assistant Paddy Connolly as well and I knew they were keen for me to go there. When nothing happened at Queens, I was happy to go to Alloa.”
Docherty was one of a number of recruits that Hartley made as he rebuilt the Alloa squad although he did recognise one of the other faces that was brought in with Docherty saying: “I had played with Ryan McCord in various Scotland selects and against him at various age groups when he was with Dundee United and I was at St. Mirren. Ryan is like a lot of the players the Manager has brought in as they all like to pass the ball around.
“We have a strong squad and have a good chance of winning the League but there is a long way to go. Stranraer, Annan and ourselves have been at the top for a wee while now and Queen’s Park will be there or thereabouts. We have a massive two weeks coming up with games against Annan and then Stranraer.”
Docherty’s time at Alloa has almost been the reverse of his time at Annan as he started off at left back and is now playing in the left or centre of midfield as he explained: “Kevin McHattie has come in from Hearts on loan and done really well and that has allowed me to move further forward.”
That move forward produced Docherty’s second goal of the season on Boxing Day when he was in the right place at the edge of the Elgin box to first time in a great drive to open the scoring in a 3-1 success.
“It sat up perfectly for me,” said Docherty before adding, “And I got my body over it and it was probably the best goal of my career so far.”
In terms of his footballing future, Docherty said: “It is all about Alloa at the moment but of course, I would like to jump the divisions and be full-time again. It was disappointing when it never happened in the summer so all I can do is play well and see what happens.”
And as for Annan this weekend, Docherty said: “The Annan team has a couple of new faces since I was there and it was a good squad already. We are at home and have to use that to our advantage this time. We have gone 10 games in the League without defeat and are unbeaten at home all season so it would be great to add to those records with a win.
“When we played at their place in the League, we simply never turned up – we have to turn up this time.”
 

Interview taken from Scottish League Website

I am delighted to be playing regular first team football and three goals today I certainly couldn’t have asked for better. However the way the team is playing, we are playing great football at the moment and long may it continue, it gives be great opportunities and I have been encouraged by everyone at the club who want me and the club to do well. In the last couple of weeks we have scored early in games but today I scored at the start of each half, we did concede right away in the first half which wasn’t ideal but the strong wide took over goalkeeper completely by surprise but we managed to get back on top in the second half, we were brilliant and I was happy with by goals which helped win the points which was more important. To be involved and start scoring goals again in brilliant, playing games again is ideal for me. I am currently on loan till later in the month, I don’t know what will happen, it is all above me, but I just what to be playing football and if that means with Alloa Athletic for longer I am happy to stay. It might also give me the chance to win a medal at the end of the season, we are top of the league and I would love to help the club stay there.

Stevie May

David Gormley after penalty save

I was the obvious choice to go into goal after Stevie was sent off, I normally dive about all over the place at training so I volunteered right away, I looked over to the gaffer and he gave me the nod. So when Robbo was going off I asked him which way will I dive and he said left and then I thought when I was standing in the goal - his left, my left and didn’t know which way to go so I watched his (Simon Mensing’s) eyes and choose a side and just dived to it and thankfully correctly and made the save. When I used to play about with my mates I would take a shot in goals, I have always loved diving around so I was happy to offer but it could have been any one of us, but in the end it was me. I was gutted I did concede that late goal I wanted to keep a clean sheet and maybe get another opportunity maybe next week in goals. I was quite happy to go in goals, the pace of the game was a much higher tempo than normal, so I thought I could go in goals and get a rest, I was knackered!
Although I wasn’t on the field of play in the first half it looked a stonewall penalty when Kevin McDonald was tripped in the box but you can only get what the referee gives but personally I thought it was a penalty. We are disappointed at the end of the game, in the first half we had a couple of good chances but in the second half we never really got going, scoring goals has not been a problem for the club recently, so we were disappointed that we never kicked on from first half display and got an equaliser, but going down to ten men killed us. Their fitness was also evident later in the game but I felt we never let anybody down.

Kevin McDonald on penalty and game

The referee never gave us the award in the first half when I was tripped in the box, everyone I have spoken to said it was a good shout and could easily have been given, I had no reason to go down and was tripped, there is no doubt it would have changed the game. We had the better of the first half and Hamilton’s goal came out of nothing but there was still plenty of time left in the game and I never questioned if we could come back, there was certainly a belief in the side we could get back into the game. In the second half being a part time team the pressure from the home side increased and we were pushed further back and getter deeper and deeper it was getting harder to create any chances in the second half. For the penalty the referee did give at the end of the game, it was a penalty and if the referee didn’t send Robbo off and he had saved the penalty and we scored a late equaliser there would have been an outcry, so I think the referee had to send him off by the rules at the end of the day and probably being so late in the game it didn’t change the result or outcome of the game. We gave them a hard game and as we did in the last round against Raith Rovers, I don’t think there would be a great gulf between Hamilton and Raith Rovers, the game against Raith Rovers was a great personal highlight and we must try to reproduce that form into our league form and try and climb back up the Second Division table, more so now that we have slipped up a bit over Christmas period. I couldn’t help but laugh when David Gormley went in goals, it probably wasn’t the time to laugh but he did well albeit coming of his line to make the save. Gorm’s is daft so going in goals so he could jump about would suit him perfectly, he make a great save at the penalty but a pity about his goal kicks! 
 

Kevin McDonald on his return to Airdrie

It was always going to be nice coming back here and obviously I was expecting the reception I got from the Airdrie fans, however it was a good result and the three points are more important than me coming back to my old ground. I should have scored earlier in the game but their goal keeper stuck his leg up and blocked the effort, but obviously setting the goal up and being involved in the goal, a little bit of emotion came out but obviously the goal was more important for us than me setting the goal up. Coming back to your old club is always going to be nice! I wasn’t expecting a nice reception because I never got one when I played here previously which added an extra bit of spice to it. Three points were massive today and just delighted to win the game. When I was at Airdrie we ended up getting relegated a few times – but I started over 150 games for them so I must have been doing something right to play that many games. Maybe I was a bit of a scapegoat at times – I was an easy target and when things don’t go well my style of play did not please the fans but I have moved on now and made a fresh start which everyone needs at times in their career – I have got one with Alloa and the management have been brilliant and they have given me great belief in my game, we have a great bunch of guys at Recreation Park and we look forward to having a good season. When I was at Airdrie I played deeper in a more defensive role – at Alloa I have been encouraged to get forward and get into the box far more often and this has resulted in me having scored 5 goals already this season. Scoring goals gives players more confidence and lets fans see your name which can only be good when you move to a new club. At Airdrie the fans are known for their aggressive manner there are a lot of young boys here and hopefully they will get behind their team but it’s not nice when your own fans boo you. Everybody is going to give the ball away and make mistakes, but it’s how you bounce back from them that counts, however the fans seem to be a little bit harsh at times but they are entitled to their opinion and I am sure they enjoyed having a go at me again today. Next week we have another massive game against Ayr United at Somerset Park and we will look to go there and again improve on our away form which is going to be so crucial come the end of the season.

Jim Lister after East Fife Game

How does it feel to score first competitive goal for Alloa Athletic

If feels brilliant, yes a good feeling and one I would want more often, it takes a bit of adjusting to the pace of the Second Division after playing with Bathgate Juniors last season but I think I’m getting there, the manager has been bringing me on so far in the second half of the games and I hope I have proved my value to the team. I will continue doing what I’m doing and hopefully the manager might see the opportunity to give me a start in a game soon. I’m happy to be here, it’s a great club and to score on my home debut is perfect for me.
I had a shoot at the senior game earlier in my career with Berwick Rangers but it just didn’t work out at that time, there was a lot of things that came into play at that time with more focus at the time not on the field of play at the club, injuries and I never got started and I thought that maybe my chance had gone in the senior game. I had a good season last season with Bathgate Juniors scoring 38 goals when everything I touched turned into a goal, everything I hit even my scuffs seemed to go in.
However when Kevin McDonald sent over that inch perfect cross today, I knew my name was on it and I attacked the ball with the belief I would score, great connection and delighted with the goal, the reaction of the fans showed they enjoyed the goal as much as I did. We know this season we have every reason to look forward to our games, playing with great belief and the lift the club got for doing so well last season, however other clubs will want to shoot Alloa down. That’s a couple of games now already this season we have had to come back into games and the boys have shown great belief and mentality to win games, there is a great spirit in the dressing room which we look to carry throughout the season.

IT'S the dream of every amateur player who pulls on their boots and head out into the muddy grass each weekend. That a waiting scout is about to transform their life, and soon they will be plying their trade before a packed Ibrox or Parkhead. Well, that exact scenario actually happened to Kevin Welsh, a full-time electrician and left back with Harestanes AFC, who lived the dream by making his professional debut for Hamilton Accies in front of 50,000 fans, a fortnight after his last match for the Kirkintilloch amateur side on a public park in the little Lanarkshire village of Eddlewood. Yet, while the whole experience has a certain Hollywood rags-to-riches fairytale flavour to it, the bitter reality left the 25-year-old cursing his rotten luck. And when Accies return to Ibrox tomorrow for the first time on league business since, Welsh won't be with them. Before we get to the crushing disappointment of his SPL debut in a 4-1 defeat against Rangers at Ibrox in August, however, the story begins last summer when the unknown defender took his first steps on a remarkable journey by accepting a call to play in a trial match. The link between the world of amateur and professional football was provided by Scotland manager Craig Levein's recently-appointed national team scout Michael Oliver, who used to manage Welsh at Junior side Rob Roy. 'Mick set up a trial match between Hamilton and St Johnstone last summer and he needed a left back,' Welsh explained to Sportsmail. 'He told me I was the best player on the park and Billy Reid agreed. Billy asked me to come to Accies but I had groin trouble at the time and I couldn't go. 'When I got better I played a few more games for Harestanes, the last match away against Eddlewood, then I let Billy Reid know that I was fit again and that Alloa Athletic were also wanting to sign me.' Welsh duly joined Hamilton on a part-time contract in mid-August, arranging to train once-a-week due to work commitments but with the ultimate aim of earning a full-time SPL contract. Within a fortnight he was facing Rangers. The night before his big day at Ibrox, the electrician was working late at a factory in Clydebank, oblivious to what the new dawn would bring. 'I was working alongside Rangers fans and we were talking about the game,' he recalled. 'It didn't even cross my mind that I would be playing. 'I had absolutely no idea. I didn't even expect to be in the squad because I had only been able to train on Sundays. 'I just found out on the Saturday morning when Hamilton's assistant manager, Stuart Taylor, told me to make sure I got a big breakfast in me because I was in. It was a massive surprise since I had only played three games for Harestanes before then.'
An unfit Welsh was duly given a torrid 45 minutes by Rangers and the rookie was replaced at half time by David Louhoungou, who could not help 2-0 at the break becoming 4-1 at full-time. Not even comforting words from friends could soothe the former amateur's sense of despondency afterwards. 'It was disappointing because if I had been fitter and stronger I could have done myself more justice,' he said. 'I just felt the opportunity came too early for me, but I was hardly going to turn it down. 'I was up against Steven Whittaker, Steven Davis and occasionally Madjid Bougherra on one of his forward runs as well. I didn't really play well. I know I could have done a lot better and I left the pitch a bit disappointed. 'People say "at least you got to play at Ibrox" and that I lived the dream but I don't think of it like that. I was just a bit gutted because I hadn't been able to do myself justice. 'It was my big chance but it just came at the wrong time. I'm just so disappointed that it came when I wasn't fit. 'Billy Reid and Hamilton were fine with me but it was difficult to fit in there when I was on a part time contract and the rest of the squad were full-time. It was all just a bit annoying.' Within 14 days of his glamour debut, Welsh was duly loaned out to Alloa and was lining up in front of just 1200 for Second Division Alloa in the
less-glamorous surroundings of Recreation Park. The goal was still to win an SPL contract with Hamilton but just one more appearance followed for the Second Division side before injury struck once again for a player who spent 15 months out injured during two years as a trainee at St Johnstone, an experience which forced him to turn to a career as an electrician to pay the bills in the first place. Welsh headed in for a couple of operations, capping a roller-coaster past few months for the player, who became a dad for the first time in the weeks after Ibrox when partner Jennifer gave birth to baby daughter Sienna in September. January saw the end of his SPL dream when Hamilton released him from his contract but it was not the end of his hopes of playing professionally, as Alloa boss Allan Maitland signed him for the part-timers until the end of the season. Welsh has now found the root of his injury problems and has his sights trained on ending the strangest season of his career by lifting silverware, should Second Division leaders Alloa clinch the title. 'I went in for a scan after arriving at Alloa and I had to have an operation on my hernia on to cure a hole in my groin,' he said. 'That's what was causing my long-term injury problems. But when you play for Harestanes AFC you don't get sent for scans so you don't get to the bottom of these things. 'I don't regret anything about what happened at Hamilton. Playing at Ibrox like that is not something that happens to everyone and the overall experience was brilliant and I feel better for it. I'm enjoying it at Alloa and it could end up a successful end to an interesting season,' he added.

brian.marjoribanks@dailymail.co.uk
This article orginally appeared in Daily Mail on Friday 2nd April, 2010

Bryan Prunty after the Stirling Albion Game

Today’s game is a big bonus for me. Every game coming up now is massive they are all as big as each other. We were brought back down to earth on Tuesday night with a bump against Dumbarton but this was a big result for us today so we will take that and look for the positives out of Tuesday. That’s five goals I’ve scored so far – long may it continue. I made a lot of friends when I was at Stirling but I am an Alloa player and that is the bottom line. I am absolutely delighted at the way things are going. Playing at this level I don’t mind at all if you enjoy your football you will give your all because the manager has given me a fantastic chance here – he has been very good with me and as I say regardless of what level I play I will always give my all. Any one of the top four teams could take the championship but as I said Tuesday night against Dumbarton really brought us down to earth with a bump – and next Tuesday nights game will be a massive game again because Cowdenbeath are playing really well just now and we know it’s going to be difficult. We certainly had a patchwork team today– most of the boys that came in today have been brought in from our Youth teams and the centre half, Danny Main , who played as a “Trialist” today was outstanding – credit to them and the rest of the boys – well done.
 

Alloa Athletic striker Stuart Noble’s best form of his career has been rewarded with the IRN-BRU Phenomenal Player of the Month for February. Noble scored five times in four games to put Allan Maitland’s side at the top of the Second Division and the one time Fulham player is delighted. The 26-year-old started his career at Craven Cottage, making it onto the bench for a Premiership game at Blackburn however, after five years in London and loan spells at St. Johnstone, Woking, Torquay and Northampton Town, Noble headed back to Scotland. Despite never starting for Fulham, Noble has no regrets saying, “I had a squad number and was involved in a Premiership game which is not the greatest career but it is something to be proud of. I have plenty of memorabilia from my time down there but I was glad to get back home as I was beginning to struggle with
injuries.” Noble joined East Fife however, they never saw the best of him and he took a year out to play with Gala Fairydean to give his body time to recover before
moving to Airdrie United in the summer of 2007. After a successful season in the Second Division, Noble rarely featured for The Diamonds in the First and a loan move to Alloa became permanent last June. It is a move that he has blossomed from saying, “This is the best goal return of my career and whilst I may be getting the attention with this award, I have to say thank you to my team-mates who have been supplying the goods to Bryan Prunty and I up front.” The arrival of former Airdrie team-mate Prunty has proven to be a catalyst for Noble who said, “Having Bryan here has helped me enormously and I have to
say that the boss Allan Maitland made a great move in bringing him in as he is a goalscorer. Also the boss plays us both through the centre which is different to Airdrie where I was wide left and so far, it has worked very well.” Noble gave credit to Manager Maitland saying, “The Manager has stuck by me and I am grateful for that. I was not scoring that often in the period leading up to the New Year but he kept faith with me despite having new players to pick from and I am delighted to have repaid some of that during February.”

Bryan Prunty was disappointed when his first goal was chalked off today against Arbroath.

My initial thought was that I couldn’t have scored a better goal, and I immediately ran away with my hand in the air thinking I had scored. Then gutted when the referee’s whistle went and realised that he had decided to disallow the goal. At first I didn’t know if it had been for a handball, or someone straying off-side but I was disappointed the goal didn’t count. I have now discovered that the referee disallowed the goal for dangerous play due to my foot being raised, but how many games in the past have we seen other players scoring overhead kicks and these are replayed as goals of the season.
Nevertheless, it has been a good start since I moved to Alloa Athletic with six goals in my first four games with the club. Two goals against Arthurlie, two against Bo’ness, which were both friendlies and more importantly two goals in our last two league games against Stenhousemuir and Arbroath. I don’t set myself any targets but I am glad to be playing in a team where I will look to be playing every week and in the first couple of games I have been rewarded. The Manager has strengthened the team in the January transfer window and with six points in two games we have got a chance and we are looking strong. I will look to play as many games as I can and score as many goals as I can. The Manager has brought me here to score goals and I will look to reward him and personally for me it has been a great start with two goals in two games and six points. We go to Brechin next Saturday which will be tough. I have been there with a few clubs and it’s always a difficult place to go but we are playing with a bit of confidence now so hopefully we will take that into next weeks game.

Delighted to have collected another three points which keeps us top of the league, we could not have asked for a better start to the season and it was important going into the International break we kept up our good early form today. I have had two good spells with Allan Maitland before and I have always been successful working along with him, so I am enjoying playing my football again and delighted he has given me another chance, Alloa Athletic showed faith in me paying money for my transfer back from junior football and again to a higher lever, I wanted to play at as high a level as I could again and it is Allan who has given me the chance again, our aim is to win the league and I want to be part of it. Although not at our best today we deserved to win, but we still have other options going forward, we still have Stuart Noble to come back, Stuart is missing just now due to injury. The boys are all enjoying their football but there is still more to come from this Alloa side, we have still not played to our full potential and hopefully in the coming weeks in training we will start to be a bit sharper and finding our shape, but I think once this comes we will be a force to be reckoned with. There is no place for sentiment in football and today it was strange scoring against my old club, confidence is sky high at the minute at Alloa, although we only scored one goal today, I think we should have had at two or three. I have had a connection with Clyde Football Club for seven or eight years in the past, this is where I grew up playing football so it is sad to see the way the club is at the moment but that is just how football is at the minute and there are other teams in the same boat, I just hope they soon move forward again and times get better for them.