As a longstanding member of the 'Warriors Abroad' club, I am used to travelling 200 miles north to Ochilview to watch the Warriors. This coming weekend, however, roles will be reversed, with the squad heading south to my home town of Blackpool on pre-season tour. In terms of having football 'on my doorstep,' this really is as good as it gets: in the first of the two matches on tour, the opposition will be provided by Blue Square North side Fleetwood Town - five miles from Blackpool town centre and three miles from my house. As if that weren't enough, the following day sees us travel to face Skelmersdale United, whose ground is conveniently located a couple of miles from my girlfriend's house. I couldn't have planned it better myself.
The impending fixtures got me thinking about pre-season tours of years gone by. For most Warriors supporters, the most memorable pre-season experience was our trip to Oslo two seasons ago, and especially the spectacular thunderstorm during our 7-2 victory over St Hanshaugen. Whilst most supporters were happy to sacrifice their view of the action for some much-needed shelter, I insisted it was worth sticking it out on the touchline - though club chairman David Reid was evidently the only other person in agreement. From my own perspective, though, my fondest pre-season memory is of a previous visit to Blackpool in 2001, whereupon my Dad and I devised a route for the team coach, leading it quickly and safely to its destination, but also leading it past our front door. Only afterwards did I realise that the players might have been a tad bemused to see a house on the outskirts of Blackpool decked out in Stenhousemuir flags...
Other pre-season highlights have included a victory over a Preston side managed by Craig Brown, not to mention the joy of watching various players attempt kareoke after our match at Bamber Bridge in 2003. There is, of course, one notable exception to the long list of successful pre-season tours: in 2002, our match with Barrow was abandoned during the first half, with Des McKeown and Brian Crawford both having sustained serious injuries at the hands of opponents who clearly were yet to grasp the concept of a 'friendly.'
This weekend's trip, though, will surely be a positive experience. One point worth remembering, however, is this: only twice since the tours began (in 1999) have Stenny won both fixtures in any given year - in 2003 and 2006. On each occasion, a hugely disappointing league campaign was to follow. Less successful pre-season results, on the other hand, have generally been followed by more positive performances when it counts. Let's hope, then, that any success we might enjoy at the weekend doesn't taint our chances of success in the season to come!
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