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Claus Christoph Gralath and Andrew Cleary at this morning’s press conference
Claus Christoph Gralath had spent most of the week fending off questions regarding the veteran striker’s place at the club, and the player himself was staying tight-lipped, so the rumour-mill understandably went into overdrive.
By the time Claus Christoph and Andrew both entered the press conference this morning, excitement was at fever pitch and almost immediately, questions were being shouted out until Claus Christoph held up his hand for silence.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming here today. I will be making a short statement concerning the future direction of the club, after which I’ll be more than happy to answer your questions”.
He continued, “Andrew has been a fantastic servant for this club, graduating from the Academy before spending almost twenty seasons with the club. At the age now of 37, his playing career is winding down”.
“As a club, we have to look for the future and that is why we have been bringing down the average age of the squad over the past season. Even so, we need to go further and bring more young players in”.
“Obviously, as a result, playing opportunities for our older players will become fewer, and with this in mind, we have been talking to Andrew over the past two months or so about his future”.
“He fully supports what we were proposing, and as a result, I am delighted to introduce you to the head of the re-opened Brook Street Academy”.
For a second you could almost hear panic as it dawned on the assembled media that editorials were going to have to be completely re-written as Andrew was going nowhere.
Taking centre stage, Andrew said, “As a product of the original Academy, I think you all know my views on its original closure, but the gaffer has long been an advocate of bringing youth through and when he first came to our club, re-opening the Academy was one of his main aims”.
“We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to get everything in place and I’m delighted to say that the Academy officially opened again this morning, we have our training staff and first crop of trainees in place along with our scouting network in Tayside, Strathclyde and Lothian. I am honoured to be heading up the new Academy”.
He added, “It will take a little time to get everything running smoothly, but we have entered our side into an international youth league, which is due to start on Thursday”.
He continued, “Naturally we would have preferred to have been playing in a regional or Scottish league, but that wasn’t possible”.
Fielding questions, the two were asked if this meant Andrew was retiring to which he replied, “No, my player registration has been retained so I’ll still be available to play if needed”.
He continued, “We have good players in the squad, so my appearances are obviously going to be limited from now on. This appointment is my chance to stay at the club while moving towards a career after playing”.
Claus Christoph added, “Andrew a vast amount of experience to pass on to the young players and will be an invaluable asset to the Academy. We have made the perfect appointment”.
Alistair Bernard rolls the ball home to score one of his 37 competitive goals for the club.
This morning, Brook Street announced the departure of popular midfielder Alistair Benard. The veteran leaves the LJG for Sicily and Serie VII side Frampoli in a deal worth in excess of £200,000.
The move comes as something of a shock given the popularity of the man from Anstruther, but it was less so for Claus Christoph Gralath.
Paying tribute to the midfielder he said, “Yes, it’s always disappointing when a big player who has been an integral part of the team moves on, but it’s part and parcel of the game”.
He continued, “Alistair’s contribution has been second to none, and since I’ve been here, he’s been a model professional and I am sad to see him move on. I am only sorry that his last season here was wrecked by injuries and he wasn’t able to leave with another championship medal”.
Asked how the move had come about, Claus Christoph said, “I’ve been sitting down on and off with Alistair throughout the season and it became increasingly clear that, while he wanted to continue playing for maybe one more season, the chances for him to do it regularly in the first team here would most likely be limited at best”.
Continuing, he said, “Having a player that has been as good as Alistair play out his final season in the reserves or warming a seat on the bench would be criminal. I couldn’t do that to anyone, so when he handed in a transfer request, it made sense to grant it”.
He added, “Alistair was in the unfortunate position that we have a number of very good young players coming through in midfield, and I have many options in that position; possibly too many”.
“Alistair could see this, but he was always there to advise the younger players and talk them through games. He was quite simply one of the finest players I’ve had the good fortune to work with. His new side will see the benefits of this now”.
Of the transfer itself, Claus Christoph said, “There was something of a bidding war going on between three or four sides initially, and the price kept going up and up. Frampoli were, if I recall, late entrants to the bidding, but it was they who had the biggest budget”.
“So Alistair and his family are off to Sicily and everyone at the club wish him the very best of luck with Frampoli”.
In his ten seasons at Brook Street Athletic, Alistair made a total of 141 competitive appearances, and found the net on 37 occasions, including twice in the League this season. Everyone here at This is Brook Street! echo Claus Christoph’s best wishes to Alistair and his family for the future.
Gutted
Having gone the entire season up to that point unbeaten and without conceding a single league goal, the manner in which those records along with Brook Street’s title ambitions fell was even more gut wrenching.
Last Saturday, Brook Street’s opening goal against Partick came about as the result of a penalty awarded for an infringement that no-one other than the referee saw. Today, it was Brook Street’s turn to be on the wrong end of a dodgy decision.
We are always told, “these decisions level themselves out over the season”, but when Hamid Aghajanian pointed to the Brook Street penalty spot, few could believe what they were seeing.
It was difficult to tell if Claus Christoph was either philosophical or bemused, when he appeared very briefly at the post-match press conference.
“We’re all obviously devastated that we’ve missed out on promotion, and in particular the manner in which the decisive goal came about”, he said.
“We never took our chances to get back into the game, so we’ve got to take it on the chin, and come back stronger next season”, he added.
“I’ll not say any more at this point until I see the video of the game, but I would say however that we wish Legio the best of luck in Division III”.
And with that, he left.
Brook Street had lived dangerously prior to the penalty, with the woodwork coming to their rescue on a couple of occasions, but Alex Mottershaw was cool as a cucumber when he blasted the ball straight down the middle to score what was to be the winning goal.
Remko de Rijke was Brook Street’s main threat and the Dutchman had a couple of good chances in the second half to get Brook Street back in the title race, but good goalkeeping thwarted him on both occasions.
With a lead to defend, Legio closed the game down entirely and were able to run the clock down until full-time.
So it’s another season in Division IV for Brook Street, and there are likely to be some changes in playing staff during the close season as Claus Christoph looks to bring the average age of the squad down.
László Grofcsik celebrates scoring what proved to be the winning goal the last time the sides met.
Since Brook Street’s 1-0 victory when the two faced each other on the opening day of the season, the pair have found the net on no less than an amazing one hundred and sixty occasions without conceding. Indeed László Grofcsik’s thirty-fourth minute strike in that opening fixture is all that has been between the sides all season.
However, Legio have consistently scored more goals in the intervening twelve games and how have a considerable twenty-two goal advantage over the league leaders. As such, Brook Street know that they can secure the title if they avoid defeat tomorrow.
“We know exactly what we need to do”, said Claus Christoph this afternoon “although we certainly won’t be sitting back playing for a draw as that will only invite trouble”.
He added, “Much has been said about how we are only a game away from a perfect season or how we could go an entire season without conceding a goal, in fact that is all some journalists have been talking about this week”.
“We’re not even thinking about any of that”. He continued, “All we’re concerned about is focussing on our next game and that alone”.
Brook Street’s cause was boosted by the news that Tibor Koteczky has recovered from injury and Claus Christoph confirmed he goes straight into the squad for tomorrow.
“It’s a real bonus to have a full squad going into the final game”, he said. “Tibor was 50/50 at the start of the week, but came through training without any reaction so he’s been added to the squad”.
He concluded by saying, “We’ve also been fortunate as far as bookings and suspensions are concerned too, so overall we couldn’t be in a better place going into the game”.
Brook Street’s second string fought back from a goal down to win 4-1 in their friendly match with Finnish side Jokerit Z at the LJG this morning.
Joni Kirsilä had given the visitors the lead after a quarter of an hour, but Connor Hutton got his head on a cross from Liam Christie to level fifteen minutes later.
Benito Buda was alert to the danger in thirty-eight minutes to save from Eetu Hiltunen and it proved to be pivotal for, within the space of the next four minutes, Fin Morton fired Brook Street into the lead, then Connor Hutton scored his second goal to make it 3-1 two minutes later.
Brook Street peppered the Jokeri goal with shots in the second half, but time and again Kimmo Taberman between the sticks beat them away to keep his side in the game.
Midway through the half, Jokeri’s chances of getting back into the game received a boost when Bogusz Cacek picked up his second yellow card of the game and was given his marching orders.
Despite being down to ten men, Brook Street continued to control the game and as the game entered stoppage time, Craig Smart killed off with our fourth goal.
At full-time, Claus Christoph commented, “It was another very good workout for my players, and they did well to come back from losing the goal and later going down to ten men. We showed determination and resilience and were worthy of the win”.
Conor Meldrum blasts home our second goal against Partick this afternoon.
Brook Street’s 2-0 win over Partick United at the LJG this afternoon may not have been the Monifieth side’s most emphatic win of the season, but it was certainly one of the most significant.
The title race couldn’t be tighter with only three points separating Brook Street from second placed Legio VII Gemina and as the two meet at Herculaneum next weekend, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Athletic going into the game: win and they go into the final weekend in pole position; lose and they would almost certainly go second with a significantly inferior goal difference.
Both sides set up as 4-5-1 with each trying to press the other, so it was never going to be a high scoring game or easy on the eye for that matter. Time and again the play would become bogged down in midfield, so it required great patience of the part of the players and fans alike.
As the game progressed, it became more and more apparent that a moment of brilliance or fortune would be needed to break the deadlock. In the end it was the latter.
In the twentieth minute, Brook Street had won a corner and with Henny van Wegen lining up to swing the ball in, the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot. No-one knew why the award had been made and amid a huge argument between the Partick players and the referee, Henny van Wegen placed the ball on the spot.
Partick keeper Anders Persson tried to play mind games with the Brook Street skipper and put the Dutchman off, but when order had been restored and the penalty was taken, Henny had the last laugh blasting the ball straight down the middle and into the net.
Zak Ailstock and Lewis Espley were having some success down the left, and it was from a combination between the two that saw Brook Street score the decisive second goal.
Lewis Espley had picked the ball up from Fin Morton, and when faced with an opponent laid the ball off the Zak Ailstock while continuing his run down the wing. Ailstock in turn played the ball up to Remko de Rijke who then played a superb reverse pass to Lewis Espley who had come in from the wing.
With everyone on the Partick defence focussing on Brook Street’s left, no-one had noticed Conor Meldrum drifting in on the right so when Lewis drilled the ball across, Conor was completely unmarked and slammed the ball back across Persson and into the net. Twenty-nine minutes were showing on the clock.
The capacity crowd inside the LJG went wild and the sense of relief was palpable.
With breathing space, Brook Street were now able to dictate the game and Lewis Espley should have increased the lead further in the thirty-fourth minute but blazed the ball over when well placed.
Brook Street continued to dominate and around the hour mark had the opportunity to score twice within a minute. Nick Stanmore had the first chance, but drove into the side netting from a tight angle, the Conor Meldrum was left scratching his head when he lifted the ball just over the bar.
There was always the fear that Partick would stage a late fightback, but there was little chance of them breaking through the massed Brook Street ranks and Owen Maurice once again had a quiet afternoon.
Indeed, it was his counterpart Anders Persson in the Partick goal who was called upon to make the save of the day when, with eleven minutes remaining, Remko de Rijke unleashed a swerving effort that the Swedish keeper just managed to tip wide of the far post to keep the score at 2-0.
“We were excellent today and went about our business in a totally professional manner. We pressed well and were dangerous in attack”, said Claus Christoph Gralath at the post-match press conference.
He continued, “This was a real test for my players and they’ve come through it well. There was a lot of pressure on them and they have dealt with it superbly”.
Speaking of the controversial opener, Claus Christoph admitted, “I never saw it, so I can’t pass comment, but none of our players seemed to be claiming and the fans weren’t either so it seems we got lucky with that one”.
There was nothing fortunate about the second goal though, and Claus Christoph praised his players for the work in the lead up to the goal.
“We had them chasing shadows in the build-up with quick incisive link-up play and excellent passing. The running off the ball was first rate and the final ball in was millimetre perfect. It was a beautiful goal to watch”, he said.
Elsewhere, Legio secured a 4-0 win at We are the mince, Campsie Jambos kept their slim play-off hopes alive with a 4-3 away win over already relegated The Special Ones, while it was honours even in the meeting between the Division’s new boys as Shinny FC and Cumbernauld FC shared two goals
So the title race goes down to the final game of the season next weekend at Herculaneum with Brook Street knowing that anything other than defeat would be sufficient to secure the championship. However, only a win secures automatic promotion in what is sure to be a tense afternoon. Fans should note that the game is already sold out.
Vassilis Taxiarchou sweeps the ball into the net to double Brook Street’s lead in the previous meeting between the sides.
The Hamefield side have become consistent top four performers in the Division for the past five seasons, however this season a third place finish is assured. With Brook Street only three points ahead of Legio, with an inferior goal difference and the two meeting next weekend, tomorrow’s match will see a real challenge to Claus Christoph’s side’s championship credentials.
“We know where we stand going into the last two ties”, said the Brook Street coach this afternoon. “Win tomorrow and we are in the driving seat going into the final match with Legio; lose and Legio will have the initiative along with something to defend”.
“We have to ensure our concentration levels are at 100% throughout, and that we stick to the gameplan. If we leave gaps, they can be exploited”, he added.
In the reverse fixture in Round 2 of the season, Brook Street ran out 2-0 winners at Hamefield courtesy of goals from Holger Painter and Vassilis Taxiarchou.
“We weren’t very good that day and wasted a lot of chances”, said Claus Chistoph. “When they went down to ten men, they just shut up shop, which made for an awful game for the spectators. That said, had I been in their shoes, I’d probably have done the same”.
Claus Christoph has a good idea of how United will set up, so the squad have been briefed. “Everyone knows their job, and what they have to do”, he added.
With the exception of Tibor Koteczky who remains on the injury list, Claus Christoph has a full squad to choose from. Partick on the other hand have Matthew Bruce out injured, but Harry Diamond and Darren Young return to the squad following injuries.
In a low key friendly match at the LJG this morning, Brook Street’s second string ran out 6-0 winners over visitors Italian Serie VI side, ItaliAmaranto.
Kari Kienberger bagged himself a hattrick with Brook Street’s other goals coming from Andew Cleary, Bogusz Cacek and Connor Hutton.
“We got a chance to try out another formation and it seemed to work well enough”, said Claus Christoph afterwards. “We also came through the match without picking up any more injuries, so that was a bonus”.
Lewis Espley fires the ball past Josh McDevitt to score Brook Street’s fifth goal.
In reality, there was no chance the league leaders would slip up against a side just above the relegation zone, but with teams scrapping for every point they can muster, Brook Street set about killing the game off before half-time.
Pressing their opponents into making errors has become a trademark of Claus Christoph Gralath’s side, and it was from one such error that Brook Street opened the scoring.
With Lewis Espley in the unusual position of playing up front, Bogusz Cacek came in to play on the left, and it was from his constant harrying and forcing his opponent back that he drew a free-kick just outside the box.
Up stepped skipper Henny van Wegen with eight minutes showing on the clock, and with the home side’s wall finally lined up, the ball whistled past them and nestled in the far corner of the net.
Zak Ailstock has rediscovered his shooting boots, and it was the midfielder who doubled Brook Street’s advantage in the twenty-third minute when, after coming in from the right touchline, drove the ball low and hard across the advancing EBTS keeper and into the net.
Lewis Espley was revelling in his new role of auxiliary striker, and he almost increased Brook Street’s lead further in thirty-two minutes with a bulleted diving header. Josh McDevitt somehow managed to deflect the ball away with an unbelievable reflex save.
This was only a stay of execution though, and two minutes he was simply outclassed by Conor Meldrum when the winger sold him a dummy before taking the ball round him and stroking it into the empty net.
That third goal had EBTS rattled and with Brook Street’s players pressing them constantly, it came as no surprise that it was from an enforced error that the league leaders increased their lead further five minutes before the break.
Conor Meldrum pressed the home side’s left wing-back who, without looking, passed the ball inside looking for his defensive colleague. However before it had reached half way, the ever-alert Zak Ailstock had nipped in, taken a touch and rifled it low into the net.
Brook Street re-started the match full of confidence and picked up where they left off at the end of the first; encamped in the EBTS half.
And after just two second half minutes, they were five-up.
Kalle Konkka, who had been having a quiet match, picked the ball up in midfield. Spotting the run by Lewis Espley, the young Finn played a delightful pass with the outside of his boot that curled straight into the path of Lewis who hit the ball first time high into the net.
With the scoreboard showing fifty-three minutes, Lewis Espley broke through on the left. Setting himself up to curl the ball to the far corner, he delayed too long allowing Josh McDevitt in the EBTS goal to close down the angle and make the save.
Remko de Rijke has been in fine goalscoring form this season, so it was perhaps surprising that he had failed to add to his tally as the clock edged towards the seventieth minute. However, in an instant, that was to change as he broke in from the right, steadied himself, and drove the ball into the far corner to make it 6-0.
Four minutes later it was seven, when Lewis Espley chipped the ball past Josh McDevitt following Zak Ailstock’s delicate pass through the centre of the home defence.
With their job done and victory by a large margin in the bag, Brook Street were ordered to take it easy for the remaining quarter of an hour, primarily to avoid anyone picking up any unnecessary injuries, especially after Tibor Koteczky had limped out of the game with a badly twisted ankle in the first half.
Even with the game at walking-pace, Brook Street still had a goal in them, and as the game entered stoppage time a fine move involving Zak Ailstock and Lewis Espley released Remko de Rijke and the Dutchman duly increased his league tally to ten goals for the season.
Asked afterwards about his side’s performance, Claus Christoph Gralath beaming with pride said, “The lads showed just how good they are this afternoon. They played with total confidence in their own abilities and achieved a result that matched their play.
He continued, “We had to recover from losing Tibor Koteczky in the first half, but we didn’t let that put us off our stride, and we went from strength to strength”.
Asked about the Hungarian’s injury, Claus Christoph said, “We’ll have to see how things go overnight. His ankle is badly swollen, so we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to scan it. After that, we’ll be able to assess the extent of the damage. Hopefully it won’t be too bad and he’ll be back before the season’s end”.
He concluded by saying, “We’ve now only got two games between us and a potential return to Division III, so it’s up to us to ensure there are no slip-ups between now and the end of the season”.
Elsewhere, We are the mince ensured a fifth place finish at worst with a 4-0 win at Campsie Jambos, Legio kept up the pressure on Brook Street with a 4-0 win over Partick United, (who Athletic face next weekend), and new boys Shinny FC had a fine 6-0 win at home to already relegated, The Special Ones.
Brook Street remain out in front with 36 points, Legio are hot on their heels with 33, Partick 24 and new side Shinny FC are back on 18 points.
Claus Christoph expects…
While Brook Street top the league, three points ahead of Legio in the race for the championship, EBTS are embroiled in their own race to avoid automatic relegation.
“It’s an important game for both teams, for different reasons”, said Claus Christoph this afternoon. “However, I’m only interested in Brook Street Athletic and what the game means for us”.
He continued,“We will be heading north with the sole intention of coming home with three points. What am I expecting my players to do?… Win! It’s as simple as that”.
The coach also confirmed that Andrew Cleary is still carrying a knock, but will travel, while Alistair Bernard is back training but may not be risked for the game”.
This is Brook Street 