Hamilton Academic 3 Airdrionians 2
The path leads back to New Douglas Park. last week on the road The meanders were in Clyde and the club’s search for a new home while operating from its quarters.
This week, Hamilton Academical’s leadership team is focusing on the same ground.
“Ownership of the stadium is a key factor,” says Jock Brown, Accies’ new chairman, of talks with previous owners to buy the stadium. ‘We hope that this ends very soon and that it transforms us. The acquisition of the stadium is vital and it seems to be on the right track.”
“Ownership of the stadium is a key factor,” says Jock Brown, the new chairman of Accies, of talks with the previous owners to buy the stadium. ‘We hope that this ends very soon and that it transforms us. The acquisition of the stadium is vital and it seems to be on the right track.”
Brown is a recent recruit to the Hamilton cause in a commercial sense, but his association with the club stretches back to his 78 years. Brown, Cambridge blue, journalist, commentator, lawyer and Celtic CEO, had earned a quiet retirement. But the lure of Accies proved irresistible.
“The only place I would have come back to was here,” he says. ‘This is where it all started for me. I was behind the goals in all the games. McLean, Currie, King, Divers and Hastings. That would be the first line when I started arriving around 1957 with my brothers and friends.
Jock Brown smiles back at his first love and says great progress is being made at the club.
Local businessman Serif Zengin is determined to take Accies back in a big way
A last minute goal from Oli Shaw (above right) saw Hamilton triumph in the Lanarkshire derby.
The transition from lifelong fan to president began with a social media exchange with Gerry Strain, director of football. Strain was looking for ideas to help the Accies. Brown provided them and a meeting was arranged with owner Seref Zengin.
“We had a lot of conversations,” Brown says. There was an invitation for him to come aboard. ‘I thought about it long and hard. “I did my homework with both guys and decided they wanted to go in the right direction.”
Brown is excited about the future. “I obviously care about the club,” he says. “I think if we do things right behind the scenes (and there’s a lot going on) we can have an exciting future.”
He emphasizes that for him there is nothing material at work. “For me there is nothing more to pass on to Accies in good condition.”
Zengin’s association with Accies dates back 14 years. “I started as a sponsor,” says the businessman who owns transportation and facility rental companies.
However, he once coached at the grassroots level and maintains his interest there. He helped rescue Viewpark club Thorniewood United from the abyss. “They were fighting and I intervened. Now they have 296 children playing football,” he says.
On the day of a feisty and highly entertaining Lanarkshire derby, he reveals that he was once courted to take charge of Airdrieonians. “I decided not to participate at the last minute,” he says.
“Then the Hamilton opportunity arose and the chance to get the club back on its feet.”
Zengin, Brown and director of football Gerry Strain are seeing progress at New Douglas Park
So why do you dedicate so much money and time to Hamilton Academical? “If I could help just one talent get to the top, that would give me the greatest satisfaction.”
However, he does not lack ambition. “Our goal is to take this club to the Premiership. Then push for a place in Europe.”
Home on a Saturday for Harry Webster, 87, and his son Colin, 59, is a spot in the supporters’ lounge before making their way to the stands.
“We first came here in the 1974/75 season, when you submitted me to Hamilton Accies,” Colin informs his father.
Webster Sr. had been to Douglas Park before, but this was the initiation of father and son. “I guess it’s become a habit,” says the father. “Others may go to Parkhead and Ibrox, but this is the local team and I like the association with them.”
Colin, a former police officer, is optimistic about the new owner. He points out that the team is also better than in recent years. ‘Fingers crossed, we’re headed in the right direction. But we need more followers,” he says.
Accies was the launching pad for the successful careers of James McCarthy and James McArthur.
He believes the Premiership is a realistic goal. ‘We had a couple of seasons in the top flight under Alex Neil when we held our own. There’s no reason we can’t be like, say, Motherwell.’
Harry’s fondest memories are of Scottish Cup races, particularly that 1-0 victory against Rangers at Ibrox in 1987 in the third round.
“I wasn’t there,” he says with some sadness. “But it still counts as a memory.”
Colin was present for his greatest memory. “It was when we arrived at Easter Road in the 2014 play-offs. We traveled with hope because we were 2-0 down in the first leg. But we scored two in regulation time and then we won on penalties.”
“That was a brilliant day,” agrees Stephen Daly. At 62 years old, he has been watching Accies for 57 years. His highlight, however, is Ibrox 1987. “I was there,” he says. And I have the shirt, although it doesn’t fit me anymore. The Pink Times had a great photograph of goalscorer Adrian Sprott and we put it on T-shirts.
He believes Accies is capable of moving up a division and competing at the highest level again. ‘No matter what happens, I will always remember that day at Ibrox. “We went back to the club and had a good night.”
Adrian Sprott’s name is synonymous with Hamilton’s story after his goal against Rangers
Greig Murray has vowed to “sentence” his four-year-old son Finn to a life supporting Accies
The family theme is continued by Greig Murray, 35 years old. “I’ve been coming here most of my life and I’ve been a member since 2001,” he says.
He is joined by his father, brothers, nephews and four-year-old son, Finn. “I’m already condemning Accies,” he says with a smile. “I’m putting it into his head before he can change his mind.”
Murray believes things are better at the club. “It’s more positive than it has been so far,” he says. ‘There are some issues to resolve, but it is still more positive. Let’s hope the ownership of the stadium can be resolved soon. “That is holding us back and once we know we own the stadium, we can move forward.”
HOME is where Oli Shaw’s goals are. At 26, the striker may have found the perfect place to kick-start his career after spells at Hibernian, Stenhousemuir, Ross County, Kilmarnock, Barnsley and Motherwell. His two goals on Saturday brought his season total to 14.
‘I just wanted to come in and play. I had a coach who trusted me and knew I would score goals. Whether I’ve had good or bad games, he’s kept me in the park to achieve that goal. “Sometimes I have done it, sometimes I haven’t, but today getting two goals in a derby is a huge boost of confidence for me.”
I didn’t know his goal count. “I didn’t set goals at the beginning of the season. I just want to play football and have fun. “As a striker, when you have fun you tend to score goals.”
Oli Shaw scores his first goal against Airdrie and manager John Rankin says the best is yet to come
His manager, John Rankin, believes there is more to come. “I think he can score more. I think he can do more. I’m not complaining by any means. We worked very hard to bring him to the football club and in the second part of the season we will see more of him.”
The coach adds: “He will have a good end to his career.” Now he’s only halfway through it.
When asked to identify the striker’s strengths, he obviously points to Shaw’s goal-scoring ability, but adds: ‘The 18-yard box is chaos. He’s always in space.’
He was in the final embers of Saturday’s game. And that proved crucial to achieving a home victory.