Off Kilter Season 4 – Episode 1 | @PeterJonesPhoto

“Bring forth Alloa-Men only; For their undaunted mettle should compose nothing but male.” Macbeth clearly not a fan of the women’s game. Is that an option in the new Football Managers?? Gender politics aside, we’ve reached base camp near the peak of the old boy Benny.

A reminder that the terms of endearment are for a strict Scottish only transfer policy. With that in mind and now with a bit to kitty to spend, hopefully a few new additions to bolster the squad and we can have a decent season. Oh, just a second, my phone is ringing.

Continue reading

Off Kilter – Season 3 Episode 3 | @PeterJonesPhoto

Here’s Peter and Alloa, at the conclusion of season 3. Will it be three promotions in a row for Alloa?

“Ever since someone said Alloa was like the music of Mozart, they play at Recreation Park, a footballimento knowing it’s a symphony.” He has a few chants up his sleeve, did Norman McCaig.

Back in Division one and we’ve established a nice gap to Forfar who we dispatched in a tight 1-0.

Continue reading

Off Kilter – Season 3 Episode 2 | @PeterJonesPhoto

Peter returns with the latest from Alloa where they’re looking to build on a good start to life in Division 1

“Alloa and Recreation Park will be the light’s exhibits; Hung in a trophy cabinet ten million miles high.” Seems Norman McCaig was quite a fan of the mightly (non) Athletic.

He would have been a little peeved too as nearly 65% of our matches so far have been cup competitions. We’re having a decent run in the UEFA cup but I suspect our journey will come to a shattering end.

Continue reading

Off Kilter – Season 3: Episode 1 | @PeterJonesPhoto

Back to Alloa, where Peter has the unenviable task of preparing Alloa for life in Scottish Division 1 amidst a backdrop of his best players being picked off (and Pat Nevin retiring)

“I looked up: Black against a Gold – five goals. And I wrote this in the stands of Recreation Park.” Not sure if Norman McCaig was an Alloa fan, but if he was, his pencil would be been scratching those very words in his notebook.

Back for a tilt at Division 1 and I’m expecting this to be a little trickier. We’ve sailed through the bottom two divisions without a hiccup. But with added European fixtures, this should be an interesting season.

First up, sentimentality is out of the window and a bit of summer admin is needed. So long to these chaps. Little has been phenomenal but I’m fed up of him requesting to leave every five minutes so it’s good to cash in.

Continue reading

Off Kilter – Season 2: Part 3 | @PeterJonesPhoto

Peter is fast becoming an Alloa legend. Back to back promotions look to be on the cards but will it be back to back titles?

“My love is like a gold gold rose, Newly crowded champions in April.” The faint refrain of Robbie stirring among the gathering fans on the terrace is enough to bring a tear to the eye.

We’re top of the league but mighty short on cash. The board have been chasing the FA for our reward for winning Division 3. Apparently there wasn’t any.

Continue reading

Off Kilter – Season 2 Part 2 | @PeterJonesPhoto

“Peter Dwyer, my jo, Peter” as Robbie Burns would no doubt have sung if he was standing in the terraces of the mighty Recreation Park with a steaming bridie in one hand and a bottle of Buckfast in the other. Don’t Knock it, Elgar wrote the first ever football chant!

We are doing well. Top of the league in a three-horse race. Well, 2 horses and a field of cows.

Continue reading

Off Kilter – Season 2 Part 1 | @PeterJonesPhoto

It’s been a week of new seasons here on CM9798.co.uk and today is no different. Peter Jones’ Alloa strolled to promotion in season one but how are they shaping up in season 2? Over to you, Peter…

Back for another season with the mighty Alloa. Promotion to Division 2 and everyone is happy to enjoy the journey. Unless you think it’s a road to nowhere. At least he was kind enough to tell me in person and I didn’t have to read it in the Clackmannanshire Times. Sadly his regen went to Hull.

Continue reading

Off Kilter – Season 1 Part 2

Peter Jones enjoyed his first week on the blog so much he’s back for week two. We’re very happy about this and so are Alloa, who are thriving under his tutelage. What will this week bring?

Back north of the border and on the surface, we’re doing quite well. Keeping up with Cowdenbeath is a struggle, while trying to shake off Dunbarton is proving even more tricky.

Continue reading

Off Kilter – Season 1 Part 1 | @peterjonesphoto

Please welcome our latest recruit to the blog squad, Peter Jones! I wont encroach on his intro so I’ll shut up and hand over to the man himself…

Inspired by the compelling “Off Kilter – Scottish Pools Towns” by Jonathan Meades, I thought it would be fun to traverse the strange landscape of the Scottish Football League. For this I’ve chosen Alloa Athletic, although they’re only called ‘Alloa’ in the game. Clearly a slur on the mobility of the squad.

With only 85k in the bank, it’s a rather barren scout through the free transfer market of players who want to ply their part-time trade in the ‘Wee County’ of Clackmannanshire.

Rules of engagement are that I can only sign Scottish players, so hopefully with the use of Jack Charlton’s ancestry database, we can make a decent go of things. Which means several friends of this blog are out of the question.

Continue reading