Having started so confidently, this was our first really big month. League action beckoned – not to mention a historic journey into the Scottish FA Cup along with Pollok and Culter.

To mark the occasion, the first round draw was held at Prestonfield and Rose were handed an away tie to South of Scotland league side Newton Stewart. We didn’t know what to make of it but the Newton Stewart lads seemed pretty confident that they had no chance!

Rose opened their league campaign at Tayport. There were several questions to answer but they centred mainly on whether or not “Coach” would be allowed into the ground after his previous misdemeanours! In the event, the team put in a shocker and lost 2-0 to a Tayport side which in truth offered little. Jim Sinnet didn’t hold back and while critical of his own players, promptly informed Evening News readers that Tayport had no chance of winning the league – he was right you know!

Bathgate were next - Rose created enough to win the game before conceding an injury time equaliser.

Still looking for a first league win, Rose travelled to Camelon. By now the team were struggling for momentum and we were all grateful to ex-Rose man Stewart Cringean for doing us a huge favour and banging 2 into his own net!

Several Rose worthies hopped over the channel to watch Scotland horse France in the Parc des Princes. ‘You could hear the noise of the Tartan Army boys’ from miles away!

OH DEAR DEAPSEA

And so to Newton Stewart! The media couldn’t get enough of the Rose and Pollok but the boys who had seats booked for the early buses out of Linlithgow were oblivious to all of that – and were even more oblivious on the way home! The Rose won 6-0 in something of a canter to put a marker down for their prospective opponents.

With newly appointed SFA chief executive Gordon Smith at the game, you could sense the history of the occasion as it unfolded in what would otherwise have been regarded as a fairly rustic but tidy environment. The Rose supporters travelled in excellent numbers and great voice, supporters fell down bankings, the media tent was buzzing, the cheerleaders were in the pink and Newton Stewart went out of their way to make everyone feel welcome and all of the junior clubs won their way comfortably into Round 2.

GORDON SMITH GETS THE LOW DOWN ON JUNIOR FOOTBALL FROM SIMMY??!!

A dodgy start to the league but a win against Camelon and then the Newton Stewart game – life’s still great if you’re a Rose fan!