Football Season Guide

Peterhead will be hoping to recover from the disappointment of missing out on promotion last season and go one better this time around. The Blue Toon were desperately unlucky to come up against an impressive Montrose side which beat them to the League Two title by just a single point. They scored 79 goals in 36 league games but it wasn’t enough and they were unable to deal with the pressure in their two-legged play-off final with Stenhousemuir, losing 2-1 on aggregate. There was huge disappointment at Balmoor but manager Jim McInally has signed a new one-year deal this summer and has looked to strengthen his squad during the close season. He has been dealt a blow with versatile defender Mason Robertson leaving to join his Dad David at Indian side Real Kashmir. Midfielder Jordon Brown has opted to join Highland League Champions Cove Rangers whilst striker Allan Smith has moved on to Edinburgh City. Several important players from last season’s squad have signed new deals including goalkeeper Greg Fleming, defenders David McCracken and Jason Brown, midfielder Jack Leitch and striker Russell McLean. The latter has only just 20 this summer but enjoyed a fine campaign with 17 goals. He proved to be the perfect foil for striker and leading goalscorer Rory McAllister, who scored 32 goals in all competitions and remains the key to the Blue Toon’s fortunes. McInally has brought in a quartet of new defenders in Callum Home, Cammy Eadie, Michael Dunlop and Paddy Boyle. Winger Ross Kavanagh has joined from Stirling Albion whilst striker Derek Lyle brings plenty of experience with him from Queen of the South. If they can recover from the hangover from last season the Blue Toon will certainly be one of the teams to beat in League Two this season.