Paget bids farewell to Victoria Park

Published 7 May 2010 08:00 0 Comments

See also:

IT had become one of the worst kept secrets in local football - but following Vale of Leithen's promotion to the East Premier League almost a fortnight ago manager Rab Paget finally announced he was stepping down.

The Edinburgh-based cab driver has transformed the Innerleithen club from mid-table also rans into a serious non-league force in the space just 18 months.

Despite the East First Division proving to be the most competitive it's been for many seasons Vale have only lost one match - ironically on the day they were technically promoted.

Paget, who also helped Peebles to promotion two seasons ago, had become disillusioned with the almost full-time commitment required in steering a team to the top of their game.

His self-employed shifts behind the wheel were regularly cut short for training and midweek matches.

And even Saturdays were proving tough, having driven around the mean streets of the capital well into the early hours of the matchday morning.

With a strong coaching team - of Stewart Churchill, Stuart Gray and Davie McGinley - behind him, Paget enjoyed masterminding his team's escape to the Premier League.

But he was up against two full time managers - Stirling Uni's Raleigh Gowrie and Stuart Rome of Gretna - who are both employed in coaching and developing players.

And it took an almost full-time commitment from the ex-squaddie to attract fresh blood to Victoria Park and keep his own band of brothers in peak condition.

Following Saturday's 4-1 win over Eyemouth United Paget told us: "There's no getting away from it - it's been hard work."

Only a few days after he publicly announced his departure, Vale's committee agreed that Churchill would slide along the hot seat and take over.

Paget added: "I'm going to help Stewart settle into the job and try to get some new players in with him.

"I'll go over the pre-season schedule and stuff like that with him, but he's more than capable of doing the job himself.

"Come the start of the season I'll be heading over the hill to Edinburgh to drive my taxi and relax.

"I'll be down as much as I can on matchdays to the shout the boys on from the terraces."

Vale of Leithen last reached the Premier Division in the late 1990s and remained in the top flight for five years before suffering relegation at the end of the 2004/05 season.

As they celebrate their 110th birthday at Victoria Park, Vale's small but hardworking committee have big ambitions for the seasons ahead.

As well as installing floodlights at their scenic ground they want to become a force and mainstay in the East of Scotland Premier Division.

Churchill has been charged with reaching the next step of their masterplan.

And it's a job he's relishing. He said: "The Vale have been trying to get out of the First Division for five or six seasons and it's my job to make sure we make the most of it now that we're up.

"I'll be sitting down with the committee over the coming weeks to talk about their expectations - but my own expectations are to bring in a few quality players and do really well.

"Our squad just now is good but it needs freshening up to compete next season. The bunch of boys we have couldn't have given us another ounce of effort this season. They are a good close-knit team and that's what I want next season as well."

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 07 May 10

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.

Peeblesshire News Poll

Are you in favour of wind farms?

This Poll is now closed.

Yes (70.0%)

No (30.0%)

Follow @peeblesnews