Pre-Season Friendlies begin with Livingston

Posted on Tuesday, June 4th, 2024

The Spartans will face Livingston, Montrose and Civil Service Strollers in a hat-trick of pre-season friendlies.

After a successful debut campaign in SPFL 2, Douglas Samuel’s side begin their preparation for the season ahead against Livingston.

Plying their trade this season in the SPFL Championship, David Martindale’s side head to Ainslie Park on Saturday 29^th June.  The two teams of course will lock horns in a competitive capacity when they face each other in the final round of Premier Sports Cup group fixtures at the end of July.

Those of a certain vintage will recall the scenes at a capacity City Park in 2004 when non-league Spartans hit the headlines, taking on their top flight opponents in the 4^th Round of the Scottish Cup.  It was all square at the break however Derek Lilley was the architect of the Livingston win with a second half hat-trick.

Next up on Saturday 6^th July, SPFL 1 outfit Montrose head to North Edinburgh.

Whilst the Clubs have never met at senior level, back in October 2010 they did play each other in the Scottish Youth Cup.  The Spartans u19s losing out 2-3 that day – an own goal separating the sides in the end.  The visitors were fast out the traps though with a young whippersnapper called Martin Boyle scoring two early goals.  The impressive youngster had made his first time debut against Hibs in the Scottish Cup earlier that year.  Whatever happened to him, eh?

Our final pre-season friendly sees us make the short journey down the road to Christie Gillies Park on Tuesday 9th July where we take on our North Edinburgh chums, Civil Service Strollers.

Gary Jardine, now in his seventh year at the helm, will be buoyed by his side’s positive finish to last season’s Lowland League campaign, a five game winning run which saw them finish in 7^th place – the third time Strollers have ended their Lowland League season in that position.

There have been many a classic derby clash between the sides, naturally too many to mention in this preview.  However, we go back to March 1958 when the sides met in Muirhouse in the East of Scotland League. 

The Berwick Advertiser noted, “Civil Service Strollers made a great effort to get clear of the foot of the table when they played their near neighbours, Spartans. The Spartans, twice in arrears, eventually found their scoring touch and won by 5-4.  Albiston had a hat-trick and confirmed that he is well worth his place in the Scotland amateur side.”

Ticket prices for these pre-season games are: Adults £10, Concessions £8 and Youths £3.