SPFL 2: When two tribes go to Waugh

Posted on Friday, November 15th, 2024

If Frankie was a football fan, he’d likely be going to North Edinburgh and not Holywood this weekend with sibling rivalry making it a special occasion for the Waugh family, with Spartans skipper Kevin hoping that a point is not all that you can score.

Stirling Albion offer the latest test for the Ainslie Park side on Saturday, with the game coming on the back of a moral boosting win last week at Forfar which offered a performance that pleased the Spartans Captain.

“Hopefully last week’s win is the turning point in the season for us.  We had to start somewhere and that’s us hopefully out that rut now.  There’s been games recently where we’ve been playing well and maybe not quite getting the results to reflect this.  Alternatively, we’ve not been scoring at the times when we were on top then we lose a goal and struggle to get back into it which is also frustrating.

“But last Saturday was one where we started well, we scored when we were on top and we defended well, countered and managed to kill the game off at the end.  We’re hoping it’s the catalyst to some degree where we can kick-on.  We scored three goals away from home, played well and earned a clean sheet which has given the boys a wee spring in their step at training this week.”

Sibling rivalry offers an extra twist to the game, with brother Ricky in the Binos midfield.  It offers an added incentive – if one was actually needed, for Spartans defender Kevin.

“To be honest, the most important thing is to secure three points to close the gap on Stirling Albion and get closer to the play-offs.  But yeah, it’s got that wee added extra of me up against my little brother which will be interesting.  It’ll be a spectacle for my family obviously, but nothing else other than the win is the most important thing for me.”

Brothers in opposite camps is not necessarily a new phenomenon in the SPFL, but what does it mean for the Waugh family?  Kevin replied with laughter, “You’d probably have to ask my Mum!”

He continued, “I imagine there will be a massive sense of pride obviously.  It happens I guess throughout the game and you probably don’t think it’ll happen to your family but that comes part and parcel with having so many brothers and all of them play football as well.  Two of them are bound to good enough! 

“Ricky is doing really well for himself and I’m proud of everything he does and I’m hoping he does well all the time.  I’ve been to watch him a few times but hey, on Saturday I’m hoping he has a bit of a nightmare if I’m honest!”

Will the Waugh sibling bragging rights be Spartans or Stirling Albion shaped?  Come to Ainslie Park on Saturday at 3.00pm to find out.