ANY shortlist of footballing people for whom 2021 has been a 'crazy' year would almost certainly include Billy Adams.

Pandemic obstacles and challenges apart, the Glasgow Perthshire team boss of the past 30 years plus found himself in the news for spearheading a community initiative to get Possilpark residents more involved with their local team through granting them free entry to all home games.

Taking any hit to income through the turnstiles was always going to be sorely felt but Adams and his cash-strapped club’s officials have stoically remained true to their word and would have been proud to hear “a proper football team” accolade being bestowed upon the three times Scottish Junior Cup winners by rock and pop singing legend Rod Stewart on a visit to Glasgow (to watch Celtic) last month.

He very publicly autographed Shire club shirts at a City Centre outlet and promised to help them out financially while his declaring himself a fully-fledged supporter brought Adams to retort.

“If Rod comes to one of our Keppoch games then he won’t have to pay his way through the gates because the free entry applies to all Shire fans and not just the ones with a Possil postcode.”

The longest serving gaffer in the WoSFL will certainly not be thinking the singer’s former hit  Some Guys Have All The Luck applies to him as he prepares to lead his injury ravaged side through to face city rivals Petershill in a Conference League Division C clash today.

Both clubs come into their final playing action of 2021 on the back of Kilmarnock Pie West of Scotland Cup exits last weekend , Perthshire losing out 2-1 away to Forth Wanderers and the Peasy going down to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Kello Rovers.

But there’s a marked difference in their league form with the third top of the table hosts looking for a 10th straight win whereas the Shire are hoping to arrest a slump that has yielded up just four points from a possible 21 and dropped them back to sixth place in the standings.

The straight talking Adams revealed: “Injuries forcing us to chop and change the team almost every week has undoubtedly contributed to our downfall as we just don’t have the same strength in depth as the likes of Drumchapel United and Petershill .

”They have tried and trusted types  waiting in the wings whereas a club like ours must rely on youngsters filling the gaps which is a huge ask in what is a  very competitive league.

“That much was clearly evident when we struggled badly to cope with the two players who have scored around 75% of our goals this season, Ryan Gemmell and Baboucarr Mussa ,being sidelined at one and the same time.

“Our results took a massive dip so to be currently sitting where we are is decent in the circumstances not least because we are well on course for a top half of the table spot which was our aim right from the start of this season.

”We have one of the best players at this level in Gemmell and the plan is to hold onto him and add a bit of further quality to enable a strong promotion challenge to be mounted  next time around.”

Peasy supporters are doubly desperate to pick up the three points on offer as victory could close the gap on second top Neilston , facing a tough 90 minutes away to an improving  Lanark United ,while  also keeping  Martin Lauchlan’s men ahead of a St Rochs side ,currently on the same 39 points mark as their city rivals and strongly fancied to overcome Yoker Athletic at the James McGrory Stadium.

In other Division C contests ,Vale of Clyde host the visit of league leaders Drumchapel United while Larkhall Thistle await the visit of newly managerless Ardrossan Winton Rovers following this week’s surprise resignations  of popular  gaffer Stevie Wilson and assistant Neil Greenwood.

Wilson , who hails from Pollokshaws and was previously at the helm of Irvine Vics ended his three year tenure in the wake of a 5-0 Kilmarnock Pie beating dished out by Arthurlie last Saturday.

He admitted: “I'm absolutely gutted to be leaving but the club has been at a situation where it just has not quite worked this season due to injuries and other factors.

“I spoke with our very supportive chairman, Pat Breen after Saturday and we both felt the best decision for the club might be for it to push on and see if a new man coming in can help take the club forward.

“I'm looking forward now to spending some quality time with my family over Christmas and preparing to get back into the game in the New Year. “

The Ayrshire club have wasted no time in advertising their vacancy however the promptitude of the closing date…this coming Monday 20th December… is only fueling fait accompli whispers reckoning former Rovers player Ryan Caddis , currently at the helm of fellow Conference League side Craigmark, is already lined up to take charge.

PLAYING TODAY: (Kick Offs 1.30PM unless stated): P.D.M Buildbase Premier League: Kilwinning Rangers v Auchinleck Talbot, Cumbernauld Utd v Benburb, Largs Thistle v Bonnyton Thistle, Troon v Rutherglen Glencairn, Hurlford Utd v Blantyre Vics,Clydebank v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Darvel v Rob Roy, Beith v Pollok, Irvine Meadow v Rossvale, Cumnock v Glenafton.

PDM Buildbase Conference League A: Irvine Vics v Bellshill Athletic, Girvan v Muirkirk,  Whitletts Vics v Shotts Bon Accord, Glasgow University v Arthurlie(Friday 8PM) Maryhill v Saltcoats Vics, Maybole v Lugar Boswell, Forth Wanderers v Johnstone Burgh, Lesmahagow v Craigmark.

PDM Buildbase Conference League B: Renfrew v Cambuslang Rangers, Greenock v St Cadocs, Ashfield v Carluke Rovers, Glasgow Utd v Gartcairn, Ardeer Thistle v Kello Rovers, Royal Albert v Dalry Thistle, Port Glasgow v Thorniewood Utd.

PDM Buildbase Conference League C: Vale of Clyde v Drumchapel Utd , St Rochs  v Yoker Athletic, Lanark Utd v Neilston, East Kilbride Thistle v Wishaw, Petershill v Glasgow Perthshire, Larkhall Thistle  v Ardrossan  Winton Rovers, St Anthonys v Vale of Leven.

PDM Buildbase Division Four: Glenvale v Finnart, Harthill Royal v Campbeltown Pupils , Kilsyth Athletic v St Peters, BSC Glasgow v Harmony Row.