This has become something of a tradition for this site, as I know there are several members who take more than just a passing interest in how The Glens are doing, and several of you have visited our games over the four years of this site. This year it's a happy report card at the turn of the year.
Two seasons ago, Rutherglen Glencairn had 19 points from 11 games at the turn of the year. The Glens finished in 5th place out of 13 teams with 37 points from 24 games.
Clydebank had 22 points from 12 games at this stage of that season. Clydebank finished with 49 points from 24 games and were promoted in 2nd place.
Last season, Rutherglen Glencairn had 16 points from 11 games. The Glens finished in 4th place out of 12 teams with 35 points from 22 games.
Lanark United had 22 points from 10 games at this stage of last season. Lanark United finished with 42 points from 22 games and were promoted in 2nd place.
So you can imagine my optimism for promotion this season when I look at the Stagecoach Central District League Division One table at the turn of the year :-
| 1 | Rutherglen Glencairn | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 6 | +15 | 22 |
| 2 | Thorniewood United | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 16 | +6 | 19 |
| 3 | Ashfield | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 17 | +5 | 16 |
| 4 | Cambuslang Rangers | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 17 | +6 | 14 |
| 5 | Maryhill | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 12 | +5 | 14 |
| 6 | Yoker Athletic | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 12 |
| 7 | Larkhall Thistle | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 11 | +1 | 9 |
| 8 | Benburb | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 27 | -8 | 9 |
| 9 | Vale of Leven | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 22 | -7 | 8 |
| 10 | Lesmahagow Juniors | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 18 | -9 | 8 |
| 11 | St. Anthony's | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 6 |
| 12 | Johnstone Burgh | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 13 | -4 | 5 |
| 13 | Cumbernauld United | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 16 | -7 | 4 |
The Glens have a chance to consolidate their position over the next few weeks. We have no league fixture on Saturday 3rd January, as it's our turn to sit out the fixtures with 13 teams in the league. But then on 10th January we're at home to St Anthony's, and then on 17th January we're at home to Johnstone Burgh. So two home games against teams who are currently in the relegation zone gives us a great chance to get more points on the board.
Meanwhile, our promotion rivals are hopefully going be cutting each others' throats over the next few weeks. Thorniewood United are at home to Larkhall Thistle on 3rd January, then away to Maryhill on 10th January, so something has to give amongst those three promotion rivals for The Glens. Thorniewood are on Scottish Junior Cup duty on 17th January, so another chance for us to stretch with our home league game that day.
We're out of the two big cup competitions, which is disappointing for the fans who like the big days out at obscure venues throughout Scotland, but realistically we're not strong enough to win either the Scottish Junior Cup or the West of Scotland Cup (hey les and TGO, did you know that's the only cup we've never won ? 
) at the moment, so being able to concentrate on building up the league points while our rivals are possibly distracted is probably a blessing in disguise. In previous years we've still been in the cups at this stage, but behind in the league with games in hand. But games in hand are never as good as points on the board, as we all know.
So it's a cautious optimism from me for 2009 for The Glens. But the omens are good. 
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