For whom the Bell tolls

By IAIN KING, Ayr, October 10, 2017

AYR UNITED U-20s...2 EAST KILBRIDE U-20s...2

CONOR BELL sparkled as Kilby gaffer Billy Stark looked on at sodden Somerset.

With the jetlag fading after Sunday night's flight home from Canada I'd recovered enough to head for the coast to watch the Lowland team my close friends Graeme Mullin, Ally Graham and Craig Young are guiding in their first season in the Development League West.

It was heartening to see former Airdrieonians defender Conor, still only 19, shine on a ground where he once kicked in the dressing-room after we lost a Scottish Youth Cup tie 3-2 in gut-wrenching fashion in my Diamonds days!

Swirling rain battered down on the rickety, old Ayr stand. I knew I was home.

Kilby showed they are more than worthy of their place in the DLW, it's a move many of those involved in the foundation of the Lowland League feel is long overdue.

Mullin's side lie seventh right now but they are holding their own and after weathering an early battering were 2-1 in front through goals from Nathan Khanna and Liam Craig before a brilliant last-gasp free-kick from Ayr's livewire substitute Jamie Martin denied them the win.

Boss Stark has been at every EKFC 20s match to date, that level of professionalism and attention to detail doesn't surprise me.

The former Celtic No.2's capture is the biggest coup in the short history of the Lowland League and it's thrilling to see my lifelong pal and coaching colleague Craig Young learning so much as his right-hand man.

Great also to watch my UEFA A Licence mate Davie White in the opposite dugout as they stayed pegged beside Kilby in the table.

Promising centre-half Craig Howie, who we tried to tempt to the Excelsior in my Airdrie days, made a welcome return from injury alongside the outstanding Bell at the heart of the visiting defence.

I'll always be proud of being a part of Kilby's foundation seven years ago and coaching the team alongside Craig in their first Lowland League season.

As ever keen to learn I travelled with my pal and former Airdrieonians and Glasgow City boss Eddie Wolecki Black to K Park to watch the first team training session 48 hours later.

It was fascinating to watch Starky at work and see around the stadium which has a new stand and physio room amongst other improvements since I was there.

I left the park we all dreamed about when we started talking about the EKFC project a decade ago reflecting on just how far the club have come.