Published: Tuesday, 8th September, 2009 2:18pm

Leithen Rovers, Gordon and Gala United tipped for the top as amateur season kicks-off

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AMATEUR football kicks-off across the Borders this weekend.

However, while some are tipping themselves for glory, others prefer to do their talking on the park.

Here, Border Telegraph reporter Ally McGilvray opens the door to dressing rooms across the region and predicts the potential winners and losers in the year ahead...

In Division A, champions Chirnside remain the team to beat having scored a domestic treble last season.

In addition to the league trophy they also lifted the South Cup and Border Cup.

However, they must once-again line up against Leithen Rovers who defeated them in the final of the Beveridge Cup to deny them a record trophy haul.

The Innerleithen-based club, runner-up in the league last season, have improved their squad with a number of summer signings - including Robbie Clark from Vale of Leithen, Craig Lowrie from Kelso Utd and Chris Wilson from Tweeddale.

And they have also held on to star player Alan McMath who scored 44 goals last year and, at 20-years-old, only seems to get better with age.

Leithen Rovers manager Paul Graham said: "Our target for the season is to progress as far as we can in every competition. We are not playing in Scottish this year to enable us to concentrate on the main trophies.

"The ultimate goal is to wrestle the league title from Chirnside having lost the league on goal difference by just three goals after being 24 points behind the leaders at Christmas.

"We will also be concentrating efforts of the South Cup and Border Cup - the only cup to avade us since the club reformed. These are realistic targets and we should be there or thereabouts come next May."

Gala Rovers could also challenge for the title this season after appointing a new boss.

Derek Hancock returns to the Netherdale hot-seat and, following three years in charge at Gala Fairydean, must be targeting a return to the success he enjoyed with the amateur side as a player.

Rovers have signed Robert Noble (Gala Fairydean), Johnny Kayser (Gala Fairydean), Shaun Quinn (Gala Hotspur), Ryan Grant (Stow), and Billy Millar (Gala Fairdean U'17's). However, they have lost defenside rock Richard Ramage (Gala United) and skillful midfielder Kyle Collins, who has left for university.

Veteran striker Kevin Matheson said: "It is probably not wise to give a prediction as they normally come back to haunt, but we are hopeful we can mount a serious challenge for the league again this year.

"We finished third last year and were the only team to beat champions Chirnside.

"We also also aiming for a decent run in one of the cups if we can build on the form we showed at the start of last season before a long winter break took its toll.

"Like last year we have a young squad, excluding the odd exception like myself, Welsh Curran, Dougie Bond and Johnny Kayser, but with the experience of playing every week last season they will hopefully continue to develop and live up to the promise they have shown so far."

Newtown and Stow can never be underestimated but with other clubs poaching some of their best players they will do well, along with newly promoted Greenlaw and Hawick United, to avoid relegation.

In Division B, I'm tipping Gordon to be the unlikely contenders for the title this year.

Alan Redpath, who has managed the club for the past three seasons, is pushing for promotion after leading his side out of Division C and to two finals last season - including a win over Division A champions Chirnside along the way.

He has added two key players to his squad, in former Selkirk stalwarts Craig Livingstone and Andrew Brown, in a league where one player can make all the difference.

Redpath said: "I would like to think we have come a long way in these past seasons. After promotion from Division C we managed to secure a mid table finish in Division B last year.

"We also managed to get to the Walls Cup final and Waddell cup final, unfortunately getting beat by Hawick Utd and Newtown respectively. In the Waddell cup we beat Chirnside and West Barns on route to the final.

"In total over the last five seasons we have won four cups and reached six finals."

But he added: "This season is the season where I truly believe we have a squad to compete with anyone in the Border Amateur league.

"We have re-secured the services of Craig Livingstone and Andrew Brown, who both played with Selkirk in the East of Scotland League in recent times.

"We have also added Leighton Henderson and Mark Carlyle from Kelso United and I am hoping to add Greig Porter (ex Kelso Utd/Thistle) to the squad along with Gareth Henderson and another goalkeeper before August 29.

"Craig Livingstone and Andrew Brown will no doubt show their star quality this season and if we can secure the services of Greig Porter and Gareth Henderson we will have a fantastic opportunity for promotion to Division A. I am also looking to go one further in the Waddell Cup this season and looking to stake our claim on the prestigious South Cup."

Gala Hotspur and Tweeddale Rovers will be looking to consolidate their position in the league after winning promotion last term. However, they will have to tackle relegated Coldstream and Langholm Legion who will be aiming to bounce back to Division A at the first attempt.

Elsewhere, Kelso Thistle could be destined for the drop after their team was plundered pre-season.

In Division C, Gala United could be the team to beat if they can keep their squad together until the end of the season.

Player-manager Michael Wright Ramsay, who watched his side struggle in the league last year following an impressive debut season, may have hung up his boots but he has recruited well over the summer.

As well as re-signing much of their squad from last season, including star players Damin Cleghorn, Jock Pringle and Roddy Eardley, he has also signed Richard Ramage from Gala Rovers to strengthen defence and Callum Gass from Stow to bolster their attack.

However, with new side Linton Hotspur an unknown quantity and Selkirk Victoria and Peebles Amateurs parachuting in from Division B, there will be no easy games.

Meanwhile, Yetholm have unveiled their first new manager in a decade.

Former players Colin Stevenson amd Stuart Reid take the helm after Ian Blain retired at the end of last season.

They have signed signed Chris Gordon, Gareth Ford and Scott Turnbull from Kelso Thistle, along with Blair Sanderson from Kelso under 17s as they attempt to stamp their authority on the squad which includes many familiar faces.

Reid said: "We have signed 25 players but have much the same personnel as last year.

"We are hoping to give a good account of ourselves this season and are aiming for mid table finish, and a good cup run will be really pleasing."

This weekend, in Division A, champions Chirnside are away to Duns Amateurs, Gala Rovers are at home to West Barns Star, Newtown tackle newly promoted Hawick United and Stow host Greenlaw.

Gala Hotspur return to Division B with a tough tie against Tweeddale Rovers, who pipped them to the Division C title last year; Coldstream Amateurs play Tweedmouth Amateurs at home, and Jed Legion tackle Kelso Thistle in a local derby.

And, in Division C, Gala United visit to Tweedmouth, while the other picks of the opening day fixtures include Selkirk Victoria's opening game at home to Lauder, and new side Linton Hotspur make their debut with a home game against Peebles Amateurs in a Peeblesshire derby.

A full list of fixtures can be found on the amateur league website - http://bafl.leaguerepublic.com

With the new amateur league season about to kick-off, the Border Telegraph is looking for soccer casuals to send us match reports when their team is in action. Whether you are a football fan or club secretary, you can send us your news, views or reviews by email to: editorial@bordertelegraph.com