Dumbarton FC's Chris Smith is grateful for indoor training facility

Jan 15 2010 by Andy Galloway, Lennox Herald (main ed)

CHRIS Smith thinks Dumbarton have the edge on other teams in the second division – despite not having played for more than a month.

Weather permitting, Sons will play their first competitive game since Tuesday, December 15 away to Brechin City on Saturday.

But they have not lost any ground in the second division during the recent cold snap, as every fixture in the league since then has been postponed.

And Chris feels Sons are fortunate to have the use of Toryglen Football Centre in Glasgow to help keep them in shape while they wait to return to action.

He said: “It’s the worst winter I’ve ever seen, as a player or otherwise! It makes this a frustrating time as we train twice a week looking forward to the game and then it’s off.

“But fortunately nobody has opened up a gap on us due to the weather, so we’re not under any more pressure when we play again.

“We are lucky to have the use of Toryglen while other teams might be struggling to find training facilities. Hopefully that will give us the edge on them in terms of fitness.

“We will just have to hope that the bad weather goes away and we can start playing games again.”

While Sons are anxious for Saturday’s game at Brechin to be on, Chris admits it will be a difficult game against the promotion chasers.

But the big defender remains optimistic that Sons can be part of the promotion picture themselves.

He added: “Brechin are probably the best form team at home in the league, so it will be difficult to get any result up there if the game is on.

“I’m enjoying playing for Dumbarton, even though I swapped full-time football for part-time football when I signed.

“Coming up from the third division, we would be looking to avoid going straight back down.

“However, we are only a few points off the play-off places, and there is not a great deal between the teams, so hopefully we can push on.”