RHU Amateurs boss Gordon Brodie says he “couldn’t feel more optimistic” about the season ahead as the big kick-off looms for the club.

Brodie spoke to the Advertiser this week ahead of an open day at the club’s home ground this Saturday, with all three Rhu sides in pre-season friendly action on home soil and hospitality planned off the pitch to show off to prospective new players and members what the club has to offer.

Rhu’s newly-formed colts team take on Glasgow Ansar at Ardenconnel Park at 10am on Saturday, with the club’s Greater Glasgow Premier AFL squad hosting Tarbert at 12noon and the Caledonian League side rounding off the day by playing Holytown Colts at 2pm.

There’s also a quiz night at the clubhouse from 7pm on Saturday.

Brodie, who was appointed manager of the Caledonian League squad in January. told the Advertiser: “From my point of view I couldn’t feel more optimistic about things.

“The coaches we’ve brought in are the best I’ve ever worked with, the players have bought into what we’re trying to do, and the support we have from our backroom people and our sponsors has been incredible.

“We have 60 players registered across the three teams so far and I can’t fault the commitment of any of them.”

The new Rhu colts team, coached by Jamie Kjorstad, is the result of a partnership with the youth set-ups at Ardencaple FC and Helensburgh FC, with under-21 players from both clubs uniting to play under the Rhu banner in the Saturday morning Glasgow Colleges FA leagues as part of a local pathway for young players in the area from youth to senior football.

All three teams begin their respective league campaigns on August 13 – Rhu’s Greater Glasgow team start with an away tie against Dynamo East Kilbride, though the Caledonian League and GCFA have yet to publish their fixture lists.

The club also has a host of sponsorship arrangements in place for the new campaign, with a host of local companies and community organisations having already joined forces with the club.

The club’s various training and playing kits for the new season will show off the logos of three charities - the Gary Andrews Remember A Life Trust, the Beatson Cancer Charity and the Males Tales peer support service - while corporate backing is coming from WCC Group, Fusebox Electrical Scotland, Caledonia Bureau, the Rosslea Hall Hotel, DCF Joiners and Building Services, Collins Distribution, Babcock, Baxter Ramsay, the Rhu Inn, James Auld Funeral Directors and Event Hosts Ltd.

And Brodie is hoping that this Saturday’s games – and the off-field action alongside it – will persuade more people to join up and help Rhu become even more of a community club.

“This is the first time we’ve held a club open day,” he added.

“The idea is just to introduce everyone to all three of our teams, get them to enjoy the games, maybe have a beer afterwards and enjoy the do at night.

“Last year was about rebuilding for this season and everything is starting to fall into place. Hopefully that will continue once the league season starts.”