YOKER Athletic’s players and officials are set to finally kick off their campaign in the inaugural PDM Buildbase West of Scotland League last weekend.

While the rest of the clubs in Conference C were in action on Saturday, the uneven number of clubs in the league left one team idle each weekend – and as luck would have it, when the opening weeks’ fixtures were published, it was the Whe Ho who were left kicking their heels for the first round of matches.

That will all change this Saturday, October 31, when Yoker play their first match in the senior Scottish football set-up, almost eight months since the Holm Park side’s senior players last kicked a ball in anger.

First up for co-managers Tommy Montgomery and Peter McKenna and their players is a tricky away tie against East Kilbride Thistle at The Showpark, kicking off at 2pm.

However, in line with current coronavirus guidelines, spectators are not permitted to attend any ground in Scotland, and the club’s management team have this week reiterated their request to fans not to travel until the present restrictions end.

But all is not lost for Yoker fans hoping to keep in touch with the team’s fortunes – the club’s media team have been working hard behind the scenes, and regulations permitting will keep supporters updated during matches on their social media platforms.

They are also working towards being able to stream matches live as well as uploading highlights packages to the club’s YouTube channel.

Meanwhile, the disjointed start to Yoker’s new campaign is set to continue with another free Saturday on November 7 – the Whe Ho were due to have hosted Royal Albert in their first WoSFL home match on that date, but the Larkhall side announced last Thursday that they would be following numerous other Premiership and Conference clubs in withdrawing from the league for 2020-21.

That means that Yoker’s first three competitive matches of the new season will all be played away from Holm Park, with a league tie away to Thorniewood on November 14 to be followed seven days later by a long trip south to face Newton Stewart in round two of the SoccerShop Challenge Cup.

Yoker’s first match of the campaign at Holm Park is now scheduled to be against Newmains United on Saturday, November 28.