Inverurie Locos boss Dean Donaldson and Deveronvale player-manager Garry Wood believe Friday night football is a match made in heaven for Breedon Highland League clubs.
The Railwaymen meet the Banffers at Harlaw Park on Friday and both gaffers appreciate the merits of moving fixtures away from the usual Saturday 3pm slot.
There have been occasional Friday night games during recent seasons, but Inverurie’s Donaldson believes making it a regular thing could be good for the Highland League.
He said: “We felt it would be something different for the club and it gives the boys the chance to do something different at the weekend.
“I did joke with the players that they owe me one because the game being on Valentine’s Day will save them having to take their other halves out!
“I’ve seen other clubs have games on a Friday night and we feel it generates a bit of interest and leads to a few more people coming through the door, which is a good thing.
“In terms of the Highland League overall, I’d quite like to see a game every week on a Friday night.
“I know it might not always be geographically possible depending on the fixtures, but I think it would be good for the league if it became a regular thing.
“I think Friday night is a good time for people being able to get out and watch a game. For the league and the clubs, I think it would be a good thing if we had regular Friday fixtures.”
Vale manager Wood added: “We’ve got no issues with playing on a Friday night – hopefully it attracts a bigger crowd and I’m certainly in favour of trying different things.
“I also don’t mind early kick-offs on a Saturday and things like that.
“I think people want the majority of games to be 3pm on a Saturday, but if there’s scope to move a game to a Friday and both teams are happy to do it, then why not?
“It gives the players a weekend off during the season which they don’t usually get, and it also allows myself and my coaches to go and watch other games on a Saturday.
“I certainly see the merits in it.”
Wood won’t let up
Regardless of when matches are played, Wood is looking for Deveronvale to finish the season strongly.
The Banffers have accumulated 33 points and have 12 league matches left.
Wood said: “We’ve still got targets for this season that we want to try to hit and by winning games we’ll achieve them.
“We’re probably ahead of where we were expecting at this point, but we got 24 points in the first half of the season and we’d like to better that if we can in the second half of the season.
“If we can keep picking up results then we’ll be on course to do that.”
Inverurie have won their last three matches and are sitting fourth in the table.
Donaldson added: “We’ve been playing well recently. We don’t fear any game and we feel we can win any game.
“There will be days when things don’t happen for you and you can’t win every game.
“But we don’t fear anyone and we have belief in ourselves – there’s no reason why we can’t have a strong finish to the season.”
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