The Thorniewood management team of Andy Frame and John Paul McBride went through the emotional wringer at the end of last season.

First up, gaffer Frame and his trusty lieutenant were forced to endure the disappointment of relegation from the Super First Division.

But on the last day of the campaign, the hard-working duo brought the first trophy to Uddingston for 50 years when Wood edged Blantyre Vics on penalties to lift the Central League Cup.

Now, with a full season behind them – and a new start in the Central District First Division – Frame is looking for his side to make a real impact.

The former Hibs and Partick Thistle star said: “Getting relegated was a massive disappointment – it always is when something like that happens.

“But when we took over at the club, we only had one signed player, so we were forced to build a completely new side from scratch. It was always going to be a big ask to stay in the Super League.

“That doesn’t mean we weren’t gutted when it happened, though, because we were.”

But if relegation was the downside, then the cup win was the antidote that put a smile back on everyone connected with Thorniewood United.

Frame said: “It was an incredible night, and to win the cup after going down to nine men was an amazing achievement, especially as Blantyre Vics are quite an outfit.

“The Vics manager Davie Greig is a good friend of mine – and they were incredible last season winning the league and getting to three cup finals – but perhaps it was just one match too many for them.

“I was delighted for the coaches and players that we won the cup, but more so for committee men like John Miller and Ian McLaughlin, who have been at this club for many, many years and have had little success to enjoy.

“When I saw the smile on their faces after the game it was worth all the hard work, preparation and anguish we went through to win the cup.”

But Frame insisted the cup final is now in the past, and he can’t wait for the new season to begin.

Pre-season training starts next Tuesday and Frame will prepare his players for the league he reckons would have suited them more last term.

He said: “John Paul and I had been at Whitefield Amateurs before getting the job at Thorniewood, so we took a few amateur players to Robertson Park, and were asking them to cut their junior teeth in the second tier.

“It was a big ask and had we been in the Central District league last season then we might have had a better chance of escaping relegation.

“We did have a few decent performances in the league but tended to save our best for the cup, which was borne out with the league cup win a few weeks ago.

“John Paul and I didn’t really have to do much to get the lads motivated for the cup final. Players such as Charlie Grant, Alan Fleming and Davie Hamilton have to take a lot of the credit for that.

“In fact, it probably worked in our favour that we had been relegated a few weeks before the final, and that left us time to clear our heads and focus on the match against the Vics.

“I played for the likes of Pollok and Johnstone Burgh during the junior part of my career, and managed to win a few trophies, but Thorniewood is my local team and I would like to make the club as successful as I can.”

Frame’s assistant, John Paul McBride, reckons Wood will be better placed this season to have a more successful league campaign.

He said: “We have a lot of young guys who are now a year older and more experienced and will be ready to handle whatever the junior game throws at them.

“Last season was their learning curve and I’m sure they will be all the better for it.

“We already have around 15 or 16 signed players – which is 14 or 15 better off than this time last year!

“We need to add a couple more but the base is there to work with and we know exactly what is required.”

Meanwhile, Larkhall Thistle are looking for a friendly match away from home on Wednesday, July 22.

If your club can help, please call Hugh Kerr on 07746 875347.