East Kilbride F.C.’s ever increasing prominence hasn’t triggered any jealous response from the only other semi-professional team in the Lanarkshire town -Junior outfit East Kilbride Thistle.

Martin Lauchlan’s men extended their world record-winning run to 28 games in midweek with a 2-1 defeat of Stirling University.

But this latest victory raised barely a ripple of interest at the nearby Show Park where the Jags players enthusiastically went about their training drills in preparation for today’s Central Second Division clash away to Royal Albert.

Not exactly what one might term a mouthwatering encounter, however the dedication shown by the Jags players is understandable.

Especially since that promotion success is looking a distinct possibility this season after a decent start to their league campaign has them sitting fifth top of the table but crucially with three games in hand over eight points better off league leaders Glasgow Perthshire.

Thistle were once the high achievers in Scotland’s sixth biggest town during their halcyon period of 1973-83 when famous footballing names such as Dougie Somner, Martin Ferguson and Willie Pettigrew wore the black and white colours with some distinction

But times change and a slide into relative obscurity has ensued over the past thirty years that has culminated in the emergence of their Lowland League neighbours who have been the beneficiaries of substantial investment.

Someone who would love to see the Junior side grab our attention again is team captain Alan McFadden, in his fourth season with the Jags yet one of the longest serving players on his club’s books.

He said: "What East Kilbride have achieved is magnificent but not altogether surprising as Locky proved when managing Rossvale that he can organise teams and get players producing their best for him..

“Sean Winter is one of my closest friends and I’ve got to know several of his team mates such as Barry Russell while I’ve known Robbie Winters since my schooldays palling around with his brother David.

“And there’s also Adam Strachan whom I played alongside at Clyde and now my girlfriend’s younger brother Liam Craig is making a name for himself as a goalscorer.

"So I’m constantly being reminded of how well East Kilbride are doing but it doesn’t affect what we do here at Thistle in any shape or form.

“We have our own promotion aims and nothing must take away from them.”

Faddy, who turns 34 in a few days, kicked off his Junior career with Johnstone Burgh under Colin Lyndsay’s tutelage before being enticed away by Larkhall Thistle boss Gary Faulds whose moving to take up the reins at Arthurlie resulted in the busy front man switching to the Barrhead club for an enjoyable four years stint.

He admitted: "On hindsight now, I should have never left Arthurlie, a great club with a terrific support and I never fully realised how much I enjoyed playing there until I left.

“My mistake was to jump at the chance to step up to Senior when John Brown was offering trials to Junior players after taking over at Clyde.

"I impressed enough to get the offer of a a contract, but maybe best to leave well alone by saying it was not one of my better footballing decisions.

”And I possibly boobed another couple of times upon my release from Clyde by firstly turning down Tommy Sloan’s offer to join Auchinleck Talbot and then refusing to sign for Rab Sneddon at Pollok, where I felt my chances of a regular game would be limited with both Robert Downs and Brian Dingwall playing there.”

Faddy did return to the Junior ranks at Lanark United where Tam McDonald appointed him team captain.

But he was off on his travels again when former Larkhall Thistle goalkeeping coach Alan Wardlaw’s powers of persuasion resulted in him moving to Cambuslang Rangers and then East Kilbride Thistle, where he assumed the Jags armband when previous skipper Andy McFarlane retired through injury.

He added: "It’s been something of a roller-coaster ride at the Show Park over the past few years but the gaffer Billy Campbell has added some top notch Junior experience this season in Aaron Connolly and John Craig, the only person in our dressing room older than me.

“We’ve also brought back Chris Faulds, who has looked the part as a goalscorer while some of the younger guys have stepped up to the mark such as Chris Erskine’s younger brother Liam McLaughlin who has wonderful attacking skills when he puts his mind to it.

“Our league form has been good with our only defeat coming in a 5-2 defeat at home to Glasgow Perthshire when our entire defence was posted missing through injury.

“Billy has us set up to be very attack minded and playing off the front foot but our cobbled together defence were all at sea against the Shire and we found ourselves 5-0 down before half-time.

“We rallied a bit once guys got used to playing out of position and pulled a couple of goals back but however I cannot help but think we might have fared better had we shut up shop in the early stages until we found our feet.

“ Losing that game was a setback but not a disaster and we will be looking to get back on track starting with Royal Albert.”

It could be a case of as you were atop the Second Division standings as the Shire look a good bet to account for Dunipace while second placed Gartcairn should prove too strong for bottom markers Newmains United at the MTC Park.

Third placed Port Glasgow might not find the tight confines of Saracen Park to their liking in going up against Ashfield while fourth top Vale of Leven face a difficult trip to lock horns with Carluke Rovers.

PLAYING TODAY(Kick Offs 2pm): McBookie.com Super Premier Division. Pollok v Glenafton, Largs Thistle v Arthurlie, Auchinleck Talbot v Beith, Cumnock v Hurlford Utd, Troon v Kilwinning Rangers, Rob Roy v Kilbirnie Ladeside.

McBookie.com Super First Division. Shotts Bon Accord v Cumbernauld Utd , Irvine Meadow v Kilsyth Rangers, Girvan v Maryhill, Yoker Athletic v Renfrew , Petershill v Irvine Vics , Rutherglen Glencairn v Clydebank, Shettleston v Blantyre Vics.

McBookie.com Central First Division Forth Wanderers v Lesmahagow, Greenock v Rossvale , Cambuslang Rangers v Thorniewood Utd , Wishaw v Larkhall Thistle, Benburb v Vale of Clyde, Neilston v Johnstone Burgh, Bellshill Athletic v St Roch's.

McBookie.com Central Second Division.

Royal Albert v East Kilbride Thistle, Dunipace v Glasgow Perthshire, Carluke Rovers v Vale of Leven, Ashfield v Port Glasgow, St Anthony's v Lanark Utd, Gartcairn v Newmains Utd.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League. Muirkirk v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Ardeer Thistle v Darvel, Annbank Utd v Lugar Boswell, Saltcoats Vics v Maybole