ROCHE THRIVES ON COMMUNITY DRIVE

Strathendrick's gaffer loves team's togetherness on the pitch

- STUART MCFARLANE

Strathendrick coach Eddie Roche says he's loving life in the hotseat as he prepares to take the Fintry club into a new division next time round.

The Kiwi enjoyed a perfect first year in the job as his side enjoyed an unbeaten campaign to romp to glory in the West Region League Division Two, racking up more than 1000 points across a stop-start season.

Now as Roche gives her players some much-needed time off before an assault on the Division One crown, he's spoken to the Observer about his journey from Stateside to the idyllic Stirlingshire countryside ... and the power of the community's togetherness on the pitch.

He said: “I was in Boston but my wife is from Fintry originally and we were looking to move back and did so in late 2023.