We're itching to get back in action says Burgh boss

It’s been a staggering three months since Newburgh last played in competitive action in a 4-0 defeat to Kirriemuir Thistle on November 7.

Since then the club has been unable to play either a cup or league match due to a series of call-offs.

It means ‘Burgh have completed only 10 McBookie.com North League fixtures since the season kicked off in the summer of 2015.

Urquhart says he’s never known anything like it in all his time in the game.

He said: “We haven’t kicked a ball in earnest since November and it’s now getting very difficult.

“I was working it out that, when we’re able to play in the evenings, we’re going to have at least five midweek games to play; there’s going to be a massive rush to get them played.”

Newburgh currently sit second bottom of their division, but with some sides above having played as many as six league games more.

The club has played just five games at home and five away as deteriorating weather conditions conspired against them.

But Urquhart paid tribute to his squad, saying their commitment over what has been a very difficult period should be commended.

“We’ve still been getting good numbers of 15 or 16 down to training and that hasn’t really changed,” said the boss.

“So that’s credit to the players because it’s hard for us to train them with nothing to work on from the previous Saturday like you’d normally do.

“We’ve been able to organise a couple of bounce games, but that’s nothing like the real thing, and we’ve started to take on a meta-fit class to keep the fitness up a bit as well.”

With the weather expected to be milder this week, Newburgh are hopeful their scheduled home match with Arbroath Vics will finally allow them to get their season kick-started.

“We’re desperate to get the game played,” said Urquhart.

“Arbroath beat us 2-1 the last time we played them but we really weren’t at our best that day and are a lot stronger now.”

Kick off at East Shore Park on Saturday is 2.15p.m.