Match preview by Amy Canavan.

Another summer of reconstruction talks has came and went. Votes have been cast and decisions have been made. While Bonnyrigg were on the wrong side of the B team vote when the decision was made to allow Celtic and Rangers B teams into the league, it was a decision that was immediately accepted. The club have moved on and everyone associated with the Rose are looking forward to welcoming the youngsters of Celtic to NDP tomorrow.

It’ll have been 189 days come Saturday, but finally, Bonnyrigg Rose return to competitive football. That date at Dens with The Dee seems a lifetime ago, thanks to another curtailed season due to the Coronavirus pandemic. One needs to cast their mind back even further – a whopping 214 days – to when Robbie Horn’s side last dawned New Dundas Park in the Lowland League.

But that is all in the past and indeed, it is rather grim. So now we turn our heads to this season. A season which starts with fans.

491 days since the Rose faithful witnessed their side in the flesh in a competitive fixture – the wait is finally over. They will be casting their eyes upon somewhat of an unknown quantity come Saturday, as the Celtic B are in town.

At the time of writing (Friday 16th July, 20:00), we have no idea of the Celtic squad, which was a pre-requisite of B teams joining the league. At this point in time this is all we know:

• Squad lists submitted in advance of the season, adjustments made during designated windows only (probably January).
• Minimum 22 full-time professional players in the squad.
• When player plays 5 times for 1st team he can no longer play for B Team until the next window.
• Maximum age U20 (players born in 2002). One additional U21 outfield and one additional U21 GK may be added to the squad.
• Clubs may have one player / coach aged 33 or older who cannot play in the clubs first team.
• Majority of squad must be Scottish.

For Robbie Horn though, his attention is solely on his crop of players. With near enough the full squad at his disposable – preparation is ideal.

Last season the Rose kicked off their Lowland League campaign with a convincing 4—0 victory over Gala Fairydean Rovers in the Borders. The opponents come Saturday are not as familiar, but Horn will be hoping for a similar start to this campaign.

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