WILLIE Patterson’s determination to have Petershill primed and ready for the new Juniors season is about to be cranked up a couple of notches next weekend when the Springburn club host their own pre-season tournament.

Premiership rivals Rob Roy, Newmains United and St Roch's are the invited clubs taking part in the two-day Tommy Patrick & Terry Waters competition – named to commemorate the popular kitman and physio who both passed away last season.

And Petershill will get matters underway by taking on Newmains in Saturday’s opening game.

Home supporters will be keen to get a first look at Patterson’s revamped squad that has been boosted by a handful of summer signings. Playmaker Jamie Hamilton from Rutherglen Glencairn is the biggest name and he is described as a great bit of transfer business by his Peasy boss.

Patterson said: “Jamie is a busy type who has always played well in games against Petershill and he is someone I have been after since he was turning out for Lesmahagow.

“He seems to have been around the Juniors for some time yet is still young at 23 and coming here will afford him the opportunity to prove he is capable of bigger and better things and I hope he takes it.

“There are other good midfielders on our books so I’m looking forward to seeing what partnerships and combinations can be developed with Jamie’s arrival on the scene.”

Among the Peasy gaffer’s other confirmed new faces are Richie Hendry (Yoker Athletic), James McLenaghan (Queen's Park) and centre-back Chris Connolly whose string of impressive displays while out on loan to Glasgow Perthshire last season earned him a recall by his parent club.

Patterson said: “Chris is a no-nonsense defender. He’s only 21 and has some rough edges to his game but we have high hopes for him just as we do for Scott Cameron, who was a goalscorer for Tower Hearts Under-21 in their Scottish Cup victory over Barrhead Boys Club.

“We worked hard to get bodies in after identifying a crying need to improve our squad after winning promotion as Super First Division champions and I truly believe we have achieved that aim given the guys who have come on board.

“Not all our signing approaches were successful and I was particularly disappointed by Dale Simeon opting to join Rutherglen Glencairn at the 11th hour after it looked as if we had him as good as in the bag.

“But having been around the block enough times I know you win some and lose some. I'm happy with how our team is shaping up.

“We are back in the top league and will no doubt find games a lot tougher to win than we did last season but everyone at the club is up for giving it our best shot.”

Meanwhile, progress has been made on East Kilbride Thistle’s plans to stage a prestigious Charity Match against Dukla Prague that will also serve to commemorate the Jags’ 50th birthday.

Rab McKinnon, Andy McLaren, Billy Dolan and brothers Robbie and Davie Winters have agreed to play in the Sunday August 5 game along with former EK players Tony Gallagher, Gary Faulds, Tam McDonald and Joe Reilly – who was skipper and one of the goalscorers when the Jags beat Bo’ness United 2-0 at Ibrox to win the Scottish Junior Cup in 1983.