Emotional East Kilbride hero Joao Balde on his play-off relief as promotion atones for Stranraer agony
Emotional Joao Balde admits he was overcome with relief after guiding East Kilbride to the SPFL - 12 months on from their extra-time heartbreak at Stranraer.
The Portuguese ace was guilty of missing some huge chances late on against the Blues before Kilby eventually succumbed 5-3 to Stranraer on aggregate last term.
But the former Rangers youth has enjoyed a redemption arc this season, leading the club to a treble-winning campaign and the holy grail of promotion that Kilby have been chasing since their inception in 2010.
After a 0-0 stalemate at New Dundas Park in Saturday's second leg of this year's League Two play-off final, EK enjoyed a 3-1 aggregate win to gain SPFL status.
At the final whistle, Balde broke down in tears as the achievement sank in and the midfielder was almost lost for words when asked what it meant.
He said: "I feel so relieved, especially after last season, with what we went through and the chances I missed. That made us even more motivated to get the job done this season and that's what we've done.
"It feels all worth it now and we'll just go and party for a while.
"We were the better side over the two legs. The intensity we train at is so high, they couldn't keep up and you could see that in the games.
"I 100 per cent want to stay on for League Two, so hopefully I'll see everybody again next season."
Gaffer Mick Kennedy is the 13th manager at East Kilbride in their short history but he has proved to be the lucky one for the K-Park outfit.
And he is delighted with the character Balde and his squad has shown to bounce back from last season's agony.
He said: "They felt like they let themselves down last year and let the club down because they are so well looked after for a part-time club in Scotland.
"It takes a lot of work and effort from a lot of volunteers for that, so guys like Joao - who missed a lot of opportunities last year - felt they owed the club something and he has been outstanding.
"They have all been outstanding, to be fair. To play 62 games, win a treble, to go to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup and beat the number of senior teams we did from the Championship, it has been a remarkable season.
"I hear all the time that players only come to East Kilbride for the money but I don't think people realise how good the group is and how good the environment is, so the players were desperate to get up.
"It had to finish off with promotion or all we've done wouldn't have mattered."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
4 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Gareth Ainsworth doubles down on Shrewsbury exit as Gillingham revolution takes shape
INTERVIEW: Gareth Ainsworth is relishing "the journey" he has embarked on with Gillingham, who he joined late last season following his shock departure from Shrewsbury Gareth Ainsworth has long been at peace with his shock call to quit Shrewsbury and now he's ready to rock Gillingham's world. The 'Wild Thing' - lead vocalist of The Cold Blooded Hearts - requires no introduction in EFL managerial circles. During 10-and-a-half years at Wycombe, his heavy-metal football yielded exceptional results, propelling Wanderers from the fourth tier of English football into the Championship. And following two short-lived spells in west London (with QPR) and Shropshire, he wants to run it back. Ainsworth said ahead of next week's League Two opener at Accrington Stanley: "I just want my players to feel like they belong to something. When we look at football, we're in a privileged position compared to other walks of life. "Gillingham's identify was getting a little bit muddled up with changes of personnel, both players and managers. We want to bring that identity back, this summer has been a big mental shift of the whole place." Ex-Shrewsbury midfielder Jamie Tolley accused Ainsworth of "promising the world but delivering nothing" when the 52-year-old left the New Meadow for Priestfield in March. But the long-haired gaffer makes no secret of the fact the ambitious pitch from Gillingham's American owners Brad and Shannon Galinson ignited the fire within. Ainsworth certainly knows how to get a place bouncing, his band's latest gig was just a few weeks ago in Soho, and he plans to front an electric Kentish revolution. When asked if he now feels pressure to vindicate his Shrewsbury departure, he said: "No, not at all. "Managers are restricted in what they can say with their contracts, I wish I could have said a lot more. "My justification for coming to Gillingham sits well with me, no problem at all. "I'm on a journey and I bought into the journey at Shrewsbury, I wish it went differently, it was a nice place to live. "People will laugh and say I'm not loyal but you've got the wrong guy, I don't need to prove anything to anyone." Ainsworth was such a coup for Gills, the bookies have them among the favourites for promotion. He isn't buying that, however, adding: "It's flattering but I don't know where the substance in that has come from. We haven't made £1million signings, we've signed three players. "Thank you but we're focusing on the journey, it's a two-year project centred around improving, the next level is way down the line for me." Ainsworth's ranks have been bolstered by the capture of ex-Burnley and Stoke City striker Sam Vokes and he's also optimistic he'll get Bradley Dack fit and firing. He continued: "We should be seen as underdogs, just like we were at Wycombe. Age is irrelevant to me, if you are good enough, you're good enough. If you look at the history of my success, it's come with experience. "Adebayo Akinfenwa, the partnership we had at Wycombe, Craig Mackail-Smith, Nathan Tyson, Marcus Bean, Sam Saunders, Joe Jacobson, Matt Bloomfield, the list is endless. "The owners have brought me in and told me to manage how I want. It was a really good move getting me in early so I could look over the team for the last few games [nine] of the season. "They just want success, they enjoy winning and the thrill of it - so that's what we're going to try and do."
Scotsman
33 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Premier Sports Cup: Seven more clubs reach last 16 with final two spots still to be decided
Premiership trio joined in second round by third tier outfit Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Premiership trio Kilmarnock, Livingston and Falkirk all made it through to the second round of the Premier Sports Cup with comfortable home victories on Saturday. Motherwell and Hearts had already booked their places in Sunday's draw along with European qualifiers Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs and Dundee United, meaning there were nine spaces still up for grabs going into the final weekend of group stage fixtures. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Killie, Livi and the Bairns were joined in reaching the last 16 by Championship outfits Partick Thistle St Johnstone and Morton, with third tier Alloa Athletic the lowest ranked side to make it through. Partick Thistle's Logan Chalmers (centre) celebrates after scoring to make it 2-0 during a Premier Sports Cup group stage win over Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group) | SNS Group Dundee – eliminated after losing their opening two fixtures – are the only top-flight side out of the tournament so far, with St Mirren aiming to progress on Sunday. Dunfermline still have a chance of qualifying as a best placed runner-up but will rely on Saints failing to beat Ayr, who are all but through as long as they do not lose heavily in Paisley. Falkirk sealed top spot in Group A by defeating Spartans 4-0 at home through goals from Dylan Tait, Scott Arfield and a Calvin Miller brace to leave manager John McGlynn in a positive frame of mind ahead of the start of the club's first Premiership season since 2009-10. "The entertainment value is going to be through the roof here," McGlynn predicted. "That's why we've got 5700 season ticket holders - they like what they see. We're now maybe the underdog in most games. I don't think we'll come up against oppositon in the Premiership that will sit so defensively as Spartans." Cove Rangers finished second but were not in the mix to be one of the three best runners-up after losing 2-1 at Queen's Park. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Teenage defender Ben Brannan scored a double and then went off injured as Kilmarnock pipped top-flight rivals Livingston to top spot in Group H with a 4-0 home victory over East Fife. Summer signings Marcus Dackers and Djenairo Daniels were also on target for Stuart Kettlewell's side, who made it through their four group matches without conceding a goal. Kilmarnock's Ben Brannan celebrates after scoring to make it 4-0 over East Fife in the Premier Sports Cup. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group) | SNS Group "I thought the players showed up well by and large," Kettlewell said. "My one frustration is there was a little bit of slackness in the last 15 minutes of the game. I know we end up down to 10 men through injury, but it's trying to sustain the levels we've found throughout the game. But it's a work in progress and we'll continue to try and make that better." Livi struck four times in the first half as a 6-0 home win over Kelty Hearts helped them finish as one of the three best runners-up. Robbie Muirhead notched a double, while Andrew Winter, debutant Adam Montgomery, Shane Blaney and Stevie May were also on target. Partick maintained their perfect record to win Group B with a 3-1 victory at Ross County, while Stranraer beat 10-man Queen of the South 1-0 in the other match in the section. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There was drama in Group C as Alloa came from behind to defeat Airdrie 3-2 and secure qualification at the expense of the Diamonds. A 2-2 draw would have been enough to take both teams through, but Steven Buchanan's 89th minute winner meant only the Wasps progressed. In the other match, Dundee saved some face after their humiliating start by making it back-to-back wins with a 5-0 triumph at home to Montrose. Simon Murray hit a first-half double before second-half strikes from Clark Robertson, Ryan Astley and Luke Graham. Dundee's Simon Murray (R) celebrates with Drey Wright after scoring to make it 1-0 over Montrose at Dens Park. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) | SNS Group St Johnstone sealed top spot in Group F with an 8-0 home win over 10-man Elgin, while Raith Rovers beat Inverness 5-1 with Dylan Easton bagging a hat-trick. With Hearts already having finished top of Group E, Dunfermline gave themselves a chance of finishing as one of the three best runners-up as they won 2-0 at home to Stirling. The Pars will go through if St Mirren lose to Ayr or draw and fail to pick up a bonus point. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Morton followed Group G winners Motherwell through as one of the best runners-up after winning 3-0 at home to Clyde, while Stenhousemuir beat Peterhead 1-0. In Group D, where Arbroath went down 1-0 to Forfar, Ayr will be looking to hold on to top spot away to St Mirren on Sunday. The Honest Men have such a good goal difference that they will go through as long as they do not lose heavily.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Viktor Gyokeres lists five reasons he chose Arsenal as Gunners finally complete transfer
Arsenal have confirmed the transfer of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP and the Sweden international can't wait to get to work under Mikel Arteta in the Premier League Viktor Gyokeres simply felt that Arsenal were the right club for him to take the next step in his career and is relishing the prospect of giving supporters something to cheer this season. The striker completed a £63.7million transfer and has committed to a long term deal at the Emirates following his move from Sporting CP. Gyokeres, 27, was among the most talked about players of the summer having been linked to a series of clubs. But a transfer proved far from easy as he fell out with Portuguese champions Sporting over the fee he would be permitted to leave for. Arsenal eventually came to an agreement for his signature and ended their search for a goalscorer having opted to move for Gyokeres over RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko. And it appears Gyokeres did not require much convincing to provide his signature to the Gunners. The Sweden international, who bagged 54 goals last season, spoke effusively of why he committed to north London and listed reasons from the impact of Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta to the strength of the club and their style and Arsenal's history and fanbase. "I just felt that it was the right club for me," he said after signing. "What I heard from Mikel and Andrea when I was speaking with them, and just what I've seen in the past years, how they've been playing football. When I was playing against Arsenal last season, I could really feel it was a very strong team and very difficult to play against. "That made me choose Arsenal, and of course all the history the club has and the massive fanbase. It's been amazing to see all the support that they have already given me before I even arrived. That's what it's all about. It's going to be very nice to see them in the stadiums as well." Unsurprisingly, Arsenal's new no.14's mind is already on finding the back of the net. After struggling in his previous spell in the Premier League with Brighton, Gyokeres wants to put things right. "I always want to score,' he said. 'To be a part of this club and to score in this kit and with this badge in front of all the supporters, I can't wait. It will be an amazing feeling. "I started here [in England], it feels like a long time ago. I think I've improved a lot since then. Now I want to prove myself for real and perform together with the team. "It's a big honour to play for your country, and then to score goals for them is amazing. When I played at Sporting, I scored a few goals in the Champions League so I feel that I can be on that level as well. Now to come here to a club on Arsenal's level, I think it's going to help me perform even better with all the amazing players in this team. I'm really excited to get going."
