MVP: llW

Team DPs: 70

MM are rivals to 3 teams.

Merrylee Maestros

The Merrylee Maestros are a former 5-a-side football team who had many successful season's in the Saturday morning leagues at "GOALS!" a South Glasgow 5-a-side football bazaar.

The name of the team reflects the many players who were not only highly skilled on the field but also rated musicians in the club/bar circuit. A band of jesters parading as footballers some would say, until they met us on the field!

Merrylee started life in SFLSL as MIghty Dundee Casuals under the managership of Paddy Armstrong.  Graeme Scott took over control in season 1 and renamed the team Govan Stanklifters for season 2.  The club changed its identity again in season 16, becoming the Merrylee Maestros.  Graeme Scott remained in charge until the end of season 28 when Paul Cockayne was appointed manager.

The Cockayne Era (Updated for S32)

Under the guidance of Paul Cockayne, the Maestros achieved their worst ever league finish in Season 29, as well as failing to make any impression on the cup competitions.  The manager falls back on the need to rebuild an aged squad but time will be the judge of that.  Careful planning or incompetence?  The arrival in the side of a succession of jazz tenor saxophone players is a dubious development.  Most of these guys probably never watched a game of real football and some couldn't tell a game of soccer from cricket, even when sober (which rarely happened).  

Despite the inappropriate personnel, the Maestros made the playoffs in season 30 and a somewhat fortuitous win against AC Sapone meant that season 31 see  frist division football at Friarton Road once again.  Two early season signings - Steve Saunders from The New Saints and Shibobo from Norman Hunters - have boosted the sqaud and we look srong enough to achieve a mid table position. 

In season 31 we achieved the main objective - survival in Division 1 - in some comfort, and were very pleased to end the season in 6th place.  We hope this is a sign that we are in Division 1 to stay.  In its long history the club has spent only three seasons away from the top flight, so we can rightly feel that we belong in Divsion 1.  Cup performances in season 31 were distinctly mediocre and we will hope to make a better showing in season 32.

I am 52 live in Glasgow and have been playing this rolling dice version of soccerball management game since joining Psychsoccer last century. I took Montrose to a Cup semi in my first season in SESL and had a fairly successful time as manager of both Greenock Morton and Partick Thistle (who I follow in real life). In Sanctuary League I took charge of this particular franchise in season two of the league and renamed them Govan Stanklifters, got bored with the name and changed it to Merrylee Maestros. Both the Stanklifters and Maestos have become a bit of an enigma, with both having had one great season each and we're all just waiting for another one...... won't be this one...... but I think next season or the next.... building for 47ish  I think!