if you want to be a footballer, then you have to accept that one of life's necessary evils is pre- season training.

The blood, sweat and tears are part and parcel of Junior clubs' preparations the length and breadth of the country.

One man determined to ensure Beith's playing squad is in the best possible shape for the pre-season kick off is one-time Junior Scotland star Ian Ashcroft, recently installed as a coach - aka tormentor - at the ambitious Ayrshire outfit.

"Few if any of our lads are looking forward to the next two weeks of solid fitness work but there's no getting away from the fact it is a necessity," he said.

"Only when they are in something approaching a decent physical condition can we attempt to bring match fitness levels up to scratch.

"Otherwise, players run the real risk of picking up niggling muscle strains and pulls which could result in missing out on the start of the season proper.

"And even worse, they can then find themselves lagging behind their team-mates fitness-wise for the first few months. So it's best if we all roll our sleeves up and get stuck in together."

Beith, fifth top of the Super Premier last time out, face a stiff start to their pre-season friendly programme as they are one of the four teams, along with Irvine Meadow, St Mirren and hosts Neilston, taking part in the Kelburn Cup competition.

Their opener against Ayrshire rivals Medda will provide gaffer Johnny Miller with an early indication of whether his summer signings can improve his overall playing squad strength.

Gone are midfield battler John Jack to Clydebank and possibly Stevie Jack, reckoned to be on the verge of joining Renfrew, while full back Kevin Fraser and goalkeeper John Wright remain on the open to transfer list.

Replacing this quartet are Brian McKeown (Pollok), Andy Arbuckle (Kilwinning), Lee McShane (Rutherglen) and John Sheridan (Neilston), ironically set to make his Beith debut on the Brig O'Lea pastures he has only just departed.