FORMER Queen's Park goalie Mikey White has high hopes that Irvine Meadow can compete strongly in the McBookie Premiership, after being snapped up by manager Brian McGinty.

And striker Andy McLaughlin is relishing the prospect of playing in a higher league following the Irvine team's promotion playoff triumph against Arthurlie at the end of last season.

White (29) said: "The gaffer (Brian McGinty) contacted me and just asked me my plans for this year. My situation was changing outside of football and I thought junior was the best option. Hopefully I will have an opportunity play junior football again as I had previously been at Arthurlie.

"I played a lot last season with Queen's Park and previously Dumbarton. I played with Petershill and Arthurlie at Meadow. I know how big a club Meadow are and what the fans are like. It can be a bit timid coming here to play but at least the fans will be on my side. Meadow did really well since Brian McGinty, Stevie Aitchison and Phil Bannister, who was with me at Arthurlie came on board. The boys really picked up last season.

"My aim is to start games. I'm not saying we are going to win the league. We have just been promoted and will just have to see how high up we an finish in the league. Hopefully we can also pick up wins in the cups, especially the Scottish Cup, which is massive."

Meanwhile McLaughlin (23) who was at Kilsyth Rangers last season is relishing the new challenge.

He said: "I was in and out of the team at Kilsyth but it wasn't ideal. I played at Pollok for four years, coming from the youth ranks to the first team, where I won the Evening Times Cup. The aim is to test myself and hopefully get the chance, take it and kick on and develop. There are a few experienced boys I can learn from.

"Hopefully I get the chance, kick on and develop. I lost twice to Meadow with Kilsyth last season."

Looking ahead he said: "Hopefully we can kick and remain in this league and test ourselves against good opposition. Hopefully we can also go on a good few cup runs, with the Scottish Cup being the big one. Hopefully we can get a few ties in that and get the crowd in. They have done well before with Hibs playing Meadow in the Scottish senior Cup a few years ago. I have known Brian McGinty and Stevie Aitchison for a while and towards the end of last season they contacted me."

McLaughlin is relishing the first competitive game, a Sectional League Cup game at home to Irvine Vics on July 28.

He added: "It will be a good game to start the season with and brilliant to be part of it."