GREENOCK Wanderers get back into action on Boxing Day when they play the annual challenge match against president Dougie Sloan's select side.

The president versus captain fixture is one of the hearty perennials on the Wanderers calendar and is always eagerly anticipated, with the Yorkshire Building Society Trophy up for grabs.

Captain Matt Gray, inset, has picked a full-strength first team and is looking forward to the challenge match, which is always played in good spirit but with a serious edge.

Wanderers will look to use the game to keep sharp over the festive break, so that when competitive action starts again early in January, they are ready to hit the ground running.

The post-Christmas period will be a crucial spell as the side looks to gain promotion to the Premiership, while all at the club hope to enjoy another excellent cup run after making it all the way to Murrayfield on finals day in April.

The Presidents' side will contain several past Wanderers stars, including three players who have represented their country at age group and senior level.

Jack McFarlane and Andy Kirkland, now playing for Glasgow Hawks, have been capped at under-18 level, while Grant Anderson, now with Ayr, played age-group and senior sevens rugby for his country.

With this trio in the side, there is little doubt that a serious test awaits the captain and his line-up.

President Dougie Sloan said: "It's a family day at the club and the rugby match adds to the sense of occasion and provides the focal point.

"It is always great to see so many ex-Wanderers home at the Christmas break, and the fixture traditionally gives our spectators the opportunity to see former and future players of the club join together to take on the current first team.

"I have put together a decent side and I expect a cracking match."

Sloan has also secured the services of former club captain Chris Clark, pictured, to skipper his side on the day, and the tough no-nonsense back-row star will relish the opportunity to mix it with his former colleagues.

Twins Nick and Ben Blamire, currently plying their trade with Premiership side Whitecraigs, will also pull on the black shirt of the president's side, as will Murray McDonald, now with East London RFC, and Kenny McKenzie, who plays for Dundee HSFP.

But the president has also kept an eye on the future of the club, and several under-18 players have also been added to the pool.

Yan Young, Andy Telfer and Callum Reid have impressed at age-group level this season, and they are likely to get game-time at some point during the 80 minutes.

With some silverware up for grabs, the niceties will only last so long before the competitive edge takes over.

The captain's side will go in as favourites, owing to the fact they play together every week, but the president's select have quality all over the park and are more than capable of pulling off a shock result.

Larger-than-life skipper Matt Gray couldn't resist the opportunity to crank up the tension with the last word.

Gray said: "It's good of the president to cobble together some Wanderers old boys for us to ride roughshod over on Boxing Day.

"I suppose it will be marginally better than a training exercise, but we can at least try out some of our running and handling moves ahead of the league restarting in January."

The president's response was not printable!

This extravaganza of rugby kicks-off at 1pm, with the traditional Boxing Day brunch to follow in the clubhouse once hostilities have ceased.

All at the club would like to wish their members, spectators, sponsors and friends a happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous 2011.

l President's XV v Captain's XV at Fort Matilda on Sunday 26 December 2010. Kick-Off 1pm. Wanderers are sponsored by National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd.

This article was posted on 26-Dec-2010, 12:11 by Hugh Barrow.