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There are games which stand out when you look at a fixture list.
Then there are games where the more you look, the more you find.
Todholm AFC v Maryhill Milan at Ferguslie Park is the GDSFC Premiership Game of the Day on Sunday — and on the league table alone, it is an obvious choice.
Maryhill Milan arrive top of the Premiership with four wins from four, 18 goals scored and only four conceded.
Defending champions Todholm have played one game fewer but have also maintained a 100% league record, winning three from three while scoring an extraordinary 27 goals.
Two perfect records.
First against second.
But when Footy Focus started looking beyond the numbers, another story began to emerge.
A history is developing
GDSFC secretary Nim has watched rivalries come and go across the league over the years.
When Footy Focus asked him to think about Premiership rivalries from recent seasons, two immediately came to mind:
Maryhill Milan v Maryhill Black Star.
Todholm AFC v Castlemilk Community.
Interestingly, Todholm and Milan weren’t his first answer.
But when discussing Sunday’s game specifically, Nim described what has developed between the two clubs as a “friendly competitive rivalry.”
And when you look at their recent history, it isn’t difficult to understand why.
Two seasons ago, Milan knocked Todholm out in the semi-final of the West before going on to lift the trophy.
Last season the clubs were competing at the sharp end again, but this time Todholm ultimately had the biggest prize to celebrate as they went on to become GDSFC Premiership champions.
There have been other important meetings along the way.
Now, only weeks into another season, here they are again.
First and second.
Milan: “It’s a big game”
Maryhill Milan’s Jamie Butler isn’t trying to pretend Sunday is just another fixture.
“Yes, I think it’s a big game, even this early in the season. We’ve both won every game so far, and Todholm will know it’s an important one too, whatever they might say!”
There’s a little smile behind that line.
And that is probably where the description friendly competitive rivalry fits rather nicely.
Jamie has respect for Sunday’s opponents.
“They’ve started well and they’re a decent side, so it’ll be a good test for both teams on Sunday.”
But ask him whether Milan themselves consider Todholm a genuine rival and the answer isn’t quite as straightforward.
“Not really, to be honest.”
He quickly followed that with a reminder of some recent history.
“Todholm beat us once last season and went on a great run to win the league. They might even have gone unbeaten if we hadn’t given them a doing in our league fixture.”
And then came the line which might raise a smile or two around Ferguslie Park:
“We can’t all win a league title unbeaten, I suppose! 👀”
Friendly. Competitive.
We reckon Nim might have a point.
Respect underneath the banter
Jamie was also quick to make clear that there is genuine respect between the clubs.
“There’s respect between the two sides, and I’m sure we’ll both be competing for everything this season.”
And importantly, Milan aren’t treating the Premiership as a two-team competition.
“There are a few strong teams in this league, so from our point of view, Todholm are one of several sides we’ll have to be at our best against.”
That’s worth remembering.
Sunday is a meeting between the current top two, not a title decider in September.
There is a lot of football still to come.
Something different about Milan
Milan’s perfect start provides one half of Sunday’s story.
For Jamie, however, the biggest improvement isn’t simply four victories or 18 goals.
It starts inside the dressing room.
“There’s a real buzz about the boys this season. They’re together, the mentality has shifted, and when they go onto the park, they play as a team.”
Jamie points towards players working for each other, a settled defensive unit, confidence in goal, strength through midfield and competition for attacking places.
But one word keeps returning.
Togetherness.
“They’re all good players individually, but that togetherness is the biggest compliment I can give them.”
Sunday should provide an excellent examination of just how far that togetherness can take them.
The champions are flying
And then there is Todholm.
If Milan’s opening league record is impressive, the champions’ attacking numbers demand attention.
Three games. Three victories. Twenty-seven goals.
That’s an average of nine goals per league game.
The sample size is still small, but there can be no argument about the start Todholm have made to their title defence.
They also enter Sunday with something Milan don’t have:
the Premiership trophy they won last season.
For all the talk of developing rivalries and perfect starts, Sunday’s visitors know exactly what it takes to finish the job over an entire league campaign.
The view from the middle
There is another person looking forward to Sunday.
Referee David McGuire will take charge at Ferguslie Park.
Footy Focus featured David earlier this season after his experience in the middle of an entertaining seven-goal Scottish Amateur Cup tie.
This time it’s the GDSFC’s leading Premiership sides waiting for him.
David knows the significance surrounding the fixture, but his preparation remains the same.
“Preparation is the same, but I am well aware of the rivalry between the teams, especially as both are top of the league, so I need to be switched on from the first minute.”
Having refereed plenty of competitive fixtures, David says sometimes you can sense when a game means that little bit more before it has even started.
“You can actually see it in the warm-up. Teams are at it right away, taking it more seriously.”
For a referee who clearly enjoys being in the middle of competitive football, Sunday’s assignment promises to be another interesting one.
His aim remains straightforward: be confident in his decisions and, whenever the game allows it, let the football flow.
So, is it a rivalry?
Maybe we’re asking the question too early.
Nim, using years of experience watching the GDSFC develop, sees the ingredients of a friendly competitive rivalry.
Jamie Butler?
He’s not quite buying the label.
Although after reminding Todholm about Milan’s victories over them and slipping in a joke about unbeaten title-winning seasons, we’re not entirely convinced he’s helping his argument. 👀
And perhaps that’s exactly how a football rivalry should develop.
Not because somebody gives it a name.
Not because a website tells everyone it exists.
But because the same clubs keep finding each other when something matters.
Cup ties.
League battles.
Trophies.
And now another meeting between two sides who haven’t dropped a single league point this season.
Frank Sideline will be there
Footy Focus will be at Ferguslie Park on Sunday for the GDSFC Premiership Game of the Day.
We’ll speak to those involved, watch what happens from the sideline and see whether the occasion matches the anticipation.
Because ultimately, the most interesting part of this story hasn’t happened yet.
Todholm AFC v Maryhill Milan.
Defending champions against the current leaders.
Three wins from three against four wins from four.
And perhaps another chapter in a Premiership rivalry that is still being written.
