Issue 6 of The 12th Man (Read in "Fullscreen")

the terracethe scottish football podcast

The Terrace is a new podcast all about Scottish Football, from the Glasgow giants down to the clubs battling it out in the Third Division. We will look at all the action in Scotland as well as having games and features. Finally the beautiful game in

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Contents Editor: Andy M.Design & Layout: Andy M.Proof Reading: Lyndon N.Scotzine Historian: Eoghan Maguire

CONTRIBUTORSWilliam McCafferty [USA], Alan Temple, Mike Smith, Eoghan Maguire, Iwan Nazif, Jen McLean, Laura Montgomery, Ross Pilcher, Seb Gevers, Derek Harvie, Bryan MacPherson, Glen McMahon, Simon Varwell, Chris Brookmyre, Dotmund and Two Hundred Percent.

SPECIAL THANKS TOHenry McClelland, Peter Caulfield, Paul Petrie and all our Fan File contributors.

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Acknowledgements

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4.... Gordon Lennon RIP

6.... Both Sides of the Border: Archie Gemmill

8.... Playground Fitba’10.... Webwatch11.... Cult Heroes: Sieb Dijkstra12.... Scotland National Review14.... The Exiles

16.... Womens Football Review18.... Q & A with Peter Caulfield20.... Scottish Premier League Review22.... Season by Numbers23.... SPL Club by Club Reviews

34.... Q & A with Henry McClelland35.... The Fall of Setanta

30.... Highland Football League Review31.... Scottish Cup 2008-09 Review32.... League Challenge Cup 2008 Review

40.... Ditch the Derry: Sectarianism at Dundee Football Club

33.... League Cup 2008-09 Review & SPL Lookalikes

36.... SFL First Division Review37.... SFL Second Division Review38.... SFL Third Division Review39.... Oor Football Years: Partick Thistle 1971-72

5.... The Dugout

5.... Poetry Corner

15.... Subscription Information

46.... End of Season Awards

28.... Team of the Season

45.... Next Month

41 .... European Review43.... League Standings44.... Shit Shot Mungo

Scotzine.com

Gordon Lennon

1983 - 2009Scotzine.com and everyone at The 12th Man would like to pass on our deep condolences to Gordon Lennon’s family and friends, after the death of the Dumbarton captain at the end of last

season.

The death of Gordon Lennon marks another point in Scottish Football history, when the country is in mourning over the loss of someone so young. All our thoughts are with Gordon’s fiancee

Kelly and his young son, Kai.

Gordon led from the front and as captain of Dumbarton FC he helped guide the Third Division side to promotion to the Second Division. A moment to be savoured and remembered by all Sons fans, but also with a tinge of sadness with the the tragic death of Gordon while on holiday

with his family in the north of Scotland.

The Sons Trust have opened up a memorial fund with all monies received going to Gordon’s partner Kelly and their son, Kai. Please go to: www.sonstrust.net to donate.

Rest in Peace

The DugoutWelcome to Issue Six of The 12th Man football

fanzine, and also the finale to our free issues.

We would like to thank everyone who has downloaded every one of our issues to date, for their continued support and hope that you will continue showing your support in the new season as we start to sell our fanzine.

Each month we strive to give you, the Scottish football fan, a fanzine to be proud of, a fanzine you can show your mates and get you talking about Scottish football - and not just about the Old Firm.

From Issue Seven, we will be publishing every issue both online and in print, to give you the reader an extra way of getting your hands on the fanzine. The way they were meant to be, in your hand during the game, reading it at half time while tucking into your Scotch Pie and covering it in watered down Bovril.

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Further information on where you can purchase the fanzine both online and in the real world will be published on the main site and in future issues.

And so back to this Issue....

Issue Six is in short a Season Review edition. Looking back on the 2008-2009 season from the international level down to Division Three and also the women’s game.

Once again we have packed the articles and features into the fanzine to give you a broad spectrum of articles covering all the leagues and not just about the Old Firm or ignoring the SPL, because it has too much coverage already.

We open the issue up with a wee piece in remembrance to the late Dumbarton captain Gordon Lennon, who sadly died in a car accident while on holiday with his family at the end of last season. Gordon had just led the Sons to the Division Three title and had been looking forward to leading them out as a Division Two side next season. Sadly his life was cut short at the young age of 26, leaving behind his fiancee Kelly and five-month-old son Kia. I would like to pass on my personal condolences to Kelly, Kia, Gordon’s family, friends and everyone at Dumbarton FC. Rest in Peace Gordon.

Our resident historian Eoghan Maguire takes a look at Partick Thistle’s League Cup-winning side of 1971-72, as well as the latest installment of Cult Heroes, in which he looks at former Dundee United and Motherwell keeper Sieb Dijkstra.

Meanwhile, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Annan Athletic Chairman Henry McClelland on the club’s debut season in the Scottish Football League, as well as Peter Caulfield, manager of Glasgow City Ladies Football club who wrapped up an impressive Domestic treble last season, as well as reaching the Last 16 of the Women’s Champions League.

We take a look at The Fall of Setanta, as the luck of the Irish finally ran out for the broadcaster, as it battled against administration.

Christopher Brookmyre kindly allowed us to publish one of the best articles I have read in a long time, all about Playground Fitba’ - an article that will have you remembering the days you used to kick the auld mitre around the school playground. It was first published in the legendary Scottish football fanzine, The Absolute Game, which is no longer with us.

We also take a look at the Tartan Army Message Board in our Webwatch feature, as we take one website/forum each month and comment on it - the good, the bad and the ugly - and then rate it out of 10.

Derek Harvie reviews the autobiography of Archie Gemmill entitled, Both Sides of the Border and gives it a wee rating also.

While Jen McLean, from The Terrace Radio Football podcast, looks at those Scots playing their football away from our shore in The Exiles.

And Bryan MacPherson discusses the underlying sectarian issues at Dundee Football Club, stating that its not just a Celtic and Rangers problem, in Ditch the Derry.

And as I mentioned earlier, we review everything from the World Cup campaign of the Scottish national side to date, to our clubs participation in Europe, to the Scottish Premier League down to Division One, Two and Three, as well as the Women’s game.

I hope that you will enjoy reading our final free issue of The 12th Man, and hope that you continue showing your support in the coming season.

Until the next issue,

Andy M, Editor

The irrate ramblings of our editor and dictator....

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July 2009 5

Both Sides of the Border

Archie Gemmill’s autobiography is the story of a ‘70s football hero, who rose to captain Scotland, scored

one of the greatest ever World Cup goals against Holland in Argentina in 1978 and won the title at Derby and Nottingham Forest under the late Brian Clough. He reveals for the first time the truth behind his omission from Forest’s European Cup-winning team; how Ally MacLeod stripped him of the Scotland captaincy; and details his long-running feud with Tommy Docherty, who made him a scapegoat for defeat by England and led to a three-year exile from the Scotland team.

Archie Gemmill will always be remembered for ‘that goal’ - there is no getting away from it. However, with a senior career of over 650 league games, 43 International caps for Scotland - over half as captain - and three English league titles, it could be said he should be remembered for more than just ‘that goal’ - what a goal it was, but (a lot) more on that later..

The book opens with a foreword from Brian Clough; Gemmill played for over five seasons under Clough, at Derby County and later Nottingham Forest.

The foreword is heartfelt from Clough, who stated he was friends with Gemmill long after his retirement from the game, and although he calls him ‘a miserable little so-and-so’ and ‘cantankerous’, you can tell it’s with feeling. He explains how he signed Gemmill and how good a player he actually was - despite admitting that when he signed him first time around, he had never seen him play before, a claim that Gemmill himself debunks later in the book.

The book itself is quite fast paced, with lots of short sentences, as Gemmill sets up his life from the beginning, starting off with his early years and reliving tales such as scoring the winner for his school in the Paisley and District Cup, to shooting somebody (who had taken his football off him) in the shoulder with an air rifle!

He recollects how, despite talk of approaches from both halves of the Old Firm, he signs with St Mirren, his local team, on schoolboy terms during the 1963-64 season, aged just sixteen. Gemmill had a mixed time at St Mirren: winning the Player of the Year award in his first season (1964-65), aged only 17, but then spending the bulk of the

next season out with injuries.

In the 1966-67 season, on 13th August 1966, Gemmill became the first official substitute to be used in Scottish football - when he replaced Jim Lunie - in a League Cup tie away at Clyde. This is mentioned in the book, almost in passing, as Gemmill prefers to spend time reflecting on a hat-trick he scored some four months later, on Christmas Eve 1966, in a 3-1 home victory over Ayr United - the first of only two hat-tricks he scored in his whole career.

At the end of that same season, in which Gemmill finished St Mirren’s top goalscorer with five goals and in which they were relegated, he was transferred to Preston for the princely sum of £13,000.

His three seasons, and over 100 competitive games, at Preston only get one chapter - you get the impression he has more important things to tell you later - but this chapter is wide ranging from his first vegetables, his engagement, marriage and his wife’s first pregnancy, his struggles finding digs (due to him being a spoilt, only child at home), his one and only Scotland Under-23 cap, and a trip to a fortune-teller!

There is no mention of scoring in his debut for Preston, nor how his last full season at Preston mirrored his last at St Mirren - Gemmill finished top goalscorer, with only six goals, and his team were relegated, this time from the Second Division.

The book then moves to his first meeting with Brian Clough, the infamous transfer to Derby, all in detail, down to Gemmill’s wife finding Clough standing in nothing but boxers in their kitchen - to his first few month’s with his new team, including scoring his first goal for the side, against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground - endearing himself fully to his new fans by scoring against their bitterest rivals.

The chapters on his career at Derby then take shape, including being in Majorca with the team when they won the league due to Leeds and Liverpool not getting the points they required to pip them to the title - with Gemmill tasting his first ever alcoholic drink in champagne during the celebrations, having being a tea-totaller until that point in his life.

Gemmill describes his time at Derby with great affection he refers to most of his teammates as friends still, and also empahsises the squad unity - especially around the time when the Chairman and board of County were trying to get rid of Clough.

Clough’s leaving and an old teammate, in Dave Mackay, taking over as manager was a shock to the system, and one that Gemmill and his teammates’ rebelled against - but not even two years later, Derby County won the Championship again, and this time Gemmill, as captain, lifted the trophy. As he points out in the book, they won it again not by playing a game, but by watching others not win, and again in a social club.

Things turned sour at Derby, and Mackay left, a new manager came and left not long after - that opened the way for Tommy Doherty to become the new boss at the Baseball Ground.

Tommy Doherty is mentioned throughout the book, and never in a positive light - he blamed Gemmill for the defeat

Archie Gemmill

7/107/10Rating:

Derek Harvie | scottishfootballarchive.co.uk

6 July 2009

Poetry CornerGive Me Back My Game

What happens, when the bubble bursts?When the cash dries up and the foriegnInvestors disappear. When TV takes upSomething else and the lifeline expires...When the French and the Spanish and theSouth Americans find their passports andThe airport departure desks; Perhaps weWill get uor game back - terraces; Kick offsAt Three O’Clock featuring twenty two Brits.

Travel back in time; Scottish hard men inMidfield, injury-prone wingers - a big manUp front. Only men in team kit were seen onThe pitch - referees with common sense, aFew records over the PA system to keep usAmused. Yes, we had the hoolies, but they’reStill around today - let’s not deceive ourselves.But above everything else, you were part of it.Active participants, not passive consumers.

Will those days return, or has it gone too far?They won’t bring back standing - they won’tRestrict overseas signings, even in youth teamsAt certain clubs. They won’t scrutinise new clubOwners - they won’t de-rail the gravy train ofGreed and self-interest. And - worst of all - weGo along with it; the cost of tickets, the replicaShirts, the channel subscriptions, the whole Business - victims of our own in-bred loyalty. So bring back the days when football wasJust football; when celebs weren’t falling overThemselves to endorse their fave team. WhenLocal men controlled the purse strings, andNobody pretended the fans were important.But we enjoyed it so much, simple delights toBrighten up winter Saturdays; Pass, cross,Header, goal...or save, then corner and goal.Little did we know, how little did we konw...

© Andy Lockett 2007 | footballpoets.org

Glaswegian Timewarp

Blue and Green; a bigger conflict, but why shouldIt be? Rivalry a sideshow, hatred the mainstay. ADuopoly of vengance that fuels itself four times aSeason - maybe more. History is distorted to suit.

Two institutions, wrapped up in the past - not onlyYesterday or last week, but hundreds of years ago.A cancer, try to remove it - It comes back time andAgain - disguised as allegiance, but far more lethal.

A shadow that lingers over a nation. One is British,One Irish - neither truly Scottish. And they dominateThe rest on a weekly basis, just fodder for the Firm.Could it ever change... a fanaticism feeding on itself.

A legacy of loathing, but defined and dependent onThe Enemy. If one withers, would the other die - andCould the impossible happen - in the 21st Century?No flags, no chants, no bile, no prejudice. Just hope.

© Andy Lockett 2009 | footballpoets.org

If you want to see your works published here, please send your poems to [email protected] titled - Poetry Corner Submission. We will credit the work to you, if it is your own original work.

against England while Docherty was Scotland manager. Gemmill then didn’t play for Scotland for another three years - and then when Doherty took the reigns at Derby his first task was not only to sell Gemmill, to Nottingham Forest, but also to make it look like Gemmill had demanded the transfer.

The next chapter takes on the subject of the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, and ‘that goal’ - the chapter talks about the conditions in South America, Willie Johnston’s drug test and the disappointment at not going through, with such a good squad and such potential - the goal itself isn’t discussed and Gemmill almost seems too embarrassed to draw upon the subject. Not too embarrassed to use it to sell the book (judging by the cover) but definitely too embarrassed to dwell upon it in this chapter.

The end of Gemmill’s spell at Nottingham Forest is another of his regrets; he wasn’t chosen for the European Cup final in 1979 due to a recent injury, took the situation badly and had bust ups with both Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor - while it ended in a winner’s medal for Gemmill, it ultimately ended with a transfer to Birmingham City and a bad taste in the mouth.

Unprofessionalism seems to be Gemmill’s main gripe with his time at City, with a drinking culture in the team, and no real ambition within the club - a promotion to and then a good finish in the First Division that came out of the best part of three seasons at St Andrew’s.

A short-lived summer season in the North American Soccer League with the Jacksonville Tea Men came next for Gemmill, and then a short spell at Wigan Athletic - these are covered in the book in passing, rather than in any detail.

A couple of seasons back at Derby are wrapped up with relegation to the Third Division and the end of Gemmill’s playing career.

The next few chapters are a tougher read, as Gemmill goes through his foray into management, and then an exhaustive list of all the players he ‘found’ as a scout - I’m pretty sure he was good at his job, given his talents and the players and managers he spent time with - but these chapters feel very laboured, in direct comparison to the flowing chapters of his playing career. In his summing up chapter of his career, Gemmill names himself in his all-time team!

The last chapter of the book is about Brian Clough, who had just passed away when Gemmill was finishing the book. It’s moving to read about a great bond the two developed over time, and how the wounds healed since that European Cup final.

Overall, this book was good, although the last five or six chapters seem to labour upon Gemmill’s career in football after he stopped playing - I think the book would have been better served without these to be fair, and more about his playing days, as when he wrote about these, he wrote with passion. You can tell throughout the book that he is a family man, and is very proud of his wife and two children - another striking thing about the book is the cover itself, it’s very simple, effective and to the point, with excellent imagery - all about ‘that goal’! On imagery, the photo section(s) of biographies tend to disappoint, with familiar photographs or press shots, however this book has over 60 photographs of all types and a lot of family shots to prove the fact above about being a proud family man. The book has a slight tendency to jump in some places, as you can almost tell that something has popped into his head and must be explained at that point - although this doesn’t detract from a good book, a good story and one that generally is well written.

July 2009 7

Playground FitbaText | Christopher Brookmyre | brookmyre.co.uk

Playground Fitba was written in two parts for The Absolute Game during the early Nineties, and remains

arguably the truest work I have ever penned. Duration

Matches shall be played over three unequal periods: two playtimes and a lunchtime. Each of these periods shall begin shortly after the ringing of a bell, and although a bell is also rung towards the end of these periods, play may continue for up to ten minutes afterwards, depending on the nihilism or “bottle” of the participants with regard to corporal punishment meted out to latecomers back to the classroom. In practice there is a sliding scale of nihilism, from those who hasten to stand in line as soon as the bell rings, known as “poofs”, through those who will hang on until the time they estimate it takes the teachers to down the last of their gins and journey from the staffroom, known as “chancers”, and finally to those who will hang on until a teacher actually has to physically retrieve them, known as “bampots”. This sliding scale is intended to radically alter the logistics of a match in progress, often having dramatic effects on the scoreline as the number of remaining participants drops. It is important, therefore, in picking the sides, to achieve a fair balance of poofs, chancers and bampots in order that the scoreline achieved over a sustained period of play - a lunchtime, for instance - is not totally nullified by a five-minute post-bell onslaught of five bampots against one. The scoreline to be carried over from the previous period of the match is in the trust of the last bampots to leave the field of play, and may be the matter of some debate. This must be resolved in one of the approved manners (see Adjudication). Parameters

The object is to force the ball between two large, unkempt piles of jackets, in lieu of goalposts. These piles may grow or shrink throughout the match, depending on the number of participants and the prevailing weather. As the number of players increases, so shall the piles. Each jacket added to the pile by a new addition to a side should be placed on the inside, nearest the goalkeeper, thus reducing the target area. It is also important that the sleeve of one of the jackets should jut out across the goalmouth, as it will often be claimed that the ball went “over the post” and it can henceforth be asserted that the outstretched sleeve denotes the innermost part of the pile and thus the inside of the post. The on-going reduction of the size of the goal is the responsibility of any respectable defence and should be undertaken conscientiously with resourcefulness and imagination.

In the absence of a crossbar, the upper limit of the target

area is observed as being slightly above head height, although when the height at which a ball passed between the jackets is in dispute, judgement shall lie with an arbitrary adjudicator from one of the sides. He is known as the “best fighter”; his decision is final and may be enforced with physical violence if anyone wants to stretch a point.There are no pitch markings. Instead, physical objects denote the boundaries, ranging from the most common - walls and buildings - to roads or burns. Corners and throw-ins are redundant where bylines or touchlines are denoted by a two-storey building or a six-foot granite wall. Instead, a scrum should be instigated to decide possession. This should begin with the ball trapped between the brickwork and two opposing players, and should escalate to include as many team members as can get there before the now egg-shaped ball finally emerges, drunkenly and often with a dismembered foot and shin attached. At this point, goalkeepers should look out for the player who takes possession of the escaped ball and begins bearing down on goal, as most of those involved in the scrum will be unaware that the ball is no longer amidst their feet. The goalkeeper should also try not to be distracted by the inevitable fighting that has by this point broken out.

In games on large open spaces, the length of the pitch is obviously denoted by the jacket piles, but the width is a variable. In the absence of roads, water hazards or “a big dug”, the width is determined by how far out the attacking winger has to meander before the pursuing defender gets fed up and lets him head back towards where the rest of the players are waiting, often as far as quarter of a mile away. It is often observed that the playing area is “no’ a full-size pitch”. This can be invoked verbally to justify placing a wall of players eighteen inches from the ball at direct free kicks. It is the formal response to “yards”, which the kick-taker will incant meaninglessly as he places the ball. The Ball

There is a variety of types of ball approved for Primary School Football. I shall describe three notable examples.

1. The plastic balloon. An extremely lightweight model, used primarily in the early part of the season and seldom after that due to having burst. Identifiable by blue pentagonal panelling and the names of that year’s Premier League sides printed all over it. Advantages: low sting factor, low burst-nose probability, cheap, discourages a long-ball game. Disadvantages: over-susceptible to influence of the wind, difficult to control, almost magnetically drawn to flat school roofs whence never to return.

2. The rough-finish Mitre. Half football, half Portuguese Man o’ War. On the verge of a ban in the European Court of Human Rights, this model is not for sale to children. Used exclusively by teachers during gym classes as a kind of aversion therapy. Made from highly durable fibre-glass, stuffed with neutron star and coated with dead jellyfish. Advantages: looks quite grown up, makes for high-scoring matches (keepers won’t even attempt to catch it). Disadvantages: scars or maims anything it touches.

3. The “Tube”. Genuine leather ball, identifiable by brown all-over colouring. Was once black and white, before ravages of games on concrete, but owners can never remember when. Adored by everybody, especially keepers. Advantages: feels good, easily controlled, makes a satisfying “whump” noise when you kick it. Disadvantages: turns into medicine ball when wet, smells like a dead dog.

8 July 2009

Offside

There is no offside, for two reasons: one, “it’s no’ a full-size pitch”, and two, none of the players actually know what offside is. The lack of an offside rule gives rise to a unique sub-division of strikers. These players hang around the opposing goalmouth while play carries on at the other end, awaiting a long pass forward out of defence which they can help past the keeper before running the entire length of the pitch with their arms in the air to greet utterly imaginary adulation. These are known variously as “moochers”, “gloryhunters” and “fly wee bastarts”. These players display a remarkable degree of self-security, seemingly happy in their own appraisals of their achievements, and caring little for their team-mates’ failure to appreciate the contribution they have made. They know that it can be for nothing other than their enviable goal tallies that they are so bitterly despised. Adjudication

The absence of a referee means that disputes must be resolved between the opposing teams rather than decided by an arbiter. There are two accepted ways of doing this.

1. Compromise. An arrangement is devised that is found acceptable by both sides. Sway is usually given to an action that is in accordance with the spirit of competition, ensuring that the game does not turn into “a pure skoosh”. For example, in the event of a dispute as to whether the ball in fact crossed the line, or whether the ball has gone inside or “over” the post, the attacking side may offer the ultimatum: “Penalty or goal.” It is not recorded whether any side has ever opted for the latter. It is on occasions that such arrangements or ultimata do not prove acceptable to both sides that the second adjudicatory method comes into play.

2. Fighting. Those up on their ancient Hellenic politics will understand that the concept we know as “justice” rests in these circumstances with the hand of the strong. What the winner says, goes, and what the winner says is just, for who shall dispute him? It is by such noble philosophical principles that the supreme adjudicator, or Best Fighter, is effectively elected. Team Selection

To ensure a fair and balanced contest, teams are selected democratically in a turns-about picking process, with either side beginning as a one-man selection committee and growing from there. The initial selectors are usually the recognised two Best Players of the assembled group. Their first selections will be the two recognised Best Fighters, to ensure a fair balance in the adjudication process, and to ensure that they don’t have their own performances impaired throughout the match by profusely bleeding noses. They will then proceed to pick team-mates in a roughly meritocratic order, selecting on grounds of skill and tactical awareness, but not forgetting that while there is a sliding scale of players’ ability, there is also a sliding scale of players’ brutality and propensities towards motiveless violence. A selecting captain might baffle a talented striker by picking the less nimble Big Jazza ahead of him, and may explain, perhaps in the words of Linden B Johnson upon his retention of J Edgar Hoover as the head of the FBI, that he’d “rather have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in”.

Special consideration is also given during the selection process to the owner of the ball. It is tacitly acknowledged to be “his gemme”, and he must be shown a degree of politeness for fear that he takes the huff at being picked late and withdraws his favours.

Another aspect of team selection that may confuse

those only familiar with the game at senior level will be the choice of goalkeepers, who will inevitably be the last players to be picked. Unlike in the senior game, where the goalkeeper is often the tallest member of his team, in the playground, the goalkeeper is usually the smallest. Senior aficionados must appreciate that playground selectors have a different agenda and are looking for altogether different properties in a goalkeeper. These can be listed briefly as: compliance, poor fighting ability, meekness, fear and anything else that makes it easier for their team-mates to banish the wee bugger between the sticks while they go off in search of personal glory up the other end. Tactics

Playground football tactics are best explained in terms of team formation. Whereas senior sides tend to choose - according to circumstance - from a number of standard options (eg 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 5-3-2), the playground side is usually more rigid in sticking to the all-purpose 1-1-17 formation. This formation is a sturdy basis for the unique style of play, ball-flow and territorial give-and-take that makes the playground game such a renowned and strategically engrossing spectacle. Just as the 5-3-2 formation is sometimes referred to in practice as “Cattenaccio”, the 1-1-17 formation gives rise to a style of play that is best described as “Nomadic”. All but perhaps four of the participants (see also Offside) migrate en masse from one area of the pitch to another, following the ball, and it is tactically vital that every last one of them remains within a ten-yard radius of it at all times. Stoppages

Much stoppage time in the senior game is down to injured players requiring treatment on the field of play. The playground game flows freer having adopted the refereeing philosophy of “no Post-Mortem, no free-kick”, and play will continue around and even on top of a participant who has fallen in the course of his endeavours. However, the playground game is nonetheless subject to other interruptions, and some examples are listed below:Ball on school roof or over school wall. The retrieval time itself is negligible in these cases. The stoppage is most prolonged by the argument to decide which player must risk life, limb or four of the belt to scale the drainpipe or negotiate the barbed wire in order to return the ball to play. Disputes usually arise between the player who actually struck the ball and any others he claims it may have struck before disappearing into forbidden territory. In the case of the Best Fighter having been adjudged responsible for such an incident, a volunteer is often required to go in his stead or the game may be abandoned, as the Best Fighter is entitled to observe that A: “Ye canny make me”; or B: “It’s no’ ma baw anyway”.

Stray dog on pitch. An interruption of unpredictable duration. The dog does not have to make off with the ball, it merely has to run around barking loudly, snarling and occasionally drooling or foaming at the mouth. This will ensure a dramatic reduction in the number of playing staff as 27 of them simultaneously volunteer to go indoors and inform the teacher of the threat. The length of the interruption can sometimes be gauged by the breed of dog. A deranged Irish Setter could take ten minutes to tire itself of running in circles, for instance, while a Jack Russell may take up to fifteen minutes to corner and force out through the gates. An Alsatian means instant abandonment.

Bigger boy steal ball. A highly irritating interruption, the length of which is determined by the players’ experience in dealing with this sort of thing. The intruders will seldom actually steal the ball, but will improvise their own kickabout amongst themselves, occasionally inviting the younger players to attempt to tackle them. Standing around looking bored and unimpressed usually results in a quick restart.

July 2009 9

Shows of frustration and engaging in attempts to win back the ball can prolong the stoppage indefinitely. Informing the intruders that one of the players’ older brother is “Mad Chic Murphy” or some other noted local pugilist can also ensure minimum delay.

Menopausal old bag confiscates ball. More of a threat in the street or local green kickabout than within the school walls. Sad, blue-rinsed, ill-tempered, Tory-voting cat-owner transfers her anger about the array of failures that has been her life to nine-year-olds who have committed the heinous crime of letting their ball cross her privet Line of Death. Interruption (loss of ball) is predicted to last “until you learn how to play with it properly”, but instruction on how to achieve this without actually having the bloody thing is not usually forwarded. Tact is required in these circumstances, even when the return of the ball seems highly unlikely, as further irritation of woman may result in the more serious stoppage: Menopausal old bag calls police. Celebration

Goal-scorers are entitled to a maximum run of thirty yards with their hands in the air, making crowd noises and saluting imaginary packed terraces.

Congratulation by team-mates is in the measure appropriate to the importance of the goal in view of the current scoreline (for instance, making it 34-12 does not entitle the player to drop to his knees and make the sign of the cross), and the extent of the scorer’s contribution. A fabulous solo dismantling of the defence or 25-yard* rocket shot will elicit applause and back-pats from the entire team and the more magnanimous of the opponents. However, a tap-in in the midst of a chaotic scramble will be heralded with the epithet “moochin’ wee bastart” from the opposing defence amidst mild acknowledgment from team-mates. Applying an unnecessary final touch when a ball is already rolling into the goal will elicit a burst nose from the original striker. Kneeling down to head the ball over the line when defence and keeper are already beaten will elicit a thoroughly deserved kicking. As a footnote, however, it should be stressed that any goal scored by the Best Fighter will be met with universal acclaim, even if it falls into any of the latter three categories.

*Actually eight yards, but calculated as relative distance because “it’s no’ a full-size pitch”. Penalties

At senior level, each side often has one appointed penalty-taker, who will defer to a team-mate in special circumstances, such as his requiring one more for a hat-trick. The playground side has two appointed penalty-takers: the Best Player and the Best Fighter. The arrangement is simple: the Best Player takes the penalties when his side is a retrievable margin behind, and the Best Fighter at all other times. If the side is comfortably in front, the ball-owner may be invited to take a penalty.

Goalkeepers are often the subject of temporary substitutions at penalties, forced to give up their position to the Best Player or Best Fighter, who recognise the kudos attached to the heroic act of saving one of these kicks, and are buggered if Wee Titch is going to steal any of it. Close Season

This is known also as the Summer Holidays, which the players usually spend dabbling briefly in other sports: tennis for a fortnight while Wimbledon is on the telly; pitch-and-putt for four days during the Open; and cricket for about an hour and a half until they discover that it really is as boring to play as it is to watch.

Webwatch

In this month’s web watch, we take a closer look at the website TABoard.com. If you are a member of the

Tartan Army or just an armchair fan, then this is the forum for you. It is one of the only messageboards out there that caters solely for the Scotland National side, and with over 20,000 registered members it is certainly not a ‘wee’ forum.

As with all football message boards, you get the good, the bad and the butt ugly posters and TAMB is no different. Arguments can start over petty issues, but in all honesty we all love a good wee argument now and again, even if it centres around the new Scotland away kit to the most overrated players ever to play the beautiful game. It’s not all about football though, as folk talk about major issues from Immigration to the worst movie ever made, while some of the posts can range from the brilliant to the downright idiotic and inflammatory, it does draw you in and you can’t help but comment.

TAMB is entirely funded through donations and advertising, thus keeping it free from the clutches of the ‘corporates’ and is independent of the SFA, so the fans can actually speak their mind about the ‘incompetence’ or muppetry of people like George Peat or Gordon Smith. So if you have a few quid to spare then donate to the TAMB. They also backed the No Team GB campaign, which our parent site Scotzine.com and this fanzine backed also, unfortunately as we all know the SFA has once again backed down and stated that Team GB can be established, but no Scottish footballer would be eligible for it. Its a dangerous precendent and many have called for Smith’s resignation over the affair as well as his handling & comments over Boozegate.

While it’s not the most well designed website on the internet, it does its job - providing an outlet for the Tartan Army footsoldiers and arm chair fans to give their opinions on the national side and football in general. But I would certainly call upon the TAMB admin staff to revamp their splash page, to make it look more inviting and professional to the eye. The forum on the other hand is clean, professionally laid out and easy to navigate. The sections are clearly titled and does exactly what it says in the title - whether it is talking about Scotland, Tartan Army travels, Photos of footsoldiers on tour or talking about anything not related to Scotland or football.

So I would urge every Scotland fan to head over to TABoard.com, register and get posting. I certainly will be.

Keep up the good work guys!

www.taboard.com

10 July 2009

Cult Heroes

Sieb Dijkstra

As famous for his finely groomed porn star moustache as he was for unnecessarily leaving his goal line, Sieb

Dijkstra’s place in the starting 11 of Scottish football’s cult heroes is as certain as Hamed Namouchi’s place in Alex McLeish’s dream team. For more than eight years the Dutch goalkeeper entertained and confused fans the length and breadth of the country as he routinely combined sublime goal keeping with bamboozling decision making.

Although there have been numerous other extrovert goalies in the Scottish game since Dijkstra departed for good in 1999, none have fulfilled the oft-clichéd role with the amorous-looking Dutchman’s unique style or humour.

Such capacity for self parody was no more emphasised than in his ultimate game for Dundee United as, in front of a crowd of mocking Celtic fans in Tannadice’s Shed End, Dijkstra performed the Macarena to their repeated chants of “Dijkstra the porn star.”

Such hilarious comparisons were a favourite of the more mischievous and blurry eyed of Scotland’s football followers. However, the resemblance, as emphasised by his sallow skin, beehive haircut and pencil hair moustache, to the guy who inevitably comes to fix the cable in adult movies was uncanny. All that was missing was a lowbrow jazz soundtrack to accompany the repeated dashes from his goal line.

Yet there was much more to Sieb Dijkstra than erratic goalkeeping and erotic lookalikes. As fans of Dundee United and Motherwell will testify, when the mood struck he was a formidable player.

Originally arriving in Scotland from Roda JC, Dijkstra joined Motherwell who had the year before won the Scottish Cup in the thrilling 4-3 final. Yet on making his debut for the Steelmen, Dijkstra was to lay down a marker for his time in Scotland.

Whether making an early statement of intent or merely suffering one of the spontaneous blood rushes which would become his hallmark, the earnest young Dutchman had come careering from his goal line to take two crosses circa the 18 yard line within the game’s first five minutes. In his own words, “the fans were going mental”, yet whether this was through collective heart palpitations or shared

delight at such an unorthodox display of goalkeeping was unclear.

In spite of this penchant for playing the game outside his goalmouth domain, Dijkstra would go on to feature on 80 occasions for the Lanarkshire club, helping them to consecutive second and third place Premier Division finishes, before eventually leaving for the English Premiership and Queens Park Rangers in 1994.

During an unsuccessful spell in London he featured only 11 times in the English Premiership. Dijkstra was loaned out to Doncaster Rovers and Bristol City before returning north to be reunited with former Motherwell boss Tommy McLean at Dundee United in 1996. He quickly settled back in to Premier Division life and soon claimed the number one jersey from the incumbent Ally Maxwell, whilst installing himself as a firm fans favourite.

In his first season at United, the Tangerines finished a more than respectable third place as they returned to the Premier Division after their brief Division One sabbatical.

The following season then saw Dijkstra help United reach the League Cup final, only to be defeated by Wim Jansens all conquering Celtic side. Thanks to goals from Marc Rieper and Henrik Larsson, a runners-up medal would be the only tangible memory Dijkstra would take with him from his time at United.

Despite the admirable cup run, the Arabs finished the season in a disappointing seventh place. Yet although this represented an overall regression in team performance and standards, the reputation and cult hero status of ‘the flying Dutchman’ remained undiminished in the eyes of the supporters, with every save and touch being greeted with the low repetitive din of “Sieb, Sieb, Sieb, Sieb”.

Yet these cries could not last forever as, sadly for all involved, 1999 would be Sieb Dijkstra’s last season in Scottish football.

A contract dispute led the Dutchman to finally do what many believed he had threatened to do on countless occasions before: leave his goal line and never come back. A return to Holland beckoned, firstly with Fortuna Sittard and then finally with RBC Roosendaal before eventual retirement in 2002.

Although Jim Delahunts euphemistic claim on Scotsport that Dijkstra was returning home to make “movies” was never proven, many perpetuate the urban myth that a moustachioed man with a beehive haircut, donning a loosely tied dressing gown and goalkeeper gloves can be seen adorning many a DVD cover in the section of Virgin Megastores populated by men in beige overcoats.

Despite such claims being almost certainly untrue, their eccentricity and unlikelihood bring a smile to all but the most repressed and puritanical faces. It is quite apt that such characteristics also mirror the persona Dijkstra’s performances created for himself while in Scotland, endearing himself to those he entertained and ensuring he will always be one of Scottish football’s cult heroes.

Text | Eoghan Maguire

Name: Sieb DijkstraDOB: October 20 1966Place: Kerkrade, NetherlandsPosition: Goalkeeper (Retired)

Currently: Goalkeeping Coach at MVV Maastricht

Career in Scotland:1991 - 94: Motherwell - 80 app.1996 - 99: Dundee Utd - 86 app.

Honours:League Cup Runner-up [1]1997 - 98

July 2009 11

Scotland 0-0 Northern IrelandFriendly | 20/08/08

Scotland got their season underway with a disappointing friendly

stalemate on a wet night at Hampden. The home side never really looked like scoring and struggled to create any chances of note, even after Northern Ireland had been reduced to ten men when teenager Ryan McGivern was dismissed for picking up two yellow cards. Substitute Allan McGregor brought down Warren Feeney as Northern Ireland pushed for the breakthrough but the Rangers goalkeeper managed to redeem himself by saving Healy’s spot-kick to deny the Ulstermen what would have been an undeserved victory, on a night where neither team really did enough to win the game. Failure to win in this match continued Scotland’s dismal record of not recording a friendly win at home since 1996. Plus points for Scotland were the promising international debuts of Darren Barr and Kevin Thompson, whilst James McFadden was once again Scotland’s most dangerous outlet.

Macedonia 1-0 ScotlandWC Qualifier | 06/09/08

George Burley’s first competitive game in charge of the national team ended in defeat as Scotland wilted in the Skopje heat. Prior to the game, Burley stated that he was targeting 17 points to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa, but Scotland were left with 0 points after the first game. Macedonia coped with the hot conditions far better than the Scots, keeping the ball for long periods. They took the lead after five minutes when Naumoski pounced after Gordon could only parry Sedloski’s free-kick. Scotland were abysmal in the first half, and despite producing a much improved second half display they never really looked like penetrating Macedonia’s backline. Scotland’s best chance of the game came when McFadden was hauled down in the box, but the only man in the stadium that didn’t consider it a penalty was the one man that mattered, the referee, and Scotland’s hopes of getting something out of the match came and went. This was always going to be a testing first game for Scotland, but if qualification is a realistic goal, then points need to be picked up in places like Macedonia. Questions were asked of the wisdom of the SFA in agreeing to play the game at that time of day in the middle

of the Macedonian summer, as the Scottish players struggled to cope with the extreme heat.

Iceland 1-2 ScotlandWC Qualifier | 10/09/08

After losing to Macedonia, Scotland went to Reykjavik knowing that three points were a must if World Cup qualification was going to be achieved, and the players duly delivered. Kirk Broadfoot was the unlikely hero as the player that Burley described as having ‘limited ability’ nodded Scotland into the lead after 18 minutes of his international debut. Scotland doubled their lead in the second half when McFadden and Robson combined to scramble the ball home after McFadden’s tame spot-kick was saved. Scotland appeared to be coasting to victory until McManus saw red for a deliberate handball, and Gudjohnson made no mistakes in converting the resulting penalty to ensure a nervy finish. Scotland hung on however, allowing George Burley to celebrate his first win in charge, and restored some belief in the team’s qualification chances.

Scotland 0-0 NorwayWC Qualifier | 11/10/08

Next up for Scotland was the game that will now always be remembered for that miss by the unfortunate Chris Iwelumo, making his international debut. But Iwelumo’s six-yard blunder should not overshadow what was another tame first half performance from Burley’s men, playing in an unfamiliar 4-5-1 formation. Scott Brown struggled to shine in the holding midfield role, a position in which his running and drive are practically wasted. Scotland created next to nothing in the first half, whilst the defence struggled to cope with the sheer strength and speed of John Carew. A second half change of formation, back to 4-4-2, allowed Scotland to start to take the game to their Scandinavian counterparts, creating several clear cut chances. The most gilt-edged chance fell to Iwelumo, but he fluffed his lines and Scotland had to make do with a solitary point from a fixture that Burley had surely targeted three. After the match, Kris Boyd; frustrated at being left on the sidelines whilst both Iwelumo and Steven Fletcher were thrown on in search of a goal, announced his decision to not play for Scotland again whilst Burley was in charge. This decision stank of

immaturity and selfishness. At a time where the whole squad should be pulling together in an effort to achieve qualification for a major tournament for the first time since 1998, Boyd’s announcement served only to heap even more pressure on George Burley.

Scotland 0-1 ArgentinaFriendly | 19/11/08

Next up for Scotland was a show-piece friendly, which saw Tartan Army favourite Diego Maradona bring his Argentina squad to Glasgow. Scotland assistant manager Terry Butcher attracted most of the pre-match press by stating that he still held a grudge against Maradona for that wonderful piece of improvisation against England at World Cup 86, and would refuse to shake his hand. Maradona responded in characteristically bullish fashion – “Terry Butcher?? Who is that?” was all the little genius had to say on the matter. The game itself was something of a non-event, with Scotland predictably outclassed from the first whistle to the last, doing well to keep the score down to one nil, Maxi Rodriguez providing the goal.

Holland 3-0 ScotlandWC Qualifier | 28/03/09

In a game that was always going to be an uphill challenge for the Scots, they were taught a footballing lesson in Amsterdam by a Dutch team brimming with speed and skill. However, it was Scotland that created the first clear-cut chance of the match, when Kenny Miller raced on to a ball over the top, but the Rangers man took too long to get his shot away and the chance was lost. In the absence of Alan Hutton, Burley handed a start to the 37 year old Graham Alexander at full back, despite him playing most of the season in a holding midfield role for Burnley. Alexander was left exposed to the incredible pace and skill of Arjen Robben, who tormented the full back all night long. Headed goals from Huntelaar and Van Persie gave the Dutch a deserved two goal lead, before Scotland defender Gary Caldwell was denied what seemed a perfectly legitimate goal when the referee spotted a foul that television replays and 60,000 fans failed to pick up. Dirk Kuyt wrapped up the points for the home side when he calmly slotted a penalty past Allan McGregor after debutant Christophe Berra was harshly judged to have felled Huntelaar. Despite the comprehensive three nil defeat, Burley was encouraged by the promising performance of Cardiff front

Text | Glen McMahon

Scotland National ReviewFirst Team

12 July 2009

man Ross McCormack, who showed all the signs of being a player capable of playing at the highest level.

Scotland 2-1 IcelandWC Qualifier | 01/04/09

All the pre-match build up for this game was focussed on the ‘Loch Lomond Two’, Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor. Enough has been written and said about the events of that night/morning/early afternoon at the team’s hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond, so for the purposes of this season review, suffice to say that an act of gross unprofessional behaviour by skipper Ferguson and his Rangers team-mate McGregor cost them their international careers, and took the shine off what was a vital win for Scotland. Man of the match Ross McCormack and Steven Fletcher scored their first goals for Scotland either side of a Sigurdsson equaliser to earn the Scots three crucial points. Alan Hutton was restored to the starting XI following injury and he was awesome in both defence and attack, whilst Craig Gordon reclaimed his place in goal and was inspirational as he repelled Iceland’s attempts to nick a point late on.

Remaining Fixtures:

12/08/09 Norway [A] WCQ05/09/09 Macedonia [H] WCQ09/09/09 Holland [H] WCQ

With three games left, Scotland are sitting in second place in Group 9 with 7 points. At the start of the campaign Burley targeted 17 points, something that is now out of reach. Scotland can achieve 16 points with wins over Macedonia and Holland at home and a win against Norway away, however, a more realistic prospect is now 14 points. Whether this will be enough to secure a play-off place remains to be seen; being in the smallest group could well work in Scotland’s favour, as the runner-ups from the other groups will have the points they earned against the bottom-placed teams removed. If Scotland are to make the playoffs, they must ensure that they take at least 4 points from their next two games to give themselves a chance going in to the last game at home to Holland. On a positive note, the squad is starting to look capable of competing at a major tournament for the first team in years, with the right blend of experience and youth. Ross McCormack, Gary Caldwell, Scott Brown and Darren Fletcher have all had the best seasons of their careers, and should surely form the spine of the team for many years to come. Despite coming in for intense criticism since he took the reigns, Burley has coped with the pressure that has been heaped on him following the actions of several experienced players and can be satisfied that with three games

The first half of the U-21s season was spent trying to qualify for the

U21 European Championships in June 2009. Billy Stark’s young squad made a brave attempt but fell at the final hurdle in September, going down 1-0 to Denmark, who leapfrogged them into the final qualification place. Scotland had chances to win the match, or to at least earn the point they needed to secure a playoff place, but it wasn’t their day and the pain felt by the young players at the final whistle was clear to see.

A friendly match against Northern Ireland in November allowed the squad a chance to take their minds off the disappointment, but they performed poorly and lost 3-1 despite taking an early lead through Jamie Murphy at New Douglas Park. Stark remained positive despite the disappointing result, choosing to praise the ten new caps that were included in the squad, rather than focusing on the slack defending that ultimately cost them the game.

Scotland had the chance to return to competitive action in March 2009 for the first of their qualifiers for the European Championships of 2011. An impressive 1-0 away to Albania, courtesy of a Chris Maguire penalty, was followed up on the 1st of April with a 5-2 demolition of the same opponents, with Goodwillie, Maguire, Shinnie, Murphy, and McGinn grabbing the goals this time around. A 100% start to the group is exactly what Scotland would have wanted following the disappointment of the previous campaign, but there is a long way to go yet with games against Austria, Azerbaijan and Belarus all to come. If the 5-2 win against Albania is anything to go by, Scotland should be confident of being able to score the goals needed to see them through with all the strikers finding the net. It is the form of David Goodwillie that will be of most encouragement for Billy Stark though, with the Dundee United youngster showing that he has all the attributes needed to be an international class striker.

remaining, Scotland are still in a position to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa, and a long overdue and much deserved return to football’s biggest party for the Tartan Army.

fanfile | john daly

Scotland U-21s

Most Important Player: Craig Gordon. Scotland spend quite so high a percentage on the back foot during games that we need a good ‘keeper. He’s commanding and confidence inspiring.

Terrace Favourite: Unquestionably that is Faddy. He was before, but THAT goal in Paris has just cemented his position as the ‘Cheeky Boy’ that the fans adore.

Keep an eye out for: Ross McCormack must be up there. His record with Cardiff was impressive. He’s had only 3 caps so he has still to establish himself as a regular first-pick.

What one change would you make? I would eliminate the use of the Grandparent rule. We have gone down the ‘Irish” road a wee bit too much for me, and I think we need to cap players with a more direct link to the country than having had a Granny who left at the age of 3 months. And I would outlaw the practice of players ‘retiring’ from International football. They should only retire when the country has no further need of them. That’s two things, but I’ve never been good at counting.

Have you got the right manager? What does ‘right’ mean? Of the pool of people who were available when the SFA found themselves hunting for a replacement for Alex McLeish, Burley was as good as any names on the list.

Player you despise the most? Despise is a very strong word. I don’t ‘despise’ any player that pulls on the dark blue. I DID have a problem with Davie Weir being called back into the set up after he had abandoned the National side in its hour of need. He has performed very well since he came back, though.

Where will Scotland finish? I believe that we will finish second. And I think that we’ll be in the top 8 second placed teams. And I think that we’ll qualify for South Africa from the play-offs. Now, where’s that passport.

July 2009 13

The ExilesThe influx of Scottish players into the English

Championship in recent years has been quite remarkable but this year more than most the Scottish national side may start to reap the benefits. For in this year’s top two promoted teams we have four internationals making the move up to the Premiership and Scotland fans will be hoping the increase in players being tested at the highest level will signal a new era for the Scottish national side.

Scotland will soon have an array of talent in the English Premier League with the automatic promotion of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City. Joining the likes of Darren Fletcher, Alan Hutton and Craig Gordon will be Christophe Berra and Chris Iwelumo of Wolves and James McFadden and Garry O’Connor of Birmingham.

Wolves were promoted as Champions of the English Championship and with them they take one of Scotland’s most promising stars.

Christophe Berra signed for Wolves in February 2009 in a reported £2.5 million move from Hearts, the team with which he started his career and captained since August 2007, replacing the Sunderland bound Craig Gordon. Like many players it was his ambition to play in England in order to improve his game and when the opportunity arose he wasted no time in taking it and

now finds himself facing a season of Premier League football.

He appeared in Wolves’ remaining 14 games of the season however he did not get of to the best of starts. His first 4 appearances came without a win and Berra himself even began to ask himself if he had jinxed the team.

He told the Daily Record: “I was four games into my Wolves career and we hadn’t won. I wondered if I was a jinx or whether it was my fault the team had stopped winning. But we went on a really good run after that. Over the next nine games we won seven, drew one and lost one. That’s pretty consistent and it pushed us to where we are now.”

He made his debut for the Molineux side in a 2-1 defeat at Coventry on 7th February, followed by a 1-0 defeat at Burnley, a 2-2 draw at home to Cardiff and a 1-0 home defeat to Plymouth. His first win didn’t come until 3rd March when they defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 courtesy of a Sylvan Ebanks-Blake penalty.

From then on Wolves experienced the feeling of defeat just once more in a 2-0 defeat to rivals Birmingham City which closed the gap at the top to just 2 points with five games remaining. Wolves won 4 of their 5, the other result being a 1-1 draw at low table Barnsley. With Birmingham stuttering towards the finish line Wolves went on to win the league seven points ahead of their closest rivals in blue.

Text | Jen McLean | The Terrace Radio Podcast

Although promoted sides are always favourites to be relegated right away Berra has confidence Wolves can buck the trend much like Hull and Stoke City and have this season. Berra is now looking forward to testing himself against some of the world’s best players in what is arguably the best league in the world. He told expressandstar.com: “There are lots of players in Scotland who move to the Old Firm. No disrespect to them, they play Champions League regularly which is the greatest club tournament in the world. But the best league in the world is the English Premier League. It has three teams in the Champions League semi-finals. If you want to test yourself, you’ve got to make that step and play against the best players in the world.”

Berra played in every match since he signed highlighting how strongly he features in manager Mick McCarthy’s plans. Although a household name to Scottish football fans, Berra went to Wolves a relative unknown. McCarthy however has been a long term admirer of Berra, describing him as a “strong, pacey defender who is good in the air and reads the game well”, having tried to sign the defender in the previous transfer window in the summer when he had an offer reported to be around £1.5 million knocked back by Hearts.

He has three Scotland caps, the first of which came in a friendly against the Czech Republic in May last year and will be hoping his performances the quality of opposition he will soon be testing himself against will make him a big part of George Burley’s plans.

Berra may have his work cut out for him separating the Celtic duo Caldwell and McManus in the centre of Scotland’s defence who with the advantage of playing together every week have a good defensive understanding but Berra hopes playing regularly and consistently against top opposition will give him the best chance of adding to his caps.

He told the Edinburgh Evening News: “I want to establish myself in the team and keep playing in the Premier League next year. I know I’ll make mistakes because if you don’t make mistakes you’ll never learn. I want to play against the best players in the world. If I’m doing that I’ll want to push for a starting place with Scotland. Obviously it’s going to be hard because the Celtic boys, Caldwell and

McManus, are doing well and playing for a big club. But I think if I can hold my own in the Premier League I’ll have a better chance. It’s down to George Burley.”

Joining him in Wolves’ battle for Premiership survival is Chris Iwelumo. Iwelumo will be best known to most Scotland fans for ‘that’ miss at Hampden against Norway in last year’s World Cup qualifier but with his side’s recent promotion to the Premiership he will be hoping for future Scotland call-ups in order to put that memory behind him…and the rest of us.

He made quite the impact in

14 July 2009

the first half of the season having signed from Charlton in the summer, scoring 15 goals by November making him win Championship Player of the month for that month. And it was this form that grabbed George Burley’s attention.

But his Scotland nightmare was the start of what was to be a disappointing run of form for the striker and he scored just 1 more goal in the remainder of the season.

Iwelumo came into the Scotland squad last year as a surprise choice but, in fact, started his career at St Mirren in 1996 as a trainee. This began a career that has included many clubs down south including Preston North End and Stoke City and also Aarhus Fremad in Denmark and Alemannia Aachen in Germany along the way.

Iwelumo will be battling against some of the best defenders in Europe and he will do well to impress in what is a very

tough league.

Joining Wolves are local rivals Birmingham City, who manager Alex McLeish has led back to the Premiership at the first time of asking. He has built a squad full of Premiership experience including Franck Queudrue, Kevin Phillips, Lee Carsley and of course Scotland’s very own James McFadden.

At just 26 McFadden is an international veteran compared to his fellow promoted players. Earning 42 caps so far McFadden has been key to Scotland’s progress in the last qualifying campaign and a shining light in recent years that haven’t given Scotland fans much to shout about.

Having gotten his big move to Everton from Motherwell in 2003 McFadden struggled to hold down a regualr spot for the Premiership side. Yet he still managed to make a remarkable impact on the Scotland national side and mostly saved his best performances for when he pulled on the dark blue. McLeish is well aware of the impact McFadden can have and will be hoping he can recreate his Scotland form on a regular basis when the Premiership campaign begins. The prospect of a McFadden playing consistently in the Premier League is quite a mouth-watering prospect

for the Tartan Army.

Battling alongside McFadden will be Garry O’Connor. The ex-Hibs player signed for Birmingham from Lokomotiv Moscow for £2.7 million in July 2007. He made 16 appearances for Birmingham this season and scored 6 goals. He has 15 caps to his name so far but the coming season will be an excellent opportunity

for the player to stake a claim for a regular starting spot. With Kris Boyd showing no sign of reconcilling with manager Burley, a forward of O’Connor’s abilities could be a valuable addition to the squad.

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July 2009 15

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Text | Laura Montgomery

Womens Football Review

It has most definitely been an outstanding season for women’s

football in Scotland. The Premier League, Scotland’s top division experienced its most exciting ever race for the title, Rangers entered the realms of women’s football to ensure the presence of both sides of the Old Firm for the first ever time, the national team reached the play-offs for the European Championships, Glasgow City became the first Scottish women’s side ever to reach the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League and pretty much led a one-club domination of the domestic game. Just a few things to talk about then! Internationally, the senior national team experienced their greatest ever level of success as Head Coach Anna Signeul led the country to the play-offs for the European Championships, where they faced Russia in a two-leg play off, with the Eastern Europeans a massive 10 ranking places above the Scots. Over both games the teams tied 4-4, but Russia progressed on the cruel away goals rule, denying the brave Scots their first ever appearance at a major championship finals. As last year’s Premier League Champions, Glasgow City entered the UEFA Women’s Champions League and became the first Scottish side ever to reach the last 16, defeating two fully professional teams on the way. City eventually bowed out of the competition, but performed well, going down 3-1 to last season’s winners, German club 1. FFC Frankfurt and then 1-0 to this year’s eventual finalists, Russian side Zvezda 2005. Once again, the downfall of our game is simply money. All Scottish women’s teams are entirely amateur, compared

to many of our full-time professional European counterparts. Back home, the year belonged to Glasgow City. As well as their remarkable feats in Europe, City were crowned Glasgow Team of the Year, defeating all teams in the City from any sporting discipline, professional and amateur. However, it was back on the field of play where they picked up their most important honours. Last November, City lined up against Spartans in the Premier League Cup Final. City had already knocked out Celtic in an earlier round, leaving Spartans as the toughest challenge remaining to lift the Cup. With both Spartans and City hotly contesting the Premier League Championship, this was the first time they had met in the new season, but City very quickly showed their serious intentions, with an impressive 3-0 win at Forthbank Stadium. With the Premier League Cup now in the bag, City’s next aim was the Unite Scottish Cup and again they were drawn against Celtic in an early round. This was perhaps a disappointment for many neutral fans who would no doubt love two of Scotland’s biggest sides to face each other in a final one day. However, like the League Cup, City once again proved victorious and went on to progress all the way to the Final where they would face Rangers Ladies, who had just won the First Division Championship. The Unite Scottish Cup Final was televised live on BBC Alba and indeed the semi-finals were shown by the BBC’s Gaelic channel. Glasgow City once again proved to be the outstanding side in Scotland and they

battered Rangers 5-0 on a sunny day, once more at Stirling’s Forthbank Stadium. With the two cups now firmly in the trophy cabinet, the only remaining feat for Glasgow City was to retain the Premier League and ensure the treble. With only two games remaining the title could have gone to either City, Celtic or Spartans, with the crucial match coming down to City v Spartans at City’s home pitch at Glasgow Green. A win for the holders would push City two points clear. If Spartans got three points the title would most probably be theirs and a draw would put the Championship in Celtic’s favour. A big crowd turned up to see City win 4-2 and move one game away from an historic treble. City went on to win their last match and they lifted the title, with Spartans runners-up, two points behind the winners and Celtic in third spot, three points behind City. A remarkable feat for any side, but to combine domestic success with a Scottish side’s best ever performance in Europe is testament to the talent and dedication of the City players and their management team of Peter Caulfield and Eddie Wolecki. In the lower Divisions, Rangers dipped their toes into women’s football for the first ever time, taking over First Division outfit, Paisley City. Strong pressure from the other side of Glasgow no doubt encouraged Rangers to get involved, with Celtic having taken over a club the previous season and already establishing themselves as one of the top sides. Rangers Ladies went on to have a

Treble winners Glasgow City

16 July 2009

fantastic season in the First Divison, winning every single league match to claim the title and promotion the Premier League. Rangers only lost two matches all season – the Unite Scottish Cup Final to Glasgow City and an early round of the Football League Cup to Celtic’s reserve side, who also play in the First Division. J o i n i n g Rangers in promotion to the Premier League is In v e r n e s s who edged Falkirk to s e c o n d place in a n a i l - b i t i n g last game of the season. Re lega ted from the P r e m i e r L e a g u e were Raith Rovers who finished the season with only two wins and five draws. B e l o w the First D i v i s i o n , S c o t t i s h W o m e n ’ s F o o t b a l l splits into three regional Second Divisions, with the bottom three in the First Division dropping out to one of the lower regions and only the winners of the Second Divisions earning promotion the First Division. Earning the right to ply their trade in the First Division next year were Glasgow City Girls, Premier League City’s reserve side, made up of some of Scotland’s finest youth players. City’s second string comfortably won the Second Division South West and West, winning every single league match and scoring an incredible 118 goals in just 20 matches. In the Second Division North, Buchan were crowned Champions, crowning off a fantastic season with an incredible last-day 7-0 win over Forfar. Second Division East, South East and Central Winners were Musselburgh Windsor who finished the League campaign unbeaten and will join Glasgow City Girls and Buchan in the First Division next year. In the Scottish Football League Cup – the League Cup for the four lower divisions below the Premier, Glasgow City Girls continued the City dominance of the domestic game with a 3-0 win over Celtic’s reserves at

Lesser Hampden. In total, as a club, Glasgow City picked up five trophies this season, winning every single competition they went for domestically. No other club has ever dominated the game to this extent before and their feat should not go

unnoticed. As Scottish Champions, t h e y enter the W o m e n ’ s U E F A Champions L e a g u e once more and will learn their first round fate on 24th June when the draw is made. The competition begins not long after on Thursday 30th July. City now have some s e r i o u s fundraising to attend to, as unlike the men’s game, Europe does not make you money

and our women’s clubs having to pay for the entire competition costs themselves. Last season’s exploits to the last sixteen cost City £29,000, so they better get busy! The new women’s season will begin in August but will be a one-off format as March 2010 will see the start of the women’s football calendar moving to summer football with the season running from March 2010 to November 2011. For the purposes of having a winner to enter the Champions League in 2010, the Leagues will run in a short league format, with the teams playing each other only once, so that there is a Champion to compete in the Champions League in July 2010. On this year’s form, not too many would bet against that being Glasgow City. For more information on the women’s game and for the final league standings please visit www.footballcentral.org.uk For more detail on Glasgow City, visit their club website: www.glasgowcityladiesfc.co.uk

Keep up to date with Womens Football in Scotland at Scotzine.com. Laura Montgomery, Glasgow City captain does a weekly round-up of all the action in the Scottish Women’s Premier League. So if you are interested in the Women’s game or just football in general, make sure you don’t miss it.

Standings

July 2009 17

Q&A with Peter CaulfieldSo who is Peter Caulfield?

Peter Caulfield joined Glasgow City as manager in 1999 as the club prepared for its first season in the Scottish Premier League, after successfully winning the Scottish 1st Division at the first attempt.

Prior to taking charge at Glasgow City, Peter managed Monklands Ladies, from 1997–1999, where he guided them to a 1st Division Championship Title and promotion to the Premier League where the club competed for a season before ceasing to operate shortly after.

In his time at City, Peter has led the club to two Scottish Premier League Titles in 2004/05 and 2007/08 and for the first time into Europe, as Scotland’s representatives in the European Women’s Cup, in Zeist, Holland. He then, along with Head Coach Eddie Wolecki guided Glasgow City to the last sixteen of the UEFA Women’s Cup in 2008, the first Scottish team ever to do so.

He has also led the club to two Scottish Cup triumphs in 2004 and 2006, defeating Queen’s Park and Aberdeen respectively in the finals.

Under the manager the club has competed in 7 of the last 11 domestic cup finals and although City have come up short at times, this has been an admirable feat, achieved with an ever-changing squad each season.

The club has also achieved five Premier League Runners-up finishes since 2000/01, a level of consistency that has established Glasgow City as a major force in Scottish Women’s Football. Overall, City have remained in the top two in the Premier League for the past seven years, a feat unmatched by any other side.

As well as managing Glasgow City, Peter has also served women’s football well, by first of all holding the position of Vice-Chairman of the SWPL and then for three seasons the role of SWPL fixtures secretary, which he officially handed over to the matches department of the Scottish Football Association, when they assumed total responsibility for the running of the SWPL at the start of the 2007/08 season.

Last season Peter guided Glasgow City to the domestic treble, winning the Scottish Women’s Premier League, the Unite Scottish Cup and the League Cup.

AM: What did it feel like to win the domestic treble with Glasgow City and as manager of the club how proud does that make you feel?

PC: It is always a great feeling to win any trophy and we are all involved in football hoping that we will experience that winning feeling somewhere along the way, but to win the domestic treble was fabulous for the club and I think emphasises just what a quality team we have.

As Manager, I am immensly proud, especially of the players, as I know just how much hard work went in to this success. The amount of time spent training and in preparation for each game was huge, notwithstanding the distances players travelled to attend four training sessions per week, so they deserve huge credit for their commitment and hunger for success. AM: Were there any bad points from last season?

PC: There were no real bad points but there were still a few disappointments throughout the season; even one that results in a treble! When you do not play as well as you expect to, even sometimes in victory, that can be disappointing. Victory is always the goal for the team but we always

want to play in an attacking and attractive manner and sometimes that doesn’t happen. The biggest disappointment though was having to compete in Europe without important players. For instance, Sue Lappin, who is the clubs top goalscorer, could not play in Europe last season because of work commitments and that is annnoying as we may have been able to get further than the last 16 if we had her available. On that stage you are competing against professional teams, who have all their players available to play and at times you feel like you have one hand tied behind your back. On the back of our league title win we have again qualified

for the Women’s Champions League, for 2009/10, but this time have two players unable to go because of work! It’s so frustrating!

AM: Other than winning the treble, what else would you take away from last season? PC: Undoubtedly our growth as a football team. We are, I think, a very efficient side now capable of competing at the very highest level in Europe. We are a very attacking free-flowing football team but we have now got great discipline and organisation on the pitch and that has taken us up a level.

AM: With both Old Firm clubs represented in the top tier of the Women’s game now, do you think they will begin to attract the better players and challenge City for the title year in year out? PC: I suspect they will be able to use the Celtic and Rangers names to attract players to the clubs and there have been many examples of this already, as you only have to look at the number of international players which Celtic have signed over the last year. However, the game is getting stronger right across the league, as emphasised by Spartans pushing us all the way for the title, and I expect that to continue with other clubs as well as the Old Firm competing with us for the title. As a club though we are confident we can continue to compete and be successful and have shown the high regard players hold

Glasgow City ManagerText | Andy Muirhead

18 July 2009

us in when we have just signed two players from Celtic, on the back of having signed one mid-season.

AM: Next Season you take part in the Women’s Champions League as Scotland’s sole representatives - who do you see as your biggest obstacles and do you think you have a chance of progressing? PC: The major footballing countries will always provide the biggest obstacle for us and with these countries now gaining two entrants into the competition it will just make things more difficult. As a football team we believe whole-heartedly than we can beat anyone on our day, so of course I believe it is possible for us to progress, however, the draw wasn’t the kindest to us this year having drawn Bayern Munich in our group and as with all German (and professional) teams, they will most likely be the biggest challenge for us.

AM: Can the women’s Game in Scotland grow to the popularity it is at in Germany and in America? What, in your opinion, would it take to increase its reputation and popularity? PC: I firmly believe that it can and I refuse to accept any other opinion. Anything in life is achievable if you have committed people striving for change and development. I am tired of hearing people say that no one wants to watch the Women’s game, but as an example, 45,000 people turned up in Frankfurt recently to watch a Germany v Brazil international, which was also live on TV, so how can anyone say that no one wants to watch women’s football, given this statistic? In my opinion the biggest barrier to increasing the reputation and popularity lies with the SFA. I am sure the SFA will say that they are putting huge resources into the Women’s and Girls game but it is not enough. All the successful nations are having the game backed by their associations with major amounts of investment and I think we have a long way to go in this country to ensure we keep pace. But it is not even all about hard cash. For example, at our recent Scottish Cup final against Rangers, at Forthbank Stadium in Stirling, why weren’t the SFA marketing this game like crazy? There was no, or extremely little, TV, Radio, or Press advertising and the only promotion of the game was done by the clubs themselves. There was a poster produced for the match but the clubs were sent them to print them off, distribute to players, family and friends and ask them to display them wherever possible. We as a club had to contact Radio and Press to try and get some interest when the SFA Marketing Departments

expertise and contacts could have had huge success with this. Even development officers and active schools coordinators that we spoke to in the Stirling area, who work in football every day, were not aware that the cup final was even taking place.No one is going to buy if they don’t know you are selling in the first place!! We need to start letting the public know that the game exists before they will come to watch and as clubs we also have a huge amount to do to sell our own game, so we must be prepared to accept some responsibility too. Finally, the huge numbers of girls now playing football and the parental support that that entails, will gradually have more people asking why we are not investing more time, money and effort into the game so we can be a nation that is proud of its women’s football also. AM: Why did you decide to manage a women’s Football team and not manage in the men’s game? PC: It happened by accident really. I played football at amateur level and broke my leg badly which required pins and plates inserted, and resulted in me calling a halt to my playing days. I then took some courses to keep in the game a bit and helped at my own club for a while. Then in a casual conversation one day with a friend of my brother, he told me his daughter played football but their team didn’t have a coach and he asked if I would help out. I agreed and was immediately struck by their enthusiasm, willingness to learn and attentiveness which made a change from the many males who believe they already know everything. So I kept doing it and things just grew from there.

AM: What is Glasgow City as a club doing to promote the game and what initiatives do they undertake to bring in new players? PC: I believe we are one of the most progressive clubs in the women’s game and are always endeavouring to promote the game. We were the first senior club to have a dedicated club website, were the first Premier club to produce a match day programme and we continually contact the press and radio with articles about the game. Our Team captain Laura Montgomery now has her own weekly column in the Glasgow Evening Times and she sends out press releases every week to all national and local newspapers adn including the BBC Sport website. In regard to bringing in new players that takes numerous forms. Firstly, we use our website to advertise, we use word of mouth to get the message

out and we look at players from other clubs who we believe can impove us. We also have started a reserve team last season, with all the players between 14 and 17 years old, and are now working hard to develop them and produce our own talented players. We are already reaping the benefits of this decision because I have just moved two players up to the 1st team squad for the coming season. AM: What advice would you give to any aspiring female footballers wanting to play at the top level? PC: Practice, prectice, practice! The only way to play at the top level is to be the complete player and that only happens with continual practice. We are still some way off from the top nations in terms of players’ overall fitness and that is an area we need to improve greatly in Scotland, but we have some exceptional technically gifted players here and can compete with any country in this aspect, particularly at youth level, but we have to see them make the step into the senior game and help raise the level for everyone following. AM: If you could choose a Glasgow City XI with female players all over the world, with no restrictions such as money, visas etc who would you select? PC: I would probably include a player or two from my own team here, but to avoid upsetting anyone I will go with a more international eleven, in a 4-3-3 formation.

I have only selected players that I have actually seen play. I think I could conquer the world with this team!!! Peter Caulfield International XI

Goalkeeper: Nadezhda Baranova (Zvezda-2005) Defenders: Alex Scott (Boston Breakers) Anita Asante (Sky Blue FC) Tina Wunderlich (FFC Frankfurt) Frida Ostberg (Chicago Red Stars) Midfielders: Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers), Fara Williams (Everton) Vera Djatel (Zvezda-2005) Forwards: Marta (Los Angeles Sol) Birgit Prinz (FFC Frankfurt) Hanna Ljungberg (Umea IK)

Editor - We would like to thank Peter Caulfield for taking time out from his busy schedule and prepartion for the upcoming Champions League qualifiers to answer our questions.

Good Luck for next season Peter and hopefully you can better last season’s performances in Europe also.

July 2009 19

Another SPL season comes to an end, and whilst it may not linger in the

memories of anyone who doesn’t have allegiances in Govan, it at least remained largely undecided until the final day. With Hearts winning the race for third on the penultimate weekend, three issues were still to be resolved. The championship’s destination (Celtic or Rangers, as ever), who would be plying their trade in next season’s first division, and which of the “New Firm” would secure the remaining Europa League spot.

The Helicopter pilot would have had an inkling he was heading to Tayside by only six minutes past three - this was all but secured around forty minutes later. Rangers confirmed a first title in four years with an emphatic victory over Dundee United, rendering Celtic’s inability to overcome a Hearts side with nothing at stake irrelevant. Whilst not a shock, the pre-season consensus was that Celtic, dominant since Gordon Strachan’s arrival, would notch their fourth championship victory in a row. Pedro Mendes aside, Rangers summer activity did little to inspire, and a strong Celtic side, boosted with a sole share of Champions League revenue thanks to their rivals’ exit at the hands of Kaunas was expected to be too strong again.

That was until, the first Old Firm encounter of the season. Ex-Celtic striker Kenny Miller claimed a brace in a 4-2 win, with the cultured Mendes slamming home what would be goal of the season. If fans hoped this unusually entertaining clash was to be an indicator of Old Firm games to come, they were to be disappointed. Celtic recorded an away derby win of their own after Christmas thanks to a Scott MacDonald volley to establish a seven point lead - that really should have been unassailable. A dire 0-0 draw in the final meeting of the two before the split seemed to do little for Rangers’ chances. Collapsing after leading 2-0 that home to a much improved Hearts side looked to have extinguished them all together, only for Celtic to re-ignite the title race with an identical score-line at Tannadice the following day. This seldom-seen courtesy between the sides continued after the

Text | Ross Pilcher

Scottish Premier Leagueunpopular league split - each dropping points, only for the other to return the favour. Csaba Laszlo and Craig Levein again had a say, the Jambos holding Celtic one-all at Tynecastle, United drawing with Rangers. In the end however, it was failure in the East of the capital that ultimately decided things for the big two. Rangers seemed to have thrown away the advantage given to them by beating their closest challengers at Ibrox on the Saturday. Celtic’s 2-1 home win over (again) Dundee Utd put pressure on Walter Smith’s men travelling to Easter Rd the following evening. Too much, it turned out, a late Nacho Novo goal saving a point. A controversial 2-1 win over Aberdeen days later didn’t appear to be convincing enough, only for Strachan’s side to fail to win at Easter Road for a second time this season. Unlike their rivals on the last final-day decider (the infamous Helicopter Sunday), Rangers were able to comfortably secure their own success, ensuring Walter Smith’s first league triumph since returning. Smith’s triumph, and Gordon Strachan’s subsequent departure makes the latter’s SPL manager of the year award seem all the more premature. Twice clawing back a seven-point lead would normally be hailed as a tremendous season. The reality however, was that neither side showed outstanding quality over the season, illustrated by the second lowest championship winning points total of 86. Whilst the participants in the quest for league supremacy were as predictable as morning after night, the race for third did throw up one surprise. Traditionally seen as Scotland’s third biggest club, Hearts would usually be expected to be there or thereabouts. Given last season’s dismal eighth-place finish however, no recognised manager for the best part of 18 months and an egocentric owner with a history of unwanted interference pointed to more toil this season for the Gorgie club. Little known newcomer Csaba Lazslo ensured the opposite. Bar the additions of Ugandan David Obua and fellow Hungarian Janos Balogh in goal, Laszlo has taken last season’s underachievers, supposedly weakened by the January defection of captain Christophe Berra to Premiership-bound Wolves, to next season’s inaugural Europa League with virtually the same squad. Next year may require more impressive work from Laszlo. The return of playmaker Bruno Aguiar after 18 months on the sidelines proved to be instrumental for Hearts. The Portuguese’s deal expires this year, and with cost-cutting required, his £8,000 per-week deal is unlikely to be renewed. The departures of Christos Karipidis and captain Robbie Neilson to Omonia Nicosia and Leicester respectively, have already been confirmed. Laszlo will be required to blend cut-price experience and more academy graduates to replicate his success.

Former Tynecastle favourite Craig Levein again pushed for the same objective, only to be pipped again by Aberdeen, whose victory over Hibs leapfrogged them over their New Firm rivals on the final day. The loss of Willo Flood to Celtic in January could be cited as a significant factor. After impressing on loan from Cardiff the previous season, the Irishman was again recruited on a temporary basis by Levein, and provided the same industry and creativity from midfield. So much so, Celtic took advantage of United’s inability to make the move permanent, readily paying the £250k for his signature. Whilst not really making a significant contribution at Parkhead, his absence was felt at Tannadice. Yet again, the Old Firm’s plundering, not even necessarily to their gain, has proved a significant loss to a ‘lesser’ side. Aberdeen’s unremarkable campaign was redeemed somewhat, sneaking in to fourth place and European qualification. Another woeful performance in the cup, and a reputed lack of forthcoming investment over the close-season appears to have done for Jimmy Calderwood, leaving the club by mutual consent along with sidekick Jimmy Nicholl hours after victory over Hibs. [Was later revealed that he was sacked by the Dons board - Editor]

As for the green half of Edinburgh, Mixu Paatelainen’s first season in charge turned out to be decidedly average. Exiting both cups at the first hurdle (their Scottish Cup hoodoo being painfully continued by Hearts) and scraping into the top six ahead of Motherwell, The only achievements of note for the Hibees came in the form of victories in the league over Hearts and John Rankin’s ‘squiggler’ past Artur Boruc at Easter Road. Derek Riordan’s transfer from Celtic was viewed as the return of the prodigal son after a wasted two years in Glasgow. Whist ending the season at the club’s top scorer, Riordan failed to hit the heights reached in previous years at Easter Road under Tony Mowbray. The Lochend club undeniably have talent in the striking department, with Colin Nish and recent Scotland international Steven Fletcher also providing fire power. Indeed it is Fletcher that Hibs will struggle to keep this time around. Whilst speculation linking the former U21 captain to Real Madrid is fanciful, Hibs rebuffed approaches from Celtic in the January window, a decision reportedly unpopular with the player. They may have to relent in the summer, the club’s £4million valuation of Fletcher likely to prove less of a deterrent to English outfits. The goalkeeping situation will also require attention. Gregorsz Szamotoulski looks set to leave when his short-term deal expires, and Andrew McNeil has already been released. Yves Makalamby has continued the recent trend of erratic goalkeepers in between the sticks which may force Paatelainen to recruit a more reliable custodian, especially if skipper

20 July 2009

Rob Jones returns south. Another uninspiring first half of the campaign may well spend the end of the Finn’s tenure.

Arguably - the most disappointed set of SPL fans are to be found in Lanarkshire. Mark McGhee’s decision to remain with Motherwell instead of boarding the Baltic-bound plane to discuss the managerial vacancy at Hearts in the summer has, in hindsight, proved to be a poor one. Like Lazslo this term, McGhee enjoyed a very impressive debut campaign, leading the club to third position whilst coping with tragic death of Phil O’Donnell. A large part of the previous year’s success can be attributed to the performances and goals of Chris Porter and Ross McCormack. McCormack left for Cardiff last summer whilst Porter joined Nigel Clough’s derby. The pair’s creativity and goals proved hard to replace, despite David Clarkson’s efforts. ‘Well’s push for European qualification via league position fizzled out around March, and failure to overcome St. Mirren in the final pre-split fixture cost them a top-size berth. The one silver lining for McGhee and his charges was that virtually meaningless bottom six fixtures allowed them to coast through, claiming a European place via the fair-play standings. Securing influential midfielder Stephen Hughes on a new contract may be central to the Steelmen’s ambitions for next term, although a more pressing concern for John Boyle may be the recently available position at McGhee’s former club Aberdeen. In a weaker position than last summer, Motherwell may not provide as much incentive for the ex Cologne striker to remain at Fir park than this time last year.

Perhaps the most enthralling aspect of this SPL season has been the battle to avoid the drop. With no Gretna floundering at the foot, relegation was a serious possibility for several clubs. SPL debutants Hamilton were the early favourites for a return to the SFL, yet Billy Reid’s Accies, along with Hearts, have arguably been the surprise success of the season. Effortlessly adapting after the removal of the plastic pitch at new Douglas Park, Reid’s side went about ensuring survival with a passing game. A 3-1 victory over Dundee Utd on the opening weekend was a sign of things to come. A high work rate, complemented by the creativity, energy and goals of the two James’ - McArthur and teen prospect McCarthy - safety was assured in their last but one fixture, sparing their fans the final day tension experienced elsewhere. Losing out on the SPL and Football Writers’ personal managerial accolades, Reid can feel hard-done by, proving to be one of only two real credible candidates along with Laszlo. If he can effectively replace the talent of McCarthy (whose inevitable departure is likely to finally happen) as well as fending off warranted interest in McArthur, Hamilton will be in good stead for another successful season next time around. Kilmarnock, St. Mirren, Falkirk and Inverness all looked doomed at least once during the season. Jim Jefferies’ men went in to free fall after an encouraging

start to the season, with wins at Tannadice and Tynecastle. Disastrous home form looked like it could be the Ayrshire side’s downfall, until a late run propelled them up the table. Kevin Kyle’s goals played no-small part. The much-maligned Scotland international’s impressive run of goals went some way to prove Jefferies’ was right to gamble on the big striker. St. Mirren’s flit from Love Street was supposed to be the beginning of a new era for the club, yet home wins in their new digs proved hard to come buy. A 7-0 drubbing at Parkhead did little to improve morale, and without Andy Dorman’s knack for spectacular goals, they may have gone. Keeping the Englishman may be essential for another survival act. In the end, a winner-takes-all clash in the Highlands determined who would be saying goodbye to the top-flight. Falkirk, whose league form provided a stark contrast to their run to the Scottish Cup Final, needed a win to ensure safety. John Hughes’ attempt to mix experienced pros such as Bullen, McCann, Pressley and McNamara with talented youngsters Arfield and Scobbie very nearly backfired. Michael Higdon’s strike ensured the Bairns will head into Europe as an SPL club. Inverness’ appointment of Terry Butcher ultimately wasn’t enough to save them. Butcher’s initial impact made the highlanders difficult beat, as they had been in previous years. An impressive win at Ibrox suggested they would have enough about them to stay up.

Manager Casualties & Merry-go rounds

The biggest casualty of the season was the resignation of Gordon Strachan at Celtic. After dropping a seven-point lead twice to surrender the SPL title to rivals Rangers, the Ginger ‘tactician’ felt that four years was enough - although rumours persisted that he had made his mind up in January. After three weeks of searching for a replacement, it looks as though Celtic will announce former fan favourite Tony Mowbray as the man to take over the Parkhead hotseat. Will he be a better manager than Strachan, will he bring the ‘celtic way’ of playing football pack to Parkhead? Only time will tell.

Jimmy Calderwood parted company with Aberdeen, despite the club stating that it was of mutual consent it subsequently materialised that he had been sacked before the game against Hibs. Jimmy’s parting gift to the Dons was qualification for Europe and the majority of Dons fans rejoiced in the departure of one of Govan’s sons. Motherwell manager Mark McGhee, a legend at Aberdeen was unveiled by the Dons board as the new manager. While Calderwood was not as successful as the fans would have liked him to be, he still brought some success, including great displays in the UEFA Cup against Bayern Munich and FC Copenhagen.

Hibs had to find a new manager also after Mixu Paatelainen quit as gaffer, after arguing over a reduction in the player budget. In stepped Hibs legend John Hughes to try and turn around the fortunes

of the Easter Road side.

Motherwell & Falkirk have also appointed Jim Gannon and Eddie May as manager respectively.

July 2009 21

Season byNumbers

Take down the nets, pull up the corner flags; fetch the stray balls from off the roof of the main stand and switch off the floodlights for the last time, for another season of football in Scotland has come to a close.

Rangers are SPL champions for a record 52nd time, winning the title and denying Celtic their four-in-a-row in an exciting final day win over Dundee United. Walter Smith’s men also pick up the Scottish Cup along the way. Promotion and relegation has been sorted out; St Johnstone, Raith Rovers, Ayr United, Stenhousemuir and Dumbarton are all preparing for life in a higher division following their promotions, while for Terry Butcher’s Inverness Caley Thistle, Clyde, Airdrie United, Queens Park and Stranraer, next season will mean having to adjust to life in a lower league.

So what better way to conclude the 2008/09 season in Scotland than with a lookback at the season, with one or two

statistics.

11 is the number of seasons in the SPL since its inception in 1998. Celtic lead the winners table, with 6 wins. This years champions Rangers trail the Parkhead with 5 wins.

27 is the number of goals scored by Scotland’s top scorer, Rangers’ Kris Boyd. Hes scored 11 more than Scott McDonald of Celtic, his nearest rival for the Tartan Boot (if such a

thing exists). Boyd also leads the table for number of hat tricks scored this season, 2.

52 is the total number of domestic league wins for this year’s champions Rangers. In winning the league for the 52nd time since 1891 following their 3-0 win at Tannadice on

the final day of the season, Rangers continue to hold the world record for the number of domestic league honours. Having also won the Scottish Cup last weekend, they will need only one more win to equal Celtic’s total number of wins in the world’s second oldest Cup competition; the Hoops have won it 33 times.

15 stands for the number of managers who lost their jobs one way or the other over the course of the year. It began with John McCormack’s resignation from Albion Rovers

in July and ended with Mixu Paateleinen’s resignation from Hibs on the 28th May of this year. Other high profile departures included Jimmy Calderwood (Aberdeen), Gordon Strachan (Celtic), Craig Brewster (Inverness Caley) and Roberto Landi (Livingston).

548 represents the number of goals scored this season in the SPL, down 62 from last season. The most goals scored in one game are the 8 racked

up in the fixture between Rangers and Hamilton on the 6th December which the Ibrox side won 7-1. Across the other three senior leagues in Scotland, the most goals outside of the SPL where scored in the Third Division (497) and the lowest, 443, in the First Division. However, these totals are dwarfed by the total number of goals scored in the Highland League - a stunning 789!

Oh, and speaking of Highland League....

0 is the number of games won by Highland League side Fort William this season. The Fort outdid themselves, scoring the same amount of goals (16) and conceding fewer (121), but last

season they managed to win a game. Their one solitary point during the 2008/09 campaign came thanks to a 1-1 draw against Wick Academy.

23 is the number of points between second placed Celtic and third placed Hearts. Not so much a gulf as an ocean of difference when you consider that this gap is five more than

the combined points gap between the second and third placed teams across Divisions One, Two and Three.

14 is for Manuel Pascali of Kilmarnock, who leads the yellow-card table having seen it produced 14 times this season, but somehow managing not to get sent off all

year. In contrast, Marius Zaliukas of Hearts received the most red cards this season - 4.

Interestingly, had the Fair Play League not been restricted to the SPL it would be Brechin City, not Motherwell playing in the Europa League. The Angus side picked up only 37 yellow cards and 1 red card all season, which is a whopping 13 fewer than the team that finished top of the Fair Play league, Celtic.

7 is the number of times Perth-based St. Johnstone have won the First division title; they secured their latest promotion when they beat Morton 3-1 at McDiarmid Park on May 29th,

putting the Saints back in the top flight for the first time since 1997 when they where founder members of the SPL the following year.

212 is the number of goals you would have missed if you left every Scottish Football League game 10 minutes early.

1286 represents the average attendance across the First, Second and Third divisions. This total is down 23 from last

season, suggesting perhaps that football is as popular as ever (or not) despite the credit crunch. The best supported team this year outside the SPL was Dundee.

303 is the number of paying punters coming through the turnstiles every week at Stranraer, who were relegated to the Third Division. The

troubled side face an uncertain future had the lowest average attendance.

Text | Seb Gevers | Insideleft.net

22 July 2009

season statsPremier League: 2ndTop Scorer:Scott McDonald [16]Scottish Cup:Quarter FinalLeague Cup:WinnersDiscipline:Yellow 49 Red 2Average Attendance: 57671

Nickname: The BhoysGround: Celtic ParkCapacity: 60,355

Chairman: Dr. John ReidManager: Gordon Strachan*Captain: Stephen McManus

Celtic

* After four years at Celtic Park, Gordon Strachan quit as manager, after rivals Rangers captured the SPL title. He was replaced by West Brom manager Tony Mowbray.

What was the highlight of season 2008-09?

The highlight of the season was in two parts. Seeing rivals Rangers get knocked out of europe by Hearts’ feeder club FBK Kaunas, even before Celtic fans had booked their trips to England, Denmark and Spain.

The other highlight of the season was Celtic winning the CIS Cup beating rivals Rangers after extra time. It was the first time Celtic had beaten Rangers at Hampden in twenty years.

Who do you think was your star player of the season and why?

FAN FILE

Aberdeen season statsPremier League: 4thTop Scorer:Lee Miller [11]Scottish Cup:Quarter FinalLeague Cup:Round ThreeDiscipline:Yellow 58 Red 5Average Attendance: 12929

Nickname: The DonsGround: PittodrieCapacity: 22474

Chairman: Stewart MilneManager: Jimmy Calderwood*Captain: Scott Severin*

What was the highlight of season 2008-09?

The 4-2 win over Celtic. A victory over the Old Firm is always one to savour as they come along so rarely. But when they do, it’s one of the best feelings in the world. I was still smiling a month after we beat Rangers 2-0 on the final day of the 2007/08 season. But this win, at home, with such style and live on television for everyone to enjoy was particularly sweet. The win was our sixth consecutive win at Pittodrie, we jumped Dundee United into third spot in the SPL and it was the first time since 1985 that we scored four goals at home against Celtic at home. Diamond’s two quick-fire goals where the icing on the cake.

Who do you think was your star player of the season and why?

It’s a toss-up between Jamie Langfield and Mark Kerr, though as a former keeper myself I’ll have to go for Langield. As the AFC player of the year, Langfield has been in outstanding form this season putting him back in the frame for a full international call-up, especially now that Allan McGregor has effectively been frozen

FAN FILE

out of the Scotland set-up. Thanks to the 14 clean sheets he’s kept this season, Langfield has also done a lot to lose the ‘clanger’ tag he’s been given over the years. Who was the Terrace favourite - a cult figure - possibly not the best player but the one the fans all love?

Charlie Mulgrew. Possibly not the best left back we’ve ever had, there’s no denying his dead-ball skills. Generally, free-kicks from 25+ yards out were a good time to get the refreshments in because you know that by the time the ball had been retrieved from the roof or from the car park behind the stand, you’d be back in your seat with your pie and your Bovril. Now, with Mulgrew behind the ball, you know that opposition goalkeepers are possibly a little more anxious. He’s been good for five goals and eight assists last season, so Mulgrew has been a terrific acquisition.

Opposition player you despised the most?

Surprisingly, I’ve been pretty ambivalent towards opposition players this season, but the incident at Ibrox that saw Mulgrew get sent off was particularly bad. Kyle Lafferty’s shocking display of cheating drew criticism from all angles, including his own club, surely an indication of the terrible dreadfulness of it all. Mulgrew’s red card was later correctly rescinded and Lafferty can expect a warm welcome to Pittodrie when the teams meet at the end of November.

Player you would happily see leave the club?

I’m not sure I’d want to see anyone leave the club - I think we need all the players we have to be honest. However, should McGhee use the opportunity to get rid of some of the deadwood, then the one player I’d

be more than happy to drive to the station is Richard Foster - I’ve never been a great fan Rickaldinho. Great pace, but not much else besides. He’s an average utility player capable of filling in most positions which is great in the small squad Aberdeen have, but he seems to be incapable of passing a ball more than 10 yards, and this limitation will become all too apparent with McGhee, a manager who favours a passing game with the ball kept nearer to the grass than to the floodlights. Other than that, Bossu can go, providing we get another (read “better”) back-up keeper.

What one change would you make after this season?

None, we’ve made it already with the arrival of a new manager.

Any advice you would give Mark McGhee?

Make Zander Diamond captain. He’s a more vocal player on the pitch than Severin ever was and, though he’s still liable to make a few mistakes, the added responsibility will only see him grow into a much better player.

by Seb Gevers | Insideleft.net

* Both Jimmy Calderwood and Scott Severin have departed

Pittodrie. Calderwood was sacked from his position as

manager by the Aberdeen board, while Scott Severin’s contract

ran out and he transferred to English side Watford to link up

with former Celtic defender Malky Mackay now manager at

the club. Calderwood was replaced as manager at Pittodrie by

Mark McGhee.

Our star player was Scott McDonald. The diminuative Aussie striker carried the club’s strike force who were - in laymens terms - PISH!

Unfortunately his goals could not help Celtic to win their fourth successive title in a row.

Who was the Terrace favourite - a cult figure - possibly not the best player but the one the fans all love?

Apart from the obvious - Artur Boruc - it has to be Gary Caldwell. Affectionately known as ‘Heid’ the central defender was the most consistent player in the side last season. After a torrid time when he first moved to the club, he pulled it together and is now in contention to b the new Celtic captain.

Opposition player you despised the most?

Kris Boyd. In a nut shell he as an ego the size of Ben Nevis and is one of the most laziest players I have ever seen, and one of the most overrated. Turning his back on Scotland was a huge mistake for the Rangers striker and it wasn’t a coincidence that he began to work after he quit the Scotland set-up.

While Henrik Larsson is the player that aspiring players should look up too, Boyd is the player that aspiring players should avoid becoming.

Player you would happily see leave the club?

Well now that Bobo Balde has left the club - finally - it has to be the likes of Massimo Donati, who is doing nothing but whining and bitching rather than pulling out his finger and knuckling down to work his way back into the side. But if I had to choose it would have to be Mark Brown. The former Caley Thistle keeper is not Celtic quality. He was bought as a back up to Boruc, rather a keeper to keep Boruc on his toes - Brown sin’t fit to lace Borucs’ boots.

What one change would you make after this season?

Well the major change has already taken place with the resignation of Gordon Strachan. The other major change must be the removal of Stephen McManus as Captain. A kipper has more leadership qualities than Mick.

Any advice you would give TonyMowbray?

Strengthen. We must bring in new players that will strengthen the side and not bring in players that are average SPL quality.

by Andy Muirhead

July 2009 23

Dundee United season statsPremier League: 5thTop Scorer:Francisco Sandaza [10]Scottish Cup:Fifth RoundLeague Cup:Semi FinalDiscipline:Yellow 72 Red 2Average Attendance: 8654

Nickname: The ArabsGround: TannadiceCapacity: 14223

Chairman: Steven ThompsonManager: Craig LeveinCaptain: Lee Wilkie

What was the highlight of the Season?

My highlight would be the game against St.Mirren after the sad death of Eddie Thompson. An emotional day for the fans and players was thankfully capped with a win due to two late goals. Three points was the best tribute to Eddie.

Who do you think was your star player of the season?

Paul Dixon who took no time at all to adjust after his move from the lower leagues to a bigger team. He contributed a number of assists and a great free kick at Parkhead.

Who was the Terrace favourite - a cult figure - possibly not the best player but the one the fans all love?

Gomis. One of the best midifielders in the league - great engine and impossible to shift off the ball. Loves United and hates Dundee.

Who is the One to watch for next season?

Hopefully next season will be David Goodwillie’s year. The guy has had the rising star tag for about three years but started to look the part as a striker in the last couple of months of the season - stronger, fast, skilful and a good finisher.

Player you would happily see leave the club?

Danny Grainger. I don’t believe we have won a game with him in the starting eleven. [Grainger is now on loan at SPL new boys, St. Johnstone].

Opposition player you despise the most?

Kris Boyd.

Is Levein the man to take Dundee United forward?

Definitely. We were bottom of the league when he took over, we have since had consecutive top six finishes and amassed a young squad with some valuable asssets instead of the expensive liabilities of the past. Although we did not gain a European spot this season, I believe we still moved in the right direction.

by Alastair Houston, Unitedmad

FAN FILE FAN FILE

Falkirkseason statsPremier League: 10thTop Scorer:Steve Lovell [8]Scottish Cup:FinalLeague Cup:Semi FinalDiscipline:Yellow 66 Red 7Average Attendance: 5639

Nickname: The BairnsGround: Falkirk StadiumCapacity: 8000

Chairman: Campbell ChristieManager: John Hughes*Captain: Darren Barr

What was the highlight of the Season?

I would say managing getting to the Scottish Cup Final but for the sheer drama I would say the last day of the season at Inverness knowing that we had to win to stay in the SPL. Never felt so good to win one small game of football. So many emotions that day and the fans really got behind the team and we managed to pull off the great escape.

Who do you think was your star player of the season?

Not many to pick from if I am being honest but for the goals he scored Scott Arfield. Ten Goals from midfield is a good number for such a young player but sometimes does go missing in a game.

Who was the Terrace favourite - a cult figure - possibly not the best player but the one the fans all love?

Simon Stainrod or Kevin McAllister hard to split them as Stainrod had so much ability but Kevin was what Falkirk was about so I would go for Chrunchie.

Who is the One to watch for next season?

Quite a few to be honest...Mark Stewart, Alex McDonald and Rynn Fylnn seem to have plenty of natural ability to create and score goals

Player you would happily see leave the club?

None really after releasing 14 in the summer we got all our dead wood out.

Opposition player you despise the most?

Scott McDonald

Is Eddie May the man to take Falkirk forward?

He talks the talk and seems to want to play the game in the right way but we still have time to get four or five more first teamers in to give us a healthy squad. He does not have the easiest of starts but most fans will give him time.

by Gav-ffc | Pie and Bovril

FAN FILE

Hamilton Acciesseason statsPremier League: 10thTop Scorer:Simon Mensing & Richard Offiong [6]Scottish Cup:Sixth RoundLeague Cup:Quarter FinalDiscipline:Yellow 62 Red 7Average Attendance: 3822

Nickname: The Accies-Ground: New Douglas ParkCapacity: 5396Chairman: Ronnie MacDonaldManager: Billy ReidCaptain: Alex Neil

What was the highlight of the Season?

My highlight would be the opening day win over Dundee United or the win at Pittodrie, a close call, I would go for Pittodrie , our first win there in 77 years, we were so off the pace for 30 mins and a goal down, the minute McCarthy came on as sub, we lifted as a team. Davie Graham scored a superb equaliser, belief spread, Aberdeen’s heads went down, and we ran out easy winners 2-1 after McCarthy scored.

Who do you think was your star player of the season?

James McCarthy, amazing player and still only 18. Superb passer, great at going past players, fast, can create goals, scores great goals, and he tracks back and tackles. No faults in his game other than the physical side due to his age.

Who was the Terrace favourite - a cult figure - possibly not the best player but the one the fans all love?

Mark McLaughlin. The man is a legend, he holds the team together, throwing himself in front of everything, defends with his life, motivates the team, the real leader on the pitch.

Who is the One to watch for next season?

James Gibson. He will take over from Brian Easton at left back, not as good as Eastie going forward, but a better defender and is very cool on the ball.

Player you would happily see leave the club?

Joel Thomas, he is the only forward I have seen - who looks like he doesn’t know where the goal is.

Opposition player you despise the most?

Dougie Imrie, we could write a book on this man, and the aggrevation he has caused Accies fans, since he ended Ross McCabe’s career.

Is Reid the man to take Accies forward?

Yes, he has done very little wrong apart from a 6-0 defeat at Gretna.

by Ian Kelly* John Hughes left the Bairns to manage SPL rivals Hibernian and the vacant role at Falkirk was given to Eddie May.

24 July 2009

Hearts season statsPremier League: 3rdTop Scorer:Bruno Aguiar [7]Scottish Cup:Fifth RoundLeague Cup:Second RoundDiscipline:Yellow 55 Red 9Average Attendance: 14397

Nickname: The JambosGround: TynecastleCapacity: 17420

Chairman: Roman RomanovManager: Csaba LaszloCaptain: Robbie Neilson

What was the highlight of the Season?

Beating Hibs in Scottish Cup at their own ground and the joy of watching Glen slot it into an empty net in front of us Hearts fans was brilliant.

Who do you think was your star player of the season?

Lee Wallace, most improved player and played consistently well all season. Best left back that Scotland has imo.

Who was the Terrace favourite - a cult figure - possibly not the best player but the one the fans all love?

Ruben Palazelous, not a world beater, but a very good player who when in the team we generally play well.

Who is the One to watch for next season?

David Templeton, i think this will be his year, i think Csaba will give him more game time and he will grab it with both feet.

Player you would happily see leave the club?

Larry Kingston, imo he wants to be elsewhere, which is disappointing as he is class. He will have to realise though that to obtain the move he wants he will have to start showing some form and desire whilst playing for Hearts.

Opposition player you despise the most?

Derek Riordan, a ned with football boots, no further explanation required.

Is Laszlo the man to take Hearts forward?

Yes, the old firm are no great shakes and Rangers especially imo are there for the taking, if we can get a goalscorer in then we should be challenging for second a lot closer this season.

by Gambo | hmfckickback.co.uk

FAN FILE

* Robbie Neilson left Hearts at the end of the season to join Leicester City on a free transfer.

FAN FILE

Hibernianseason statsPremier League: 7thTop Scorer:Derek Riordan [12]Scottish Cup:Fourth RoundLeague Cup:Second RoundDiscipline:Yellow 75 Red 4Average Attendance: 12684

Nickname: The HibeesGround: Easter RoadCapacity: 17458

Chairman: Rod PetrieManager: Mixu PaatelainenCaptain: Rob Jones

What was the highlight of the Season?

Beating the yams 1-0 at Tynie.

Who do you think was your star player of the season?

Bamba, the big guy held the team together.

Who was the Terrace favourite - a cult figure - possibly not the best player but the one the fans all love?

Probably Bamba again. He always put himself about and I think the fans respected him for that.

Who is the One to watch for next season?

Got a feeling it will be Danny Galbraith. He looks like a guy with alot of energy and the fans will take to him hopefully.

Player you would happily see leave the club?

Joe Keenan. Not really had a long spell in the team but if with the arrival of Cregg and McBride we don’t really need him or have the space for him.

Opposition player you despise the most?

Michael Stewart. Hated him at Hibs and hate him at Hearts, always argues with the ref and has a go at the other teams players. The photo of wee Stevenson laughing at him is class.

Is Hughes the man to take Hibernian forward?

I think he’ll do well because he will get the team playing good football, it’s whether or not he’ll get the results as well as the stylish football that worries me though.

by Darren Hfc | hibeesbounce.com

FAN FILE

Inverness CTseason statsPremier League: 12th - relegatedTop Scorer:Adam Rooney [5]Scottish Cup:Sixth RoundLeague Cup:Quarter FinalDiscipline:Yellow 59 Red 4Average Attendance: 4457

Nickname: Caley ThistleGround: Caledonian Stadium Capacity: 7500Chairman: George FraserManager: Terry ButcherCaptain: Grant Munro

What was the highlight of the Season?

That’s a tough one. Either the first win against Aberdeen on the first day of the season or winning at Ibrox with a last minute penalty, sheer delight for the tiny amount of fans that were there.

Who do you think was your star player of the season?

Ian Black. Orchestrated play from the middle of the park and not afraid to get stuck in and take control.

Who was the Terrace favourite - a cult figure - possibly not the best player but the one the fans all love?

No doubt about it, Ross Tokely.

Who is the One to watch for next season?

Iain Vigurs, hopefully get more games next year but impressed in those he played this year.

Player you would happily see leave the club?

Phil McGuire or Richie Byrne.

Opposition player you despise the most?

Barry Ferguson, over-rated and an absolute disgrace to the Scottish game after his antics on international duty.

Opposition player you admire the most?

Scott Brown. For Celtic and Scotland he has been amazing, covers so much ground and gives his all for club and country.

The Teams you dislike with a passion?

Hamilton as they play negative football once they score and the Old Firm for the trouble they bring to the league.

The Team you most want to beat?

Before this season it would be Aberdeen as we hadn’t beaten them. Either of the Old Firm are always nice to beat but if I had to pick one I think there is more satisfaction beating Rangers.

by David Fraser* Mixu Paatelainen quit Hibs and was replaced with Falkirk manager John Hughes. And Rob Jones has subsequently left Easter Road also.

July 2009 25

FAN FILE

Motherwellseason statsPremier League: 6thTop Scorer:David Clarkson [13]Scottish Cup:Fifth RoundLeague Cup:Third RoundDiscipline:Yellow 49 Red 3Average Attendance: 5521

Nickname: SteelmenGround: Fir ParkCapacity: 13742

Chairman: John BoyleManager: Mark McGheeCaptain: Stephen Craigan

What was the highlight of the Season?

The trip to Nancy in the Uefa Cup despite the result. The day spent in the town square, the march to the ground and the atmosphere at the game itself were all unforgettable.

Who do you think was your star player of the season?

David Clarkson - He was the top non-OF striker, made a scoring debut for Scotland and won himself a move to England.

Who was the Terrace favourite - a cult figure - possibly not the best player but the one the fans all love?

Probably Keith Lasley - hard-working honest player that’s been around for a while - never spectacular.

Who is the One to watch for next season?

Paul Slane has looked good in the early Europa League games - lots of pace on the wing and suits the managers preferred style, so should see some action as he steps up from the youth team.

Player you would happily see leave the club?

The new goalkeeper Michael Fraser looks far from convincing - not what we need in an already suspect defence.

Opposition player you despise the most?

Scott McDonald - everytime you see him he’s kissing the badge and showed a lack of class with his goal celebration at Fir Park.

Is Gannon the man to take Motherwell forward?

Definately - he looks to have all the credentials to build a good team - but will require some time to get it right.

by Swello | Pie and Bovril

Kilmarnockseason statsPremier League: 8thTop Scorer:Kevin Kyle [8]Scottish Cup:Fifth RoundLeague Cup:Quarter FinalDiscipline:Yellow 92 Red 2Average Attendance: 5726

Nickname: KillieGround: Rugby ParkCapacity: 18128

Chairman: Steven ThompsonManager: Jim JefferiesCaptain: James Fowler

What was the highlight of the Season?

Definitely the 3-1 drubbing of Ayr United at Rugby park. Everyone loves a win over their local rivals, but this game was special for what happened on the field, rather than the rivalry off the field.

Who do you think was your star player of the season?

Controversially, I’d have to say Jamie Hamill. He puts in a great shift every time he plays and for me, is very effective with the ball at his feet.

Who was the Terrace favourite - a cult figure - possibly not the best player but the one the fans all love?

Killie fans often have to endure the skill of the Highland League, whilst having the expectations of Champions League sides, so it’s difficult to name a player who has managed to achieve ‘Cult Status’. If I was forced into an answer, I’d have to say David Fernandez.

Who is the One to watch for next season?

I really hope Ian Flannigan matures, as he could be a great player.

Player you would happily see leave the club?

Tim Clancy...... only because my wife has a thing for him.

Opposition player you despise the most?

Barry Ferguson. Unfortunately for a potential world-beater, his on-the-field childish moaning and unprofessionalism has caught up with him off the field.

Is Jefferies the man to take Killie forward?

A large section of our supporters have called for Jeffries to be given the boot but I must pose the question: who would do better? It comes down to liquid assets. We don’t have the money sitting there to pay the wages of better players, so it comes down to how well our current squad are managed. Is our current squad able of a top five finish? Certainly not. However, anything less than this looks like a defeat for a lot of fans. They pay £300 a year, so they have every right to express their expectations.

by D. Clarke

FAN FILE FAN FILE

Rangersseason statsPremier League: 1stTop Scorer:Kris Boyd [27]Scottish Cup:WinnersLeague Cup:Runners-upDiscipline:Yellow 65 Red 5Average Attendance: 49533

Nickname: The Gers-Ground: Ibrox ParkCapacity: 51082Chairman: Sir David MurrayManager: Walter SmithCaptain: David Weir

What was the highlight of the Season?

Helicopter Sunday. Waited too long to be back on top of the pile, fantastic scenes at Tannadice and back at Ibrox.

Who do you think was your star player of the season?

Kris Boyd. No Kris Boyd = no title. If Celtic had Kris Boyd then they’d have won the title, and no-one could convince me otherwise.

Who was the Terrace favourite - a cult figure - possibly not the best player but the one the fans all love?

Kyle Lafferty for getting one of the sheep sent off, then sending us on our way the week after at Tannadice.

Who is the One to watch for next season?

Kevin Thomson will be back from injury, and with Ferguson gone, should form a good partnership with Mendes.

Player you would happily see leave the club?

David Weir. I’d like to see us go for a good young defender instead of playing a 40 year old, and hoping this guy has the legs for a long league and champions league campaign. If he doesn’t get found out in the SPL, he definately will in the champions league.

Opposition player you despise the most?

Anyone at Celtic or Aberdeen.

Is Smith the man to take Rangers forward?

I wanted us to get a new man in, but after seeing the troubles Celtic had getting someone, and watching them spend over £2 million just to get Mowbray who, with respect, is okay but doesn’t come with a great CV of success in management (especially in Europe), maybe it’s best for Rangers to stick with a title-winning manager. McCoist isn’t ready yet.

by Ian Dalzell

* Mark McGhee left Motherwell at the end of the season to take up the vacant managers post at Aberdeen. He was replaced by Jim Gannon as Well Manager.

26 July 2009

July 2009 27

FAN FILE

St. Mirrenseason statsPremier League: 11thTop Scorer:Andy Dorman [10]Scottish Cup:Semi FinalLeague Cup:Third RoundDiscipline:Yellow 51 Red 4Average Attendance: 5411

Nickname: The BuddiesGround: New St. Mirren ParkCapacity: 8029Chairman: Stewart GimourManager: Gus MacPhersonCaptain: John Potter

What was the highlight of the Season?

Personally, I would say beating Rangers 1-0 in our last game against them at Love Street. It was the first time we had defeated Rangers at home in 22 years so it was quite a result and the win was essential in maintaining our place in the SPL. There was such great character in our display against Rangers it wins hands down for me.

Who do you think was your star player of the season?

Andy Dorman. Despite going missing for large parts of games and even large parts of the season his quality was evident around January, February when he was scoring great goals almost every game and his contribution and goal tally were very important in keeping us up.

Who is the One to watch for next season?

Stephen McGinn, broke into the first team two years ago and looked quite poor despite scoring crucial goals against Hearts and Celtic. He looked very lightweight and wasn’t to be consistent enough to succeed. Last season was very much the same despite scoring a great goal against Rangers.

Player you would happily see leave the club?

Mo Camara, he is a model professional and does try very hard but he is just not good enough. Supposedly a pacy, experienced left back who has played at the highest level - he is in fact a bomb scare, devoid of pace, with no reading of the game or timing in the tackle.

Opposition player you despise the most?

Ross Tokely would win this award from any St. Mirren fan. As well as ending Chris Kerr’s career years ago and apparently laughing after being sent off for it, Tokely recently has not done anything to dispel the view he is a mindless thug. In ICT’s last game against us, he needlessly stamped on our keepers head after he had caught the ball.

Is MacPherson the man to take St. Mirren forward?

Yes, a view that is unlikely to be held with most St. Mirren fans. He does have his faults but he has proven he can work on a budget by getting us to the SPL and keeping us there and his efforts have gone a long way to contributing to our current stable financial position.

by Supras | Pie and Bovril

Season 2009-10 is when we at Scotzine.com and The 12th Man hope to put the site on a firmer foot hold in Scottish Football.

With over 500,000 unique hits already since January last year, and in our third year of existence, we believe that the site and fanzine can only get better as the season rolls on. However we cannot do it without the fans to help us. As Jock Stein famously said:

“Football without fans is nothing....”

And in our case that is so true. Without our fan contributors, with you the fans reading our site and fanzine we would not be here. While we know that we are not everyone’s cup of tea for a variety of reasons, we do feel that we are in a unique situation to give the Scottish football fan everything he or she wants in a website and fanzine.

However we do have limited numbers within our first team squad, and therefore we would like to announce that we are looking for new recruits for the upcoming season. If you have an avid interest of the Scottish game, love to give your own opinion on any aspect of it and can string a few sentences together then we want you. No matter what club you support, whether it is the Old Firm, Hearts or Hibs, Aberdeen, Stranraer or Annan Athletic we want you.

Our goal is to have a contributor from every club from the SPL down to Division Three on board, working tirelessly to give the footballing public in Scotland, the news, the features and the information they deserve and that for so long has been missing, as many media outlets decide to emphasis more on the Old Firm, the SPL, Scotland or English Football.

Anyone interested can contact us at [email protected] with the subject title of Contributing to Scotzine. And if possible, please send some of your own sample work with your enquiry.

Remember to return to Scotzine.com for the new season, as we continue to provide top class podcasting with the folk at The Terrace Radio podcast. You can sign onto our fan forum and discuss the latest news in the Scottish game or just get something off your chest. Or just comment on the main site where we will continue our features such as Legends of Scotland, Q&A and also bring new the latest news, transfer latest and our own opinionated ramblings. Thank you again for your support.

XITEAM

OF THE

SEASON

TEAM

OF THE

SEASON

GK Artur Boruc celticDespite making a number of crucial mistakes costing Celtic a few games, Artur Boruc is still arguably the best in the SPL. Pushed all the way by fellow Pole Lukasz Zaluska, Tomas Cerny and Neil Alexander, Boruc

has to swing it though. Who else can step up and make those critical pin point saves to win games?

LB Brian Easton acciesHis performances for Hamilton in their first season back in the SPL were brilliant to say the least. Playing only three full sea-sons for Accies, he has proven himself to be better at going on the offensive than in defence. He should

break into the Scotland national side in the next season at least to oust Gary Naysmith from his perch as Scotland left back.

RB Jack Ross st.mirrenSt. Mirren’s right back has been consistently the best in the country. He beat the Old Firm pairing of Andrea Hinkel and Steven Whittaker hands down, due to

their inconsistency. He has had his critics, even from his own support but he was instrumental in the buddies reaching the Scottish Cup semi final, after helping the Paisley side overcome a 7-0 hammering by Celtic to beat them the following week 1-0 and get some revenge on the Bhoys.

CB Gary Caldwell celticIt is testamount to Caldwell’s character that after the abuse he received in his first season at Parkhead, he turned it all around and is now a fans favourite. The most consistent defender at the club and is constantly

improving his game. Well worth his place in the Team of the Season.

CB Madjid Bougherra rangersOur Player of the Season and a stalwart in the heart of the Rangers defence. The best defender in Scotland last season. Bougherra swapped the dreary depths of Charlton to join Rangers and lift

the league and cup double in his debut season - Rangers certainly aren’t missing Carlos Cuellar now.

Do you agree or disagree

with our choices for the

Team of the Season?

Who would you have

selected instead?

#If you feel we have got it

wrong or you just want

to comment on our choices

email us at letters@

scotzine.com with your

views and opinions....

28 July 2009

LM Bruno Aguiar heartsBruno is on the list after battling back from an 18 month injury lay off to help secure third spot for Hearts. His seven goals including a free kick in the Edinburgh derby on his first match back, helped

Csaba Laszlo’s side secure European qualification.

RM Steven Davis rangersThe Northern Irish midfielder returned to Ibrox permanently after the Kaunas debacle and helped guide Rangers to a league and cup double. While his performances were at times inconsistent, when he was on his game,

he was a thorn in any side he played against.

CM Scott Brown celticAfter a poor debut season, with personal issues affecting him, Scott Brown returned to form with some impressive displays. His battling determination and attitude, along with his rottweiler style of play earns

Brown a place in our side. Every team needs a pitbull and Brown is ours.

CM Pedro Mendes rangersThe Portuguese international joined Rangers at their lowest ebb of the season and in his first Old Firm derby scored a brilliant goal from some 25 yards out and inspired a 4-2 victory over rivals Celtic. A dream start for

Mendes and despite inconsistency in his game, he is a must for our side.

CF Kris Boyd rangersThe season started off poorly for Boyd as he was left out of the Kaunas defeat and then quit Scotland over a major falling out with George Burley, but from then on his stock rose,

as he ended the season as top scorer in the SPL. Despite claims he doesn’t do it against the big boys, the fact is he is a poacher and his goals have helped win games, and this season, without him Rangers would not have won the league.

CF Scott McDonald celticThe diminuitive Aussie striker starts alongside rival Kris Boyd in our team, because he carried Celtic as Samaras and Hesselink fired blanks in the second half of the season. Despite his goals tally, it wasn’t

enough to bring fourth title back to Celtic Park in a row. A predator, huffy and stroppy - all good things a striker is and McDonald is all of them.

From his goal celebrations to his Confucious-like philosophies in press conferences, Csaba Laszlo revitalised a Hearts side that was struggling to shake off the interference from Mad Vlad Romanov. Laszlo has shown that if Romanov doesn’t stick his beak into footballing matters, the team can do the job on the pitch and eventually start challenging again. Secured a European spot for the Tynecastle side and looks set to try and split the Old Firm next season.

COACH OF THE SEASON: Csaba Laszlo

July 2009 29

Cove Rangers secured their second title in a row as they ended the season nine points clear of nearest challengers Deveronvale. Cove peaked during the months of April and May to secure another championship. The Toonsers established their lead at the top of the league by the end of May, with the best placed team to challenge them, Inverurie Locos having three games in hand. David Cormie’s side needed to win all three of those fixtures and hope that Cove slipped up, neither happened.

Three defeats for the Locos in April and May ended their hopes of a first ever championship while Deveronvale were held to two draws and one defeat. Only two teams showed Championship form at the crucial end of the season, Cove Rangers and Wick Academy. Wick’s excellent run of form eventually came to an end when Cove visited Harmsworth Park. The Scorries were on an amazing 12-match winning run but Cove knew that three points would be enough to see them secure the title for the second successive season. And they duly delivered on the 83rd minute volley through Barrie Stephen, despite some stout defending from Wick.

Deveronvale dropped points at Buckie Thistle thanks to a 1-1 draw at the start of April, while Cove and Inverurie Locos were grinding out wins thanks to victories over Huntly and Clachnacuddin respectively. Wick Academy kept up their winning run by defeating Forres Mechanics and then Nairn County.

Deveronvale and Inverurie Locos then faced off against one another at Princess Royal Park in a game both had to win if they were to have any hope in closing down Cove at the top of the league. And the victor was Deveronvale, who took all three points in a five-goal thriller thanks to Mark Chisholm’s late strike.

Despite the defeat, Locos got back to winning ways the following week, while Deveronvale kept in the hunt as they secured three points to keep them within touching distance of Cove - hoping and praying they would slip up. However the defending champions kept on securing the victories needed seeing off Forres Mechanics, Clachnacuddin and Lossiemouth.

HFL Season Review 08-09HFL Season Review 08-09

Inverurie’s faint hopes of catching Cove, ended at Kynoch Park on 22nd April, as Michael Fyfe’s winner was too much for the Locos. Keith kept battling on with nothing but pride to play for, as they won all six of their remaining games to secure fourth spot.

The Locos then lost to the rampant steam roller that was Wick Academy at Harlaw Park while Deveronvale kept themselves in the race by defeating Brora 6-1 at Dudgeon Park.

The first weekend in May was crunch time in the title race. Deveronvale had to win at Forres and hope Cove lost to Wick to keep themselves in with a chance of the title, as Cove then had to travel to Princess Royal Park in their next match. However Cove secured the points at Harmsworth Park and Deveronvale slipped up at Mosset Park, to give Cove the title for the second successive season.

The Highland League Cup final took place a week later as Fraserburgh faced off against Inverurie Locos. The Broch had seen off Forres Mechanics, Brora Rangers and Keith on their way to the final while Inverurie defeated Cove Rangers, Wick Academy and Nairn County.

The match ended 0-0 during the 90 minutes and it went into Extra Time. Kenny Coull gave Locos the lead, however Russell McBride soon pulled a goal back for the Broch. However, Scott Michie won the cup for the Locos as David Cormie’s men kept hold of the trophy for the second year in a row.

Bottom-placed Fort William had a torrid season being humiliated at every turn, none more so than in the Scottish Cup when they were hammered 10-0 by Banks O’Dee. However they did secure a record - an unwanted statistic at that. The team dubbed ‘the worst team in europe, possible the world’ by a bunch of TV reality eejits in the USA - secured the lowest points total in the league in its history with only one point out of a possible 84.

However the major shock of the season came when Cove Rangers manager John Sheran announced that he would step down from the Rainbow Taxis Park manager’s job at the end of the season. His swan song was a 3-2 victory over Deveronvale thanks to goals from Clark Bain, Paul Tosh and Robbie Henderson as the Toonsers closed a perfect season.

Despite starting the season in dejected mood after failing to secure entry into the Scottish Football League, Cove were once again easily the best team in the league given their consistent play losing only two games and conceding 26 goals and scoring 96 on their way to their second title in two years.

30 July 2009

Scottish Cup 2008-09Scottish Cup 2008-09 Round-up

The Final of the Scottish Cup took place as usual at Hampden Park. Newly crowned SPL champions Rangers took on a Falkirk side who had just escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth. Many felt that this game would be a foregone conclusion with Rangers lifting the Scottish Cup with ease, but with everything that has happened this season both in the league and in the cup competitions, the script was torn up and Falkirk gave as good as they got. Rangers were lacklustre in the first half, as Falkirk dominated play. Former Rangers midfielder Neil McCann caused problems for the Rangers defence throughout the first 45 minutes coming close on two occasions to upset his former employers, while Steve Lovell struck the post late on, luck was definately not on the Bairns’ side this day.

Within 30 seconds of the restart and having only coming on, substitute Nacho Novo turned and shot from around 30 yards out to beat Dani Mallo in the Bairns goal, a goal that sealed the victory for Rangers despite a late surge from Falkirk. And so Rangers fans were once again celebrating at the home of Scottish football, for the second successive year - although many must have been more relieved than ecstatic with the victory given the poor performance on show.

The victory also took Rangers to 33 Scottish Cup trophies, just one behind rivals Celtic who sit on 34 wins. If Rangers successfully defend the Scottish Cup, it will be the first team since Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen side frm 1981 to 1984 to win it in three successive years.

Some Facts

The biggest win in the competition came in the tie between Banks O’Dee and Fort William, as Banks O’Dee ran out 10-0 winners against the team, dubbed by a US TV mogul - the worst team in the world.

St. Mirren’s Quarter Final shock victory over Celtic came days after they had been mauled by the Parkhead side 7-0 in the league. The win at their new ground gave the Buddies some sweet revenge.

Throughout the competition there were five hat-tricks - with Milligan of Dalbeattie Star scoring two out of the five. There were 12 penalties, 23 red cards and 208 yellow cards handed out.

Results - Round by RoundRound One:

Banks O’Dee 10-0 Fort WilliamClachnacuddin 4-0 Burntisland ShipyardDalbeattie Star 5-1 LossiemouthEdinburgh City 2-0 Nairn CountyEdinburgh University 1-2 Civil Service StrollersFraserburgh 6-3 Hawick Royal AlbertGlasgow University 0-1 Vale Of LeithenGolspie Sutherland 0-3 Threave RoversHuntly 1-0 GirvanInverurie Locos 5-2 DeveronvaleLochee United 3-1 Bathgate ThistleNewton Stewart 1-1 Brora RangersPollok 1-1 SpartansPreston Athletic 3-1 Gala FairydeanRothes 1-4 Buckie ThistleSelkirk 1-1 ColdstreamSt Cuthbert Wanderers 0-3 Wick AcademyWigtown & Bladnoch 2-2 Forres Mechanics

Replays:

Brora Rangers 2-1 Newton Stewart (AET)Coldstream 2-2 Selkirk (AET, Selkirk win 3-2 on penalties)Forres Mechanics 2-0 Wigtown & BladnochSpartans 1-0 Pollok

Round Two:

Clachnacuddin 1- 0 Crichton FCEdinburgh City 0-0 Wick AcademyEast Stirlingshire 4-2 Preston AthleticCove Rangers 1-0 Whitehill WelfareDalbeattie Star 6-0 SelkirkMontrose 2-0 HuntlyFraserburgh 0-1 DumbartonBerwick Rangers 1-2 Albion RoversInverurie Locos 5-1 Banks O’DeeStenhousemuir 5-0Threave RoversBrora Rangers 1-3 Forfar AthleticLochee United 3-0 Buckie ThistleCowdenbeath 1-2 Elgin CityForres Mechanics 1-1 Keith

Replays:

Wick Academy 1-4 Edinburgh CityKeith 0-3 Forres Mechanics

Third Round:

Stirling Albion 2 Partick Thistle 3East Stirlingshire 2 Livingston 1Albion Rovers 1 Queen’s Park 2East Fife 2 Arbroath 0Peterhead 2 Greenock Morton 1Clyde 2 Montrose 0Airdrie United 3 Cove Rangers 0Raith Rovers 0 Alloa Athletic 0Clachnacuddin 0 Stenhousemuir 5Ross County 2 Dumbarton 2Edinburgh City 0-3 Brechin CityForres Mechanics 2-2 Dalbeattie StarElgin City 2-1 Spartans *Inverurie Locos 4-0 Vale of LeithenForfar 2-0 StranraerLochee United 1-1 Ayr United

Replays:

Alloa Athletic 2-1 Raith RoversDumbarton 1-2 Ross CountyDalbeattie Star 2-4 Forres Mechanics (AET)Ayr United 3-1 Lochee United

* Elgin City and Spartans had to replay the match after both were guilty of fielding ineligible players. Spartans won the match 2-1.

Round Four:

Peterhead 2-2 Queen’s ParkAlloa Athletic 1-2 AberdeenFalkirk 4-2 Queen of the SouthAirdrie United 2-1 SpartansInverurie Loco Works 0-3 MotherwellRoss County 0-1 Hamilton AcademicalForfar Athletic 6-1 Forres MechanicsInverness Caledonian Thistle 3-0 Partick ThistleCeltic 2-1 DundeeEast Stirlingshire 0-4 Dundee UnitedStenhousemuir 0-1 East FifeAyr United 2-2 KilmarnockDunfermline Athletic 2-0 ClydeBrechin City 1-3 St. MirrenHibernian 0-2 Heart of Midlothian St. Johnstone 0-2 Rangers

Replays:

Queen’s Park 1-0 PeterheadKilmarnock 3-1 Ayr United

Round Five:

Aberdeen 5-0 East Fife Airdrie United 1-2 Dunfermline Celtic 2-1 Queen’s Park Forfar 0-4 RangersHamilton 2-1 Dundee UnitedHearts 0-1 Falkirk Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2-0 KilmarnockMotherwell 1-1 St Mirren

Replays:

St Mirren 1-0 Motherwell

Quarter Finals:

Dunfermline 1-1 AberdeenInverness Caledonian Thistle 0-1 FalkirkSt Mirren 1-0 Celtic Rangers 5-1 Hamilton Accies

Replay:

Aberdeen 0-0 Dunfermline (AET, Dunfermline win 4-2 on penalties)

Semi Finals:

Rangers 3-0 St MirrenFalkirk 2-0 Dunfermline

Final:

Rangers 1-0 Falkirk

July 2009 31

Challenge Cup 2008-09League Challenge Cup 2008-09 Round-up

Despite their poor form in the league, Airdrie United saved their best for the League Challenge Cup. Beating the likes of Dumbarton (3-2), East Fife (2-0), Cowdenbeath (2-1) and Partick Thistle on the way to the final against Ross County where they were held to a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes. And after extra time when neither side could be split, the final was decided on penalties. Just over 4,000 fans had made their way to McDiarmid Park in Perth to see Airdrie United battle it out with Ross County and in the end the trophy went back to Airdrie as the Lanarkshire side won 3-2 on penalties.

It was Airdrie’s second time in the final, the first ending in defeat, as they lost to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the 2003 final 2-0.

Sadly for Keny Black’s Airdrie side their cup form could not be transferred to the league and they were relegated from the First Division and now look ahead to plying their trade in the Second Division next season.

As for Ross County, despite missing out on the League Challenge Cup, the Highland outfit secured their First Division status by just five points in 8th place, while their final rivals Airdrie in 9th place had a total of 42 points entering the relegation playoffs.

Results - Round by RoundCompetition Notes© Simon Varwell

32 July 2009

League Cup 2008-09League Cup 2008-09 Round-up

The League Cup this season was exciting, especially in the latter stages of the competition. Perhaps most memorably in the Semi Final clash betwen Celtic an Dundee United on the 28th January. All the pre-match talk as of United’s Willo Flood joining Celtic - it was just rumours then but he signed a few days later. Both teams could not be separated during 90 minutes and in extra time it was the same story 0-0. So it went to penalties and in the end Celtic triumped 11-10, with Celtic-bound Willo Flood missing his second penalty of the night.

That exhilirating penalty shoot out, which also increased Artur Borucs’ cult status with the fans with a brilliantly taken penalty, set up a showdown with rivals Rangers in the final on the 15th March.

Again it was 0-0 during the 90 minutes, despite a number of chances for both sides. With everyone contemplating another penalty shootout and Celtic fans hoping Artur Boruc would take another penalty and score just to rub it into the Rangers hordes, up stepped Darren O’Dea within a minute of extra time to give Celtic the lead. Despite glimpses of an attack from Rangers, it was all Celtic and after the final Rangers attack broke apart inthe dying seconds of the second half in extra time, Aiden McGeady got on the end of a pass and ran at the Rangers defence, as he made his way into the box, Kirk Broadfoot brought the Irish international down. Broadfoot trooped off the pitch with egg on his face - and not for the last time. McGeady stepped up to take the penalty and duly despatched it. It was Celtic’s first piece of silverware as they went for a fourth successive SPL title. Unfortunately for Celtic it was to be their only piece of silverware that season as rivals Rangers got their revenge, by reclaiming the SPL title and defeating Falkirk in the Scottish Cup Final to make it a League & Cup double.

The 2009 victory was only Celtic’s 14th League Cup triumph, with the last win coming back in 2003 against Dunfermline when they won 3-0.

Results - Round by RoundRound One:

Arbroath 3-2 Stirling AlbionAyr United 2-1 Berwick RangersEast Fife 0-3 Brechin CityEast Stirling 1-2 LivingstonAlbion Rovers 0-0 Raith Rovers (AET, Raith win 4-3 on penalties)Alloa 2-0 Elgin CityClyde 4-1 Queen’s ParkDumbarton 1-1 Annan Athletic (AET, Dumbarton win 5-4 on penalties)Montrose 0-2 CowdenbeathPartick Thistle 4-3 Forfar AthleticPeterhead 0-2 DunfermlineRoss Couny 2-3 Airdrie UnitedStenhousemuir 1-5 St. JohnstoneStranraer 3-6 Morton

Round Two:

Arbroath 2-2 Inverness CT (AET, Inverness win 4-2 on penalties)Ayr 0-1 AberdeenBrechin 0-2 KilmarnockHearts 0-0 Airdrie United (AET, Airdrie win 4-3 on penalties)Cowdenbeath 1-5 Dundee UnitedDundee 1-2 Partick ThistleDunfermline 1-0 AlloaHamilton 3-1 ClydeHibernian 3-4 MortonLivingston 2-1 St. JohnstoneRaith Rovers 1-3 FalkirkSt. Mirren 7-0 Dumbarton

Round Three:

Kilmarnock 4-2 AberdeenMotherwell 1-2 HamiltonPartick Thistle 1-2 RangersCeltic 4-0 LivingstonDundee United 2-0 Airdrie UnitedDunfermline 2-0 St. MirrenFalkirk 2-1 Queen of the SouthMorton 1-2 Inverness CT

Quarter Finals:

Kilmarnock 1-3 CelticDundee United 1-0 DunfermlinFalkirk 1-0 Inverness CTRangers 2-0 Hamilton

Semi Finals:

Celtic 0-0 Dundee United (AET, Celtic win 11-10 on penalties)Rangers 3-0 Falkirk

Final:

Celtic 2-0 Rangers (AET)

SPL Lookalikes....

GOLLUM

WILLO FLOOD

PEDRO MENDES

DOT COTTON

July 2009 33

Q&A Henry McClellandText | Andy Muirhead

Last summer when it was announced that Annan Athletic would be installed

as the newest club in the Scottish Football League, after the demise of Gretna FC, we contacted Club Chairman Henry McClelland to find out more about Annan Athletic.

Since then we have always had an eye on their results, and they have surprised many, including myself, with some of their performances as well as finishing a credible 7th in the league, just missing out on a play off place.

Whether Cove Rangers or Spartans were better choices does not matter now and for Annan, they did not just cheer from the rafters at their election to the SFL, but they also did their talking on the pitch. And so we decided to turn our attentions to Annan once again and ask their Chairman all about this season and his expectations for the coming season.

AM: What was the feeling like at the club on the first day of the season?

HMcC: It was strange, the first game we played as an SFL club was at Clyde in the Alba Challenge Cup, Clyde were tremendous hosts and they made the day very special. I can remember hoping on the way up on the bus that we didn’t get a thumping, as it was we held out for 70 mins and as the crowd were turning against them Clyde scored their first goal. We lost 2-0 but importantly we were not disgraced.

Harry was interviewed afterwards and the bus was silent as the recording went out on air on the journey home.The following week however will remain with many of us to the day we ‘pop up the turf’.

Our first league game, at Central Park, away to Cowdenbeath, the kick-off was 2pm due to Stock Car Championships later that day. At 1 pm we were sitting at a standstill 2 miles south of the Forth Road Bridge, some of the players were panicking, they even suggested walking the 8 miles to the ground. History will show that we won the game 4-1, a significant milestone, our first victory in the league, first goal, etc. It was however our first ever victory against senior opposition in a competitive match as we had never achieved this in any of our Scottish Cup exploits.

AM: Who do you feel was your stand-out player this season?

HMcC: In my eyes they were all stand-outs, we don’t have any outright stars just a great spirit based on an ethic of hard work.

At different times in the season different players stood out, the most consistent however was Craig Summersgill in goal, while it was very pleasing to see Annan lad Peter Watson become a fixture in the team.

AM: Annan finished 7th in the league this season, was that above all expectations?

HMcC: Yes, from the outset we suggested 36 points and 9th position would be successful, we were jettisoned into the league, we had the least time to prepare and then assemble a squad. Although we finished 7th, we were disappointed as for so long in 2009 we looked serious play-off contenders.

AM: As the season went on did you think you could make the playoffs and if so what did you feel when you realised that you had missed out this season?

HMcC: We were serious contenders, with six games to go the statistics showed with eight unbeaten games we were the form team in the league, unfortunately we ran out of steam.

We went to Stenhousemuir for the 35th league game of the season still in the play-off race, the 1-0 defeat put paid to our hopes, deep down though the 2-1 loss at Forfar a week or so earlier was a killer blow, we were streets ahead at half-time and only had a single goal to show for it, credit to Forfar though they hit us with everything in the second half, albeit they got the rub of the green with a couple of decisions. At the end of that game I felt we were in trouble.

AM: What was the best moment of the season?

HMcC: The 4-1 victory at Cowdenbeath on Day One of the league, cuddling and shaking the hand of every Annan fan at the end of the game.

AM: What was the worst moment of the season?

HMcC: The 3-0 defeat at Berwick was our worst performance of the year, we had a big travelling support that day, I felt sorry for the fans, it was one of the few games that as a team we didn’t turn up. We had a bad run in the autumn, some of the comments being made re. sack the chairman, sack the manager were unbelievable.

The majority of the fans though were level-headed enough to appreciate what we are doing and how we will take the club forward as a sustainable entity.

AM: Has the club met all its goals for its first season in the Scottish Football League? And what are the club’s goals for the coming season?

HMcC: We more than met our goals in season one, this coming season we should be targeting the play-offs, off the field further development work will continue as we continue to improve Galabank. Training started on Monday 15th June, this first week we have already had four sessions, some of our guys that started the game at Clyde last July only had four sessions of pre-season training. Fitness-wise we will have no excuses, Harry and Degsy will make sure of that! AM: Will the manager be strengthening the side for next season and if so what position(s) does he feel need to be strengthened?

HMcC: Harry has already signed ex Kilmarnock & Montrose David Cox (20), Lewis Sloan (the East of Scotland Player of the Year) has agreed terms and should sign-up imminently. We are also looking to further strengthen the team in midfield and we probably still need another defender and a forward.

AM: Do you believe the club have a realistic chance of making the playoffs and gaining promotion to the Second Division next season?

HMcC: We do not want to be subject to the bounce factor, i.e. second season syndrome, if we add the players we are targeting we will be stronger than last season so the play-offs are realistic. At some point we will gain promotion – it would be folly to make a rash prediction for the coming season, what I will say however is that we will not be in Division 3 forever.

Editor - Again I would like to pass on my congratulations and best wishes to everyone at Annan Athletic for a great debut season. And we hope that they can better it next season.

Annan Athletic Chairman

34 July 2009

Setanta GB ceased broadcasting on the 23rd June 2009, when the Irish

broadcaster went into administration following financial difficulties. But was it just down to finance that caused their demise?

Background

Setanta started life in an Irish dance hall in west London, showing Ireland’s 1990 World Cup game against Holland after the BBC and ITV refused to broadcast the game in the UK. It cost £10 to watch the game in Ealing’s Top Hat club and Setanta’s two founders, Michael O’Rourke and Leonard Ryan, managed to break even after 1,000 fans turned up to watch the game.

Setanta took its name from the legendary Irish warrior Setanta, who reputedly played the oldest known field sport, hurling.

Just under two decades later, Setanta was a company transformed. It expanded gradually at first, and then had a growth spurt in 2004, which saw it acquiring major sporting rights, not only for football competitions, but golf, horse racing, rugby union, cricket and boxing. It had moved away from its ‘safe’ zone of being a niche broadcaster providing Irish and Gaelic sport to an ex-pat audience, with the Dublin guesthouse ads, to a rival for Sky whenever major sports rights were available to bid on.

The Fall of Setanta

There are a variety of reasons why Setanta folded: the credit crunch, second-rate customer service, rising TV right payments, subscription numbers dropping and a rival in the guise of Sky Sports. However the fall of Setanta began when they moved away from their niche market and then tried to grow all at once.

Mike Darcey, the chief operating officer at Sky said its competitor had, “tried to grow too fast and lost control of costs.”

Setanta were the weak submissive company, feeding off the scraps left behind by Sky Sports – who were the big bad bully – overpowering and dominating the sports market. However Setanta bit off more than they could chew when they tried to take on Sky Sports and promote themselves as an alternative to the corporate giant.

Timing was also key. When the recession hit, subscribers had to set priorities and for many Setanta wasn’t on their list of things to keep. And when the Irish broadcasters failed to retain the rights to their two packages of English Premier

League rights between 2010-2013, back in February – that signalled the end was looming. Especially when the money men behind the Irish broadcaster tried to get away with putting in a lower bid for their share of the EPL rights.

These same money men had failed to realise that the price of sporting rights had changed. The rights to Premier League and top flight Rugby games had risen largely because Sky wanted to keep its audience, and so it was prepared to pay top prices to secure the best events which were central to its business. Setanta had to pay £54 million over a four-year period just to share the rights to the Guiness Premiership rugby union competition with Sky. Financial & Business analysts agreed that the Irish broadcaster overpaid for the rights to the Scottish Premier League, in a £125 million deal over five years.

And because of the huge fees being paid for sporting competitions, Setanta desperately tried to raise the capital needed to meet the payments, which they did not have. As soon it would make one payment, then money would be owed to other rights holders.

Setanta had been running at a loss of about £100 million a year, after missing their own subscriber targets. 1.9 million was believed to be needed for the broadcaster to break even, but they were short by around 700,000, and no business can sustain such debts for a long period of time.

The credit crunch was not the only reason why Setanta were struggling. They were always seen as second-rate alternative to the much superior Sky Sports. They modelled their Setanta News Service on Sky Sports’ own news channel and it ate up millions of pounds worth of funding to keep it running. With Sky Sports getting the big names in Presenters, Pundits and Commentators such as Charlie Nicholas, Paul Merson etc, Setanta had to go live with the likes of Scott Booth, Craig Burley, Jim Delahunt, Rob MacLean, David McKinney and Ian Crocker. Most fans criticised the style of Setanta’s commentators & pundits and in my own case pressed mute just to watch games without the inept ramblings of boring ex-footballers such as Scott Booth.

Another major failing for the Irish broadcaster was their second-rate and at times downright incompetent customer service. It was always easy to subscribe either online or over the phone, but it was ‘nearly impossible to cancel’ the service, with the only means of cancellation being to inform the company in writing. Setanta was criticised so much that it

was investigated by the BBC Watchdog programme and Radio Five Live. Due to the amount of negative feedback, Setanta did change their way for subscribers to cancel the service, being able to do so by email.Another problem was the cancellation notice period, originally customers entered into a 30-day notice period once their cancellation letter was received, but that was then changed to 60 days without any information being sent out. But after more negative feedback this was quickly reduced back to 30 days. Not only that, but whenever there was a problem – which there usually was - with your service the only number you could call was a premium rate number.

The pressure was immense on Setanta and its financial backers, when rumours persisted that they were on the brink of administration. And when the broadcaster missed payments to both the English Premier League and the Scottish Premier League in recent weeks, both organisations eventually took their respective broadcasting rights back. ESPN have since bought up the rights to the English Premier League that Setanta forfeited on, while the SPL are currently hunting for a broadcaster to show their games for next season with little over a month till the start of the new season.

The Fall of Setanta has had an effect on the SPL, clubs have released players who had reached the end of their contracts, when they would have negotiated extensions to keep the players at the club. Transfer dealings for the majority of clubs in the SPL have been limited to Bosmans or free transfers at the moment, because club boards are having to rework their budgets to cope with the possibility of no revenue coming in for Season 2009-10 from a broadcaster. And so with reported debts of more than £500 million, Setanta went into administration and at 6pm on the 23rd June 2009, Setanta GB stopped broadcasting for good. Around 200 employess involved in the GB operations will be made redundant.

“This is a sad day for all concerned,” said Sir Robin Miller, chairman of Setanta.“Unfortunately, in a difficult and highly competitive market, and despite strenuous efforts by the board and management, it has not been possible to find sufficient additional funds in the time available to ensure its survival.”

Setanta’s battle with Sky Sports was always seen as a David versus Goliath tussle and this time David was squashed like a bug by the mighty Goliath. The luck of the Irish really has ran out.

The Fall of SetantaText | Andy Muirhead

The ‘Luck of the Irish’ runs out

July 2009 35

SFL First DivisionSt. Johnstone finally

ended their seven-year exile from the SPL with a 3-1 victory over Davie Irons’ Morton side at McDiarmid Park. The Saints have been

languishing in Division One since 2002 when they sat some 19 points behind Motherwell in bottom place, and 82 points behind eventual SPL Champions Celtic that season.

Their last game of the 2001-02 season was at home to Hibernian, and it was the visitors who triumphed 1-0 thanks to a goal from Derek Townsley after 43 minutes. After missing out three years ago, when they were pipped to the post by Gretna in the final minute of the final game of the season, they were made to wait another two years, which included the departure of Owen Coyle to Burnley. After coming third the season before, St. Johnstone, now led by Derek McInnes, finally sealed the First Division title with a 10-point lead over second place Partick Thistle.

During pre-season, St. Johnstone had to fend off the lure of English Football to keep their grip on McInnes who was touted as the man to replace Tony Mowbray at West Brom, but he is staying put and is keen to test out his managerial credentials in Scotland’s top flight against the likes of Walter Smith, Tony Mowbray, Csaba Laszlo and Mark McGhee.

This season saw the First Division at its competitive best, with only 26 points seperating bottom-placed Clyde and title winners St. Johnstone. In fact four clubs finished on 47 points each - Queen of the South, Morton, Livingston and Ross County. It was so close in the league this season, that Dunfermline, who were languishing at the wrong half of the table in the relegation play-off zone, secured a 3-0 win at Queen of the South, a win that saw them catapult up the standings to third place.

Despite a valiant effort from Ian McCall’s Partick Thistle side, defeats at home against the Doonhamers [2-0] on the 11th April, a draw against league leaders

St. Johnstone [1-1] on 4th April and a surprise 1-0 defeat to eventual relegation playoff side Airdrie [1-0] on the 2nd May saw their title challenge end, and the emphatic 4-0 hammering by Dundee of the Jags on the last day of the season was the final nail in the coffin - although by then the title was firmly in the hands of St. Johnstone.

Jocky Scott returned to Dens Park and started a mini-revolution of sorts in

Dundee by turning around the side who were at the wrong end of the table when he joined them to fourth place, although never looking like promotion candidates this season - their spending power this season has seen them leapfrog into pole position in the eyes of many bookies.

However, the main talking point in the First Division was not football, but the financial crisis. Both Clyde and Livingston were hit hard, albeit in different ways. Clyde,

in the hope of avoiding administration in June 2009, terminated the contracts of their entire first team squad, with only a handful of youngsters remaining at the club. Manager John Brown was asked to quit as well as the coaching staff, in a bid to reduce wages. Subsequently, Brown signed a new deal, a less lucrative one, but one that helped him stay at Broadwood and one that would not threaten Clyde’s bank balance. His assistant Dougie Bell is reportedly working for free - which just gos to show you that not everyone in today’s game is after money.

And then there is Livingston. An enigma of sorts. The club is 14 years old, it has already tasted administration once in its lifetime and it has now entered

administration once again, thanks to the idiotic and brainless antics of Chairman Angelo Massone, who is running the club like his own lil’ dicatorship. ‘Il Duce’ Massone has proven to Scottish football how idiotic he really is over the course of the season and this pre-season also with some of his comments and actions.

He refused to pay an electricity bill to prove to the fans that without him the club would fold - inevitably Scottish Power cut the leccy off and the stadium was having to be run by generator, while Massone was sunning himself back in his native Italy. Not only that but the businesses that neighboured Almondvale and who pay their share of the electricity bill to Livingston FC, also had their electricity cut off down to Massone’s incompetence and in reality they could have taken the Italian ‘village idiot’ to court over fraud. Where has their money gone Il Duce? Only this week has the electricity been restored, after they paid £10,000 to Scottish Power.

Throughout the season Massone claimed that everything was rosy at the club, that he was in discussions with the council to buy Almondvale off their hands and that he was looking to invest of his money into

the club to get them back to their rightful position of ‘Third best team in Scotland.’ However it wasn’t rosy, while he tried to pull the wool over the eyes of the Livi fans, the rent at Almondvale was going unpaid, creditors were knocking on the door to get the money they were owed and Massone was picking up speeding ticket after speeding ticket in the company Jag, paid for by Livingston FC.

To prove to you that it is not only us that think badly of Massone, he recently asked Livingston’s fans to help raise funds to keep the club running, to buy season tickets in full rather than by direct debit over the course of the year - a system which Livi actually withdrew so they could get their hands on the money straight away. Fans donated money alright, but not the amount that Massone was hoping for - a mere £149.50 was raised by Massone’s appeal. From unpaid wages to late payments to no payments at all, Massone’s tenure at Almondvale is one of incompetence and it was even too much for legendary figure Davie Hay, who quit his role as Football consultant at the club over the goings on in the board room.

At the time of going to press, West Lothian Council have succeeded in getting an administrator appointed to Livingston in a bid to clear debts and find a buyer. However, all the time Il Duce Massone was saying that he would invest more money into the club - in excess of £300,000 and with the help of investors turn around the club’s fortunes, which he blamed on former owner Pearse Flynn. All hope of working out a payment plan to avoid administration has been thrown out by the council and the club will go into administration once again. It is sad to say but it is the best thing for Livingston. With administration comes Angelo Massone being booted out of Almondvale, which is only a good thing, and then potential suitors can then lodge their bids for the club - in our opinion we hope that the Fans trust win out and hopefully run the club properly, rather than the Italian stallion donkey who currently sits on the Livi throne.

With their financial problems off the park, problems on the park culminated in Clyde being relegated to the Second Division - the only good thing to come out of this season for Clyde is that one of the oldest clubs in Scottish Football did not go the way of Gretna or Third Lanark. Airdrie United who fell into the relegation play-offs lost out to Second Division side Ayr United in the playoffs going down 3-2 on aggregate.

36 July 2009

SFL Second Division

July 2009 37

Second Division top scorers

Second Division card count

Second Division card totals

36 519

The battle for the Second Division title was a thrilling affair going down to the second last day of the season, as Raith Rovers and Ayr United battled it out for promotion to the First Division.

Going into the penultimate game of the season, Raith faced Queen’s Park at Hampden, while Ayr United faced off against Alloa Athletic at home. If Rovers won against the Spiders and Ayr United dropped points against Alloa, John McGlynn’s side would be crowned Champions.

Both teams started off brightly, none more so than Raith who scored in the opening minute of their game against the Spiders, thanks to a goal from Weir. Ayr eventually broke the deadlock in their game against Alloa, thanks to a goal from Roberts in the 38th minute. At half time, both clubs entered their dressing rooms 1-0 in their games.

However in the Second Half, the thrilling end to the season would finally come to an end and it was Ayr United who were punished. In the 75th minute Spence equalised for Alloa Athletic and that goal signalled Raith Rovers would win the Second Division title and automatic promotion to the First Division, who won 1-0 at Hampden. For Ayr United they had to contend with a play off place.

After despatching of Brechin City 5-2 on aggregate, they faced Airdrie United, who were desperate to keep a hold of their status as a First Division side. Airdrie had overcome Second Division opponents Peterhead 4-2 on aggregate in the earlier play off round.

In the first leg down in Ayr, Airdrie’s hopes of staying in the First Division were god after they took a 2-0 lead going into the break, thanks to goals from Di Giacomo and Baird. However Ayr fought back and levelled the tie on the night thanks to a brace from Roberts on 48 and 67 minutes. However Ayr had to play the remaining

four minutes of the game with ten men after McGowan was sent off - that meant that he would miss the second leg at the Excelsior Stadium. The second leg was a close and tense affair, but on 29 minutes Stevenson scored for Ayr United, a goal that ultimately won the tie 3-2 on aggregate and gave Ayr promotion to the First Division, the hard way. For Airdrie it meant demotion to the Second Division.

Bottom side Stranraer were relegated to the Third Division after an uncertain period in the season, when they were near bankruptcy. Thankfully a way of avoiding administration was aided by a local housing association, however on the field Stranraer could not muster a last stand and they were relegated with only 16 points out a possible

108. Managing only three wins, seven draws and 26 defeats. The other side to be relegated from the Second, was Queen’s Park. The Hampden based side found it tough going in the Second Division and with only seven wins in total, the Spiders will be plying their trade in the Third Division next season.

Brechin City and Peterhead made the playoffs, however with

Ayr United and Airdrie United beating them respectively they have it all to do once again as they look for a way out of the Second Division.

Text | William McCafferty

SFL Third DivisionWhen you ask folks who support teams

in the SPL “who won Division Three this season?” unless they are betting men or women they may not know or even care. The fact remains that this season was as colourful as the first display by the Albion Rovers Ultra’s “The Coatbridge Brigada”.

The Brigada’s bad choice of flags - including some political and USSR flags - at Dumbarton when they arrived out of no-where to follow their local team in Coatbridge set them off in a bad light and caused a local paper to brand them everything from “sectarian” to “football hooligans”. I am assured by the Rovers faithful that they have calmed down a lot in those few short months and they are a welcome noisy and colourful addition to the Cliftonhill faithful.

There was a time when Division Three was stale and it was a toss up between East Stirling, Albion Rovers and Elgin to see who would finish bottom. This season was certainly not that and it was the case for a few reasons.

East Stirling – Suddenly the ‘Shire had a wee bit of money and being mediocre and being the laughing stock of Scottish football was not where they wished to be anymore. The

league table tells us that they finished 3rd in the table, in the play off spots, lost to Cowdenbeath, but that is far from the whole story.

This was a season of playing every game away from home as “home” was Ochilview in Stenhousemuir. What Jim McInally’s men have done this season is nothing short of a minor miracle. Providing relegated Queens Park don’t hit the ground running, East Stirling may be among the promotion contenders next season.

Dumbarton – They simply were the best team in the league. Jim Chapman must be the happiest man in Scottish football at present, not only are they club with a big heart as they proved

by their donations of club kit to kids in Africa, but their exploits on the pitch meant that they could not be caught. They won the league, four clear points ahead of their nearest challenger, clinching the title at SFL new boys Annan Athletic.

Annan Athletic – The naysayers that said that Annan were “too wee for the Scottish game” and “that they would get thumped every week” must surely be hiding for cover now.

Annan finished a respectable 7th in the table and only 17 points behind the league leaders (at one point they were league leaders) and acquitted themselves well in their first season of league football and for me were a decent advocate for a pyramid system. They also finished above Albion Rovers, Berwick Rangers and Elgin City.

Cowdenbeath – The Blue Brazil were desperately unlucky to be up against an on form Stenhousemuir that squeezed by them on penalties. The team that finished second and almost

caught Dumbarton must feel gutted to be trying again this season. I think they will bounce back and be participating in the top half again next season.

Stenhousemuir – Only in the play off system can a team that finished seven points and two places below another team be promoted ahead of them (It is kind of like Motherwell getting

into the Europa League!)

Stenny did very well this season, both on the pitch and off it with getting rent from the Shire. I wish Stenny all the luck in the world but I think they will come back down again.

Montrose – The Red Lichties were my pick to go up this season and they had a season full of ups and downs. They finished mid table and although they were only two points off the

play off spots, they simply did not do enough over the course of the season.

Forfar – There are so many stereotypes that suggest that I should make jokes about Bridies and all manner of other pastries that the town is famous for. Dick Campbell is a manager

who knows his stuff. I was expecting more from Forfar this season, perhaps next season they will shine a bit brighter. The long suffering patrons of Station Park really deserve better.

Albion Rovers – What else can be said about the Wee Rovers, drastically under-supported by their home town, they looked like they would make a push for the play off places but in the last

third of the season just stuttered to a halt.

The Rovers have been subject to publicity this season about a possible new stadium in Coatbridge, a possible move to East Kilbride and all of the mixed publicity about the Brigada. Some good news was found at the end of the season when Bobby Barr won the 3rd Division player of the year award.

If the Rovers do move, I will miss Cliftonhill as I have spent many a happy hour there! There seriously is no place like it on earth. If you haven’t been I suggest you go!

Berwick Rangers – The club that is technically in England but plays it’s football in Scotland. Berwick finished two points behind the Rovers and finished the 2nd worst team in Scotland.

Let us look on the bright side; it can’t get much

worse can it?

The Borderers were simply not consistent enough looking at their last eight results; they recorded five losses, two draws and a solitary win. (Against Elgin) Only a few years ago they were a 2nd division team squaring up to Rangers at a packed Shielfield, What has gone wrong?

Elgin City – Since their move from Highland league to SFL things have not gone well for Elgin. They are consistently teetering on the brink of the

worst team in Scotland and were worthy winners of the wooden spoon this time around. A good example of the gulf between them and Dumbarton was proven on the last day when Dumbarton beat them 6-0

Looking at last eight games, they had seven losses and a draw. It really is no surprise they were 11 points away from their closest challenger. Prior to being in League football they won the HFL 13 times, so were not a bad team at that level. I feel for them if a pyramid system comes in as they might find their level (and it could well be below their current one)

Dropping down from the 2nd – Well, 3rd Division teams will be at Hampden twice a season next year as Queens Park will be down in the basement again. Scotland oldest and most famous club dropped down to the bottom league with Stranraer, should they last until the start of next season.

IN THE CUPS

The longest surviving member of Division Three in the Challenge Cup was Cowdenbeath, who were eventually knocked out by Airdrie.

Again in the Scottish League Cup, Cowdenbeath were unfortunate to meet Dundee United and get thumped 5-1. In the same round SPL side St. Mirren thrashed Dumbarton 7-0.

In the Scottish Cup Forfar got to the last 16 and were handed a football lesson by Rangers at home. Rangers ran away 4-0 winners but Forfar were certainly the winners in both gate receipts and free publicity for the club.

38 July 2009

Text | Eoghan Maguire | Oor Football Years

Partick Thistle 1971-72

It is traditionally accepted that Scottish football’s most successful

teams reside in Glasgow. Queens Park FC were the game’s original success story in its formative years while the 20th century was dominated by the Old Firm duopoly.

Of the 93 League Championships played in the 20th century, either Celtic or Rangers were crowned winners on 76 occasions. An incredible statistic which more than testifies to the air-tight stranglehold the two clubs had and continue to exert on the Scottish game.

Such self-perpetuating hogging of silverware and limelight however, is a continuing source of frustration to Scottish football fans outwith the dynastic Old Firm axis, not least to those whose geography ensures they must share a city with them.

Former residents at the Shawfield stadium on the city’s’ south side, Clyde relocated to Cumbernauld in 1994, while former Scottish League Champions Third Lanark went the way of the dodo in 1967. Those who remain however, do so in small isolated pockets, hidden behind by the all encompassing shadow of the big two. Founding League members Queens Park maintain their residency at the national stadium in Hampden, while in the west of the city Partick Thistle staunchly represent the Maryhill area.

Although the recent history of the Firhill side is comparatively barren when compared to the silverware production plants at Parkhead and Ibrox, Partick Thistle are not without their own unique history and cherished memories.

Scottish Cup Winners in 1921, the Jags have been crowned First Division champions on five separate occasions and although currently residing outwith the Scottish Premier League their recent form suggests it is only a matter of time before they

rejoin the top table of Scottish football.

This inter-divisional yo-yo existence however, is somewhat indicative of the Partick Thistle’s history and standing in Scottish game. Yet despite this seemingly constant state of flux the club has produced some great characters and players in its time. Alan Rough, Chic Charnley and Alan Hansen have all at one time or another worn the yellow and red, and although Rough and Hansen make for inarticulate and dull football pundits, their footballing ability is beyond reproach. This was no more displayed than in the Scottish League Cup triumph of 1971-72. Facing the imperious green and white hooped force of Celtic, Rough and co. shocked a packed Hampden Park by administering a 4 -1 skelping to their more illustrious neighbours.

This success was all the more dramatic and unexpected given that this particular Celtic team was arguably the finest Scottish club side to ever exist. Containing many of the Lisbon Lions who had so famously lifted the European Cup in 1967 alongside the invigorative youth of the so-called ‘Quality Street Gang’, who would go on to star for years to come, Celtic were clear favourites.

Partick Thistle however, remained blissfully unaware of this fact as they demolished Jock Stein’s side who, although not at the peak of their powers, were in the midst of nine consecutive League Championship successes and 14 straight League Cup final appearances. Add to this the scale of the victory and it can be realistically claimed that the 27th of October 1971 saw one of the biggest upsets Scottish Football has ever witnessed.

As described by John Hansen, the disparity between the two sides was palpable to all involved. “This was Celtic, the best team in Britain….they were frightening. We didn’t even want to go out on the pitch to take a look round before the game because they were out there. When we did venture out, Lou Macari came over to wish me well and say, ‘At least you’ll be going home with a runners-up medal’.”

Yet to the chagrin of Macari and all of Celtic persuasion, an electric start from the men in yellow and red saw the Jags four goals ahead at half time as Jimmy Bone, Alex Rae, Bobby Lawrie and Denis McQuade struck to give Thistle a seemingly unassailable lead.

The fans at Hampden couldn’t believe

what they were seeing, while the BBC’s Grandstand team didn’t believe what they were hearing. Presenter Frank Bough, somewhat surprised, said to the UK wide audience “Celtic nil, Partick Thistle four” as he read from the vidi-printer, before hastily adding “I think that’s wrong, we’ll check that for you”.

Yet the BBC’s investigations would confirm it was not the primitive graphical technology, but Frank Bough who was wide of the mark. Thistle really were four goals up on the mighty Celtic.

As captain Alex Rae recalls, “We had a confidence that day, built through the arrogance of youth. Many of our players were 18 or 19, and many of them went on to play for Scotland. So there was ability, no fear, and the manager, Dave McParland, had us well organised. That gave us a chance. Celtic maybe took us for granted too.”

The manager’s diligence was emphasised in his half time team talk as his boisterous players returned to the dressing to be met with the hairdryer treatment for having the temerity to momentarily lose focus in the closing minutes of the first half.

But any perceived lack of concentration was quickly stubbed out. Although Kenny Dalglish replied with a consolation goal for Celtic in the second half, it wasn’t nearly enough to prevent Partick Thistle claiming their first cup success in 50 years as they put Scotland’s greatest ever club side convincingly to the sword.

As Alex Rae fondly looks back from time to time he recalls, “Climbing the Hampden steps to receive the Cup was one of the most fantastic moments of my life”. While the majority of Glasgow’s green or blue population may not agree with the cup-winning captain’s sentiments, very few would begrudge Partick Thistle and their long suffering supporters their glorious day outwith the shadow of their more illustrious neighbours.

Next month’s Oor Football Year feature takes a look at the now defunct Third Lanark, who folded in 1967 and their ground Cathkin Park which is little more than a memory of a forgotten team overgrown with weeds.

July 2009 39

Ditch the DerryDundee FC’s South Enclosure is one of few remaining

traditional “sheds” to be found surviving in the Scottish game. A quaint throwback to a time of crush barriers, skip caps, Three-pence four-page programmes, open air toilets, Alan Gilzean, crow scarers, matches against European giants and T-shaped footballs. Oh, and sectarianism. Yes, sectarianism. In Dundee.

I first met sectarianism on Glasgow’s London Road on a Saturday afternoon in 1986. Also in attendance was a young woman with her child. From her seemingly well versed reaction, I believe they’d met before. It’s perhaps little surprise that this occurred in what’s regarded as the epicentre of sectarianism’s more public manifestation or that it was on the afternoon of an old firm match. However, the Old Firm and sectarianism in a football context, intertwined though they may be, are not synonymous with each other. Be it overt, implicit or entirely unintentional, this curse which once eased its talons into a number of clubs across Scotland is, in places, reluctant to let go. Or worse, the supporters are reluctant to let go of it.

There is no better example of the latter problem than Dundee’s “Derry”. The term “Derry” or “Derry Boys” is one which appears frequently on banners, in songs, as user-names on internet forums and it’s also the ‘affectionate’ name for the South Enclosure at Dens Park. The origin of this reference has been subject to numerous fanciful explanations, none of which stand up to scrutiny. It’s actually “dairy” in a Dundee accent, or it stands for Dens Road East as was printed on the tickets, or it’s the nickname of the local primary school, or that someone, at one time, spray painted “Derry’s walls” on the outside of Dens Park. It’s even been credited to Dundee buying the roof of the stand from Rangers in bygone days of yore– a transaction that never even occurred. The number of excuses, and I’ve not listed them all, do no favours for the possibility of there being a non-sectarian explanation, and their pitiful naivete deals it the hammer blow.

On the true origin of the term, reliable first-hand testimony from many of Dundee’s own supporters from the relevant era has now been documented on a variety of websites; not least on a forum associated with Dundee FC’s official site. These point to the expected and undeniable fact that the term came into usage amongst the Dundee support during a period of overt sectarianism in the early 1970s. Dundee’s official reaction, so far, has been of the variety that gets sand in your ears. Reminders of Den’s Park echoing to the singing of The Sash and The Green Grassy Slopes of the Boyne by the home support are far from welcome, but each time Den’s echoes to “Hello hello”, the last line is another reminder of this dirty secret no less.

“There’s no sectarianism in Dundee!” claim the younger generation of supporters. Really? This particular brand of sectarianism has been with us in Scotland ever since the boat after the one that brought us the reformation. It wasn’t created

in 1888 when the second of the Old Firm clubs came into being and it will be with us long after its glorification from the terraces has ceased. There isn’t a corner of Scotland it hasn’t touched. It found its way into football because the three cities where clubs were formed by Irish immigrants also hosted arch-rivals who succumbed, at one time or another, to flying the flag for the reformed faith to enhance their rivalry. It may be retreating into the mists of time, but it’s not rocket science to work out why the Brigton Derry Boys, Gorgie Derry Boys and Dundee Derry Boys have Celtic, Hibernian and the one-time Dundee Hibernian as their respective arch rivals is it?

The prognosis is good. Sectarianism in Scottish football is on its knees. Only two decades ago, Rangers signing a Roman Catholic was front page news, now the front page news is more likely to be another bigoted song being removed by the powers-that-be from the Old Firm’s songbook. That’s progress. The pity is that Rangers and Celtic have had to be dragged for much of the way by legislation and the threat of sanctions. Dundee, sadly, may need the same “incentive”.

While we can be reasonably satisfied that the intent behind the current usage of this term at Den’s Park is not predominantly

sectarian, and that it is frequently in ignorance of the sectarian origin, there is no doubt that the casual observer not affiliated with Dundee FC is increasingly aware of, and disturbed by these references. Dundee’s pseudo-sectarianism has escaped below the radar for decades now, but with the Old Firm under ever increasing scrutiny and with the tide having finally turned in their willingness to combat it from within, that radar has become a great deal more sensitive

and far-reaching. By contrast, Dundee FC and their support have shown very little willingness to combat this problem from within.

Even if it is “merely” the unintended maintenance of a sectarian legacy largely forgotten by many of Dundee’s support, it’s continuance is no less palatable or acceptable in consequence. We also can’t ignore it on the basis that there are more prolific perpetrators elsewhere in Scottish Football. Indeed, this situation presents an opportunity to set the precedent that the elimination of sectarianism from football must necessarily constitute the elimination of all the terms which it imported into the game. Every last one of them.

Accepting it would be a start. There’s no point in a muffled “has it gone away yet?” from under a foot of sand. If, as would be expected, the loyalty to the “Derry” is based on ignorance rather than continued bigoted beliefs amongst the Dundee support, then it would be ended at a stroke by a club statement accepting its origins and dissuading the support from its continuance.

Over to you Dundee. The time has come for you to face up to your past and erase this last remaining remnant of bigotry from your future.

Text | Bryan MacPherson | ditchthederry.blogspot.com

40 July 2009

European ReviewEuropean football for Scottish clubs last season was an

inherent disaster, especially for the Old Firm. Despite all the column inches from the hacks about our co-efficient dropping - do fans really care about that? Or do the fans just care about how far their side can go in Europe? Certainly I doubt that Celtic fans would care about the co-efficient which would allow Rangers qualification to the Champions League or vice versa. In fact it is just an excuse by the media to not only have a pot shot at the clubs who fail in Europe, but also those who they see as not worthy of a European place - even though they hailed the club’s run in the Scottish Cup to reach the final, earning the right to stake their claim on a European place.

Celtic and Rangers, once again, were Scotland’s representatives in the Champions League, while Motherwell and Queen of the South earned a place in the UEFA Cup, and Hibernian through the Intertoto cup.

Hibernian got the European adventure underway as they faced off against Swedish side IF Elfsborg, but it was to be a short lived adventure by the hibees as they were beaten 2-0 at home, after being comprehensively outplayed by their Swedish opponents. In the away leg it was much of the same as Mixu Paatelainean’s men were outplayed

and were once again defeated 2-0.

For the first time in their history, Queen of the South entered into Europe, thanks to their run in the Scottish Cup making it all the way to the final where they pushed Rangers all the way before being ultimately defeated. Their reward, a place in the UEFA Cup and up first for them in the Second Qualifying Round

was Danish side FC Nordsjaelland. With the Doonhamers stadium not up to the job of hosting a European game, it was a bit of a jaunt for the home supporters as they travelled to Airdrie and the Excelsior stadium to see their club’s first European game, with only 4,406 fans turning out to see the clash. Despite managing to score in the first leg thanks to a 28th minute header from Sean O’Connor the first half ultimately put paid to the Doonhamers chances of progression as they were defeated 2-1 in the first leg at ‘home’, and in the second leg despite breathing some life back into the tie with a superbly taken 30-yard free kick from Bob Harris, the Doonhamers showed their inexperience in European football as they lost two goals in five minutes, which sent them out of the UEFA Cup on their European debut. It was a brave and gutsy performance from Gordon Chisholm’s men but once again it gave the hacks ammunition on why Scottish Cup runners-up should not be awarded a European place.

Motherwell, who earned their place in Europe thanks to a third-place finish in the SPL, made a mockery of the hacks justification of ‘earning’ a place in Europe, as they crashed out in the UEFA Cup First Round against French side AS Nancy. Mark McGhee’s men travelled over to face the French side in the Stade Marcel Picot and returned

to Scotland 1-0 down in the first leg, and at the end of 90 minutes in the return leg at Fir Park, Nancy qualified for the next round with a 2-0 victory.

It was proving to be a poor season for the ‘other’ Scottish

clubs in Europe, as, between them they conceded 11 goals and scored only two - and those came from the Doonhamers, the side who the hacks stated, did not deserve their place. At least they showed bottle and determination and didn’t fail like a damp squid, the same could not be said for the likes of Motherwell and Hibernian though.

And so it was once again down to the Old Firm to fly the flag for Scotland in Europe - or was it?

Rangers faced off against Hearts’ Lithuanian feeder club FBK Kaunas, with their loyal fans confident of a victory over Mad Vlad Romanov’s other team. The first leg was at Ibrox and surprisingly it ended 0-0, with both Kenny Miller and Jean Claude Darcheville having efforts cleared off the line and Nacho Novo having

another effort scrambled away to safety.

It was unthinkable that the Lithuanian’s could muster a win in Kaunas in the return leg, and with no parachute into the UEFA Cup, it would be a nightmare for the Ibrox club given their impressive run to the UEFA Cup Final, the season before - but their worst nightmare came true.

Kevin Thomson gave Rangers the lead after the half hour mark, but just two minutes before half time, Kaunas equalised with a superb 30-yard free kick from Nerijus Radzius, as the teams went in at the break all square. Leaving their top scorer Kris Boyd on the bench, was an error on a massive scale as Walter Smith stuck with Kenny Miller up front on his own in a 4-5-1 formation. Rangers were going for the draw and they were put to the sword four minutes from time by Linas Pilinaitis, heading home a corner, with the ball squeezing past three Rangers players on its way to seal the nightmare for Rangers and their loyal fans who soon turned against the manager, the players and Chairman Sir David Murray, for not strengthening the side before the qualifiers.

Eight games in and not a single victory - Scotland’s co-efficient was well and truly dented.

It was all down to Celtic, the SPL champions, who qualified directly into the group stages of Europe’s premier competition. They were drawn in a tough group, once again with English champions Manchester United, Spanish La Liga outfit Villareal and Danish minnows Aalborg BK. Their campaign started off at home against

Aalborg, where a victory was expected, and where a draw occured, as Barry Robson missed a penalty that gave the Danish minnows their first point in the Champions League. They next faced off against Villareal in the Estadio El Madrigal, and despite a spririted defence, they once again lost away from home - a record that after this season would look more of a curse than a statistic. A Marcos Senna free kick consigned Celtic to a 1-0 defeat, but it could have been so different, if Celtic’s Greek striker Georgios Samaras had not missed a number of great chances to score before Villareal’s punishing strike.

Despite the plaudits for the way Celtic played, they still walked away with a defeat from Spain, and it was to be an even more punishing defeat a few weeks later at Old Trafford against the English champions, Manchester

Text | Andy Muirhead

July 2009 41

United. It was another ‘Battle of Britain’ clash and despite two of Man Yoo’s three goals being clearly offside, the gulf in class was evident. Whether it was 1-0 or 3-0, Manchester United comfortably won the match with Celtic putting up little evidence of the tie being between two sides.

Three games played and only one point to show for it, it was looking bad for Celtic, but they could still qualify for the Last 16 for the third year in a row. They had two home ties remaining against Manchester United and Villareal, as well as an away day to Aalborg where they should finally end their away day hoodoo.

Manchester United as ever proved a tough opponent, but Celtic took the lead in their clash at Parkhead, thanks to a superb lob from Aussie Scott McDonald after just 13 minutes. Celtic were pinned back for the remainder of the match by a United side hell bent on not leaving Celtic Park with another defeat - which they had endured before at the hands of Celtic, thanks to a brilliant Shunsuke Nakamura free kick, and a match-winning penalty save from Artur Boruc. But a combination of slack defending, players taking their eyes of the ball and a stunning strike from Cristiano Ronaldo which rebounded to Ryan Giggs to head past the helpless Artur Boruc, put paid to any hope of another victory over the English champions. A deserved point for Manchester United, but Celtic had shown that they were no push-overs, though it was points dropped for the Parkhead side and ultimately put paid to their hopes of qualifying for the Last 16 of the Champions League.

It was now down to securing third spot and qualfying for the UEFA Cup. In their way stood minnows Aalborg who had held on to secure a point at Parkhead on Match Day One. Despite a header from Barry Robson in the 53rd minute, Celtic were punished for missing glorious chances through Shunsuke Nakamura and Georgios Samaras, as well as a penalty not given for a trip on Scott McDonald. Aalborg pulled a goal back as Caca’s speculative strike deflected off Stephen McManus and looped over a despairing Artur Boruc.

And the game ended in the cruelest of fashions for Celtic, as Gary Caldwell scored an own goal to give Aalborg a 2-1 victory and qualification to the UEFA Cup. A low cross from Andreas Johansson was cut out by Glenn Loovens, but it was diverted back into the Celtic net by the knee of Caldwell. A cruel end to a game that Celtic should have sewn up in the first half, and the continued hoodoo away from home.

Despite a credible 2-0 victory over Villareal at home, the result was of little consequence and Celtic flopped out of Europe like the other Scottish clubs before them, but at least it wasn’t an Artmedia Bratislava or an FBK Kaunas disaster of sorts.

The hacks lambasted the clubs for their poor performances and claimed that Scottish Football was at its worst period in its history - only a few months after claiming that Scottish Football was on the ascendancy, with Rangers reaching the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester and Celtic reaching the Last 16 of the Champions League, as well as the Scotland national side beating the likes of Ukraine and World Cup finalists France twice home and away.

Football fans as we all know are a ficcle bunch, but at least they are not as hypocritical as the media, those hacks paid to write about the game and whose opinions are supposed to be classed as ‘the voice of the fans.’

While Season 2008-2009 can be viewed as an abject failure on the part of Scottish clubs in Europe, it puts into perspective how little is invested in our game and shows the distinct failings of the SFA, the SPL and the clubs in

bringing through new players, talented players.

While the likes of Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Liverpool can spend tens of millions on a single player, the likes of Celtic, Rangers, Hibs and Motherwell struggle to match wage costs let alone transfer fees, and it puts clubs in the SPL and in the second and third tier of European football at a disadvantage. Whether or not a wage cap, banning clubs with huge debts, implementing the 6+5 rule and every other initiative dreamed up by Blatter, Platini & co. would help clubs such as Celtic, Rangers, Hibs or Motherwell tackle Europe is another issue, but what it would give our clubs is an even playing field against the big guns, in terms of finance.

But as we all know UEFA is hell bent on making as much money as possible, bringing in the revenue that not only lines their pockets, but also the pockets of the clubs who regularly contest in the upper echelons of the competition. Yet the dominance of English clubs in Europe is signally a shift in UEFA’s opinion of a monopoly. If it was a Spain or maybe an Italian dominance then, would there be a problem? Probably not, but the rise of multi-millionaire foreign owners buying English clubs and running up huge debts to entice the world’s greatest players to their clubs is causing UEFA to have an allergic reaction to a situation of their own making.

The Champions League was supposed to be all about the Champions of Europe tackling one another, which occured back in the nostalgic era of the game - in the 60s and 70s, when Scottish clubs were challenging the European giants. But the rise of football as a business, and UEFA wanting more money into its coffers has fuelled the Champions League into nothing more than a mismatch of a select bunch of teams, made up of champions, runner ups, third and fourth placed teams - if you are in Spain, Italy, Germany and England - and anyone else UEFA can think of that would entice more money.

The hacks can write column after column on how our game is piss-poor compared to the likes of England, Spain, Italy and Germany, but the fans continue to turn out in support of the club, travelling to far flung reaches of Europe, or if you are a Celtic supporter - Manchester year in year out. The passion, the quest for glory and the hope is still there for fans to see, fans that have year on year turned out to watch their club throw thick and thin, through the good times and the bad times. Sadly for the Old Firm, their ranks have not only been filled by the scum who spout their sectarian and bigoted remarks, but by the gloryhunting prawn sandwich brigades that sit on their hands, shout at fellow fans to sit down, don’t sing, who stand up in the middle of the game to talk on a mobile and wave at a pal in the upper tier and who boo the players off the pitch when a result doesn’t go their way. The same sort who wave their season tickets in the face of other fans when the club wins the league and who quickly hide in the drawer at home when they don’t win anything.

We can all dream about our club reaching a European final and for Celtic and Rangers fans they have had in recent times, Seville 2003 and Manchester 2007 respectively.

But there will be no success in the Champions League for Scottish clubs, and that it is not the club’s fault, but the money men behind the game, the multi millionaires, the glory hunters and UEFA for turning a game of football into nothing more than a way of lining their pockets with more money.

Scotland currently sit in 13th place in the country rankings, while we hope our clubs can progress further in europe than last season, are clubs from the likes of Greece, Russia, Ukraine or France, any better than our clubs? Or are they just richer? And have slacker immigration laws?

Text | Andy Muirhead | European Review continued.

42 July 2009

League StandingsScottish Premier League

SFL First Division

SFL Second Division

SFL Third Division

Rangers won back the SPL title on the last day of the season at Tannadice as they romped to a 3-0 victory. Celtic could only manage a draw at home to Hearts. Hearts and Aberdeen secured the European spots, Motherwell secured a Europa League place through the Fair Play league and Falkirk qualified through their Scottish Cup run. Meanwhile Inverness Caley Thistle were relegated on the last day of the season as they went down 1-0 to Falkirk at home.

St. Johnstone secured promotion to the SPL for the first time since they were relegated back in 2003. While financially stricken Clyde were relegated to the Second Division, and subsequently terminated the contracts of most of their playing staff to cut costs. Airdrie United had to go through the playoffs to try and secure thir survival in the First Division, however they lost out to Ayr United who were promoted from the Second Division at the expense of Airdrie.

In the Second Division it was a tight contest between Raith Rovers and Ayr United. Both teams subsquently gained promotion, Raith automatically gained promotion as they won the Second Division title, while as we stated earlier Ayr United secured promotion through the playoffs. Stranraer were relegated a few weeks before the end of the season, while Queen’s Park were relegated after losing out in the playoffs.

In the Third Division, Dumbarton won promotion to the Second Division but their celebrations were short lived as their summer was rocked to the core by the death of club captain Gordon Lennon. The Sons will be playing next season with their late skipper’s name on their kit in honour and in remembrance of the man who led them to the Third Division title. Stenhousemuir secured promotion to the Second Division through the playoffs, as they replaced Queen’s Park in the Second Division.

FOOTBALL EXTRA

July 2009 43

44 July 2009

>>Next month

ISSUE 7On sale

1st August

SEASON PREVIEWWe look ahead to the new season from the SPL down to Division Three.

THE HOMELESS WORLD CUPWe talk to Scotland Head Coach David Duke on life with Team Scotland, and we look a bit closer at the HWC.

SIR ALEX FERGUSONWe profile one of Scotland’s greatest if not arguably the greatest Scotland manager of all time.

THE OLD FIRM OBSESSION PART ONESectarianism, bigotry, violence, media love-ins and paranoia of the highest order.

PLUS....Third Lanark, Webwatch, Youth Academy, Csaba Laszlo, Sandy Clark and 1967 - A trip to Ibrox.

July 2009 45

END OF SEASON AWARDS

END OF SEASON AWARDS

The awards that are not picked before the end of the season - so we can have a party like the journos do....

With all end of season awards there comes controversy, idiotic reasoning and bewildering decisions. And last season was no different, as Celtic’s Gordon Strachan was awarded the Manager of the Year by his peers, despite losing the title to rivals Rangers.

And so it comes to The 12th Man’s End of Season awards. Who was the biggest w@nker in the black? Who was our Manager of the year, the Villain of the year? and who was the Player of the year?

The Biggest W@nker

in the Black? goes to....

MANAGER OF

THE YEAR? goes to....

Mike McCurry is our Biggest W@nker in the Black! After ballsing up the season before both on and off the park, McCurry was unofficially demoted by the powers that be at the SFA and like all good Ministers of the Christian faith took a hissy fit and blamed messers Hugh Dallas and Donald McVicar for making it personal - aye Mike it was personal: you’rE a shite referee!

Csaba has turned around the fortunes of Hearts and made them a tough side to beat. And the biggest reason for being awarded the title of Manager of the Year is for keeping his job with a barmy dictator like Mad Vlad Romanov in charge. Romanov

has been quiet al season and let Laszlo get on wih his job and look what happens when he is left to his own devices.But given all his football knowledge and tactical know-how, it is Laszlo’s quotes that have had everyone in stitches - definItely an eccentric but also a great character. One of his many bewildering and yet hilarious quotes: “If you see that your team plays this shit like we did in the first half, you can just run out of the stadium and say ‘it’s Mothers’ Day tomorrow’ and forget about the football. But we are guys, we are at Ibrox and we are still in the first half. I wanted to kill some of the people in my dressing room at half time, but then I have to go to jail and we don’t get a point! But the second half was sexy.”

VILLAIN OF THE YEAR?

goes to....

It was a tough choice between three idiots. Barry Ferguson & Alan McGregor for Boozegate and Kyle Lafferty for his Academy Award winning performance of a headbutt to get Aberdeen’s Charlie Mulgrew sent off. But in the end we went for the cheat - Kyle Lafferty.There are many instances of cheating in the game today such as diving to win a penalty or free kick, but to square up to an opponent and then feign a headbutt is the lowest of the

low. Replays showed that it was Lafferty who made the motion with his head and not Mulgrew, yet it was the left back who was sent off. But at least the SFA did something right in overturning the decision made by Stuart Dougal who retired after this match. The SFA have yet to punish Lafferty for his antics, but we hope for the benefit of the Scottish game that he is severely hammered with a ban, otherwise it will just happen all over again. HANG YOUR HEAD IN SHAME KYLE!

Ranger’s defender Madjid Bougherra.Bougherra had tough boots to fill when Carlos Cuellar left, but he proved himself worthy and arguably surpassed his predecessor. His ability has shone through while playing at Ibrox and has recently been linked with a move to Bordueax, despite claims of wanting to stay, the goings on behind the scenes with Sir David Murray and his accountants could put paid to that hope. Alan Hutton said the exact same thing and he was forced out by the club. The only weak point of Bougherra’s game? Partnered at the back by ageing warhorse David Weir. Next season will show us if Bougherra is a one season wonder or actually a world class defender.

PLAYER OF THE

YEAR? goes to....

46 July 2009

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