About a week or so ago, I wrote two articles on this site about the perilous state the Scottish game finds itself in. Back then, I bemoaned the fact that the game north of the border was being haunted by events on and off the field, from financial troubles to crowd troubles, from declining standards to declining credibility, and from a lack of competition to a lack of crowds.
Posts Tagged: Formartine United
19
Aug 09
Scottish Football Midweek Round-up
Jings, crivens, help ma boab, it’s Wednesday already. The off-season has been going by so slowly that the start of the new league season has caught me by surprise.
And I am glad it’s started. Well, I was until Aberdeen started playing competitive games and ended up shaming the entire north-east back into our crofts. Three games played so far, 11 goals conceded, 2 scored. But there’s no reason to panic, after all, we have a legend at the helm. And don’t forget, we had a bad start to the season last year too, and look where we finished.
So next week we play Hamilton, a sure-fire 3 pointer I reckon. Never mind they beat us last season at this stage also, we’ll gloss over that.
It completely escaped my notice, but the team that struggled to get past the Dons 8-1 on aggregate, Sigma Olomouc, are drawn against shit English side Everton in the first of the Europa League group games later on this week. I’m hoping Everton get a similarly thorough tanking (which is not unfeasible given their own stuffing by Arsenal last week), to prove once and for all that Scottish teams are no worse than English teams (note heavy sarcasm).
Celtic tried to prove that last night against Arsenal, but a combination of dodgy refereeing and Gary Caldwell prevented that truth to be proven once and for all, so we’re just going to ignore that result completely. And I do admit we where perhaps a little over-optimistic in our preview of this game yesterday, but hey, why not big-up Scottish football for once? No one else seems to be doing it.
Also in the group along with Everton and Sigma Thingy are Hearts, the team we’re tipping for third spot in the league this year. They’re taking on a team we once used to have in Subbuteo format – Dinamo Zagreb.
Unlike Hearts, Dinamo are the most successful team in their respective country, ehm, Croatia I think, having won lashings of league titles and shiny silverware. On paper then, expect another classic display of Scottish football at it’s best, considering that Hearts couldn’t even get past Dundee United yesterday.
Meanwhile, over in another corner of Europe, spare a thought for dear Fort William.
For years, the gashest team in senior football had carved out a little niche of terribleness, attracting attention from all corners of the globe, all drawn like flies to a pile of shit to one of the far posts of the Empire – Lochaber – to see for themselves the depths to which Scottish football has plumbed.
But they’ve suddenly got competition for all that media attention that nearly brought large-scale investment from the US: it turns out there’s a team that’s possibly even worse than Fort William.
Grantown-on-Spey side Strathspey Thistle where one of the three teams along with Turriff United and Formartine United promoted from obscurity in the north-east Junior leagues to semi-obscurity in the Highland League last season. So far, their campaign has not exactly got off to a flyer, something which cant be said for the teams that have had the pleasure to play them so far.
In their three games since the season started, Strathspey have conceded a whopping 19 goals, six more than Fort William. On opening day, Strathspey went down 8-1 to Wick Academy, with all the goals coming in the first half, an average of a goal every five minutes, roughly. In their next fixture, their first Highland League fixture on home soil, things got a little better against powerhouse Inverurie, the damage being restricted to only 3 goals. However, it was business as usual the following week when the other football team in Inverness, Clachnacuddin score eight times without reply.
All this makes for an unfamiliar picture: Fort William are no longer propping up the bottom of the table! Quite how long this will last will remain to be seen, but put a mark in your calendars for 28 November when these two giants of the scoreboard meet up!
Livingston finally played their first league game since they emerged out of bankruptcy. The SFA decided to refuse Livi’s desperate attempts at getting themselves re-promoted back into the First Division and upheld their decision to keep the team in the Third Division, a move designed to ensure the club’s long term survival. Or something. I’ve never quite understood how relegating a club one division, let alone two can in any way help a club that’s just struggled to get out of bankruptcy.
Livi where never a huge crowd-drawer in the First division, but down in the Third, when only 632 people turned up to watch game against Montrose, your crowds are going to be massively down, resulting in less income and sponsorship. And this loss of income will just more pressure on the club to survive in already difficult circumstances.
And just to really kill of Livi, the SFA may yet impose further penalties on the club because they refused to play their season-opener against East Stirlingshire. A 15 point deduction has been suggested, something which they’ll no doubt overcome, but it’s a little like getting a spear through the chest, only to discover a gas bill at the end of it. Madness, I tells ye.
So, what is there to look forward to in next week’s fixture list?
Though the tie between Celtic and new boys St. Johnstone looks tasty, without a doubt, the game of the weekend is Sunday’s SPL clash between Rangers and Hearts. Rangers have been suspiciously quiet so far in terms of transfers, but their casual demolition of Falkirk last week set out their intent to chase Celtic all the way this season.
In the First Division, two sides who we reckon will fight it out for promotion this season meet, as Dundee take on Inverness Caley Thistle. Cowdenbeath wont have to travel far to take on Alloa, and down in the Third Division we have the first Angus derby of the season when Forfar travel to Montrose.
28
Jul 09
Right, that’s us away for our holiday..
Right, that’s us away for our holiday.
I’ve got the suitcase packed, the Montego loaded up with buckets, spades and factor-50 sunblock. My knotted hanky is knotted and neatly ironed. Yes, I can’t wait to stick my toes in the sub-Arctic temperatures of the Atlantic, eating mucky foreign food and swatting swarthy waiters away from the wife and kids.
So that means you’ll have to do without me for a wee while. You’ll manage, you always do, but it’d be remiss of me not to leave with something until I return. The following events will take place while I’m gone:
Football
Yes, lots of it. In the first week we’re away, the Scottish Football League, otherwise known as the First, Second and Third divisions kicks off. It remains to be seen whether Livingston, Stirling and Stranraer will continue to play an active part throughout the season but we have our fingers crossed (except for Livi, they’re fucked). We reckon Inverness will make a speedy return to the SPL by the way.
The second Saturday also sees the start of the SPL season. Rangers looks to hold on to their title amids all sorts of rumours about financial difficulties. They’re going to be chased all the way by Celtic who have had quite a sucesfull pre-season, easing their way past Spurs to win the Wembley Cup. Hearts have been adding to the ranks and we tip them for another 3 placed spot this year. Aberdeen are one of three sides that finished in the top half last season who start this season with a new manager. Mark McGhee takes over from Calderwood in the Pittodrie wheelhouse. Much is expected of him, not least a decent Cup run, but he’s been frustrated in recent weeks trying to sign players only to be gazumped at the last minute. Dundee United and Hibs (along with Celtic the other team to have a new manager) will hope to improve on last season when both sides where pipped to the European places by results going the other way. Hibs have lost Fletcher and have gained most of the Falkirk squad. I just hope that’s going to work out.
Hamilton are richer to the tune of £1.2m, but they’ve lost star player James McCarthy along the way: he’s off to Wigan. Motherwell have lost most of their squad *and* their manager, two things you would imagine would cause a bit of concern amongst the faithful. But two stellar performances in the Europa League may have eased some of those worries. Falkirk survived by the skin of their teeth last season, a single goal in their final game against Inverness Caley kept them up -- at the expense of Caley Thistle.
St Mirren will start their first full season at their new ground, while we welcome back founding SPL members St Johnstone back after a five year abscence.
Videos
If you get bored while I’m gone, take a look at these! Now, we know Inside Left is supposed to be impartial and all that, but we’re Aberdeen fans and anything to do with the club gets a special mention. And if you don’t like it, tough shit, it’s our blog and we can do what we like. The other day while scouring the internet for videos of cheerleaders, we came (steady!) across a three-part documentary of Alex Ferguson (none of this ‘Sir’ shit then) made by STV before the start of the 1985/86 season. The program is really about Fergie, but for us whimsical nostalgics, there’s lots of footage of the city as well as some of the players.
Marvel at Willie Miller before he became fat and a bad manager and Director of Football. See Eric Black in a tattie-sack and laugh at Jim McLean with his comb-over and trackie. Witness Gordon Strachan with a mullet (Aberdeen won the game against Hibs 3-0 by the way) and see the old Beach End before they built the Dick End. And there’s fellow weegie Jimmie Reid jigging about in a bad suit and looking uncomfortable being filmed in some kind of grassy wasteland.
The documentary is quite good, plus there’s lots of footage of Aberdeen sticking it up Rangers and Celtic. Seeing the likes of Billy Stark, John McMaster, Peter Weir, not to mention Danny McGrain, Peter McLoy, Derek Johnstone, Davie Cooper and Arthur Montford does bring back some great memories. Anyhow, it’s a cracking documentary that provides a good insight into the man who would go on to manage some diddy club in England. I wonder whatever happend to Ferguson …
And just to really push it over the cliff as far as Aberdeen bias is concerned, scroll down a wee bit for a video of Aberdeen doing something they’ve not done for quite some time.
Enjoy, enjoy your football and best wishes to all for the new season. See you on our return!
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKt7G9QVFPQ
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwPOSUw3BS0&NR=1
Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lrAmq71mrU&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU-_q6R5mU4&NR=1
I’ve got the suitcase packed, the Montego loaded up with buckets, spades and factor-50 sunblock. Yes, I can’t wait to stick my toes in the sub-Arctic temperatures of the Atlantic, eating mucky foreign food and swatting swarthy waiters away from the wife and kids.
So that means you’ll have to do without me for a wee while. You’ll manage, you always do, but it’d be remiss of me not to leave with something until I return.
Football
Yes, lots of it. In the first week we’re away, the Scottish Football League, otherwise known as the First, Second and Third divisions kicks off. It remains to be seen whether Livingston, Stirling and Stranraer will continue to play an active part throughout the season given the problems they have, but we have our fingers crossed (and especially for Livi, they’re really fucked). We reckon Inverness will make a speedy return to the SPL by the way.
Before all that though, the Highland League also starts. This season sees three new teams entering the League: Strathspey Thistle, Turriff United and Formartine United. We featured these three teams in Inside Left before (here) and we’re hoping that they’ll make a big impact in the new expanded Highland League setup. Defending champions Cove Rangers start against Forres Mechanics (who gave Inverness Caley a run for their money the other week) while we’ve a nice derby game when Buckie Thistle and last year’s runners-up Deveronvale meet.
I’ll be back by the time it starts but I’m so excited about this I’ll mention it now: August 15th, the SPL season starts again. Finally!
Rangers looks to hold on to their title amids all sorts of rumours about financial difficulties. They’re going to be chased all the way by Celtic who have had quite a successful pre-season, easing their way past Spurs to win the Wembley Cup. Hearts have been adding to the ranks and we tip them for another 3 placed spot this year. Aberdeen are one of three sides that finished in the top half last season who start this season with a new manager. Mark McGhee takes over from Calderwood in the Pittodrie wheelhouse. Much is expected of him, not least a decent Cup run, but he’s been frustrated in recent weeks trying to sign players only to be gazumped at the last minute. Dundee United and Hibs (along with Celtic the other team to have a new manager) will hope to improve on last season when both sides where pipped to the European places by results going the other way. Hibs have lost Fletcher and have gained most of the Falkirk squad. I just hope that’s going to work out.
Hamilton are richer to the tune of £1.2m, but they’ve lost star player James McCarthy along the way: he’s off to Wigan. Motherwell have lost most of their squad and their manager, two things you would imagine would cause a bit of concern amongst the faithful. But two stellar performances in the Europa League may have eased some of those worries. Falkirk survived by the skin of their teeth last season, a single goal in their final game against Inverness Caley kept them up -- at the expense of Caley Thistle.
St Mirren will start their first full season at their new ground, while we welcome back founding SPL members St Johnstone back after a five year absence.
Our fearless forecast: Rangers to win the League again, Celtic second, Hearts third, with Aberdeen completing the European places. Our tip for relegation will be Falkirk.
Videos
If you get bored while I’m gone, take a look at these! Now, we know Inside Left is supposed to be impartial and all that, but I’m an Aberdeen fan and anything to do with the club gets a special mention. And if you don’t like it, tough shit, it’s my blog and I can do what I like.
So, the other day while scouring the internet for videos of cheerleaders, we came (steady!) across a three-part documentary of Alex Ferguson (none of this ‘Sir’ shit then) made by STV before the start of the 1985/86 season. The program is really about Fergie, but for whimsical nostalgics like me, there’s lots of footage of the city as well as some of the players of the day.
Marvel at Willie Miller before he became fat and a bad manager and Director of Football. See Eric Black in a tattie-sack and laugh at Jim McLean with his comb-over and trackie. Witness Gordon Strachan with a mullet (Aberdeen won the game against Hibs 3-0 by the way) and see the old Beach End before they built the Dick End. And there’s fellow weegie Jimmie Reid jigging about in a bad suit and looking uncomfortable being filmed in some kind of grassy wasteland.
The documentary is quite good, plus there’s lots of footage of Aberdeen sticking it up Rangers and Celtic. Seeing the likes of Billy Stark, John McMaster, Peter Weir, not to mention Danny McGrain, Peter McLoy, Derek Johnstone, Davie Cooper and Arthur Montford does bring back some great memories. Anyhow, it’s a cracking documentary that provides a good insight into the man who would go on to manage some diddy club in England and win a few trophies ‘n stuff.
And just to really push it over the cliff as far as the Aberdeen bias on this blog is concerned, scroll down a wee bit for a video of the Dons doing something they’ve not done for quite some time.
Enjoy your football and best wishes to all for the new season. See you on my return!
Fergie Video, Part 1
Fergie Video, Part 2
Fergie Video, Part 3
Aberdeen, getting the bus to the ground..
22
Jun 09
Highland League expansion: Crisis? What crisis?
There’s been much talk of crisis’ in Scottish football of late.
Clyde, relegated from the First Division last season, have been forced to release pretty much their entire squad as a cost cutting measure. Today they’ll begin to build a new squad for next season as John Brown and Dougie Bell invite over 60 players to the Broadwood for a series of open trials. Stranraer, also relegated last season are in desperate need of funds to secure their survival while Stirling Albion are raising money and awareness to purchase the club and run it as Scotland’s first truly supporter-owned club.
In the First division, Livingston are facing a day-to-day survival challenge as chairman Angelo Massone continues to play a cat-and-mouse game with the clubs creditors. And with the rights to show the SPL games also being up for tender following Setanta’s failure to meet its latest payment, there’s a fair few clubs and supporters anxiously watching the news and hope their club is not one of those affected by the drop in revenue the loss of the Setanta deal would mean.
And some clubs appear to be in hotter water than others. According to Equifax, a financial information supplier, Hearts, Hamilton and Motherwell are “technically insolvent and would struggle if all creditors came at once to demand the money owed”.
But it’s not all bad news. Far, far away from all this gloom and despair, the crisis has not been felt in the Highland League as the new season is going to start with three new teams joining up.
There had been talk for some time of expanding the Highland League partly to protect the league from shrinking as teams consider leaving to join the Scottish Football League (Cove Rangers missed out last year in favour of Annan Athletic), and partly to give the more successful junior sides a chance to break through to the senior ranks.
On the 25th February this year, following a long selection process, Formartine United, Turriff United and Strathspey Thistle where accepted into the league (an application from a fourth team, Banks O’ Dee, was unsuccessful).
Founded in 1947 in Udny, a town about 12 miles to the north of Aberdeen, Formartine United, play their home games at North Lodge Park in nearby Pitmedden. The club have been busy getting ready for the step up to the highland League with the addition of floodlights and a new stand, not to mention a raft of new signings. Joining the club to add considerable experience to the side are Stuart Mackay from Scottish second division side Peterhead, Stuart Cumming, who has played in the Scottish league with Montrose and Elgin City and Patrick Vigurs, brother of Ross County’s Ian Vigurs. Patrick joins from Elgin City. Formartine United open their season with an away day at Rothes, before playing their first home game against Cove Rangers the following week. Formartine’s season will be overshadowed however by the tragic death of Tom Goodwin, a product of the club’s U19’s who died in a road accident earlier this month.
Of the three new teams, Turriff United are the only one to begin life in the new league with a home fixture. They welcome Brora Rangers to The Haughs. For new manager Kris Hunt, who takes over from Jim Wills, it’ll be back to familiar grounds – before playing for his previous club Maud, Hunt was a noted striker with another Highland League side, Fraserburgh. The management team has also been strengthened with the addition of former Rothes manager Graham McBeath as Hunt’s assistant.
Granton on Spey lies approximately 40 miles south of Inverness with a population of just over 2,000. Its local football team, and the second team accepted into the all-new 18 team setup setup, Strathspey Thistle, where founded in 1993, yet very nearly lost their place in the League before a ball had even been kicked in earnest: facing eviction from their Seafield Park ground in Grantown after local planners recommended that redevelopment of their ground be turned down, Highland councellors stepped in to approve the plans that included a permanent hospitality suite, additional lights and two new 150-seater stands. Commonsense has been brought to bear – had the recommendation been followed, the future of the club would have been put in serious jeopardy. The club, known as the Jags, will make a very long trip north to Wick Academy, the UK’s most northerly football team.
Elsewhere, two-in-a-row champions Cove Rangers welcome Forres Mechanics to the exotically named Rainbow Taxis Park. Forres are the only club to have taken a point from the Aberdeen side last season in an exciting 3-3 game. In a league where most games a local derbies, the fixture between Buckie Thistle and Deveronvale is probably the match of the day. Fort William, last years bottom side open their campaign at home against Lossiemouth, no doubt hoping to get at least one win on the board this season.
The full opening day fixture list reads as follows
Buckie Thistle v Deveronvale Clachnacuddin v Keith Cove Rangers v Forres Mechanics Fort William v Lossiemouth Huntly v Fraserburgh Inverurie Loco Works v Nairn County Rothes v Formartine United Turriff United v Brora Rangers Wick Academy v Strathspey Thistle
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: the Highland League is one of the most exciting leagues in senior football in the UK. Nowhere else can you enjoy splendid scenery, small teams with huge local following playing in a league that scored 789 goals last season!
