A second chance for Third Lanark to come forth?
MARK Godfrey’s recent The Away End article on Third Lanark’s demise in 1967 must have had several sentimental senior citizens on the south side of Scotland’s second city silently sobbing into their Sanatogen. The Cathkin club may be long gone as a senior side, but they’re far from forgotten amongst the Cathcart cognoscenti.
Hi-Hi fans will readily recall the glory-glory days of their own ‘famous five’ - Goodfellow, Hilley, Harley, Gray, and McInnes - not to mention the diminutive Jocky Robertson, the most famous goalie ever to come out of Munchkinland. But sadly there was no Wizard of Oz around in 1967 as the roof, indeed Dorothy’s whole house, caved in on the Thirds. And it wasn’t just a bad dream for Hi-Hi supporters - their team never did make it back to Cathkin, far less Kansas.
I suppose some fans did switch allegiance – if not affection – after Thirds went to the wall. Queen’s Park or Clyde would have been the obvious alternatives in geographical terms, but I suspect most Cathkin diehards simply drifted away from the game altogether, never to return. But what if, like Bobby Ewing, they stepped out of the shower today to find that the Hi-Hi hadn’t gone to the great pavilion in the sky but were still alive and kicking on the foothills of Mount Florida? Would they recognise the game as we now know it? Or would they be too afraid to come out of the bathroom in case Anthony Perkins wanted in for a slash?
The born-again Thirds man making his way to Cathkin once again would want to know why the game was kicking-off at half-twelve on a Sunday. Remember, the Swinging Sixties might have reached Carnaby Street, but Cathcart Road at that time was still firmly rooted in the Calvinist Scotland of John Knox and Holy Willie. If the Wee Frees had had their way, even the churches wouldn’t have been allowed to open on the Sabbath. Three o’clock on a Saturday - or half-seven on a Wednesday for midweek games - that’s when matches were played. It’s on a Sunday now because the game’s live on the telly? With a Gaelic commentary? What’s teuchterese for ‘And it’s a penalty to Rangers!’? Well, some things never change over the years, do they?
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49 trophies: What is Sir Alex Ferguson's greatest triumph?
QUITE possibly the greatest manager the world has ever seen has announced he will step down at the end of the season. He will retire at the top, having led Manchester United to their 13th Premier League title under his guidance.When you look back at his career, where he has managed four clubs and been a success at each one, just what is his greatest triumph?
He started at lowly East Stirlingshire, where he galvanised the club, took them to the heady heights of third in the league, and led them to their first victory over local rivals Falkirk in 70 years.
From there he moved to St Mirren, who were below East Stirlingshire in the league, but he knew they were a bigger club capable of more and he duly led them to the First Division title in 1976-77.
Fergie was destined for much bigger things though, and it was when he moved to Aberdeen, then to Manchester United, that things really began to happen.
The betting news now is that Everton boss David Moyes will take over. It is fair to say he has big shoes to fill. Even before Fergie made it to Manchester, he had already won the lot in Scotland, and then did the same in England, including two Champions League trophies.
So looking back on his career, just what is his greatest achievement?
End of season awards 2012/13
ABERDEEN'S Niall McGinn has capped a stunning season, by winning three of The Away End 2012/13 end of season awards.We asked the team at The Away End for their nominations, and put the chosen ones to a vote.
Over 4,500 fans descended on the site to vote, with McGinn proving to be the main hit.
The Northern Irish hitman saw off competition from Leigh Griffiths (right), Michael Higdon and Andrew Shinnie to land the player of the year award, in a season where sports betting fans took the bookies to the cleaners knowing these guys were likely to be on the scoresheet each week.
In addition, he also was voted the best signing of the season, and most improved player.
Queen of the South were also big winners, with double winning manager Allan Johnston being named manager of the season, and Nicky Clark winning young player of the season.
What if the SPL linked up with with the NFL?
SOMETHING out of nothing would best describe the ensuing feature. Suffice to say that - whether true or not, I’m not saying either way - the prospect of The Rangers football team teaming up in partnership with the Dallas Cowboys gridiron team, got me thinking…what other teams would make a good partnership? Just for fun, which players would make a good trade?
CELTIC and the NEW YORK JETS
Other than the fact they both wear green and have a rather vocal and occasionally volatile fan-base, the Celtic-Jets connection would make a fine marketing project. For one thing, the passionate Celtic support can lift the morale of even the most under-rated player. Just imagine how much of a confidence boost both Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow would get from playing in front of a frenzied and loyal support?
In the other direction could go towering shot-stopper Fraser Forster, who would make a fine inside-linebacker. Also, Victor Wanyama, the powerful and enterprising defensive player who can also attack when required, would fulfil a pick-six cornerback role, or even play well as a blustering full-back. Furthermore, both the Jets and Celtic have very individual and opinionated head coaches in Rex Ryan and Neil Lennon.
In conclusion, you know it makes sense!
Scottish Referendum - how will you vote?
In Autumn 2014, the Scottish people will go to the polls to vote on whether Scotland should be an independent country or not.We are looking to find out the voting trends amongst various football supporters in the country, namely the SPL but also non-SPL fans too.
We would therefore appreciate you giving up one minutes of your time to answer a few questions about the team you support, who you generally vote for, and your current voting intentions regarding the referendum.
There are only five questions to answer.
Take part in our online survey
Where are the Scots in Royal Mail's Greatest XI?
ROYAL Mail are marking the 150th anniversary of the Association Football with a stamp issue celebrating eleven of the greatest football heroes from the home nations.Of course, choosing who should be the eleven men is not easy, for the British Isles have produced many a fine player over the past 150 years.
However, here at The Away End we took a bit of umbrage at some of the choices.
It was to be expected that there would be a strong English bias in the selection, but seven?
Wales and Northern Ireland are given token choices, with Scotland given just the two; Denis Law and Dave Mackay.
The only rules of the selection given were that players had to be retired for 15 years to be considered. That wasn't a problem for us Scots for we've not been blessed with world class Scottish talent since the 90's.
However, let's compare some of the great Scots who could surely have argued for inclusion ahead of those who did make it.
Wales and Northern Ireland are given token choices, with Scotland given just the two; Denis Law and Dave Mackay.
The only rules of the selection given were that players had to be retired for 15 years to be considered. That wasn't a problem for us Scots for we've not been blessed with world class Scottish talent since the 90's.
However, let's compare some of the great Scots who could surely have argued for inclusion ahead of those who did make it.
Scottish football going back to the future?
Murdoch, McNeill, Johnstone, Auld, Lennox: Greig, Jardine, McLean; Miller, McLeish, Simpson; Sturrock, Narey, Hegarty, Malpas.
Whilst noting the integral role each of these players played in helping their club sides to assume European dominance, it should more significantly be remembered just how these talented players were summoned to partake in some of Scottish Football’s most iconic European triumphs.
They weren’t bought for outlandish fees, cut price deals or even brought in on Bosmans (which thankfully, with the benefit of hindsight, weren’t around to flood our game with mediocrity). They were plucked from the revered youth systems of these respective clubs which were seemingly awash with players who were the next big thing and subsequently acted as the conveyor belt of emerging talent.
It was this method which saw clubs such as Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and Dundee Utd utilise as the cornerstone to their immeasurable success throughout the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Then, just when we thought this would all last forever, we took our eye off the ball, became complacent and allowed Bosman to rule us in the 90’s and so cue Scotland’s freefall into the football wilderness.
However, recent years have saw shoots of recovery slowly starting to emerge.
Celtic's James Forrest
Inspired most prominently by the success of Barcelona and their revered La Masia training academy, Scottish coaches have flocked to the continent to gain knowledge and insight on just how these clubs have managed to forge such a consistent stream of talent. Although driven more for commercial matters than prolonged club success these days, the principles remain for clubs to unearth gems to set loose on their national leagues and bring some success before eventually being moved on for a substantial sum.
Why 'wee' Messi wouldn't make it big in Scotland
The best footballer in the world, Lionel Messi, would stand less chance of playing international football if he was Scottish, new research by an NHS Highland consultant suggests.
Consultant in Public Health Medicine Dr Cameron Stark has revealed strong evidence that youth football in Scotland tends to be dominated by older, taller and stronger boys born in the first few months of the year.
Dr Stark has found that, with the eligibility year for youth football in Scotland beginning in January, boys born at the start of the year tend to be selected ahead of smaller boys born later the same year.
And that, he fears, could mean that children with the wrong birthdays could be getting bypassed by coaches – and be put off sport and physical activity in later life.
Consultant in Public Health Medicine Dr Cameron Stark has revealed strong evidence that youth football in Scotland tends to be dominated by older, taller and stronger boys born in the first few months of the year.
Dr Stark has found that, with the eligibility year for youth football in Scotland beginning in January, boys born at the start of the year tend to be selected ahead of smaller boys born later the same year.
And that, he fears, could mean that children with the wrong birthdays could be getting bypassed by coaches – and be put off sport and physical activity in later life.
Dr Cameron’s study, which has been approved by the University of Stirling ’s School of Sport Departmental Ethics Committee, was co-written by former Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Charlie Christie, who is now head of youth development with the club.
Christie said: “I find it scary that this January cut-off for registration means that players like Messi – who was born in June and who is just 5ft 6ins tall – would have less chance of making it big in Scotland.
“Talented small players like Messi are achieving huge success in Spain, for example, and I would suggest this is a reason to examine the registration rules in Scotland.
“Perhaps allowing the younger players who are born in the last few months of the year to play at an age level below would be a possibility.”
