snorbens_caleyman

Or a grant from the local authority. If a condition was that the pitch had to be made available to the community.... well, haven't we all been saying that the club should have more involvement in the community? Might help persuade some of that community to come and watch ICT matches!

My wife's family are Stenhousemuir supporters, and have often said to me how the club has benefited from their artificial pitch. I understand it's 3G, not 4G, whatever that means. (Does it mean that it's slower? ) I have just found this 6-page report on the FIFA website - https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/pitchequip/cs_stenhousemuir_37445.pdf It includes costs, but note that it must be 10 or more years old. Stenny is a community-owned club, and they received a £250,000 grant from the local authority, on condition that the pitch was made available for use by the community.

!!!!! If the Trust has 10% of the votes, then someone on the Trust really ought to be familiar with the rules or constitution of the club, and with the regulations governing private limited companies (which is what the club is).

If you look back to page 2 of this thread, you'll see that they responded to me within minutes when I asked about the semi-final dates. That was before 09:00, so maybe the trick is to get them before they become busy.

That doesn't prevent it. It merely lists the blocked hours that have been chosen by national FAs. The regulation starts "Each member association may decide on two and a half hours on a Saturday or a Sunday during which any Transmission of football may be prohibited within the territory of the relevant member association." My reading of that is that it's up to each national FA to decide IF it wants to have blocked hours, and then, if they do, to decide what they are. Having said all that, I wasn't aware how deeply embedded the prohibition is, so thank you to everyone for filling in a gap in my knowledge.

The Daily Record report that was referenced said that he had been invited, presumably by the SFA, to a meeting with all parties, to discuss arrangements for the semi. He wasn't going on a crusade to change the date or time. He wasn't "only [doing it] to try to avoid further criticism". But he's right to take the opportunity to complain about it.

All that needs to happen is for the SFA and SPFL to agree, in advance, to clear a weekend for the semi-finals. As is done for internationals.

I wondered if it was the Seaforths. One or two of them had tattoos suggestive of the Seaforths' stag, but I couldn't quite convince myself. Time frame interesting too, because it didn't look pre-WW2. Now playing: "Caber Feidh" ?

Well, if you have a few hours to spare... http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/ Though that won't help you if it's not an English or Scottish club. It's an unusual and exotic (ie possibly expensive) strip for back then. Hence my thoughts about it being a professional team.

IBM, what makes you think that could be Citadel? Do you have some other information about the photo? I have to say that to me they look big, sleek, well-fed, well-groomed - to me they just don't look like a Highland team from, at the latest, the mid 1930s. Why would Citadel have had a strip with "A" on it? If this was taken in Inverness, I'd hazard a guess that this is some professional team - maybe an "A" team, possibly not Scottish or even British - up to play an exhibition. Not sure if these things happened in Citadel's time.

Well done, lads! When did we last get through a game without a booking?

Boss (I assume he's still there) of this company - https://www.cairngormgroup.co.uk/ - which was plain old Cairngorm Windows when I were a lad. He rescued Clach from oblivion many years ago. I don't know when you left Sneck, but his father Alistair - always known as Allie - was well-known for being a world class pipe band drummer and coach, and an expert on roses, as well as running the company.

Get a quote from David Dowling. He has a track record of helping penniless football clubs.

Aye right, every other football club is sensible and stable ?

Looks like a fine for the clubs, nothing for the individuals unless otherwise charged. Page 90 of https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/media/3997/scottish-fa-jpp-18_19.pdf Low end £250, mid-range £1000, top end £2500, maximum £5000. I haven't looked up the definitions of "low end" etc, so don't ask me how something can exceed the "top end"

Yes. Because otherwise there could be an advantage for the finalists who played there in the semis. Just that little bit of local knowledge - how the wind swirls, for example - or simply being a bit more familiar with the place, could be a factor which helps to make a difference in the final.

A question for the AGM, then...

The rules of the competition include this: "10.3 The venues and all other arrangements for the Semi-Final Matches and the Final Match shall be determined by the Board [of the SFA]. " However, the Hampden Park website is listing both semis. So that's hopeful, but don't take it as definite. https://www.hampdenpark.co.uk/events/upcoming/ It's someone else's turn to email the SFA today - Info@scottishfa.co.uk .

Maybe the Supporters Trust could nudge the club into asking the SFA if the announcement could be brought forward? As MorayJaggie has pointed out, the Celtic semi will be the big one, attracting a bigger crowd and more TV interest, no matter whether the opponents are Rangers or Aberdeen. On that basis, surely the SFA could start talking NOW to the police, the BBC, and whoever else needs to be involved. If Graham Rae hasn't met the Celtic chairman, then this would be a good time to introduce himself. (Before the Final ) Since Celtic are the other team definitely in the semis, see if they would back a request for an early announcement. They too will have fans who will want to get off work, and to travel to Glasgow from long distances. What we don't know is whether the announcement will be made soon after the semis, which still gives everyone a month. Or whether after the semis is when the SFA will start talking to everyone to determine the schedule.

Instant response - but not what we wanted to hear. "The matches will be played on either the 13th or 14th of April. The specific times will made after the both replays have been played."

I have removed my suggestion of contacting the SFA, because they have replied to me - see below. Wouldn't be good to flood them with the same query that they have already answered.

Surely your wife will understand that you will have many more wedding anniversaries than Scottish Cup semi-finals?

That's odd. I thought I saw them there in 2015 ?

IHE has handed over the Seer's baton.

Best thing on TV for years