Sneckboy

Richie Foran played in (and scored) in the Championship. Just been looking at the rest of the squad and Daniel Devine has also played in the Championship. But, both David Raven and Aaron Doran have had game-time in the Premier League.

Ross Tokely and Zander Sutherland scored for Brora today v. Nairn County. (Brora 3-0 Nairn) Stuart Soane sent off for Forres v. Elgin in the Scottish Cup. (Forres 1-3 Elgin)

Revised draw: ties on 1st November East Fife v. Berwick Rangers Forfar Athletic v. Cowdenbeath Edinburgh City v. Brora Rangers Stenhousemuir v. Brechin City Hurlford United v. Stirling Albion Arbroath v. Nairn County Elgin City v. Bo'ness United Ayr United v. Alloa Athletic Spartans v. Clyde Peterhead v. Stranraer Dumbarton v. Rangers Queen's Park v. Albion Rovers Morton v. Airdrieonians Annan Athletic v. Livingston East Stirlingshire v. Dunfermline Athletic Linlithgow Rose v. Raith Rovers

I was just reading that Nairn County have been awarded a 'Bronze' license for their ground - well done to them. Upgraded from 'entry level.' I think they're the first Highland League club to achieve that. I don't pretend to understand the criteria but it does goes beyond a ground just looking nice! Disabled facilities, toilets for women, accessibility, first-aid availability, press facilities, floodlight brightness etc. - the requirements are many and varied. The following table shows their (SFA) latest findings, which shows the Premiership clubs alongside my selected others. It clearly shows that administration has affected Hearts. Rangers are also rated as an 'entry level' club, and obviously I delight in this. It proves, that despite their pathetic fans' protestations to the contrary, the Scottish Football Association deem they ARE a new club.

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Sam Winnall scored last night for Barnsley in a 2-2 draw at Oldham Athletic.

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Signed up until the end of season 2016-17: • Gary Warren • Richie Foran Signed up until the end of next season (2015-16): • John Hughes - Manager • Russell Latapy - Assistant Manager • Dean Brill • Aaron Doran • Danny Williams • Ryan Esson • Ryan Christie • Carl Tremarco • Ross Draper • James Vincent Signed up until the end of this season (2014-15): • Greg Tansey • Daniel Devine • Graeme Shinnie • Nick Ross • Marley Watkins • David Raven • Josh Meekings • Billy McKay • Liam Polworth • Jaime Wilson (U20's) • Kane Hull (U20's) • Jason Brown (U20's) • Struan McArthur (U20's) • Blair MacLennan (U20's) • Calum Howarth (U20's) • Chris Brown (U20's) • Ali Sutherland (U20's) • Stephen Rennie (U20's) • Cammy Mackay (goalkeeper) (U20's) • Chris Blackett (U20's) • Daniel Hoban (goalkeeper) (U20's) • Calum Ferguson (U20's) • Ryan Baptie (U20's) Signed up until January 2015 • Ibra Sekajja

What a start to his ICT career - 2 minutes - GOAL! What kept you, Ibra?!

Great news! At last - another striker. A welcome addition to the squad. Any idea the duration of contract he's signed?

Yeah, as it currently stands. Obviously that may change by the time they play - but it could, just maybe, be a dress-rehearsal for the end-of-season HL v LL play-off.

East Fife v. Berwick Rangers Forfar Athletic v. Cowdenbeath Edinburgh City v. Brora Rangers Stenhousemuir v. Brechin City Hurlford United v. Stirling Albion Arbroath / Montrose v. Nairn County Elgin City / Forres Mechanics v. Bo'ness United Ayr United v. Alloa Athletic Spartans / East Kilbride v. Clyde Peterhead v. Stranraer Dumbarton v. Rangers Queen's Park v. Albion Rovers Morton v. Airdrieonians Annan Athletic v. Livingston East Stirlingshire v. Dunfermline Athletic Linlithgow Rose v. Raith Rovers

She's very nice and speaks almost impeccable English. I worked a few night-shifts with her at Raigmore a few years ago. Not claiming to know her but got quite a surprise when I saw that photo. Good for her. Can't remember her name - it was something like Ita or Iva.

Monday 6th Oct @ 2pm - drawn by Billy Connelly! So, fans will surely be justified in claiming that the draw is 'a ******* joke'! Teams in the hat: Championship Rangers Cowdenbeath Raith Rovers Alloa Athletic Livingston Dumbarton League One Stilring Albion Dunfermline Athletic Stenhousemuir Morton Airdrieonians Brechin City Peterhead Ayr United Stranraer Forfar Athletic League Two East Stirlingshire Queen’s Park Albion Rovers Berwick Rangers East Fife Clyde Annan Athletic Montrose / Arbroath Highland League Brora Rangers Nairn County Lowland League Edinburgh City East Kilbride / Spartans Juniors Linlithgow Rose Hurlford United Bo’ness United Other Forres Mechanics / Elgin City

For one so incredibly keen on adding numbers to our gates, I'm surprised to see you resort to the 'yes it's crap...but it's better than County' dialogue. For the record, they are getting bigger attendances than us. They averaged higher than us last season and are doing it again. Couldn't believe a post I read on a thread the other day - a fan was mocking the jail-end for being 'half-empty' against Dundee. Considering County had a bigger attendance at that game than our corresponding game v. Dundee a few weeks earlier, heaven knows what our stands looked like! I don't think we should be throwing stones in our glass house!

Stirling University 1-4 Albion Rovers That result completes a thoroughly disappointing series of games for the non-league clubs, this weekend! Could it just be that the bottom tier sides have 'upped their game' as a result of the new Pyramid system, now in place? Including Brora's loss to East Fife in the Challenge Cup, The top HL and LL sides have lost 8 and drawn 1 of the 9 games against the teams from the SPFL's lowest division, this season. A few years ago we'd have expected a few apparent 'shocks'. Coincidence? Maybe not. Only 2 Highland League clubs (unless Forres win their replay) are in round 3 - the lowest ever, in the current format. The days of the Highland League being superior to their non-league Southern counter-parts seem gone. And the top central-belt juniors continue to impress. Admittedly, Brora are better than the rest of the teams in the Highland League, but any thoughts of them 'routinely' beating the Lowland league champions, then the bottom club from League Two to secure SPFL status, should be delayed. Although competitive, it may be that the 'quality' of the Highland League has slightly diminished in recent years, and the chickens are now coming home to roost. But that's the beauty of the Pyramid - complacency has to go - clubs need to continuously strive to improve or they'll not progress. The days of happily standing still for 20 years in the bottom league, like say Montrose, are over!

I have to admit that this is 'a bit rich' coming from me - as I wasn't at the game today, but the downward trend in attendances IS alarming. If this was business, which, I guess it is(!), and these were annual profit results, alarm bells would/should be ringing. It's literally gone 6,5,4...3... To add to my previous post: (Oct '12) 6,800 (Mar '13) 5,800 (Jan '14) 4,300 (Oct '14) 3,700

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He scored again today! I'm sure he'd come up here, to Inverness, if offered - you'd certainly think he'd love a crack at full-time football. Much of the spine of our current team have come from the English 'non-leagues'...and Dean's playing at a higher level than Danny Williams was, when he joined us. What age is he, IHE?

Some other scorers from yesterday, Garry Wood on target for Montrose in the Cup at Arbroath Gavin Morrison for Brora in their win over Banks O' Dee Jason Oswell got a HAT-TRICK in the Welsh League for Newton v Aberystwyth

Craig MacMillan has left Buckie Thistle to go to Rothes, on loan, until the end of the season. I'm have to admit, despite MacMillan playing 11 times for the first team (around a decade ago), I can't say I remember much about him!

But, in all seriousness, from a football perspective, it's a very good draw for Chorley. Bamber Bridge are 2 levels below them - so I'd expect Chorley will be looking to see-them-off at the first time of asking. Then, they'll be into the final qualifying round.

Another incentive for Sunday - we've been knocked-down a place tonight to 4th - BUT can go top on Sunday if we beat County by 2 goals (providing Hamilton don't win at Parkhead!) Top of the league in October would be lovely!

Given the Sunday kick-off time and TV coverage, It's possible that the crowd may be around 4,000. The attendances since we've met in the SPL/Prem have been 'trending' downwards at a significant rate! (Attendances rounded to hundreds): TCS (Oct '12) 6,800 (Mar '13) 5,800 (Jan '14) 4,300 Victoria Park (Mar '13) 6,000 (May '13) 6,000 (Feb '14) 4,800 (April '14) 4,400

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