Sneckboy

The vote wasn't for 'the Scots'. It was for the people of Scotland, of all nationalities. Maybe you'd prefer if they all 'went home'.

David Bingham has quit as manager of Lowland League Preston Athletic.

No game today. But from next week, it's virtually every Tuesday until the end of the season, barring Xmas week, I think! http://spfl.co.uk/reserve-and-youth/development-league/ We're currently bottom but the one game we managed to draw was against table-topping, Aberdeen, who've won all their games - except the match with us! But results aren't too important in the development league.

You did well there Alex! 15/18 = 83%. You're a brave man putting up your round 2 forecasts - there aren't so many clear-cut games!

You're always spot-on with your observations, DD, so your statistic (regarding we only had 5 points after 7 games is from the season before last) can be glossed-over as the general point holds true. Performance on the pitch doesn't necessarily equate to attendances. But to contradict myself, If we were involved in a play-off decider (regardless of opposition) to secure 'Premiership' status, we'd likely have 5,500+. Full house if Rangers, Hearts or Hibs. It's almost like the natives have now 'got used' to "SPL"' football', it's there when they want. But, the threat of going back to the Cowdenbeath's amd Alloa's would draw back some of the complacent brigade....if only for the big deciding game!!

It would be interesting to see an accurate 'breakdown' of the voting figures within Highland region. I wouldn't dismiss the quoted Inverness result, although it just seems a little high for YES. However, if true, It would represent an overall landslide NO for the other Highland areas - which wouldn't be altogether unfeasible. Inverness probably accounts for around 30% of the constituency. I'd envisage Caithness being similar to their neighbours across the Pentland Firth in Orkney - voting overwhelmingly NO. Rural Sutherland would be NO, and I'd have Skye & Lochalsh as NO. Ross-shire would probably have been be tight as would Nairn district. Not sure about Badenoch & Strathspey? But Lochaber, with Fort William being its principle population base (with, in my experience, more Glasgow/West of Scotland accents than local!) could well have produced a YES! But, it's all speculation - we'll likely never 'officially' know the respective outcomes!

Our last 2 home games have seen total crowds of approx. 2,800...so even the seemingly established "3,000 hard core" is beginning to become questionably high!!

A goal for Billy can't be far away! It would be great if he could end his 'drought' this weekend. He's got a good record against Aberdeen - he's all-time leading scorer in the fixture with 6 goals. That old cliché about 'in off his backside' would suffice! Interesting stat: In his last 35 ICT games, Billy has scored 6 times; In his last 35 ICT games, Aaron Doran has scored 8 times!

2nd class postage is 53p. First class is 62p.

(Linlithgow knocked-out Fraserburgh yesterday; the Rose will now face Dalbeattie Star.) Linlithgow Rose v Dalbeattie Star Edinburgh City v Auchinleck Talbot Nairn County v Huntly Arbroath v Montrose East Fife v Threave Rovers Spartans v East Kilbride Bo'ness United v Culter Berwick Rangers v Formartine United Brora Rangers v Banks O'Dee Cove Rangers v Annan Athletic Elgin City v Forres Mechanics Whitehill Welfare v East Stirlingshire Inverurie Loco Works v Hurlford United Gretna 2008 v Queen's Park Turriff United v Clyde Stirling University v Albion Rovers

It may not be pretty to watch at times, but whatever we're doing must be effective. Only one defeat in our last 13 home games is a terrific record. As for the crowd, 2,770 isn't good, but it's higher than ANY of Hamilton's 4 home league games this season, and that's a team who've been doing really well and have the novelty of being back in the top-flight to their advantage. I don't think we'll be 'bottom' of the attendances league this season!

Curtis Allen and Jason Oswell were on target for their clubs yesterday in Northern Ireland and Wales, respectively. And, Gregory Tade scored yet again for CFR Cluj in Romania - that's 9 in 7 games this season. It's no diddy league, either!

$100!? Scarlet, you're obviously doing alright with that pension!

You'd think so (!), but actually these modern, portable defibrillators are really easy to use and very safe. The machine 'talks-you-through' the steps. One think many folk don't realise is that the machine won't deliver a shock if there's a 'normal' heart rhythm present....so you couldn't, for example, play a 'practical joke' and 'shock' a person who's fallen asleep!

Yeah, I just read that a moment ago. Very sad. I'd forgotten it recently had a fire (last year) - but it seems this time it's beyond saving. I just hope it wasn't arson, although I shouldn't speculate until investigations are carried out.

About a month ago I stated 44% YES with all 32 Councils 'opting' for NO! It was mainly to 'wind up' Ayeseetee, but he didn't bite! But, I'll stick with the above. It can't be any worse than my effort last Saturday when I thought Clach would win a game they lost 7-1! Assuming an 80% turnout, each percentage point equates to approx. 34,000 votes. ie a win of 50.5% vs. 49.5% would be a margin of that magnitude. (34k) Obviously, the outcome is of huge significance but also, politics has certainly been a winner in this referendum. I hope the estimated one-million folk who don't ordinarily bother with elections/voting remain engaged after this.

Brilliant Yngwie! You had me going there! Andy Murray has come off the fence, declaring his preference for an Independent Scotland - advantage yes perhaps? That's he best I could serve up! (edited to add the 'serve up' bit - pathetic, I know)

"genuine violence"? What happened? Fighting? Bottles being thrown?

Thanks, caleydawson! That's really helpful.

You're absolutely right! They were STILL talking, today, about Draper being 'touch and go'! Just incredibly amateurish journalism. I'm certainly no journalist, I just take an interest, but even I 'flagged-up' the suspensions, over a fortnight ago!!! This defeat now makes a mockery of the competition as the SPFL have broken their own rules by seeding The Rangers in the last 16 and dumping Kilmarnock into the non-seeds. No big deal going out of this second-rate competition!

Which names have you not heard off, i might be able to help you out on them Ali Stark, Lewis Grant, Andrew Macrae and Ally Velzian. Cheers caleydawson.

Isolated incidents like those you mention shouldn't be taking up news space - this vote is of international significance. Both sides, as in all-walks-of-life, have their marginal nut-job minority. But as the stakes get higher and Thursday gets closer, there will inevitably be some unsavoury incidents. With thousands of polling stations across Scotland, there will, absolutely, be some 'scuffles' on the day. No political capital to be gained from these 'incidents'. Desperate, much?

Cheers, Wanderer - that's a useful link. It seems that, in order to get the results as quickly as possibly, in this unique vote, the usually 'slower' declaring areas of the Western Isles and Argyll & Bute are employing helicopters and boats to transport the ballot boxes to their respective counting centres. (weather permitting) I can see now, with the boxes in delivered and in situ - with relatively small electorates, they could be early-ish in declaring. Indeed, the actual 'counting' process will be much easier than a regular election count, where there could be a foot-long paper to look-at with perhaps 12 candidates. One other interesting point: there won't be any lengthy re-counts, due to each Council area's individual results not being significant, in isolation. I can't wait until Thursday night/Friday morning!

An interesting 'rough guide' released by the Press Association indicating predicted declaration times. Significantly, the estimated final 3 areas are major population centres (a quarter of all the votes) - so even if one side has a decent sized lead, it really can't be 'called' until the last result's declared. That's if this is accurate! I've got to say, I'm surprised to see the Western Isles so 'early' in the list. And I'm puzzled why Aberdeen City should take so long? It's got a broadly similar population as Highland region but the geographical logistics of transporting ballot boxes in the vast Highland area would suggest it would take longer than Aberdeen. We'll see what transpires! Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles) 02:00 North Lanarkshire 02:00 Inverclyde 02:00 Orkney 02:00 East Lothian 02:00 Perth & Kinross 02:00 Moray 02:00 Clackmannanshire 02:30 West Dunbartonshire 03:00 Dumfries & Galloway 03:00 Angus 03:00 South Lanarkshire 03:00 East Renfrewshire 03:00 Dundee 03:00 Falkirk 03:00 Renfrewshire 03:00 East Ayrshire 03:00 Aberdeenshire 03:00 Stirling 03:00 Midlothian 03:30 Argyll & Bute 03:30 West Lothian 03:30 South Ayrshire 03:30 Shetland 03:30 East Dunbartonshire 03:30 Fife 04:00 Highland 04:00 North Ayrshire 04:30 Scottish Borders 05:00 Edinburgh 05:00 Glasgow 05:00 Aberdeen 06:00