Kingsmills

Hopefully, they had the foresight to lay that down twenty four years ago.

There's a surprise. Both Celtic and The Rangers being drawn at home against the only two lower league clubs left in the competition.

Well Laurence, I appreciate that you will be disappointed but it seems that any optimism about the France match was not entirely misplaced after all.

Come on now. It is Dingwall we're talking about.

The journey ends for them both but they were far from disgraced.

It was when I had to venture into the Howden End to get a pie ?

I had lots of imaginary friends. Still do ? Speaking of the elm trees, I remember turning up for a derby match sometime in the eighties to find they'd been felled. I am guessing Dutch Elm Disease but maybe someone from the blue side of the merger can confirm.

My relationship with Caley started almost five decades ago standing under the elm trees at Telford street wearing my red and black scarf and cheering the opposition ?

A day that will live in the memory forever can't believe that it was eighteen years ago.

He failed to win over some of us at all and some of those he did win over he lost again with his conduct towards the end of his tenure.

Baltacha had a team of part time Highland League players when the entire club was still finding its feet in the national league system. He was not the best coach in the world but it's unfair to rank him behind Foran who's record was abysmal despite having a large squad of seasoned professionals many of whom were Scottish Cup winners and some of whom were on six figure salaries.

The blip I was referring to was the season we spent in the First Division under Butcher. Our current situation is, without doubt, more than a blip.

We need neither a sugar daddy or more surporters although, especially with regard to the latter, that would be a welcome bonus. We survived in the top tier for over a decade, with one minor blip, without a sugar daddy or a large fan base. We did so with generally sound management both on and off the pitch sometimes combined with a measure of good fortune. While we have no divine right to be in the Premiership, there is no reason whatsoever why we can't enjoy a similar run again.

I can't see how building up a backlog of fixtures in the business end of the season is anything other than a negative. A mistake in my view.

Being outwith the top tier and trying to sustain full time football is always something to worry about. Even with our cost trimming and the parachute payment we are likely to lose hundreds of thousands of pounds in this financial year.

..and probably not doing much about it if and when they do.

If for no other reason than we don't want to emulate Sevco in any shape or fashion.

Aberdeen, quite properly, celebrate their two European trophies with stars. Amazing as it was, it would be inappropriate and frankly naff to mark our domestic trophy in the same way. An 'anniversary game of our first ever game' would be a friendly against St Mirren. Perhaps, to add authenticity, we could stage it in the car park of the Telford Retail Park.

A couple of beers and the rugby on TV it is then.

Have we had more red cards or more pitch inspection this season ?

It was probably a combination of both. Malpas may not be the best coach in the world but he is certainly a good deal better than Foran.

Don't worry, the SPFL will give us at least two hours notice.

The other advantage they have over us when we were in a similar position is that they have a very experienced manager whereas we had a stubborn rookie who refused to take advice from those who knew better.

Well, he was a complete non event.

Hopefully, they will pay all of his salary for the duration of the loan.