Laurence

I saw Paul play on a regular bases for Bury when they played in the EFL championship a few years ago. He played very well. Star man of the team coached by Neil Warnock

https://www.torontofc.ca/post/2017/12/09/toronto-fc-mls-cup-champions-highlights-recap Great match

It would be nice if some of the cash earned by Scottish clubs in Europe could find its way into the game in Scotland somehow. Maybe used to train Referees or something. Instead what have we got an F A that can't afford a National stadium. It looks like Hampden will be lost to the National team. A far cry from the Lisburn lions . A few puss-y cats at best. I suppose the stadium may be taken over by Rugby which seems to be on the up and up in Scotland. I take no pleasure in this sorry state of affairs.

Gods

To be pragmatic, I feel considering we just need to consolidate , and not get too ambitious on our very weak bank account . We should not stretch our resources more than we have too , to maintain our status in the Championship. Next season is another story , a lot of careful choices will have to be made and hopefully a few good loan young players may come our way. this is a rebuilding situation which is going to take a lot of care and attention. There is no point signing players that will deplete our cash flow for the future as well.

Mower

Lawn

I have a copy brand new - unread - of Elgin City v Rangers ( Collectors piece ) Free to a good home

I would like to thank David personally for his commitment and service to the Caley Thistle club over the last few years . I wish him and his family all the very best for his future whatever that may bring. Cheers David

Shearing

Score 9 points with pike - According to the rules Criteria for Judging a Dive 0: Completely Failed .5 - 2: Unsatisfactory 2.5 - 4.5: Deficient 5 - 6.5: Satisfactory 7 - 8: Good 8.5 - 9.5: Very good 10: Excellent

Maybe a coach challenge flag similar to the system in the NFL may be a step forward to get decisions right ? It is quite noticeable how often on-line decisions are reversed in the NFL by the video adjudicators. I think football is probably the only sport ( in the UK ) that is basically adjudicated in the same way as it was in the 19th century Some years ago I corresponded with a top level referee in the English game , his view that officiating for top level games had to be identical to all levels of the professional game. He was also bothered about the cost and the problems of recruiting top level officials. Another viewpoint that match officials should stick together as a team. Consistently working together, and forming a bond to help getting matters right. Mind you according to the moderator I am narrow minded . So take no notice of my observations.

Tweet from Tammy Beaumont tammybeauWhat a crazy game last night!! Well played @danniwyatt28 1st ever Englishwoman to hit a IT20 100!! Gutted the Ashes is over and they’re staying here but glad we could tie the series 8-8 last night!! treakletartYou were all bloody marvellous! x kieronfennAwesome series! AND down under! Well done ladies About Danni Wyatt getting 100 and the Ashes drawn

Just an opinion you know As far as I am concerned and I don't care if I am in a minority of one Having a world cup without Italy is like having Christmas with no tree

I suppose I can only put forward my point of view, which I am sure very few will agree with But I can think of at least 14 of the qualifiers I would not be interested in one iota - If I switched on my TV and saw the likes of Egypt or Costa Rica playing , Quite frankly I would prefer to see Italy of the Netherlands locking horns If you take out the European teams and the top 3 or 4 South American outfits. The world cup is full of teams I would not watch if there was cricket or snooker on another channel I mean Saudi Arabia , I ask you List Egypt Morocco Nigeria Senegal Tunisia Qualified teams Australia Iran Japan Korea Republic Saudi Arabia Qualified teams Belgium Croatia Denmark England France Germany Iceland Poland Portugal Russia Serbia Spain Sweden Switzerland Qualified teams Costa Rica Mexico Panama Qualified teams Argentina Brazil Colombia Peru Uruguay Matches

I noticed the other day that 4 times winners of the world cup, have failed to qualify' This is the first time since 1958 that Italy and their free flowing lovely football will not be seen gracing our TV sets.The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 to 29 June TV sets - well in 1958 hardly anyone had one . There were two basics channels , BBC and ITV which was in its in fantasy, Very few people had ITV. To convert your receiver to what was know at the time as band wave 3, you had to buy what was called a Cydron unit. It entailed drilling a hole in the side of your TV set ftiiin box with a knob on you pulled to change from band one to band 3, you then had to turn the knob to tune into ITV . There were two wires attached to the box that you plugged into sockets you had previously removed the valves. You can see that watching the world cup on the telly was hopeless. There was a program on Wednesday evenings called sports view. This had films of some of the matches usually a week old In 1958 all 4 of the home nations qualified for the world cup. England and Scotland were if my memory serves me right were iliminated after the first round . Wales and Northern Ireland went through to the second round, The Wales tem with the great John Charles ( In my view the best player to lace his boots ) played France in the 2nd round. No match on TV but worse still not on the Radio, we called the wireless, Broadcasting live from Stockholm was difficult even for Radio. I dib manage as a 14 year old to get my Dads short wave radio to work and I picked up the broadcast in French . Can you imagine today not being able to get France v Wales in the world cup on the Radio. John Charles I mentioned was known as the Gentle Giant, he was amazingly skilfully, I saw him play live a couple of times for Leeds United, a very great player. He was transferred to Torino where he became a legend. I am told that a statue of John Charles stands outside the ground in Turin to this day. When as an old man he visited the ground and the fans cheered and cheered him. Now I Italy has no place in the World cup. yet lots of small nations will be there, because of the regional qualifying system, I don't agree with.

The man who launched 10s of thousands of textile mills Not so sure about the birthplace of Inventors , but didn't the esteemed Inventor Richard Arkwright hail from your adopted homeland of Chorley. I could be wrong on that ? Also the Invention of the great delicacy to be enjoyed Chorley cake cannot be ignored, Issues to be debated in the favourite watering hole of mine the Leyland Tiger, a venue I am sure you are familiar with.

I suspect that the old firm fans ( Not all in fairness ) don't really care about the football . Their motivation seems to be to bring chaos if they can't win or even if they do win. Glasgow is a City not much different to Liverpool, the people of both Cities are similar, but in Liverpool the two teams get on well as can be expected of rivals. I am perfectly in tune with Kingsmills in this and agree with his thoughts. You would have thought that wandering around the small towns in Scotland playing the likes of Peterhead and Montrose would have taught them a lesson, but it appears not. I do feel for the genuine Rangers fans and their children , My suggestion to them is to go round to Partick or St. Mirren and take their kids there. I refer the readers to my piece on Maidstone a lesson of true support. Something of a sermon this I must apologise if I am boring you. If anyone has answer other than another draconian punishment , they are wiser than me, which s isn't hard to be these days.

The great result for Maidstone in the F A cup 1st round brought back a memory I should like to share. When my son a goalkeeper left Tonbridge Angels owing to a serious injury, he was asked when regaining some sort of fitness to play for a Kent first division Sunday league side. On coming home one day he said " Dad a strange thing occurred at todays match. One of the teams playing on an adjacent pitch seemed to have supporters . They wore replica shirts, carried flasks of coffees, had team scarves. Just like a senior club crowd.", I looked into this and found the team playing adjacent was non other than Maidstone United who a few years earlier had left the football league for whatever reason due to financial problems. They had reformed and started again in the 4th Division of the Kent football league. Now they are knocking out the likes of Cheltenham Town out of the cup. I realise it is nothing new to be a giant killing team , ( Look at Lincoln last season ) , that is not why I am writing, but in my little way to play tribute to those fans who supported their team through thick and thin through the years to get back their league status, which cannot be far off. I would like to think I would if called upon would do the same. Would you ?

Commiserations on the result on Sunday, you must have been gutted with the late Fleetwood goal.'

I wasn't at the game, I was on holiday - I submit to your reprimand in its entirety

Looking at the table - Livingston have 21 points , scored 20 goals. Sitting second in the table. I think the team did well to hold them to a draw . a good result Just noticed the table on this web site has not been updated Below is the table on the BBC web site 1 St Mirren 12 7 2 3 24 17 7 23 2 Dundee Utd 12 7 2 3 14 12 2 23 3 Livingston 12 6 4 2 20 15 5 22 4 Dunfermline 12 6 3 3 26 12 14 21 5 Queen of Sth 12 6 3 3 21 14 7 21 6 Morton 12 4 4 4 16 14 2 16 7 Inverness CT 12 3 4 5 13 16 -3 13 8 Dumbarton 12 3 4 5 9 16 -7 13 9 Falkirk 12 1 6 5 9 19 -10 9 10 Brechin 12 0 2 10 8 25 -17 2 View full Scottish Championship table

I am on an extended holiday in Little Hampton near Brighton I said we had to win before bonfire night and we have twice I am not jumping on the play off band wagon yet on even the safe bandwagon , but I am greatly relieved with the teams progress Cheers cheers and more cheers

I think we can all agree that this is a top site and we are lucky to have it. Since the advent of Facebook many clubs have closed down their fora for this very reason I hope it continues and subscribers treat others as they themselves would like to be treated. Sometimes a thick skin is useful.