Joonya

Cheers people Makes a change for me not to be out in the wilderness on Highland March...

exactamundo! :P

I very rarely read up on the stuff that flashes in front of me before logging into my e-mail inbox. However, one article took my fancy and it's actually quite interesting... It descibed how much the coins in our pocket are worth. From MSN Homepage... 1p - When they were first brought into circulation in 1971, 1p coins were made of 97% copper. Using today's metal prices, it meant each coin would cost 1.6p, or 60% more, to produce than it was worth. However, in 1992 the government decided to produce a lower cost alternative, meaning all 1p coins made after this date are worth just 0.18p*. According to the Royal Mint, the new coins have a "mild steel core and are electroplated with copper - consequently they are magnetic." *using steel price estimate of $770 a tonne 2p - If you have a 2p coin in your pocket that was minted between 1971 and 1992, it's actually worth 3.3p in terms of the raw materials required to make it. As with the 1p coin, the government responded by introducing a low cost copper-plated metal version in 1992, which is worth a piffling 0.36p*. And did you know that the 2p coin is legal tender up to just 20p? In other words, you can be refused if you try to spend more than 20p's worth of 2p coins at one time. *using steel price estimate of $770 a tonne 5p - In 1971, the pre-decimal one shilling coin was re-denominated as a 5p coin. The old shilling coins remained in circulation alongside the 5p until 1990. The 5p coin wasn't always this size: a smaller version was introduced in 1987 following a UK coinage review. Each 5p coin, which is made from 75% copper and 25% nickel, costs 2.56p to make. 10p - The current 10p coin was first issued on 30 September 1992 and is worth 5.13p in raw materials. According to the Royal Mint, there were an estimated 1.58 billion 10p coins in circulation as at 31 December 2005 - that's roughly 26 coins for every person in the UK. 20p - To help avoid confusion with similar-sized coins, it was decided the 20p would be shaped like a heptagon (that's seven-sided to you and me). Comprised of 84% copper and 16% nickel, the 20p coin costs 3.39p to produce. 50p - The 50p coin was first introduced back in October 1969, with a slightly less weighty version brought out in 1997. The current coin is 75% copper and 25% nickel, costing 6.32p to make. Interestingly, the 50p is only considered legal tender for amounts up to ?10. ?1 - Introduced in 1983, the ?1 coin is 70% copper, 5.5% nickel, and 24.5% zinc. While it may feel valuable due to its weight, the amount of raw materials used to make the coin is only worth 4.5p - less than both the 10p and 50p. So a dedicated forger who reproduced pound coins in exactly the same proportions as the Royal Mint version could make a sizeable mark-up. ?2 - The idea of a ?2 coin was first discussed back in 1994, but it was 1998 before the coin finally made its way into general circulation. The outer part is a combination of copper, nickel, and zinc, while the inner circle is just copper and nickel. Unsurprisingly, it is the most expensive coin to make, at 7.58p. Both ?1 and ?2 coins are legal tender for any amount.

I disagree with the comment you make regarding interest in the likes of Cowie and Rankin! there were rumours that not only watford, but also leeds united and rangers were interested in him. all three are big clubs who could well have afforded an extra zero if our own board pushed for it. rankin also was linked to Hearts and Celtic was he not? - he also had Manchester United on his CV which must prove some worth? (Then again, he also had RC, so 'null and void' springs to mind) On the subject of Hayes, i'd say 500k would not be un-realistic to seek should Doncaster and the other unnamed clubs really want his services. We'd no doubt sell ourselves short by letting him go for a tenth of that!!! I'm so much happier he extended his contract though!

I, personally, would think that would be the way we'd currently define 'Obscene', SanMiguel. But, consider this... ... Are Hayes, Rooney and/or Foran better than Dougie Imrie - a player who has outplayed Hamiltons ?1m rated 'stars' since he joined. I would say that they all most certainly are, so why shouldnt we be considering at least 500k each minimum. Did Robert Snodgrass not go to Leeds United for a large sum of money from Livingston? A player who, I would consider, was not really as close to the quality as our irish contingent.

I fully understand that Scottish Football is looked upon as a poorer league where the financial state of the game is predominently at the forefront, but thats really only the fault of the individual teams themselves. Isn't it? Like I mentioned originally, we've lost players in the last decade that were worth way more than what we got for them. If Wigan sent a scout up to Somerset Park, they'd be bidding 500k to 1m for our irish trio without doubt, but why are we selling ourselves short by taking the first offer on the table. In the paper today, DoF Grassa said it'd take obscene money to make us part with our assets. Define obscene... highland league obscene - i.e. 5-figure maximum or Top Flight Obscene i.e mid-6-figure sum

after reading reports these last few weeks of some of our squad being linked to others, I was wondering how much would be realistic figures to allow players to part. For instance, the two James' of Hamilton were valued at over ?1m EACH. Imrie has been their best player since his arrival, as the other thread about him suggests, but would they also value Imrie in the same 7-figure category now? We've seen rankin off to Hibs, Cowie off to Watford, Black off to Hearts, Imrie off to Hamilton, and even goalies Brown and Fraser off to Celtic and Motherwell respectively, but I dont think we got even close to a good deal for them! the afforementioned clubs have grabbed a bargain from free or reduced fees (Fraser the exception ) So... to the original point... Would we be un-realistic to be looking at, for example: Rooney, Foran, Hayes - 750k+ Esson - 500k+ Rossco, Odiambo, Cox - 100k - 250k discuss....

He'll be in there before our visit to Rugby Park, then hop on the next bus to killie in time for a half time pie!!! I only made a few away games this year... Raith (Midweek in Oct/Nov) - No pre-match beverage :( Ross C*unty (twice)- visits to the Mallard were rather entertaining Ayr - Ship Inn was great outside, let alone inside Perth (Cup Final) - Banter with Part timer et al was ace, as were the drinks :) Would have loved a visit to Palmerston... bloomin work :(

I'd like Aberdeen! Another open day victory, this time at home, would be nice. So long as we dont get Hamilton (A), Motherwell (A) or Kilmarnock (A) on either of the last 2 games of the season!!!

Have they not won the last 7 league games? I know their last league defeat was the 4-0 against St Mirren! Going back to the original question though, anything is possible, but I think the best we can look at for next season would be top-6! It'll be a good few years before we're competing with even Utd, let lone the OF

Naughties would almost certainly be Tokely. Unlike Roy who has also been here throughout the naughties, rosscoe has been able to hold down a regular place throughout the duration. Golly has always been solid for us also, but obviously a wee spell of inconsistancy before he headed loan to Livi also gives rosscoe the edge. As for the 90's i'd say CC. He was there throughout the merger and those tough times, scored when it mattered, created chances and was still at the club as a player up until promotion 2004. He's still with us now!

HM8 photos are now available here I am in the process of typing up a diary of our week, and this should hopfully be online in the coming weeks. :021:

I have a signed shirt from 2000/01, a wedding photo signed by this years squad, signed football and other bits and bobs from over the years. Ryan Esson had his top signed by saturdays team, and donated it to the Mrs for a function she is trying to organise to raise funds for Neurofibromatosis (NF). He also signed his gloves also for auction. The Highland March Flag has been signed by almost every single player and manager between 2004 and 2008, including the title winning squad of 2004! the only people to have signed it since then include Butcher and Malpas aswell as Dougie Imrie. (We're yet to get our irish contingent to sign it, and the likes of lee cox, narius, ryan, sanchez and more. We missed out on Marius Niculae too as the romanian press stole him for an interview before the euros.) In terms of possesions ICT have of mine, Grant Munro has a red and blue striped tie that I loaned to my dad for the Red and Blue Ball last season. He can keep it though!

Highland Marchers were on the front page of the Inverness edition of the P&J today. We had a shot in the Sunday Mail yesterday too... along with the tuesday Courier last week and the P&J the week before, some of the coverage we've had this year has been fantastic. Highland March seems to grow year on year. We'll have to wait for the SPL Split before we know where we head next year, but i'll no doubt have a few routes plotted by the end of this month, let alone next season :P As Slater said earlier, it truely was a fantastic week (as it always is) and the title party at Ayr and up here will be extremely hard to beat.

As promised, a small selection from the hundreds of photos we'd taken en route. All photos should be available on the highlandmarch.co.uk website in the coming days.... Enjoy....

All the aches and pains seemed to disappear yesterday for a couple of hours as the title party got under way. To have Terry Butcher join us on our Lap pf Honour was magnificent. I wonder if he'll be fit after his knee op' to join us for a stage one year (alongside Robbo who has been 'quoted' as doing a stage in the future)! The OFFICIAL Highland March 8 mileage was......... :crazy07: 202.78 HM8 therefore has become the FIRST EVER route to break the 200-mile marker! Superb A small selection of photos will be posted on this thread later today once I upload them from my camera. I'll also ensure the FULL HM8 Gallery is uploaded as soon as possible (within the coming weeks :021: )

first yellow: Lachlan (dundee)

What an absolutely brilliant week!!! the most difficult, physically painful, mentally challenging and emotionally draining week I've ever experienced on a Highland March...... but absoluely f***** brilliant!!! It's not over yet though, as we have 2 miles left to offically complete the challenge. It'll top it off for us guys to have a band of 'followers' from Falcon Square at 11am. We'll no doubt (almost certainly, possibly, maybe) head into the Innes for a beverage or 7. We are requested by the club to be there for around 2-2:15 so will leave the innes around 1ish.

Trying to use mobile internet so please forgive errors. we're goin strong. 4 of us still end to end. gutted for chumba (aka beatonio) who broke foot. he did about 30 miles and walked at least 7 of that on it before chuckin in. havin a few beers and hope to make drumond roundabout tomorrow. possibly even falcon sq. bring it on.

As I'm taking part in HM8 too, i'll post now so as not to forget Partick to win please

Morton @ 3.20 please

HT: 1-1 FT: 3-1 1st Scorer ICT: Hayes 1st Scorer Opp: Hart Crowd: 5669

HT: 0-2 FT: 0-5 1st Scorer ICT: Hayes 1st Scorer Opp: Roberts Crowd: 2669

Has 'Wum' hacked into your user account IHE? :P :tonguecheek: Cheers for the well wishes people. All Marchers are really REALLY looking forward to the week, especially after the title was confirmed. It was mixed emotions last year walking to a relegation decider after a defeat, but this year we're already buzzing. We hope to see everyone in the Ship Inn before kick off, and all being well, should see you all in the innes on May 1st. BRING IT ON!!!!

Wrong on both counts my good man... Bullock started by was subbed with a hammy strain for, mr geddes Has your brother got rid of them hair straighteners yet. lol :004: