Alex MacLeod

Highland league. All the Angus clubs have been earmarked for HL

In my schooldays poems such as this had to be memorised. No matter how hard I try to read into it I just can't picture the link to Laurence. O young Lochinvar is come out of the west, Through all the wide Border his steed was the best; And save his good broadsword he weapons had none, He rode all unarm’d, and he rode all alone. So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war, There never was knight like the young Lochinvar. He staid not for brake, and he stopp’d not for stone, He swam the Eske river where ford there was none; But ere he alighted at Netherby gate, The bride had consented, the gallant came late: For a laggard in love, and a dastard in war, Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar. So boldly he enter’d the Netherby Hall, Among bride’s-men, and kinsmen, and brothers and all: Then spoke the bride’s father, his hand on his sword, (For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word,) “O come ye in peace here, or come ye in war, Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar?” “I long woo’d your daughter, my suit you denied;— Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide— And now I am come, with this lost love of mine, To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine. There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far, That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar.” The bride kiss’d the goblet: the knight took it up, He quaff’d off the wine, and he threw down the cup. She look’d down to blush, and she look’d up to sigh, With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye. He took her soft hand, ere her mother could bar,— “Now tread we a measure!” said young Lochinvar. So stately his form, and so lovely her face, That never a hall such a galliard did grace; While her mother did fret, and her father did fume, And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume; And the bride-maidens whisper’d, “’twere better by far To have match’d our fair cousin with young Lochinvar.” One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear, When they reach’d the hall-door, and the charger stood near; So light to the croupe the fair lady he swung, So light to the saddle before her he sprung! “She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur; They’ll have fleet steeds that follow,” quoth young Lochinvar. There was mounting ’mong Graemes of the Netherby clan; Forsters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran: There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lee, But the lost bride of Netherby ne’er did they see. So daring in love, and so dauntless in war, Have ye e’er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar?

Some have also been known to go to 208 pub or Tulloch Social Club. Both just a few hundred yards from stadium entrance.

Limited on street parking nearby if early enough

are: Ronnie Deila, John Hughes, Derek McInnes and Robbie Neilson

Hi Ender You know probably more than most others the standard of non league football in England is very good as your team Chorley have shown us You could say that if Chorley were playing north of the border they would probably be too good for league 1 But you may know different I say again I just feel for long suffering football supporters like Montrose who nobody seems to care about. In the league formerly called the Conference there are a lot of teams, who for many years graced the higher divisions, I would be gutted if I supported a team like Grimsby or Lincoln City. All with good support and important histories. But in Scotland the league to which there is a possibility Montrose will enter is not much better than the Sunday league outfits we all played for in our teens. Laurence I think you should make a point of getting out and watching some Highland League football. Or failing that get down to central belt and watch a Bo'ness Linlithgow match and then tell us its not much better than sunday league

That'll be the hair, forehead, eyes and bit of nose seen here http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/scottish-cup-final-tickets-to-start-at-5-1-3756215

IMO this will be good for Montrose. Its a kick up the backside if they do go down and its a chance to re-group away from pressures of SPFL and show the fans what sort of drive and determination they really have to return. One of the big problems for the likes of Montrose is the fanbase and funding for the club. Like East Stirlingshire in Central belt, and to an extent Elgin in the North, they are competing with a number of other clubs for the same support. The support in the area tends to follow the team doing better. For a time that may have been Arbroath or Brechin. This season the eye catchers are Forfar and Brechin who could both make playoff/promotion to Championship. The Angus area north of Dundee is not highly populated and just isn't able to support four teams.

Who did they pay £3m for? From what I can see they paid just over £2m each for Wilson and Rantie. £400k for Ryan Fraser. Most of the squad came up with them from league 1. Their new owner has put a lot of cash into the club. The other thing to note is the vast difference in funding from TV in Championship compared to Scottish football.

And of course the red and black link

Tonight AFC Bournemouth could clinch automatic promotion to Premiership. In 08/09 season (remember that one) Bournemouth just managed to save themselves from relegation out of the English Leagues. Since then they've climbed all the way up to knocking at the door of Premiership. Not an easy achievement for the smaller teams in England. I also think this will be the first time ever they have made the top league in their history.

I'd have thought Falkirk would arrive at Hampden on the same roads Inverness will. M80, M73, M74, A728

I disagree with this. For a category A game at ICT, you are paying the same price for equivalent seats alongside the pitch in the main stand. And only 4 quid more than category B games. While the concession prices for the final are less than half the price for what you would pay for being alongside the pitch in Inverness. For a game at ICT I am not trying to convince a number of adults to come along for a day out who would not normally go to any football. Whose to say that if you lowered the prices to £20 for adults in the same stand, >33% extra would go to justify the decrease in price? This is bigger than an average league game, and priced more reasonably overall so can't see how people can complain. And i disagree, with that point you made in your latest post too. Every football team should be trying to convince people who don't usually go to football to attend your games. That is how you increase your support and get more money. If the people I refer to were able to go to football matches I doubt it would be ICT ones. These are adult men and women who normally work weekends and who dont actually earn a great deal for what they do. Personally it makes little odds to me because I cant go anyway. Its the missus who's trying to get a few colleagues along.

I disagree with this. For a category A game at ICT, you are paying the same price for equivalent seats alongside the pitch in the main stand. And only 4 quid more than category B games. While the concession prices for the final are less than half the price for what you would pay for being alongside the pitch in Inverness. For a game at ICT I am not trying to convince a number of adults to come along for a day out who would not normally go to any football.

Compared to the semi prices this hike is disgusting. The SFA are so out of touch is becoming beyond belief.

If we go as 3rd place entrants its 1st qualifying round 2nd/9th July. If we go as cup winners its 2nd qualifying round 16th/23rd July. The draw for the 1st and 2nd rounds will take place on 22nd June

Assuming its Buchanan St bus station you're coming into its about five minutes walk to Central train station and trains run about every ten to fifteen minutes. Further info here http://www.hampdenpark.co.uk/visitor-information/public-transport.html

I dont think the Lord Lyon of Scotland has jurisdiction as far south as Bury

Thats an affy lang way fi Hampden

Charlie Taylor (Sheffield W 1- Leeds U 2)

Teamtalk also says 3. I'm thinking the SFA have fekked up again.

Was that gap not for security reasons and the fear that a battle may ensue between the rich in the dear seats and the poorin the cheapo's. Jokes aside I would expect that if numbers are high for final and same seating allocation is made then gapwill fill. As to getting the groupings right is another matter and something I dont think the club has much power over. Club sell as agents for SFA. Perhaps the best way to get people together is to organise where they want to be and buy via e-ticketing which gives some limited choice on seating.

Sorted

Think Josh's yellow in draw with Celtic took him over the limit

It is very easy to claim racism as a reason for some situations but before commenting further I'd like those making the claims to tell me how many BME candidates are there who choose to do coaching badges and or are coaches in UK. Perhaps they just dont choose that as a career path after playing. Indeed what proportion of the UK BME population actually choose to play the game. I think more of the Indian/Pakistani/Chinese background citizens. Considering they make up by far the biggest ethnic group in UK there are very few who come into professional football. Indeed how many UK born players in the professional game are there? There are very many BME's playing but many are imported from europe or the former colonies of Britian, France, Spain and Portugal and most of them usually end up going back home when their playing days are over. I read an article somewhere a while back that there are 3.4% of coaches/managers in UK from BME groups yet 25% of players come from same group. The article failed to say how many of the 25% were temporary residents. Even looking at Scotland where the BME group makes up for around 2% of population how many are there in professional game here? And of the ones who are how many want to go into coaching? I believe there probably is racism in the game that puts people of from even wanting to get into coaching thus stopping them from even applying for badges. I do, however, think the relevant associations could and should be doing a hell of a lot more to encourage those with the ability to progress. I also believe that the best candidate should get the job offer regardless of colour, creed or sex. It is also pleasing to know that I support a club that follow those values.