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Hibernian 1-1 Aberdeen; Killie 0-1 Hearts; St. Johnstone 1-0 Dundee; St. Mirren 0-2 Livi; Motherwell 3-3 Rangers; Celtic 1-0 Hamilton Ayr 4-1 Dunfermline; Dundee UTD 3-1 Partick; Falkirk 0-3 QOTS; Inverness 2-2 Alloa; Morton 2-1 Ross County WEEK 4 Fixtures After the stresses of the Betfred Cup, league action was back for the top two divisions. Motherwell v Rangers was set to be a feisty affair following Hartley’s comments in the media! Ayr v Dunfermline was a standout game from the fixture list, the newly promoted side had been caus- ing upsets with inform Shankland up front! 7OTW Dobbie ⭐ – An unbelievable performance from the veteran striker. His hat-trick doesn’t even tell the full story Moment of the Week After some controversy surrounding comments Hartley made in the build up, and some rather questionable defend- ing. The big man scored a 90th minute equaliser to hold Rangers to a 3-3 draw. Premiership Championship League 1 League 2 Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts 1 Hearts 9 1 Greenock 7 1 Arbroath 10 1 Peterhead 10 2 Celtic 6 2 Ayr United 7 2 Raith 8 2 Annan 10 Rovers 3 Hibernian 5 3 Ross 6 3 Brechin City 6 3 Edinburgh 9 County City 4 Aberdeen 5 4 Dundee 6 4 Airdrieoni- 6 4 Queen’s 7 5 Rangers 5 5 Inverness 5 5 Forfar 4 5 Elgin City 7 6 Kilmarnock 4 6 Queen of 4 6 Dumbarton 4 6 Clyde 6 7 Livingston 4 7 Partick 3 7 Stranraer 4 7 Berwick 3 Thistle Rangers 8 St 4 8 Dunferm- 3 8 Montrose 3 8 Cowden- 3 Johnstone line beath 9 St Mirren 3 9 Alloa 1 9 Stenhouse- 3 9 Stirling Albi- 0 muir on 10 Hamilton 3 10 Falkirk 0 10 East Fife 1 10 Albion 0 11 Motherwell 1 12 Dundee 0 Airdrie 3-4 Raith; Brechin 3-2 Dumbarton; East Fife 0-3 Arbroath; Forfar 2-0 Stenny; Stranraer 2-0 Montrose Berwick 0-3 Annan; Clyde 0-2 Edinburgh City; Queen’s Park 2-0 Albion; Stirling 0-2 Peterhead Aberdeen 0-2 Killie; Dundee 1-3 Motherwell; Hamilton 1-2 St. Johnstone; Hearts 4-1 St. Mirren; Livi 2-1 Hibs; Celtic 1-0 Rangers Alloa 1-1 Dundee UTD; Dunfermline 0-3 Inverness; Partick 1-0 Morton; QOTS 5-0 Ayr; Ross County 2-0 Falkirk WEEK 5 Fixtures This weekend was one of the first to catch every- one’s eye, with the first Old Firm of the season. We were treated to another Angus derby early on as Arbroath faced Brechin. League 2 was again throwing up excitement as Pe- terhead came up against Edinburgh City. 7OTW Dobbie ⭐ – Another week, another incredible per- formance. Dobbie continued his electric form, scor- ing four! Like a fine wine. Moment of the Week Ray MacKinnon decides to leave Green- ock Morton a good start to the season to last placed Falkirk. This caused some reaction from the Morton faithful... Premiership Championship League 1 League 2 Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts 1 Hearts 12 1 Ross 9 1 Arbroath 11 1 Peterhead 10 2 Celtic 9 2 Inverness 8 2 Raith 11 2 Annan 10 CT Rovers 3 Kilmarnock 7 3 Ayr United 7 3 Airdrieoni- 9 3 Edinburgh 10 ans City 4 Livingston 7 4 Dundee 7 4 Brechin City 7 4 Clyde 9 5 St 7 5 Queen of 7 5 Stenhouse- 6 5 Queen’s 8 6 Aberdeen 5 6 Greenock 7 6 Dumbarton 4 6 Elgin City 7 7 Rangers 5 7 Partick 6 7 Stranraer 4 7 Berwick 6 Thistle Rangers 8 Hibernian 5 8 Dunferm- 3 8 Forfar 4 8 Cowden- 4 line beath 9 Motherwell 4 9 Alloa 2 9 East Fife 4 9 Stirling Albi- 3 10 Hamilton 3 10 Falkirk 0 10 Montrose 3 10 Albion 0 11 St Mirren 3 12 Dundee 0 Airdrie 2-0 Stranraer; Arbroath 2-2 Brechin; Montrose 0-2 East Fife; Raith 4-0 Forfar; Stenny 2-1 Dumbarton Albion 3-5 Berwick; Annan 1-2 Clyde; Elgin 0-3 Stirling; Peterhead 0-1 Edinburgh City; Queen’s 0-0 Cowdenbeath manager and I used to train with the first team quite a bit and managed to get a few games for the first-team and I think Stuart was quite big in to Neil Warnock to give me my chance. He then left Sheffield United and was the Bradford man- ager and I had a couple of loan spells there and he’s always seen to get the best out of me as a When you first came up you came to Mother- player and I think I’ve always managed to give well, what made you choose coming up here as him my best football, its just the confidence he’s opposed to staying down south? always given me to just go out and play my game so yeah he’s one of, if not the biggest influence on my career and playing style. I think, a big thing was the manager, Stuart McCall who I knew well from my time at Sheffield United and a couple spells at Bradford. I think I When you were at Motherwell you played in the was 23 when I decided to go to Motherwell, I re- Champions League qualifiers, obviously in Scot- member meeting Stuart and just had a chat land teams have to play a lot of rounds to get in about it, I don’t think Stuart ever really thought I the CL proper, how does that feel knowing would make the decision to go to Motherwell, as I you’re in Europe but you still have to play 6 or so had never really left England and particularly games to get in or near the groups? Yorkshire but Stuart was a big reason and just a new challenge, I fancied something just some- Firstly, it’s a great experience regardless, it was a thing a little bit different and the SPL, as it was great reward for the great season we had before. called at the time, was something that I fancied I think we got a bit of fortune with The Rangers’ and in the end it turned out to be a good decision situation with regards to that it meant we got the as I, arguably, had 2 of my best seasons there at chance to go to the champions league qualifiers Motherwell. instead of I think straight to Europa League if not. We knew it was going to be a very difficult task How influential was Stuart McCall in you as a and ultimately, we never got past the 1st stage vs player then? Obviously, you liked playing under Panathanikos but we knew if we did get past him but what impact did he have on your playing them it would have been difficult. It was a great style and things? experience for ourselves and quite a strange one really and we thought we acquitted ourselves quite well over the 2 legs and it sounds strange He had a big impact actually, I played with him for since it was, I think a 5-0 defeat but we actually a bit at Sheffield United, quite late in his career played quite well, particularly in the home game, and he used to play in reserve games with us, at we certainly didn’t deserve to lose 2-0 we were centre-back by the point having dropped down the better side but of course with the quality and from centre-mid at that point and I used to play in standard of teams at that level you get punished front of him and he was absolutely great for all and unfortunately on that night we were and we the young lads with his experience, his didn’t put our chances and then going to Greece knowledge and he’s always had that passion for with a 2-0 deficit was never going to be easy, but helping young players and I was no different. He it was a great experience regardless. I think after ended up getting a coaching role at Sheffield that we had Levante in the Europa League qualifi- United and he was Neil Warnock’s assistant ers which again we just fell short but they were brilliant experiences and ones I loo back on with Yeah, I think not just changeover in management pride and very happy that I got the chance to play but there was new people coming in all the time, in both those competitions. there was fans unrest and it was difficult to keep that away from the squad and it definitely im- pacted the players as well and at times it just So you left Motherwell to go to Rangers, who started to take its toll. The pressure side of play- were in the lower divisions then, so what made ing for Rangers was a good thing, playing in front you decide to go there despite just coming 2nd of those fans week in week out was unbelievable. with Motherwell? The 1st year was good we went unbeaten, which a lot of people expected us to do but it was still great to do it, I think it was that second season The size of Rangers, one of the reasons of going which was the most difficult obviously Ally left to Scotland was to play against those 2 massive and then Kenny took over and I don’t think he old firm sides and hopefully do well enough and wanted to be the manager at that time and then maybe getting the possibility of playing for one of of course Stuart came in and that season fin- them. And my performances in my 2 years at ished with what we deserved really it was poor, Motherwell attracted the interest of Ally McCoist and then the 3rd year was a good season. Mark at the time, and I had a couple meetings with him Warburton came in and we played some good and then he showed me around the place, and I football and ultimately got back into the SPL and think it was just too big an opportunity to turn overall, I went there to get them back in and I down. I know they weren’t in the top flight at that played a little part in there. point but it was just the sheer size of the club and the opportunity that at the time was too big to turn down and to play for someone of Ally Was there a lot of commotion between the play- McCoist’s stature was brilliant and he was char- ers about what was going on or did you try to ismatic as you’d expect and yeah he was good just ignore it? but he just, he wanted me to play a part of getting Rangers’ back where they should be, and that’s another thing I look back on with pride that alt- We spoke about it a lot none of us knew the ins hough the 3 years were difficult there for different and outs of it all but just stuff we read in the pa- reasons it’s definitely not something I regret it’s pers all the chief-executives changes and things something I look back on with huge pride to say I like that. Obviously, its difficult to avoid that kind played for that club and ultimately we didn’t get of stuff, especially in Scotland and particularly them back into the top flight and its great to see with Rangers and Celtic as you hear stuff about them now, finally looking like they’re ready to them every day. Its difficult to know what to be- challenge again. lieve a lot of the time and as I say, particualy in the 2nd season with Ally going and things like that we had an idea that things were happening There was quite a lot of turmoil at Rangers’ behind the scenes. It was difficult and then while you were there and although for the most Hearts’ ran away with it that season and we part getting up the leagues was done well, there struggled in the play-off final, but we struggled as were a lot of managerial changes and such, it whole that year. I think the managers always tried must have been quite a pressurised environ- to keep the players as far away from it as possi- ment as a player? ble but at times that was difficult. A lot of your transfers have been free ones, run- Looking to the future, a lot of top managers ning out contracts, do you ever wish you’d may- have come through Scotland, would you ever be stayed a bit longer at Motherwell or Rangers? consider coming back up as a coach? It would have been good to be at Rangers for a Yeah definitely, a lot of ex-players and players in couple more years, particularly with them getting Scotland that did well are now managing and its back into the top flight but I understood that Mark definitely something that I’ll be looking to do. I’m Warburton came in at that point and he brought looking to get my badges done in the next year or 9/10 in in my first season and knew that the play- two and if an opportunity arose at first team level ing squad needed improvement at that time. So, I or younger. That younger level is definitely some- understood that, and he went on and signed an- thing I’m interested in having that opportunity to other 7/8 that season and that’s just part of foot- develop young players and watch them grow, ob- ball, he was going another way and that’s fine. viously I’m getting to that point in my career With regards to Motherwell, at the end of my 2 where I’m starting to look at my career after play- years we had had 2 really successful seasons ing and coaching one of those paths I could take, and I felt it was just time to move on I think a few and coaching up in Scotland is definitely some- of my teammates also moved on, Darren Ran- thing I would think about . dolph, Tom Hateley, big players. We had all played well and all deserved our moves at that point. I don’t really regret either decision, I nearly re-signed for Motherwell after Rangers, and it was close, but Stuart McCall went back to Brad- ford and I ended up going with him again, you never know in the future. You never say never… but no I don’t regret leaving at the points I did for either club. Do you ever wish you stayed up here? I think at that point I had had 5 years I’ll never rule out going back and I never ruled out staying back then and there were options. But with Stuart get- ting the Bradford job it was a chance to go back home to that Yorkshire area where all my family lived, and after 5 years I just wanted to go a bit closer to home. As it’s turned out I’ve signed for Exeter now and I’m away again! But in football you just never know where you’re going to end up. But at that time biggest part of my decision was that it was just back home, and it was just something I’d fancied after 5 years. Its obviously stacked against the non-league side which I don’t think is very fair but Edinburgh city are the only team to have done that and they had to win their league, beat a highland league side and then beat a League 2 side over two legs. So it’s a good concept [to have promotion/relegation there] but I think there’s clubs that rest on their Started of in the East of Scotland league, what laurels in League 2, clubs like Albion Rovers and was it like playing at that level? Cowdenbeath in the past which just have terrible facilities, terrible clubs really and then you have clubs like Spartans and East Kilbride which are It was good, it was a step up from where I was. I doing great things and I think would be better for was never in an academy or anything so that lev- the league, so I just wish there was more of us el was a mans game, Was playing with the Edin- who came up other than just Edinburgh City. burgh city youth team and then played for the first team at like 17 which was great, then went to Uni, not on a scholarship but after a couple years So you then moved to Forfar who, at the time, rd they offered me one so I jumped ship to Striling. were in the 3 division, that seems like quite a Which was fantastic, went from Edinburgh City big jump from non-league to there what did you which was all guys a lot older than me to all guys do to make sure you’d be successful? that were my age, that kinda Wednesday scene at University. Think we played something like 70 Do you know it didn’t really phase me cos I did games a season and I loved every single one. quite well there and got invited to go into Falkirk when Steven Pressley was in charge, so I did pre- What is your fondest memory from that period? season with them which was tough you know, a lot of running! But I thought you know I’m not too far off this level and if Forfar is the league below On footballing side of things winning the lowland this then I’ll have a crack of it and I think I was league was great but to be honest the bits I treas- still young just 20/21 so was still confident ured most from that time were the guys in the enough and I didn’t know anyone from the Scot- team that I’m still pals with today. Just going out tish lower league so I really went in with no real with them. The bonds you get with people from reservations and that helped me massively. Prob- going out is great. We actually played in the Brit- ably sometimes when you know what your facing ish league rather than the Scottish, so we’d go you can start worrying about other players, but I down to Birmingham and London so we had a didn’t at the time, so I just hit the ground running. fair few good nights out and at the age it meant a lot and I’m still friends with those boys so that’s what meant the most to me. That earned you a move to Livingstone, your first full time contract, that must have been a big move for you? Since then Stirling have made it into the lowland league, and Edinburgh have made it into the SPFL, having played there what do you make of Oh yeah it was huge. I played for Hearts when I the pyramid system? was 13/14 but I got shown the door quite early, so I never thought I’d ever not only be paid to play football but to play as my only job at the time. Those next 3 years were quite tumultuous at Waking up and training everyday was an oppor- Forfar, Dick Campbell being sacked promotion, tunity I couldn’t turn down, the money obviously relegation what was it like as a player during wasn’t great, but it was just a dream I remember that period? looking back and thinking “how did I get here". I think a lot of players at that level sometimes have been around and sort of take it for granted but The 2nd season was mad, the first season we not me, someone who came from really not hav- were quite confident and some quality players ing a sniff of fulltime football to get that oppor- like Dale Hilson, Steven Husband they’d been at tunity was great. full time and we had loads of experience with Rab Douglas and Darren Dodds so we had a good balance so we were confident we could have a Don’t want to bring up to many sour memories challenge and luckily a few teams stuttered and but you’ve said being at Livingstone was maybe that maybe helped us but the following season, a little ‘underwhelming’ do you have any regrets the experience boys were another year older and about it? we lost Dale Hilson and then we lost a couple games. Football at that level is a lot to do with momentum I think, once you start losing a couple It was. I was optimistic and the club was going games I remember it vividly there was just a neg- through a lot of turmoil there was managers ative vibe around the place, just everyone was coming and going and I wasn’t on a lot of money down not falling out or anything like that just and I think realisation hit a few months in that I ‘where are we getting this win from’ just nothing wasn’t really getting a game and was sort of in was happening and then obviously the manager and out, and was showing up to my work, which got sacked and they brought in, in my opinion, the was to play football and its great to train every- wrong appointment at the time. Where Dick was day but you know you’re not going to get a game, nurturing, Gary Bolan wasn’t he’d just sort of run the contract was running out in a few months, you and say things like ‘you guys are letting the your pals are moving houses and settling down manager down’ which isn’t really what we needed and I was still in my mum and dads garage! That at that stage and it ended in relegation which was just in the back of my mind that I needed to wasn’t ideal the following season we then came go part-time because the money was very simi- right back up again and that was a good season. lar, and I could actually start a career. Its just all about winning, especially part-time doesn’t matter if you’re league 2, league 1 I’d ra- ther win in league 2 than lose in league 1 it just Was that then your reasoning for heading back makes such a difference to your weekend. That to Forfar? was a better thing about part-time that if you did get beat you had to get ready for your work on Definitely, cos I got offered a new contract at Liv- the Monday morning and that took your mind off ingstone but it was the same money, the same it, whereas if you’ve been beaten you have to go money that Forfar and Brechin were offering so I back in and know you’re getting a rollicking from just weighed up that I’m 23 can get good money the manager so that’s maybe the beauty of part- to play part-time football, I know what’s needed time football. at that level so I think I was just being pragmatic about it and saying I’ve got to get back into part- time. You and Dick Campbell seem to have a strong nalists can’t see and I think that’s what’s been relationship so how important was he in you popular about it, I think players can relate to it moving to Arbroath? and I think fans that come to the lower league games can hopefully relate to it as well. With Dick Campbell its sort of an up and down relationship we always get on and like each other You wrote an article about your ‘irks’ of the low- but he’s an angry man at times and he’s not shy er league, how did your teammates react to that in telling you that. But I do appreciate the hones- and have you managed to stop ‘those posts’ at ty, if he’s not happy with you he’ll tell you and I do Arbroath? appreciate that about him. The first time I left I sort of fell out with him a little bit but we’re friends again now and anytime I’ve maybe been Arbroath there’s not many, nobody that sells out of contract he’s been on the phone telling me Herbalife or does any kind of bad tweets. You ‘there’s always a deal for you’ which means a lot know usually they just rip the piss out of me cos there’s not always been a deal for me when they’re not caring what I’m saying but there’s a my contracts been running out. So, he’s been young boy just signed on loan from Dunfermline there offering an olive branch which is great. I and he’s a Herbalife salesman so I’ve been on to know his family too; I know his sons well I’ve him. He’s only 18 the poor kid getting lambasted played with both of them. So, it’s beyond football by me. To be fair Arbroath’s a club with not many now, he went to my pals wedding and I think if I busy tweeters not many guys doing these horri- was to get married, he’d probably come to mine. I ble insincere tweets, it’s the insincerity of those don’t think there’s many managers or coaching tweets that just grinds my gears. You know what staff that’d invite to family occasions. it really shouldn’t before me, I’m 28 years old why should a 21-year-old tweeting about how good the fans were bother me? But you know what it Your blog is giving some good insight in to life does, it bothers me. Genuinely Arbroath has been in the lower divisions, what inspired you to start fine for that, but I’ll be first on the case if any of writing? the boys are tweeting that stuff that’s for sure. I started writing cos I think I read an article about You mentioned Scott Martin by name in your bit one of our games and it was just complete non- about big time players on loan? sense and they got some of the players names wrong and I don’t think we were even watching the same game. So there’s obviously some lower Nah he’s an exception to the rule, he was great at league coverage like you guys, ‘Tell him he’s Pele’ Forfar and Arbroath, trains both times gives it his stuff like that who do genuinely care, and are in- all, knocks his pan in doesn’t give it any big time terested in the lower league game but sometimes Charlie chat. He was an exception to the rule. I’ve I was reading these reports and thinking ‘nah that just seen so many throughout the years that have no happening’ so I thought I’d have a go at it and a chip on their shoulder coming down from an thankfully its come across quite well and there’s academy, I mean they’re young only like 18 and been some good interest in it. My writings not as don’t seem to appreciate that a lot of our team good as many journalists I can’t say it is but I’ve has been in their situation before so if they’re not maybe got a unique selling point of actually being careful they’ll end up like us or worse! Could end in the dressing room and I see things that jour- up out the game completely, I put it down to just being young and naïve. Alongside football you’re a teacher, how does that affect your football, with travelling and things? It’s not too bad, I work in Fife and we train in Perth so I’d be travelling anyway if I worked n Ed- inburgh, but last year was my probation my first real year of teaching and I found that really tough with football on the side. That I was working Monday-Friday going in early staying later, go to training and repeat that process then on Saturday you’ve got the game, then that’s done and that’s gone and you’re thinking about the next game and you cant really settle till the Sunday morning then you’re up for work on Monday that I hadn’t really planned for so then I was up late planning for that so it was just always waiting for the holi- days, you know a 9-week block then the October holidays and chill then a 8-week block. And that with the football took a real toll on my body, physically and mentally. So, this year I’ve taken less shifts I’m only working 3 days a week, which is just P.E teaching at a primary school, where there’s no real marking only assessing so you’re not staying up 3 hours marking 31 jotters of terri- ble handwriting, bit more just observing. Its great the parallels of that with football and how the boys look up to you solely because you play foot- ball, and they all love football at that age. In my school I’m the only male teacher and a lot of these boy’s don have a male role-model outside of their father till they get to high-school. When I reflect on it I am very positive about it, its just when I’m stressing about it at the time I wonder what I’m doing balancing them both! But I think for the most part I do it successfully. A lot of Scottish players are starting to move abroad more and more – Liam Henderson, Har- vey St. Clair, Lana Clelland, Fiona Brown is that something you see as being good for Scottish football? I think just in general going out and experiencing Started your playing career at Heriot-Watt so life is a healthy process going out and bringing in what do you think of that pathway of university other cultures other experiences, extra-curricular football to playing for an actual club? activities outwith football, I think it develops the human within the individual and by doing so it Its actually a, dare I say it, an untapped resource. can then have a positive impact on the football Especially in Scotland where you have an acade- side. So many footballers come into the Scottish my structure which has a lot of focus and a lot of game yet, so few used to go out the Scottish attention, Project Brave is hot in the press. So you game and challenge themselves and have differ- have these players coming through this system ent experiences, so I think its absolutely a good but there probably isn’t really another system thing. You’ve got to be playing, no matter where where if you’re not in that…there’s late developers you are or where you go, you’ve got to be playing and those sort of things. I see University as being so if you’re not playing then you need to find a 3-fold, an enjoyable experience – that’s for every- way to play. If I link that back to myself I wasn’t one really – and then it can catch people who getting a game, there was maybe a maturity thing sort of fall out of love with football in an academy in there for me and then funnily when I came to system and also it’s a nice environment for peo- university I was playing 2 games a week for 5 ple who actually don’t come through the acade- years and I fell back in love with football and my system, just developed late but just continual- physically developed as a result of that managed ly improve throughout their time. So having been to have a steady career at the lower leagues. involved in University football right throughout I’ve never played full-time; I’ve always been part my career I have worked closely with a number of time. So, when I was 24, I signed for Forfar, under players who have come through university foot- my dad [Dick Campbell] so I played under him for ball and went on to play in the lower leagues of 6 years and we did really well, but my profession- Scottish football. The most recent example would al career is considerably more important. I stud- be Anton Dowds who was at Heriot-Watt Univer- ied Maths here, at Heriot-Watt, for 4 years and sity who has now signed as is playing every week then I was elected as sports union president so for East Fife. Its an important vehicle, it certainly when I was elected, I had a good year and was was an important vehicle in my life. sports development coordinator and I’ve moved up since then. From 2005-2014 I’ve always been here, but alongside that I’ve done all my coaching You went to Hibs? badges. In 2006 I started coaching the university team and coaching with the SFA and I’ve been Wrong Ross Campbell haha. I only played School involved with the Scottish Universities as both a football, local boy stuff, came to university for 5 volunteer role and helping to run it. So that’s hap- years, signed for Spartans for 2 years, then went pened throughout a lot of my career so that in the for 6 years to Forfar, short break at East Fife and summer of 2017 Stewart Petrie asked me take on then I’ve been at Montrose ever since. the assistant manager role at Montrose and combine that alongside my playing as well my No friendly rivalry then, just respect? job here as executive director of Oriam. Oh no, there definitely is! Absolutely! Its more I Your dad, uncle and brother are all involved in don’t consider my dad as my mentor, I know I’m football so was it always in your head to go on proud of him and I think he’s proud of me but to manage? we’re doing it independently so much that we don’t converse that much about football, I want them to do well when they’re not playing us and I don’t believe in destiny, but I’ve always been they want us to do well but its not in detail chat- someone who looked at the different side of it, ting everyday about tactics and that, I just go on and the organisational side and attention to de- and make my own way. tail. I would always liked to have been in one of the leadership role, was never captain material, but that organisational side of it is something I’ve Especially with it being an Angus derby, looking always been interested in ever since I was young forward to playing them again soon, on the 10th and its fallen into place I never necessarily want- November [2018]? ed to go into coaching maybe as early as I have, I wanted my playing career to stop and then my coaching career to start, a more normal transi- Is that when the next one is? The league is quite tion. But the opportunity to work with Stewart weird as there’s 4 angus derbies, so we’ve got at was to good to be true, in the sense that I always least Forfar coming up in the next 2 weeks. thought I’d need to drop down levels to like the East of Scotland League and then work my way Yeah [it is] there’s a lot of different ones in up but the chance to work at the level I am right League 1 at the moment! now was too good so it meant my playing career and coaching career just had to overlap. Yeah, the biggest one our fans have is Arbroath, and there’s obviously our family connection there Does that follow you around to an extent, espe- as well. But they beat us 4-0 on the opening day cially now in management that being “your fa- when we were unveiling the league flag so that thers’ son”, as well as your uncle? was a bit of a kick in the teeth but naturally you want to win every game but there is an added Not really, I’m proud of my father’s achievement spice in Montrose v Arbroath so we look forward but ever since I left to go to university I’ve just fo- to that when it comes. cused on my own career. Its nice rubbing shoul- ders with them they’re in the same league as us. I Oriam is this huge, amazing new facility that valued my time in Forfar working with them, but you’ve been involved with right from the start, I’ve always been reasonably independent and I’ve how beneficial is it to Scotland to have this fa- always just got on with what I wanted to do. Peo- cility? ple reference it and I know ultimately I know there’s a story because there’s me and my broth- er and my dad and his twin and we come up Its critically important, there’s an environment against each other but I’m totally different to now that there’s one further negative taken away them. in that we now have exceptional facilities so we’re slowly creating an environment that allows SFA should look to try and mirror with Hampden the best to be the best. So, facilities are one part, because helping to make that atmosphere can sport science, all the other ancillary facilities all only be a good thing for the Scottish game. play a part and we’re taking great strides. I think Oriam is not only a world class facility but its also got world class sports science staff, it has got so many different facets. Look at Gregor Townsend he scours the world looking for the best ways to do certain things and that then comes across on the pitch. Shelley Kerr has just qualified for the World Cup and I think Oriam is presenting that platform for this to happen. It’s not the only rea- son, it may not even be the main reason but its one of the contributing points and for that we’re really proud. As someone in Oriam having that link to the na- tional team then what are your thoughts regard- ing the Hampden situation? My professional view would be that that is up to the SFA, it was a highly qualified board of people that looked at the pros and cons of both. We’re delighted that under Alex’s [McLeish] tutelage the squad have been looking at different ways to maximise Oriam. They’ve been looking at how they can train here right to the day of the game, how they can coordinate with the hotel that’s on site and our facilitate. So we’re delighted in the way the SFA are starting to engage more with us, we’ve always had that with the Women’s game but now the Men’s A squad, it has been really good to see how Alex has been engaging with Oriam and the feedback we’re getting from the players has been really good. As far as stadiums go, they’ll need to look at the next steps for that, Maxwell has talked about that making the playing experience the very best it can be and that can only be a good thing. Whether that is at Hampden or Murrayfield. I’ve had the pleasure of playing at Hampden a number of times because of Queen’s Park. I think we need to move on now and make Hampden the best it can be, make it into a real asset. You look at Hearts, who train here, and their stadium can be like a cauldron and they’ve improved their asset. I think that’s something the St Mirren 0-0 Celtic; Hibernian 3-2 Killie; Livi 1-0 Hamilton; Motherwell 0-1 Hearts; Rangers 4-0 Dundee; St. Johnstone 1-1 Aberdeen Ayr 3-2 Falkirk; Dundee UTD 1-1 Morton; Dunfermline 0-0 Alloa; Inverness 3-2 Partick; QOTS 0-0 Ross County WEEK 6 Fixtures After a classically disappointing male international break, League football returned, thankfully. After the Ray MacKinnon saga, everyone was looking to see how Jonaton Johnasson would get on in his difficult first game away at Tannadice. Arbroath v Forfar in League 1 – we will never tire of an Angus derby. 7OTW Linn ⭐ – Hat-trick hero as Arbroath claimed brag- ging rights in another derby! A clinical performance from the in-form striker. Moment of the Week Scotland beat Albania 2-1 while Swit- zerland draw in Poland which means topping Group 2 and qualification for the World Cup in France! Premiership Championship League 1 League 2 Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts 1 Hearts 15 1 Inverness 11 1 Arbroath 14 1 Peterhead 13 CT 2 Celtic 10 2 Ross 10 2 Raith 12 2 Edinburgh 13 County Rovers City 3 Livingston 10 3 Ayr United 10 3 Airdrieoni- 9 3 Clyde 12 ans 4 Hibernian 8 4 Dundee 8 4 Brechin City 8 4 Elgin City 10 United 5 St 8 5 Queen of 8 5 East Fife 7 5 Annan 10 Johnstone the South 6 Rangers 8 6 Greenock 8 6 Dumbarton 7 6 Queen’s 8 Morton Park 7 Kilmarnock 7 7 Partick 6 7 Stranraer 7 7 Berwick 6 Thistle Rangers 8 Aberdeen 6 8 Dunferm- 4 8 Stenhouse- 6 8 Stirling Albi- 6 line muir on 9 Motherwell 4 9 Alloa 3 9 Forfar 4 9 Cowden- 4 10 St Mirren 4 10 Falkirk 0 10 Montrose 3 10 Albion 0 Rovers 11 Hamilton 3 12 Dundee 0 Arbroath 3-1 Forfar; Brechin 1-1 Raith; Dumbarton 2-1 Montrose; East Fife 2-1 Airdrie; Stranraer 2-0 Stenny Berwick 0-3 Elgin; Clyde 1-0 Albion; Cowdenbeath 2-4 Peterhead; Edinburgh City 2-1 Annan; Stirling 1-0 Queen’s Park Aberdeen 1-0 Motherwell; Dundee 0-3 Hibs; Hamilton 3-0 St. Mirren; Hearts 0-0 Livi; Killie 2-1 Celtic; Rangers 5-1 St. Johnstone Alloa 0-2 Ayr; Falkirk 0-2 Dundee UTD; Morton 1-1 Dunfermline; Partick 3-2 QOTS; Ross County 0-0 Inverness WEEK 7 Fixtures We’d been looking forward to this week, the first Highland derby for a few years! Arbroath and Raith were staking early claims to the title and looking to push on even further. League 2 continued to be the most exciting of them all as Peterhead, Clyde and Edinburgh were all vying for top spot. 7OTW Spittal ⭐ – A great individual performance to get a brace and drag Partick to the 3 points. Could this be the turning point in their season? Moment of the Week Former Celtic youth player Stuart Findlay scores a decisive last minute winner against Celtic as Kilmarnock run out 2-1 winners. Premiership Championship League 1 League 2 Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts 1 Hearts 16 1 Ayr United 13 1 Arbroath 17 1 Peterhead 16 2 Hibernian 11 2 Inverness 12 2 Raith 13 2 Edinburgh 16 CT Rovers City 3 Livingston 11 3 Ross 11 3 Airdrieoni- 10 3 Clyde 15 4 Rangers 11 4 Dundee 11 4 East Fife 10 4 Elgin City 10 5 Kilmarnock 10 5 Partick 9 5 Brechin City 9 5 Annan 13 Thistle 6 Celtic 10 6 Greenock 9 6 Dumbarton 8 6 Queen’s 8 Morton Park 7 Aberdeen 9 7 Queen of 8 7 Stranraer 7 7 Berwick 6 the South Rangers 8 St 8 8 Dunferm- 5 8 Stenhouse- 6 8 Stirling Albi- 6 Johnstone line muir on 9 Hamilton 6 9 Alloa 3 9 Forfar 5 9 Cowden- 5 10 St Mirren 4 10 Falkirk 0 10 Montrose 4 10 Albion 1 11 Motherwell 4 12 Dundee 0 Airdrie 1-1 Dumbarton; Forfar 1-1 Brechin; Raith 1-1 Montrose; Stenny 1-2 Arbroath; Stranraer 0-2 East Fife Clyde 4-1 Elgin; Cowdenbeath 1-1 Albion; Peterhead 1-0 Berwick; Queen’s Park 0-2 Edinburgh City; Stirling 1-2 Annan Celtic 1-0 Aberdeen; Hamilton 0-2 Dundee; Hearts 2-1 St. Johnstone; Killie 3-1 Motherwell; St. Mirren 0-1 Hibs; Livi 1-0 Rangers Dunfermline 1-0 Partick; Morton 1-5 Ayr; Inverness 0-0 QOTS; Dundee UTD 1-5 Ross County; Alloa 0-2 Falkirk WEEK 8 Fixtures Scotland had just qualified for the World Cup and the SPFL was really kicking off. Scottish football was the place to be! The Premiership gave us Celtic v Aberdeen as both clubs looked to get back to the top of the table. Did someone say Angus derby? Montrose hosting Forfar. Angus. What a concept! 7OTW Harrison ⭐ – Abigoal Harrison. Hat-trick hero this weekend for Hibs Ladies and a constant menace for Stirling’s defence. Can Hibs stop 12-in-a-row? Moment of the Week Steve Clarke is charged by the SFA and they spell his name wrong in the pro- cess. To this Stephen takes great of- fence and lambasts them as “unprofessional” . Premiership Championship League 1 League 2 Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts 1 Hearts 19 1 Ayr United 16 1 Arbroath 20 1 Peterhead 19 2 Hibernian 14 2 Ross 14 2 Raith 16 2 Edinburgh 19 County Rovers City 3 Livingston 14 3 Inverness 13 3 East Fife 13 3 Clyde 18 4 Celtic 13 4 Dundee 11 4 Airdrieoni- 10 4 Elgin City 13 United ans 5 Kilmarnock 13 5 Partick 9 5 Brechin City 10 5 Annan 13 Thistle 6 Rangers 11 6 Greenock 9 6 Dumbarton 8 6 Queen’s 8 Morton Park 7 Aberdeen 9 7 Queen of 9 7 Stranraer 8 7 Berwick 6 the South Rangers 8 St 8 8 Dunferm- 8 8 Stenhouse- 6 8 Stirling Albi- 6 Johnstone line muir on 9 Hamilton 6 9 Alloa 6 9 Forfar 6 9 Cowden- 5 10 St Mirren 4 10 Falkirk 0 10 Montrose 5 10 Albion 4 11 Motherwell 4 12 Dundee 3 Arbroath 3-1 Airdrie; Brechin 1-1 Stranraer; Dumbarton 1-5 Raith; East Fife 2-0 Stenny; Montrose 2-2 Forfar Albion 3-0 Stirling; Annan 1-3 Peterhead; Berwick 2-3 Clyde; Edinburgh City 1-0 Cowdenbeath; Elgin 2-1 Queen’s Park Aberdeen 4-1 St. Mirren; Dundee 1-2 Killie; Hibs 6-0 Hamilton; Motherwell 1-1 Livi; Rangers 3-1 Hearts; St. Johnstone 0-6 Celtic Ayr 2-0 Dundee UTD; Falkirk 0-2 Dunfermline; Inverness 1-1 Morton; Partick 0-2 Ross County; QOTS 3-3 Alloa WEEK 9 Fixtures Rangers v Hearts stood out this week, Hearts were flying, and Rangers were developing a style under Gerrard. 2nd played 1st as Raith hosted Arbroath. If Arbroath win the gap opens to 7. Crucial game early on. Keep an eye on League 2, best title race in the World. 7OTW Forrest ⭐ – An electric performance from the wee man. 4 goals as he tore apart St. Johnstone and brought him from 0 to joint top scorer! Moment of the Week Stevie Mallan made it look easy in Hiber- nian’s demolition of Hamilton. Premiership Championship League 1 League 2 Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts Pos Team Pts 1 Hearts 19 1 Ayr United 19 1 Arbroath 21 1 Peterhead 22 2 Hibernian 17 2 Ross 17 2 Raith 17 2 Edinburgh 22 County Rovers City 3 Livingston 15 3 Inverness 14 3 East Fife 16 3 Clyde 18 4 Celtic 16 4 Dundee 11 4 Brechin City 13 4 Annan 16 5 Kilmarnock 16 5 Dunferm- 11 5 Stranraer 11 5 Elgin City 13 line 6 Rangers 14 6 Greenock 10 6 Airdrieoni- 10 6 Queen’s 11 Morton ans Park 7 Aberdeen 12 7 Queen of 10 7 Stenhouse- 9 7 Cowden- 8 the South muir beath 8 St 8 8 Partick 9 8 Dumbarton 8 8 Stirling Albi- 6 Johnstone Thistle on 9 Hamilton 6 9 Alloa 7 9 Forfar 6 9 Berwick 6 10 St Mirren 4 10 Falkirk 0 10 Montrose 5 10 Albion 4 11 Motherwell 5 12 Dundee 3 Airdrie 1-3 Brechin; Forfar 0-4 East Fife; Raith 1-1 Arbroath; Stenny 3-2 Montrose; Stranraer 3-2 Dumbarton Annan 3-1 Albion; Cowdenbeath 1-0 Stirling; Edinburgh City 3-0 Berwick; Peterhead 3-0 Elgin; Queen’s Park 1-0 Clyde ball and he was unwaveringly committed to the Scotland national team, earning 80 caps. Gordon Sheach _________________________________________________________________ Darren’s career followed a path craved by many “ Darren Fletcher! His dream has just come true. His first Scotland goal in only his second appear- but achieved by so few. A Manchester United player from the age of 11, Darren was faced with the daunting task of learning, developing and ance could be the one that takes Scotland to the breaking into one of the most competitive sides Playoffs!” in the world. While Manchester United take im- mense pride in including an academy graduate in Every time I think of Darren Fletcher I hear the every match day squad, the competition to make echo of Rob McLean’s commentary of his win- it there is fierce. ning goal against Lithuania in 2003. The game, a home qualifier Scotland had to win to reach the Darren’s development had clearly caught the eye Playoffs for Euro 2004, was meandering towards of Sir Alex, who would later reveal he tried to give a goalless draw. In the 65th minute, Scotland Darren his competitive debut in the last game of Manager Berti Vogts hooked Colin Cameron, re- the 99/00 season, aged just 15. Premier League placing him with a wiry, shockingly blonde 19- bureaucracy would prevent that from happening. year-old debutant from Dalkeith. To put this into context, Manchester United had won the historic treble of League, Cup & Champi- It was only four minutes later when James ons League 12 months earlier with a squad in- McFadden, another player given a debut for Scot- cluding midfield titans Paul Scholes and Roy land as a teenager by Berti, played the overlap- Keane. ping full back Gary Naysmith down the left chan- nel. Gary’s delivery to the edge of the six-yard box As a nod to how highly Darren was regarded in was prodded clear by a Lithuanian centre back. his teenage years, in 2001 the magazine Four- The clearance fell straight to the lurking Fletcher FourTwo included him, aged just 17, in their 100 on the edge of the box who caught the ball per- Top Young thPlayers in World Football. Darren fectly on the volley sending it into the bottom left placed in 13 above Kaká, Zlatan and Andrés In- corner and Hampden into delirium. iesta, who have all gone on to achieve a thing or two in the beautiful game. In that moment, Scotland fans dared to dream. They were a two-legged playoff away from Euro Darren’s Manchester United debut came in 2004 and returning to the top table of world foot- March of 2003, starting on the right of midfield ball after a six-year absence and they had a new against FC Basel in the UEFA Champions League. talisman to help take them there. A teenager The following season, 03/04, would be his break- playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world, through season, making 35 appearances in all Manchester United. competitions. While it took an Old Trafford crowd raised on Keane & Scholes a while to warm to the Reflecting on Darren’s career it’s hard to come to rangy young Scot, Sir Alex showed great confi- any other conclusion than this: Darren Fletcher is dence in his countryman. the first legend of Scottish football in the 21st century. Consider the numbers: 342 appearances These appearances would draw the attention of for Manchester United, including 312 under one Scotland Manager Berti Vogts who gave Darren a of the greatest managers of all time, Sir Alex Fer- 30-minute debut in a friendly in Oslo in August guson. While in red, Darren won it all – four Eng- 2003. Darren had made 4 appearances for the lish Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the League under-21 side the season before when Berti Cup, four Community Shields, the Club World Cup chose to fast-track him into the A squad. and the pinnacle of European domestic football, The drama of his home competitive debut vs the Champions League. Lithuania would come two months later in Octo- While it may be considered strange to think of a ber 2003. It wouldn’t be long before his leader- player who never played professionally in Scot- ship qualities were recognised with the captain’s land as a legend of Scottish football, in my opin- armband. Leading the team out in an end of ion the label fits for two reasons: Darren repre- riendly in Tallinn against Estonia in May 2004, sented Scotland at the highest level in club foot- Darren became the youngest Scotland captain in season friendly in Tallinn against Estonia in May 2015. On his first game for the Baggies he wore 2004, Darren became the youngest Scotland cap- the captain’s armband. A leader, always. tain in 118 years, a record dating back to John Darren’s most recent and 80th cap for Scotland Lambie in 1886. He wore the captain’s armband came in the final qualifier for the 2018 World Cup, for Scotland in 34 of his 80 caps. away against Slovenia. He is already Scotland’s The passion and commitment for Scotland Dar- 2nd most capped outfield player, only behind the ren showed in every game make it hard to pick a legend Kenny Dalglish and his 102 appearances. standout performance. The qualification process Were it not for the illness, Darren would surely be for Euro 2008 saw Darren and Scotland play with close to surpassing King Kenny. Playing for Stoke passion, tenacity and clarity of purpose. Darren City in the English Championship and only 34 played the full 90 minutes in the win at Hampden years old, Darren could of course still add to his against World Cup runners-up France, not looking tally. out of place up against Patrick Viera and Claude Given his dedication and passion for representing Makelele for Les Bleus. his country, it is the greatest shame that he has Over this period Darren had grown to become an not had the chance to lead out the side at a World integral part of the Manchester United team, Cup or European Championship. If any Scotland trusted by Sir Alex in the biggest matches when player since 1998 deserved to, it is surely Darren. the stakes were at their highest. From 2003-11 In terms of caps and medals, Darren stands Darren played 30+ games each season across alone among Scotland players of his generation. Premier League, Cups and Champions League, He is truly a 21st century legend of Scottish foot- adding medals to his collection along the way. ball. Unfortunately, Darren’s story is as much about what could have been, both on and off the pitch. In the Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal in May 2009 Darren was shown a straight red card after a penalty box challenge on Cesc Fabregas. At the time United were 4-0 ahead on aggregate, meaning that the red card would suspend Darren for the Final. Replays showing conclusively that Darren played the ball rather than the man would only deepen the sense of injustice. Then Inter manager José Mourinho spoke of Darren’s importance to the side before the Final saying “Fletcher is more important than people think. His work in midfield, especially in the mid- field 'wars', in crucial matches is very important . . . he 'eats' opponents in defensive transi- tion.” When Manchester United were soundly beaten in the Final by Barcelona, many pointed to Darren’s absence in the middle of the park as cause for the defeat. Off the pitch, circumstances would conspire to rob him of most of his peak years when he was diagnosed with the bowel condition ulcerative co- litis. He announced an extended break from foot- ball in November 2011 to battle the illness. The next few seasons would be blighted by come- backs and illness-enforced absences with Darren not playing regularly until after he had left Man- chester United to join West Bromwich Albion in was, that trip will be best remembered for his off- field exploits, the starlet exploring the nightlife Edd Norval with enough tenacity as to miss the flight home. _________________________________________________________________ It’s happened to the best of us, maybe just not on our first full international trip. He was a relatable T here was always something cool about James McFadden. His career, although it might rogue. One of us. The guy next door that was re- ally good at football. not scream out ‘culture’ to football hipsters, was If his session credentials weren’t quite enough to speckled with moments of flamboyant brilliance. get him a statue, then two defining moments With the garish red mohawk, everyman charm brought him to within touching distance of his and propensity for wondergoals, he had a fair own marble visage. Scotland’s last tournament claim as rightful heir to the title of the country’swas 1998 and with each failed one since, a true Outlaw King. mounting pressure to crack it. McFadden, through all the ebbs and flows of his career, At club level, McFadden might be best remem- seemed to laugh in the face of pressure, particu- bered for some silky moves and enthralling goals larly when he donned the Scotland top. Case one: at Motherwell before making the oft repeated, the Netherlands. and on hindsight oft erroneous, decision to move prematurely to England – in his case spurning the Bertie Vogts was at the helm of the Scotland clear interest of Celtic. The move from Mother- squad, a man for whom - with all his faults – well, a club where he managed to captivate gave his young players opportunities. Hand-ups crowds, to Everton where he didn’t, set off a jour- aside, he was no Craig Brown, although the Neth- neyman career where one senses his full poten- erlands weren’t at their most rampant either, hav- tial was always bubbling frustratingly just below ing failed to qualify for the previous World Cup in the surface. 2002. Going into the game, hoping to qualify for Euro 2004, bookmakers would have Netherlands Had he joined the Glasgow giants, he’d have clear favourites, with both sides having some- played in the 2003 UEFA Cup final, the club’s first thing to prove. since 1970, against a legendary Porto side under the talented tutelage of Martin O’Neill. Rather he A crucial play-off tie, both sides were running on made his move to the blue side of Liverpool. Life something else. It looked like the first leg in there got off to a slow start, taking one year to Hampden would go right down to the wire when find the back of the net and, although flashes of McFadden jogged over to the corner flag and set previously seen excellence burst through, they the ball into position. A dangerous looking in- rarely sustained. Still, a big money move to Bir- swinging corner was headed straight back to him mingham tempted him away and after a consid- – a flop. When he collected the ball again though, erably better start than at Everton, an injury and he had another idea. club relegation sabotaged his trajectory, setting up a move back to Everton that continued where Linking up with Darren Fletcher, whose superb he had left off. backheel opened a key space in the box for McFadden to wage his attack. Straight from the England was only home for one more year with a training pitch, he cut inside and whipped the ball brief stint at Sunderland before returning to home as the back of the net extended outwards Motherwell, the club where his career began, and like the chests of the Scottish fans whose physi- subsequently moving around Scotland in a strug- ology struggled to contain their adrenalin-soaked gle to re-establish his name. His club career was- hearts. It was 1-0 with a goal similar to another n’t why he is fondly remembered though; rather it iconic one against the same side some years be- was his appearances on the international stage. fore. A draw in Holland would see have seen To many he was, and still is, a Scotland legend. them though. Let’s leave that there. Think about this. His first cap came on a tour of Another failed campaign looked likely when the South Africa where the 19-year-old displayed his Euro 2008 qualifying groups were drawn – attitude on and off the pitch. Impressive as he France and Italy – both of the World Cup 2006