We were at the funeral is afternoon of Stuart McGrady, 29 years old who passed away in his sleep . A wee boy who grew up over the road. Forehill & Kyle Secondary School, Ayr Utd, Queens Park, Cumnock and Maybole Juniors for the last 7 years. He represented Scotland at schools level & beat England as captain.
A loving family brought up a smashing lad, a gent & a credit to them, football & the town of Ayr. A life ahead for him & his partner, instead we were listening to a really uplifting tribute. Lovely stories & memories of a real good guy. The players of Maybole Juniors represented him well today, what a lovely lad. The ceremony finished with' You'll never walk alone', I was greeting as everybody else did.
Life is cruel.
Hamish
Tuesday, 10 March 2015
Thursday, 5 March 2015
I was invited to a Rangers game at home to Ibrox in the early 90's by a Lanarkshire builder, I was naturally delighted to accept. In arriving at the club deck c/w tie & jacket it was explained that Willie was a Celtic fan & had recently fallen out with the Kelly / White dynasty & had taken his custom & customers to Castle Ibrox.
We were 4 at the table joined with 2 couples from up north which led to much convivial conversation & a few drinks.
Walking out onto the Club Deck it was immediately apparent that the Bears sitting in the Debenture seats were fully aware that Willie was a Celt & there ensued some lively banter. My memory was of a close first half with the Dons providing stiff opposition. Half time came and went with the 2 couples enjoying a few brandies & possibly more.
Returning to the stand they were directly behind me, however after 5 minutes she was directly on me. She was blootered, she struggled to keep upright, her struggle to keep the contents of a sizeable Rangers drinks cabinet was however in vain. She was sick. After she was sick she fell in the sick. She was then carted out of the Club Deck much to the amusement of the Bears in rows 3 to 43.
' Willie, I see you've brought your sister' was the cry from a delighted Bear as not only were Rangers 1 up, the Celtic were in disarray & the lady that may indeed not have been Willie's sister was sick & in the sick, however both he & me were slightly splattered.
This story came to mind 2 weeks ago when asked for my thoughts by The Times of London, Scottish edition on the sale of alcohol to ordinary punters. A question of human rights me thought. If the corporate can have a pint then why can't we in the cheap seats?
Whilst not entirely convinced that there is much demand I can't see any reason why for example Elgin City can't approach the local licensing board to set up a wee bar.
The London Times, Scottish edition printed my thoughts & included my wee Ibrox anecdote. This week did I not find myself outside Willie's building factory & after introducing myself we laughed out loud at the memory of the wifie landing in the sick.
The moral of the story is of course that perhaps we should leave the Corporate to drink themselves into a puddle of sick whilst we continue to drink a puddle of weak Bovril.
By the way Aberdeen drew 1-1 & soon after Fergus McCann saved Celtic. Willie has given up on football & listens to radio phone-ins.
We were 4 at the table joined with 2 couples from up north which led to much convivial conversation & a few drinks.
Walking out onto the Club Deck it was immediately apparent that the Bears sitting in the Debenture seats were fully aware that Willie was a Celt & there ensued some lively banter. My memory was of a close first half with the Dons providing stiff opposition. Half time came and went with the 2 couples enjoying a few brandies & possibly more.
Returning to the stand they were directly behind me, however after 5 minutes she was directly on me. She was blootered, she struggled to keep upright, her struggle to keep the contents of a sizeable Rangers drinks cabinet was however in vain. She was sick. After she was sick she fell in the sick. She was then carted out of the Club Deck much to the amusement of the Bears in rows 3 to 43.
' Willie, I see you've brought your sister' was the cry from a delighted Bear as not only were Rangers 1 up, the Celtic were in disarray & the lady that may indeed not have been Willie's sister was sick & in the sick, however both he & me were slightly splattered.
This story came to mind 2 weeks ago when asked for my thoughts by The Times of London, Scottish edition on the sale of alcohol to ordinary punters. A question of human rights me thought. If the corporate can have a pint then why can't we in the cheap seats?
Whilst not entirely convinced that there is much demand I can't see any reason why for example Elgin City can't approach the local licensing board to set up a wee bar.
The London Times, Scottish edition printed my thoughts & included my wee Ibrox anecdote. This week did I not find myself outside Willie's building factory & after introducing myself we laughed out loud at the memory of the wifie landing in the sick.
The moral of the story is of course that perhaps we should leave the Corporate to drink themselves into a puddle of sick whilst we continue to drink a puddle of weak Bovril.
By the way Aberdeen drew 1-1 & soon after Fergus McCann saved Celtic. Willie has given up on football & listens to radio phone-ins.
Monday, 15 December 2014
Northern Ireland
The excitement never stops as seemingly we are due to play Northern Ireland at home in February. I have been heartened by the progress of our cousins across the water in the current Euro Qualifiers however I am less than convinced that the re-opening of Hampden will quake to a full house for this friendly.
And a question can be posed....why not in Belfast? Is it really over 30 years since we played there, qualifying for the 1982 world cup with a fortuitous 0-0 draw. When there Northern Ireland did a might better than us and beat the hosts Spain. Gerry Armstrong was the hero then & as far as I know became a media star.
And a question can be posed....why not in Belfast? Is it really over 30 years since we played there, qualifying for the 1982 world cup with a fortuitous 0-0 draw. When there Northern Ireland did a might better than us and beat the hosts Spain. Gerry Armstrong was the hero then & as far as I know became a media star.
Thursday, 30 October 2014
Ticket Prices
With the poor crowd at the Ibrox Georgia qualifier & following a decent result in Warsaw we are facing a non sell-out for the all important Ireland game at Celtic Park, that is unless the Irish take up the remaining briefs.
Many home fans are boycotting the over priced game, some out of principle others by the sheer cost. Fans from Ireland are doing what we do, that is get into the home end, & why not.
Are Scotland fans letting the team down at this vital moment? In the past we have suffered dreadful performances & still turned out in amazing numbers.
What price loyalty?
The Daily Record & Sunday Mail have kept up a weekly campaign against the SFA amongst other media outlets. Only today a Sunday Mail journo was questioning on whether their has been a reaction to the cost of phoning the ticket office.
Shame on the SFA.
Many home fans are boycotting the over priced game, some out of principle others by the sheer cost. Fans from Ireland are doing what we do, that is get into the home end, & why not.
Are Scotland fans letting the team down at this vital moment? In the past we have suffered dreadful performances & still turned out in amazing numbers.
What price loyalty?
The Daily Record & Sunday Mail have kept up a weekly campaign against the SFA amongst other media outlets. Only today a Sunday Mail journo was questioning on whether their has been a reaction to the cost of phoning the ticket office.
Shame on the SFA.
Sunday, 12 October 2014
Georgia
Ibrox proved to be the almost perfect host for the Georgia game with a decent atmosphere to kick off the home campaign. I tend to judge our performance by the actions of my brother who during times of stress goes walkabout. Yesterday he just held his head in his hands for the last 20 minutes, progress indeed.
A competent first half with good wing play & movement with the ball pinged at pace & a winning own goal. There just had to be a late scare & the malfunction of the 4th officials' substitution board was as close to a stramash as we got.
A crowd of 34,719 was a realistic attendance considering the prices however I can only think that the players & manager would have dearly loved a sell-out with that sizzle a packed Ibrox would have brought.
I was on radio Scotland ref the prices & pitted in the SFA corner was former Chief Exec Gordon Smith presumably as no press officer was brave enough to comment.
There is a lot of admirable work being done by the SFA in kids coaching, football development etc & well done to all involved. Does this come at a price? You betcha, we are paying for this & more.
£10 cheaper & we would have had a near sell out, a public sale for the Ireland game will see many of our Irish cousins joining us in Celtic Park stands, would we not do the same?
On the other negative side Poland beat Germany for the first time & suddenly our optimism looks misplaced, or does it? We need a point in Warsaw, 3 in Georgia and probably 4 against Ireland. We also need draws by our opponents.
Andrew Robertson looks a star & it was good to have Fletcher back, I however despair at our poor finishing, bloomin years of this.
Denis Law, Colin Stein, when will we see your likes again?
Hamish
A competent first half with good wing play & movement with the ball pinged at pace & a winning own goal. There just had to be a late scare & the malfunction of the 4th officials' substitution board was as close to a stramash as we got.
A crowd of 34,719 was a realistic attendance considering the prices however I can only think that the players & manager would have dearly loved a sell-out with that sizzle a packed Ibrox would have brought.
I was on radio Scotland ref the prices & pitted in the SFA corner was former Chief Exec Gordon Smith presumably as no press officer was brave enough to comment.
There is a lot of admirable work being done by the SFA in kids coaching, football development etc & well done to all involved. Does this come at a price? You betcha, we are paying for this & more.
£10 cheaper & we would have had a near sell out, a public sale for the Ireland game will see many of our Irish cousins joining us in Celtic Park stands, would we not do the same?
On the other negative side Poland beat Germany for the first time & suddenly our optimism looks misplaced, or does it? We need a point in Warsaw, 3 in Georgia and probably 4 against Ireland. We also need draws by our opponents.
Andrew Robertson looks a star & it was good to have Fletcher back, I however despair at our poor finishing, bloomin years of this.
Denis Law, Colin Stein, when will we see your likes again?
Hamish
Thursday, 9 October 2014
Supporting Scotland
Talk of boycotts & fans not going cause it's Ibrox, jings all this fuss & we are playing well. Then there is the massive decision on whether to sing our anthem. My heart bleeds for the Tartan Army.
The cost of tickets is a scandal with a deliberate decision to fleece a cash cow, if you can pardon the mixed metaphor. By the way Mixd Metaphor was the Dutch manager when we beat Holland 3-1 in an Amsterdam 1938 friendly, those were the days.
If ever there was a time for action it was 1954 with a disastrous World Cup campaign. The SFA in their infinite lack of wisdom took 14 players, no training gear and a manager who would chuck it during the tournament. Rangers players were off on a summer tour, lucky them. To ensure the players would not suffer frostbite the Scotland jersey was made of extra thick wool which as Tommy Docherty later commented ensured that the lion on the badge melted as they lined up for the ritual 7-0 defeat in 90 degree Basle heat. This debacle followed a 1-0 loss to world power Austria & we were sent homeward to think again. Taking into account an England 4-2 trouncing at Hampden this was truly a dreadful year. The again England beat us 7-2 in '55.
Get along to Ibrox & sing your heart out.
As for the England game .....what a rip off.
Hamish
The cost of tickets is a scandal with a deliberate decision to fleece a cash cow, if you can pardon the mixed metaphor. By the way Mixd Metaphor was the Dutch manager when we beat Holland 3-1 in an Amsterdam 1938 friendly, those were the days.
If ever there was a time for action it was 1954 with a disastrous World Cup campaign. The SFA in their infinite lack of wisdom took 14 players, no training gear and a manager who would chuck it during the tournament. Rangers players were off on a summer tour, lucky them. To ensure the players would not suffer frostbite the Scotland jersey was made of extra thick wool which as Tommy Docherty later commented ensured that the lion on the badge melted as they lined up for the ritual 7-0 defeat in 90 degree Basle heat. This debacle followed a 1-0 loss to world power Austria & we were sent homeward to think again. Taking into account an England 4-2 trouncing at Hampden this was truly a dreadful year. The again England beat us 7-2 in '55.
Get along to Ibrox & sing your heart out.
As for the England game .....what a rip off.
Hamish
Wednesday, 8 October 2014
A National Anthem
I have no recollection of God Save The Queen at Hampden however I do remember it getting laldy at Wembley 1977.
The Queen as Patron would have quite rightly been un-amused & I do remember an article in The Sunday Mail by The Lord Lieutenant stating that it was a treasonable offence to fly The Lion Rampant flag without royal permission punishable by death. I kid you not!
An embarrassed SFA chose a Cliff Hanley ditty written circa 1950 for the singer Robert Wilson as the new anthem. A music hall success it proved to be quite popular with the fans and treated with half-hearted disdain by those in the old Hampden South Stand. Used at Spain '82, a tune with words so frivolous that when played abroad the travelling fans accompanied their lack of knowledge of the lyrics with mock highland flings. Many a home fan would stand at attention in respect and gawp at our frivolity.
Flower of Scotland a stirring song had it's most stirring rendition at the rugby Grand-slam, with neer a republican nationalist in sight. Have a peek at U-Tube from an Italian view of us singing FoS before our fatal Euro-qualifier defeat, rip-roaring, throat bending stuff.
As it stands we do not have a national anthem although in 'Auld Lang Syne' we have one of the most popular songs in the world. My father is of the opinion that many a Hampden fan only goes for the half-time Proclaimers & Runrig sing-song.
We certainly did not rise and be a nation again, but then again in Fitba we have been independent since 1872.
I will sing Flower of Scotland this week and hope to bring down our campaign in France in 2 years after a narrow defeat in the 2nd round with a rendition of 'Auld Lang Syne' having driven 500 miles (plus) to be there.
Hamish
The Queen as Patron would have quite rightly been un-amused & I do remember an article in The Sunday Mail by The Lord Lieutenant stating that it was a treasonable offence to fly The Lion Rampant flag without royal permission punishable by death. I kid you not!
An embarrassed SFA chose a Cliff Hanley ditty written circa 1950 for the singer Robert Wilson as the new anthem. A music hall success it proved to be quite popular with the fans and treated with half-hearted disdain by those in the old Hampden South Stand. Used at Spain '82, a tune with words so frivolous that when played abroad the travelling fans accompanied their lack of knowledge of the lyrics with mock highland flings. Many a home fan would stand at attention in respect and gawp at our frivolity.
Flower of Scotland a stirring song had it's most stirring rendition at the rugby Grand-slam, with neer a republican nationalist in sight. Have a peek at U-Tube from an Italian view of us singing FoS before our fatal Euro-qualifier defeat, rip-roaring, throat bending stuff.
As it stands we do not have a national anthem although in 'Auld Lang Syne' we have one of the most popular songs in the world. My father is of the opinion that many a Hampden fan only goes for the half-time Proclaimers & Runrig sing-song.
We certainly did not rise and be a nation again, but then again in Fitba we have been independent since 1872.
I will sing Flower of Scotland this week and hope to bring down our campaign in France in 2 years after a narrow defeat in the 2nd round with a rendition of 'Auld Lang Syne' having driven 500 miles (plus) to be there.
Hamish
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