C’mon the Scorries!
ROLL on Saturday. Can’t wait. I’ll be back, firmly rooted, to my very territorial spot at Harmsworth Park waiting for Wick Academy to launch its 2011/12 Highland League season.
I’m excited by the prospect. With a new manager at the helm hopes are high the Scorries can build on the strengths within the current team and reap greater league success.
Renowned for their wonderful passing football, it has been a joy to watch Academy in recent years. Last season had its fair share of frustrations. The fixture list was heavily curtailed by the severe winter conditions, team injuries took their toll and the results in the league slipped from previous highs.
The 4-4 draw against Brechin City in the third round of Scottish Cup tie, in November 2009, was a glorious, unforgettable occasion of pure theatre! Albeit we let slip a 4-2 lead...
Losing 3-2 to Forres Mechanics in the North of Scotland Cup final at Brora’s Dudgeon Park last September was a day of high drama and frustration. But we look forwards – not backwards!
Looking forwards is a sentiment in the hearts of many Scottish football fans these days.
Last season the national game took a severe hammering. With levels of sectarian violence threatening to run out of control we were shocked by postal bomb attempts on key Celtic figures including its besieged manager, Neil Lennon.
The game itself was undermined by unprecedented criticism levelled at match officials, following controversial on-the-ball incidents. With their reputations tarnished, referees and their assistants embarked on strike action leading to hurried arrangements by the SPL to hire officials from Europe and Israel. It was a mess.
Fresh details have emerged after the BBC secured freedom of information data about the levels of violence at Old Firm fixtures and the cost of policing them.
Policing the seven Old Firm ties last season cost the taxpayer £2.4 million. Each game cost more than £320k to police. Rangers and Celtic contributed less than one-sixth of the overall costs.
The BBC compared the costs of policing Celtic’s last home game against Hearts which amounted to £16,521 – 20 times less than policing their Ibrox rivals.
The figures, just released, also confirm a sharp increase in violent crime every time the two clubs met.
Statistics reveal how violent crime rockets from an average of 140 incidents across the Strathclyde area to 382 cases when the Old Firm plays.
Much of the violence is recorded as domestic crime when disgruntled fans lash out at home.
Senior police officers say they would rather spend resources policing and protecting communities in ways the public prefers than using inordinate costs to police single events like Old Firm fixtures.
Last season Rangers and Celtic each paid more than £300,000 towards policing costs – a fraction of the amounts involved.
Critics wonder how they can afford to pay so much for expensive signings and so little towards the actual costs of policing the events. Should they be made to pay more? Have they got the wrong priorities?
ON a positive note a recent Fraser of Allander Institute report calculates the Old Firm contributes £120m added-value to the Glasgow economy over a typical season. Supporting more than 3000 jobs in the process.
Football pundit Jim Traynor, speaking on a BBC news report, said: “It would be terribly damaging if we had another season with the same problems attached to football as we had last season. I don’t know if the game’s image could withstand that.”
Holyrood, recognising the gravity of the situation, has rushed legislative attempts, under its emergency bill procedures, to enact the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill.
Meanwhile, a new era started at Ibrox as Ally McCoist took over the reins from retiring manager Walter Smith, who had led the ’Gers to a back-to-back domestic double, winning the league cup and their 54th league championship, a world record, which they secured on the final day of the season.
Celtic has announced a new four-year signing with Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama opting for the Parkhead side despite interest from Aston Villa.
Football is a game where emotions run high. Fans are being asked to adopt a more responsible approach and consider the consequences of their behaviour. The legendary Liverpool manager, Bill Shankly, knew how to put matters into perspective. “Football,” he said, “isn’t a matter of life and death, it’s much more important than that.”
Sam Mackay, Academy’s influential midfield playmaker, is upbeat. It seems there is a new buzz around Harmsworth Park. “Everyone’s looking forward to the new season,” he said. “It’s a new chapter and a new challenge. We are all very positive.”
Founded in 1893 Wick Academy has a long and proud footballing tradition. Since joining the Highland League in 1994 the team has experienced the highs and lows. But with a new season upon us we start we a clean slate.
So I will be rooted to my very own territorial spot this Saturday awaiting Academy and their Inverness opponents, Clachnacuddin, to take to the field. I am excited by the prospect as I know all the Scorries will be too. Bring it on!