Raith Rovers are looking forward to their first Scottish Cup Semi Final appearance for almost 50 years. The town of Kirkcaldy will turn out in force to back the Stark’s Park club in their quest to reach the Final.
In the German language there is a term that is used to describe teams like the Rovers. If they were in Germany they would be known as a ‘traditionsverein’. The literal translation is a ‘club with tradition’.
However, the term means a lot more than that. A traditionsverein can trace a long history but not necessarily a great deal of success. They will have their occasional moments but they may be few and far between. They are usually from a ‘one club town’. For one-off big games they can draw out a huge support – both at home and away. To be a traditionsverein then certain things need to be missing – the club cannot be a recent amalgamation and it also helps if they have not moved ground to some out-of-town location.
The Rovers tick all the boxes as a traditionsverein. Their history dates back over 125 years. In their early days they had strong competition for the title of top team in Kirkcaldy, let alone Fife. But they saw off their rivals to take their place in the Scottish League as representatives of the ‘Lang Toun’. Success does not go hand in hand with Raith Rovers. Their excellent club history is entitled ‘Always Next Season’ which just about sums up their history.
Over the past 50 years their great moments have been infrequent. However, that very fact means that they are all the sweeter when they do come along. Other than Celtic supporters and possibly some Dunfermline fans, the whole of Scottish football was delighted when they won the League Cup in 1994/5. Raith’s European run from the following year is the stuff of legend. Every self-respecting Raith fan has that photo – the one from the Olympic Stadium in Berlin that shows the scoreboard reading ‘Half Time – Bayern Munchen 0-1 FC Raith Rovers’. Danny Lennon, currently the manager of Cowdenbeath, scored that memorable goal.
The idea of the ‘one club town’ is important in Scottish football. Kirkcaldy has its renegades who support Celtic or Rangers but most regard the Rovers as their ‘second team’. If they reached the Scottish Cup Final some of them will be there to support them. And if they do bring back a trophy to Kirkcaldy, just as they did in 1994, then the whole town will be out on the streets to greet the team. It’s something Celtic and Rangers cannot do and they are worse for it.
Crowds at Stark’s Park are not as large as they used to be but then the same is true for most Scottish clubs. They are a lot bigger than they were in the dark days of the 1980s when Rovers struggled in the lower reaches of the Second Division. They always managed to stay at around he 500 level but at times there were few more. But loyalties die hard and when the club’s fortunes picked up again the crowds did come back. This season more than 2000 followed the club to Dundee in the Cup Quarter Final, and many more than that will go to Hampden for their Semi Final.
Stark’s Park is a shining example of how to redevelop a football ground. The only part of the ground that is unaltered from 30 years ago is the quirky main stand, set on the corner of the pitch. The site of the ground is tightly hemmed in by roads and railway but Raith have made the most of what they have. Two decent new stands, one at either end, give the ground a tight, enclosed feel. And it is where it should be, in the town, close to pubs and houses . . . not next to PC World, KFC, Asda or any other symbols of 21st Century consumerism.
There are other ‘traditionsverein’ in Scotland. Queen of the South, Ayr, Kilmarnock, Morton, Motherwell and Dunfermline Athletic fit the bill perfectly. Falkirk, St Mirren and St Johnstone would if they hadn’t sold their souls to supermarkets and moved to new grounds. Dundee and Partick Thistle would tick the boxes if they didn’t share a city with other clubs.
Some clubs clearly do not fit the definition. Livingston and Airdrie United are modern creations. Stirling Albion, Arbroath, Cowdenbeath and the four Angus clubs lack any sort of meaningful success in their background. Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts are too big to fit the definition. Dundee United cannot be a ‘traditionsverein’ if Dundee are one – you cannot have two from the same town. Despite the last 40 years, Dundee are still a bigger club than United.
So back to the Rovers. Good luck to them in their upcoming Semi Final. They are a club built on tradition who deserve to succeed.
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Livingston - Where Next?
Sometimes radio phone-ins can make for depressing listening. Radio Five Live’s shows consist of person after person repeating the blindingly obvious. Real Radio’s are bigot after moron spouting on about the Old Firm. But on Radio Scotland you occasionally get a caller who has a really good and original point to make.
A week or so ago I head a supporter of East Stirlingshire FC commenting on the Third Division promotion race. His point was, in essence, that Livingston were much too good for Division Three. He also reckoned that the nine other Third Division clubs had been punished as a result of Livingston being demoted to their division. With only one automatic promotion place available, it was inevitable that a full-time club who had been preparing for First Division football in the Summer would walk off with the title.
This obviously long-suffering supporter felt that a much more appropriate punishment for Livingston’s financial shenanigans would have been a large points deduction but to have kept them in Division One. The points deduction - perhaps 30 points – should have been enough to ensure that they were relegated. In either scenario the end result, for season 2010/11, would have been to place them in Division Two. The application of a points deduction would not have disadvantaged any other clubs.
I hadn’t thought of this particular slant on the whole sorry affair. It seems a very sensible analysis and to me would have been an appropriate punishment for the West Lothian club.
Last night I watched Livingston and Shire battle it out in a League game. Livingston went into the match in top place, four points ahead of Shire and with a game in hand. Realistically, a win for Livingston would wrap up the title and promotion. That’s exactly what they got, and fully deserved it was too. Full-time coaching and training has given them a shape and flow to their play that Shire could not match. Full time wages means they can attract players that no other club in Division Three could hope to sign.
Livingston will go up ‘on a high’ and should be able to compete in the Second Division without any problem. The difference in quality is not huge – just substitute Arbroath for Montrose, Peterhead for Elgin, Stirling for Stenhousemuir.
However, despite their on-field success this season Livingston have not got the fans flooding back to Almondvale. Fifteen years ago, as they climbed the leagues, they could attract 3-4000 home fans. Last night, for a vital game, there crowd was less than 900 and 100 of them had made the trip from Falkirk. The Second Division is unlikely to be much more attractive, and the medium-term economics of running a full-time operation will be hard to justify.
Renewed talk of an expanded SPL could also have an impact. If any expansion within the next couple of years was based on league position then Livingston would almost certainly be excluded. However, it is quite possible that expansion would be by invitation in which case Livingston might be in. If the SPL clubs went down that route and cherry-picked their new members, then it would be the ultimate slap in the face for the rest of Scottish football.
It is difficult to work out where Livingston’s place in the pecking order of Scottish football should be. They are, in effect, a franchise that was set up in West Lothian in the mid 1990s. The area should be able to support a professional football club but history says otherwise. Bo’ness, Bathgate and Armadale all came and went in the 1930s. If the same rules applied now as did back then, Livingston would also have been consigned to history.
But the world has changed since then and with their excellent facilities Livingston deserve to survive. However, as the caller to Radio Scotland illustrated, there is still a great deal of resentment and ill-feeling towards the club from supporters across the land. Whether that is replicated in board rooms and accountant’s offices is another matter.
A week or so ago I head a supporter of East Stirlingshire FC commenting on the Third Division promotion race. His point was, in essence, that Livingston were much too good for Division Three. He also reckoned that the nine other Third Division clubs had been punished as a result of Livingston being demoted to their division. With only one automatic promotion place available, it was inevitable that a full-time club who had been preparing for First Division football in the Summer would walk off with the title.
This obviously long-suffering supporter felt that a much more appropriate punishment for Livingston’s financial shenanigans would have been a large points deduction but to have kept them in Division One. The points deduction - perhaps 30 points – should have been enough to ensure that they were relegated. In either scenario the end result, for season 2010/11, would have been to place them in Division Two. The application of a points deduction would not have disadvantaged any other clubs.
I hadn’t thought of this particular slant on the whole sorry affair. It seems a very sensible analysis and to me would have been an appropriate punishment for the West Lothian club.
Last night I watched Livingston and Shire battle it out in a League game. Livingston went into the match in top place, four points ahead of Shire and with a game in hand. Realistically, a win for Livingston would wrap up the title and promotion. That’s exactly what they got, and fully deserved it was too. Full-time coaching and training has given them a shape and flow to their play that Shire could not match. Full time wages means they can attract players that no other club in Division Three could hope to sign.
Livingston will go up ‘on a high’ and should be able to compete in the Second Division without any problem. The difference in quality is not huge – just substitute Arbroath for Montrose, Peterhead for Elgin, Stirling for Stenhousemuir.
However, despite their on-field success this season Livingston have not got the fans flooding back to Almondvale. Fifteen years ago, as they climbed the leagues, they could attract 3-4000 home fans. Last night, for a vital game, there crowd was less than 900 and 100 of them had made the trip from Falkirk. The Second Division is unlikely to be much more attractive, and the medium-term economics of running a full-time operation will be hard to justify.
Renewed talk of an expanded SPL could also have an impact. If any expansion within the next couple of years was based on league position then Livingston would almost certainly be excluded. However, it is quite possible that expansion would be by invitation in which case Livingston might be in. If the SPL clubs went down that route and cherry-picked their new members, then it would be the ultimate slap in the face for the rest of Scottish football.
It is difficult to work out where Livingston’s place in the pecking order of Scottish football should be. They are, in effect, a franchise that was set up in West Lothian in the mid 1990s. The area should be able to support a professional football club but history says otherwise. Bo’ness, Bathgate and Armadale all came and went in the 1930s. If the same rules applied now as did back then, Livingston would also have been consigned to history.
But the world has changed since then and with their excellent facilities Livingston deserve to survive. However, as the caller to Radio Scotland illustrated, there is still a great deal of resentment and ill-feeling towards the club from supporters across the land. Whether that is replicated in board rooms and accountant’s offices is another matter.
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Nostalgia - 35 Years Ago
I've been remiss in not updating this blog on a regular basis recently. Hopefully updates will now be added several times a week.
I’ve commented before on how interesting to look back at Schoolboy and Youth international teams from years gone by to see which players ‘made it’ and which didn’t.
Two fascinating programmes for Schools internationals played in 1975 came to my attention recently. The Under 15 team was always regarded as the ‘Blue Riband’ of schools football with the entire talent pool to choose from. The Under 18 side was different. The top players had almost certainly left school by that age and joined senior clubs.
From the class of 1975, a fair number of players from each team went on to have decent careers in the game. The Under 15 international was for a game against Northern Ireland at Tannadice in March 1975. Scotland were captained by Dundee United S Form signing Ray Stewart (Perth Grammar School) who would go on to play with distinction for West Ham United and Scotland. 'Tonka' had an amazing record with spot kicks at the highest level. Another member of the squad, Jim Bett (Earnock HS, Hamilton) would also win full international honours during his career with Rangers, Aberdeen and others. He was also a 'pioneer' in moving abroad to play with Lokeren of Belgium at a time when Scots abroadwere unknown, much like now! Of the other squad members the highest-achievements were probably from Stuart Robertson (Claremont HS, East Kilbiride) who went south to Burnley and Doncaster Rovers before playing out his career in Scotland with Falkirk, Dumbarton and Stirling amongst others. Stuart Cribbes (Craigmount HS, Edinburgh) was then on an S Form with Hibs but actually signed for Hearts without making much of an impact. Derek Strickland (Blackburn Academy) had an injury-curtailed career with Rangers and Hearts. John McCluskey (Holy Cross HS, Hamilton) was a Celtic S Form but never matched the achievements of his brother George.
The Under 18 side took on England at Kirkcaldy in May 75. Their captain was Sam Lynch (St Augustines HS, Edinburgh) who is now co-manager of Spartans. The side included Robert Aitken (St Andrews Academy, Ayrshire), better known as Roy, and a subsequent captain of Celtic and Scotland. 'The Bear' was Assistant Mqanager of Scotland under Alex McLeish. Stephen Paterson (Milnes High School, Fochabers) was signed by Manchester United and later became a successful manager with Inverness Caley Thistle. His time at Aberdeen was less successful and he has now quit football to return to his career in social work. Other players to make the grade included Arthur Grant (Holy Cross HS, Hamilton) with Clyde and Alloa, Billy Harper (Liberton HS) with Meadowbank an Brian Kinnear (Glenwood Secondary, Glasgow) with St Mirren.
Pre-match entertainment at Stark’s Park featured an Under 11 Primary School match between Fife and Edinburgh. Fife included Stevie Kirk (At Agatha’s PS, Methil), later of Stoke City, East Fife and Motherwell. Dave Beaumont (Pathhead PS) went on to play for Dundee United and Kenny Ward (Holy Name PS, Oakley) went to Forfar. Five of the Edinburgh side later joined Hearts with three having illustrious careers at the top level. John Robertson (Parsons Green PS), Dave Bowman (also Parsons Green) and Gary Mackay (Balgreen PS). All three were key players iun the successful Hearts side of the mid 1980s. The other two, Andy Bruce and Scott Maxwell, made the first team at Tynecastle, but not for long.
That was 35 years ago . . . a different age in football’s development. The Schools FA is marginalized now with the running of international teams entrusted to the SFA Coaching Department. Whether or not that is an improvement is debatable especially given the achievements of some of these lads.
I’ve commented before on how interesting to look back at Schoolboy and Youth international teams from years gone by to see which players ‘made it’ and which didn’t.
Two fascinating programmes for Schools internationals played in 1975 came to my attention recently. The Under 15 team was always regarded as the ‘Blue Riband’ of schools football with the entire talent pool to choose from. The Under 18 side was different. The top players had almost certainly left school by that age and joined senior clubs.
From the class of 1975, a fair number of players from each team went on to have decent careers in the game. The Under 15 international was for a game against Northern Ireland at Tannadice in March 1975. Scotland were captained by Dundee United S Form signing Ray Stewart (Perth Grammar School) who would go on to play with distinction for West Ham United and Scotland. 'Tonka' had an amazing record with spot kicks at the highest level. Another member of the squad, Jim Bett (Earnock HS, Hamilton) would also win full international honours during his career with Rangers, Aberdeen and others. He was also a 'pioneer' in moving abroad to play with Lokeren of Belgium at a time when Scots abroadwere unknown, much like now! Of the other squad members the highest-achievements were probably from Stuart Robertson (Claremont HS, East Kilbiride) who went south to Burnley and Doncaster Rovers before playing out his career in Scotland with Falkirk, Dumbarton and Stirling amongst others. Stuart Cribbes (Craigmount HS, Edinburgh) was then on an S Form with Hibs but actually signed for Hearts without making much of an impact. Derek Strickland (Blackburn Academy) had an injury-curtailed career with Rangers and Hearts. John McCluskey (Holy Cross HS, Hamilton) was a Celtic S Form but never matched the achievements of his brother George.
The Under 18 side took on England at Kirkcaldy in May 75. Their captain was Sam Lynch (St Augustines HS, Edinburgh) who is now co-manager of Spartans. The side included Robert Aitken (St Andrews Academy, Ayrshire), better known as Roy, and a subsequent captain of Celtic and Scotland. 'The Bear' was Assistant Mqanager of Scotland under Alex McLeish. Stephen Paterson (Milnes High School, Fochabers) was signed by Manchester United and later became a successful manager with Inverness Caley Thistle. His time at Aberdeen was less successful and he has now quit football to return to his career in social work. Other players to make the grade included Arthur Grant (Holy Cross HS, Hamilton) with Clyde and Alloa, Billy Harper (Liberton HS) with Meadowbank an Brian Kinnear (Glenwood Secondary, Glasgow) with St Mirren.
Pre-match entertainment at Stark’s Park featured an Under 11 Primary School match between Fife and Edinburgh. Fife included Stevie Kirk (At Agatha’s PS, Methil), later of Stoke City, East Fife and Motherwell. Dave Beaumont (Pathhead PS) went on to play for Dundee United and Kenny Ward (Holy Name PS, Oakley) went to Forfar. Five of the Edinburgh side later joined Hearts with three having illustrious careers at the top level. John Robertson (Parsons Green PS), Dave Bowman (also Parsons Green) and Gary Mackay (Balgreen PS). All three were key players iun the successful Hearts side of the mid 1980s. The other two, Andy Bruce and Scott Maxwell, made the first team at Tynecastle, but not for long.
That was 35 years ago . . . a different age in football’s development. The Schools FA is marginalized now with the running of international teams entrusted to the SFA Coaching Department. Whether or not that is an improvement is debatable especially given the achievements of some of these lads.
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