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About 6 years ago, I met Declan Gallagher in Prison when he was a prisoner on remand and awaiting sentencing. Although it’s been mentioned in other posts, I can’t remember the ins and outs of the incident, but ultimately his contract at Livingston FC had been terminated and he found himself behind bars, which despite what the media tell us, is somewhere you really don’t want to be. I worked in the gym in this prison and one Saturday, after finishing a workout, Declan was sitting on the cross-trainer watching the scores come in via Sky Sports News. He was devastated and spoke of how his life was in ruins and that he had let so many people down and he didn’t know how what he was going to do. I’d heard sob stories a million times over the years, but I could see (and hear) that what this lad was saying was true, and from the heart. I remember saying to him that his life was now at a crossroads, he could go on to be another young footballer who flew with the crows and was shot with the crows and he could continually do that, or he could do the best that he possibly could, to stay out of all the nonsense that goes on within prison and do his best to get his life back on track when he got out, but ultimately, learn by his experience and never take the position that he was is in, prior to the incident, for granted. He already knew that, I didn’t tell him anything he hadn’t heard a million times before, or that he hadn’t already told himself a million times. Over his time on Remand, Declan did everything he possibly could, to show that he was sorry for what had happened and actually, for the time I knew him, came across as a really good young lad with his head screwed on. He went to court after about a month of being in Remand, maybe slightly longer, and from memory the judge gave him a suspended sentence of a few years. Upon returning to society he was re-signed by Livingston FC, who were hugely criticised on social media and in the national media at the time and 3 years later he has been called up to the Scotland squad and has arguably been the best Defender in Scotland so far this season. So what can we take from this story?? I would say that ultimately, from the individual point of view, never think your life is over. No matter how dark it is or how bad it gets. We all make mistakes, some are huge and seem like the end of the world, others are not so, however if you have the right attitude and show remorse and prove to people you are a good person, then things can work out. You may not get back what you lost, but you can still have a happy ending and doors will open for you. Furthermore, be remorseful. I know from what Declan had said over his weeks in prison that he was, and I know from media reports that he did everything he could to apologise and make it up to the victim, who will probably never forget what happened, but also, never give up showing people and proving to people that you have learned from your mistake. From a society perspective, give people a second chance, if they are working hard to show they are sorry then they deserve that. You know when someone is a good person. If the people at Livingston FC had never allowed him a second chance, or any other club in Scotland, how would his life have ended up? It could have been a downward spiral for the lad that could have ended horribly. Good luck to Declan, it’s great see that he was sincere in what he was saying during this time and it’s great to see that he has managed to put that behind him and hopefully his career doesn’t end here and he he goes on to get more caps for the nation and maybe even go onto bigger things at club level.

I think you will find Declan Gallagher has been tried a couple of times mate

Dave, 43, work on the bins. Love Chelsea, Glasgow Rangers and Carling, hate the wife. f**k ISIS. Brexit means Brexit

FFS

With all due respect mate...what the f**k would you know about it? McKinnon has been out coached at Peterhead, Airdrie, Clyde and Raith. He is negative, tactically rotten and has no ability to change a game. The blame absolutely lies at his feet. Thanks for caring tho

Thank f**k this thread's been resurrected; I'd started to forget.

We haven't been poor in any of the six games we have won - poor teams don't win games. We haven't always been at our best but that doesn't = poor. If we lose a game/games it's no longer a winning team so the point you make on that isn't really relevant. All the players are making a contribution in their different ways - it's not a case of just picking all the most skilful players and somehow fitting them into your XI. You need strength, blend, power, experience, pace, resilience, leadership and many other attributes to have an effective team.

Well I have my offer so you can make all the height jokes you want for the next day or 2

Spectacular Wednesday morning entertainment, won't hear anyone say otherwise.

If we default to No Deal it will be have been due to Boris but aided and abetted by spineless opposition politicians. The only parties who come out with a consistent policy position are the the Greens and the nationalist parties. The Lib Dems are still the yellow Tories we hate - not prepared to back the alternative government because it may be led by Corbyn. Labour are still sitting on the fucking fence in case they offend their racist voters in the North of England.

HUGE moment for the wee man yesterday at nursery,he has never did the toilet there and just either holds it in or has an accident.He came home with a well done sticker and when I asked why he got it he proudly went did a pee pee in the big toilet grandpa. Took him down to the toy shop and spoiled him and rightly so IMHO.

You'll do well to find a better response than WAGatha Christie. Superb work.

Marvellous

Avoiding tariffs, brainbox.

Helped me? Given me more hassle and grief over the years! Joking aside supporting a smaller club gives you more of a sense of belonging than a big team would. As a kid, it probably introduced me into a man's world and what being around adults was like. Over my life there's been times I've missed out through finances, work, relationships or simply losing interest. However EF are still there, always welcoming you back, as if nothing ever happened. When I first went in 1984, it was my dad taking me. Now it's me taking him, the baton has been passed & now I take my son, & unless she changes her mind, today will be my daughter's first experience. I always feel a sense of guilt if I don't go without good reason, especially these last couple of seasons. It may well be that EF won't be around forever but we, as fans are guardians of our game and hopefully they'll still be here to enjoy long after I'm gone. I don't long for a rich sheik to come along and turn us into champions league contenders, I just want my club to continue and provide these small, infrequent bouts of happiness and memories for years to come.

Good stuff mate! You were always getting the gig with it coming up to panto season.

I don't think McBurnie is great but he's got all the hall marks of being a scapegoat for the Teuchter "gie Shankland and Jason Kerr a run oot eh" types: - Born in England - Never played in Scotland - Rangers fan - Fashion choice (socks round the ankles)

New Order - Dreams Never End

I can't be bothered with you playing thick as pig shit to create an argument, so I'll bid you goodnight.

Renton has been excellent this season. Regarding the comment about his fitness, you clearly watch a different game because the amount of running and pressing the big man does is brilliant and he runs himself into the ground for the cause. He has been a massive part of our recent success even though he himself may not be grabbing the goals. 2 big things that Allan is lacking for me at the moment are his work rate, was on the pitch for about 20 mins on Saturday and didn’t see him press once, and he needs to improve on his finishing, that may come with more minutes I get that.

A very welcome change compared to the usual shite from the same half a dozen posters saying the same thing over and over again the past month on this thread.

I’m sure Snow White is just busy and will get back to Bairnardo about the vacancy very soon.

Tbf, you could twist that saying Mckinnons not failed this season, having only lost 1 game. Ross had to get them out that league, and should’ve won it comfortably with the budget he had. But failed.

Just found out from a TV report that if the High Court grant’s the “nob off” request it cannot be appealed to the U.K. Supreme Court! In the event of such a ruling potential for massive little Englander Gammon heads gone is massive. It would be glorious.

I like Spoons. Obviously its low quality food, but if you're paying £5 for a burger, chips and a pint it's hardly going to be gourmet stuff is it. Absolute value for money, and usually a good pint in the one I would go to as well. Shame you end up in another fucking dimension when you need a pish though

Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up

Sounds like a keeper and 5 pairs for a game of cuppy doubles. Ideal imo.

It was a rare bit of Edinburgh football harmony where Ross and Stubbsy were singing from the same hymnsheet.

That would be 11 and one set of goals. No wonder nobody plays any more.

Going into Wetherspoons and giving money to Tim Martin is akin to staying in one of Trump's hotels.

Well you guys missed all 3 on Sunday.

Dearie me [emoji23] The sooner this pathetic account is banned and you can go back to your crushingly lonely existence the better.

On a macro level it’s hardly a hot take to say that society is wealthier than it was 70 years ago. The standard of living and quality of life is, overall, better. However it’s also abundantly clear that there’s systemic inequality inherent in U.K. society, and it is abhorrent that it still exists (and is arguably worse than it has been at any time in the post-1950s era). To do what “Malky3” is doing and take the “we’re richer than our grandparents!” view as meaning everything is tickety-fucking-boo is the calling card of a moron. Look beyond the headline figures and see what is actually happening. Context has changed since 1955 - that’s why it’s outrageous when someone claims that you can’t be in poverty if you have a smart phone. A lot of people are better off. Most of us actually. But that doesn’t change the fact that we’re failing too many people in society. The concerning part is that the current situation is the new normal - spending cuts (which did happen, you dullard) mean that what we have now is the new base level. Can’t really be arsed posting more as this is already tl;dr. But the main takeaway is: your man isn’t incorrect per se, he’s just deliberately missing the point

An unfortunate consequence of having a couple of sizeable 'well-to-do' areas as well as a disgustingly large population of H**s.

Kids these days don't think you can play that in Scotland.

Aye, I mean that's pretty much the acid test isn't it? The first team has been littered recently with players who have been varying degrees of stand out at u20s level but for various reasons haven't made much of a dent when they've been given an opportunity and it's come to the real stuff; #DT23, Luke Watt, Dylan Mackin, David Ferguson, Jack McMillan, Ross Maclean and most recently Adam Livingstone - it's a pretty lengthy list. Arguably you could chuck Maguire's name in there when we've tried him at centre half since being part of a back 4 that shipped 5 (FIVE) to St Johnstone would probably have put a question mark over him. Dropping him into midfield and getting a performance where, as @thisGRAEME was saying in his enthusiastic summary on The Terrace on Monday, "he looked like he'd played 100 games for us" is presumably the sort of response that Robinson wants and the point he's been trying to make when he's been digging them out be it for fitness, performance levels etc. On a slight tangent I noticed Ben Banks has done an interview with McCall and it got me thinking (again) about McCall's Academy era (Jack Leitch, Stuart Carswell, Craig Moore etc) vs where we are now and have been recently with Turnbull, Campbell, Scott, Maguire and Hastie before he fucked off (we'll never know about McKinstry and McAlear). Rather than simply padding out a squad of Nicky Laws and Ojamaas with players from the Academy and being pleasantly surprised if they happen to be alright it feels to me like we're genuinely in a position that we're developing players who are a level above that which we could afford to buy in. Which is nice.

Lol at someone defending the demise of trawlers, an absolute ecological disaster as a downside of EU membership. f**k the brexit voting fishermen. Trawlers are an absolute abhorrent method of fishing. Mon the sharks.

Settle down, there’s been nothing wrong with this and we’re halfway there in under 20 minutes.

Some of us didn't have 10 pals or a jumper, you p***k.

Huey Lewis And The News - Power Of Love

Angelic Upstarts-The murder of Liddle Towers

The Clash - I Fought The Law

The whole point (for many people) of the social media in two easy quotes.

Oh Vienna

Wrong person, but equally as stupid.

The Championships are no more- the World Origami Organisation folded.

Gary Kenneth: "My grandad cried when I played for Scotland." Me too Gary, me too.