Le Tout P'ti FC

Surreal to see Sam North visiting Linton Hotspur. Excited to hear about the plans for the new training pitches, this wee village is crying out for a 4G pitch. A good watch.

FY21 - period 12-months to 31 December 2021; filed on 29 December 2022. Was filed just within filing deadline (by two-days, assuming COVID three-month extension was taken, as was then (but no longer is) permissible). Clear as muck? They knew what they were doing here and did it well. FY23 - period 18-months to 30 June 2023. Due to be filed by 31 March 2024. These next reports will indeed make interesting reading. What will drive some people mental is that as of a recent change all Scottish companies must now send their accounts to Cardiff to be filed, and it’s taking Cardiff aeons to process documents currently as compared to what used to be the norm. I wouldn’t be surprised if these accounts don’t show up online until late April 2024 (whilst still being filed on time). So yes it could be 15-16 months between publishing accounts without doing anything wrong. But then equally they might have chosen to shorten their next period to be six-months to June 2022 and those accounts would have been published by March 2023. A more transparent way to make this change it could be argued. But taking that extra year helps them keep difficult numbers out the public eye doesn’t it?

Can we talk about King Tuts? What kind of view is this? About 40% of the crowd are up on the second tier and basically taking the show in via reflections on the ceiling. This is the worst view I’ve had of the stage at any show big or small in 30 years of gigs. Won’t be rushing back.

Difference between holding several pints in and going for pee at King Tuts Wah Wah Hut. Still, I briefly shared a urinal with Stuart Briathwaite and it’s only a shame that his memoir is now published. (Yes I ignored him, as I was a long way from home.)

I know this. My point was that I have always understood that the word “The” is removed from alphabetical ordering. So The Spartans FC or Spartans FC are identically ordered as Sp… I’m just causing mischief here, but if we have any librarians in the readership, this is your moment to shine…

How come The Spartans were ball 38, behind Stirling and Stranraer? I’m no librarian, but I thought the The was dropped from alphabetical ordering? Only solution here is a full redraw.

Spotted on the wall of The Laurieston. It’s a letter from Jock Stein (Hibs Manager) to a Charlie McGuinness referencing his pending move to Celtic. History does not record whether that move prove to be a success or not, or what became of Mr Stein. I’m trying to find out who Mr McGuinness was. I can reveal that he was married to Mrs McGuinness and the letter appears to be dated in 1965. I’m having less luck with my cursory Googling trying to identify what the Celtic tribute to Mr McGarry pertained to. (I daresay his image wasn’t projected onto a huge screen whilst a club mascot in a furry costume with their head bowed clapped throughout a minute’s applause, as they didn’t know how to do respect back then.)

Cumnock 2 Turriff United 1. Even the big gouge the recent storms took out of Townhead Park couldn’t keep Cumnock down. A thoroughly impressive performance from Cumnock. The Turriff keeper saved a penalty and made a number of impressive saves to keep the score down.

Also to add my congratulations on the improvements. This park is looking terrific these days. I’ve written on the random matches thread about the hut guy disappearing before HT at 0-3. Why the long face?

I’ve found a bottle of Dalwhinnie Winter’s Gold in my crockery cupboard. Hiding whisky from myself clearly. Hardly high-end. Probably acquired it from an end of aisle supermarket promo and it was swiftly forgotten about. Anyway, I’ve cracked it open, and I’m really enjoying it. Tastes quite fruity. Would buy again. Next time I’ll hide it in my sock drawer or something.

Does anybody want some Scottish Gas Scottish Cup hoardings? Would make a useful floodgate, or could be chopped up into firewood when the energy bills spike this winter. Big pile dumped at Carmuirs Park, Camelon. One careful owner.

We can see you sneaking out! The guy at Camelon who has the wee hutch at the end of his garden watched the first half of the Camelon v Berwick Rangers cup tie tonight. (Does he pay in?) As the third goal went in, he spat (literally), mumbled “embarrassing”, and promptly went home. I like to think he’s watching Coronation Street or Minder or whatever now with a simmering resentment. I walked all the way to the end of the garden and those laddies didnae show up! Maybe he’ll come out again later when he’s finished his minty viscount. Although Camelon are losing 3-0 at HT, so the game is gone. EDIT - finished 2-3. Mr Ovaltine didn’t come back out for the second half. He missed a spirited comeback under the spitting rain.

From the Fiver - that time Denis Law played for the Rest of the World XI (when that selection probably meant something).

Iain? My whisky hero. I did his warehouse tasting tour once, and because we had an American couple on honeymoon on the tour he was particularly hospitable that day. By the time he poured the 1966 (then a 45yo) directly from the cask Mr America had tapped out and Mrs America was barely able to focus. The legend that is Iain simply poured their drams into our glasses and we made sure they were despatched before the visitors caught a second wind. A great Islay day, but not atypical! There’s always visitors on these tours who can’t or won’t partake to the full potential of the tour.

Bit blowy in Cumnock yesterday.

Edinburgh University 0 Gala Fairydean Rovers 5. Really not much to be said about this. Edinburgh defended abysmally and got deservedly eviscerated. Was good to see Zander Murray play a cameo for Gala at the end and, unlike his many cameos with Bonnyrigg, he was finally rewarded with a goal tonight. Wee group of Edinburgh ultras had some terrific chants. Some of my favourites: ”You’ve got a modernist [grandstand], we’ve got the classicists.” ”We are Russell Group, say we are Russell Group.” ”John Knox’s breeks, John Knox’s breeks, we’ve been anointed, with John Knox’s breeks.” At least that was what I heard inside my head, as I had to tune them out after a while. Bloody kids and their drums, what are they like! Train score: two. (Albeit second slightly after FT whistle). Home baking selection: first class honours. Away home now to bathe my ears in complete silence.

If you don’t want to know the score, look away now.

It’s only fair that England now step aside and let these two replay next weekend. This game has been outstanding so far.

Only one place to be today: the Wee Yins Disco. But until then this Junior Cup tie between Cumnock (holders) and relegation threatened Talbot will have to tide me over. In the club before the game, six Americans walked in. “What kind of accent is that?” “Excuse me, I can’t make you out, I’m American.” After much hilarity at the mutual barrier, the locals established the party was here from the Bronx and touring Scotland to visit family, this was recommended to them as a day out. As they parted, the local said “enjoy the game, don’t get lifted”.

Game on today with this flooding next door?

To Pilton for Spartans v Bonnyrigg Rose. Bonnyrigg took a two goal lead - firstly from a goalkeeping blunder; second was a typically stunning free kick from Lee Currie - and Bonnyrigg should really have had enough sense to see the game out from that lead. Highlight of the game, other than the free kick, and an ultra greeting for his mammy when the stewards were huckling him out for his pyro, was a gentleman on the grassy knoll going for a flying header to return the ball to the pitch. A good laugh was had by all as he missed it and then plummeted down the banking!

Kirkintilloch is hosting a cup game next week: Rossvale v Darvel.

Mine arrived today and has been duly retrieved from the tree the courier threw it into. Batch No.8. I remember being in Harris during the week when the distillery opened. Seems like a million years ago. Lovely memories. Have only made it back to the island once since. Might keep this particular bottle aside for a special occasion. Or sell it down the line to a wealthy Chinese collector who is charmed by the lucky No.8! But if I am able to pick up a second bottle when the next batch goes on sale, it will be getting opened there and then to force my hand, as I’m keen to taste it!

Aha! Great minds think alike. I was at that Threave game. Not by travelling by ferry. It sticks in the mind as the Campbeltown players were all covered in barnacles and seaweed.

Orkney: every other week they travel from Orkney Mainland, by ferry, to the mainland. Campbeltown Pupils: occasionally travel by ferry from the mainland (Campbeltown) to the mainland (Ardrossan). But not this season, thanks to Calmac abandoning Kintyre entirely this year.