Down The Divisions Podcast

Hi everyone, Apologies for the later message than normal. We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have Shotts Bon Accord manager John McKeown on our show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. WE’VE had matchday two of the West of Scotland League – and it’s Darvel and Clydebank flying high at the top of the Premier Division with maximum points. In another season Shots Bon Accord might have been battling it out with them in the top flight too. But instead they’re one of 15 clubs now looking on from the outside after choosing to sit out a season without fans. The Bonny had hopes of winning promotion from the West Juniors Championship last season. But the early finish to the campaign because of the pandemic saw them narrowly miss out. Their boss John McKeown joins us on the show. We’ll get his views on the situation they’ve found themselves in – and look at how he’ll handle things at Hannah Park between now and next season. Plus we’ll look back at a lower league playing and managerial career which started out at Ipswich as a kid. We'll hear how hard it was when a hip injury ended his playing days at the age of just 27 and the transition into the dugout at Wishaw. There's his first training session as Cumnock boss, when just seven players turned up, and why he feared the sack after losing 6-0 to Auchinleck just a few days later. Plus John reveals one of the few times he cried as a boss. We’ll also discuss the impact of former Lanark chairman and Juniors chief Tam Anderson, who sadly passed away on Saturday. It’s all here as we go Down The Divisions. Apologies for the poorer sound quality. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. Likewise if you're at a club who would like your post-match audio featured on the show then do get in touch. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have Thorniewood United manager Jamie Nesbitt on our latest show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 029 Jamie Nesbitt: Thorniewood's day one win, getting five in a motor to win Royal Albert's first title in 90 years & the WOSFL kick-off THE first ever West of Scotland League season finally got up and running on the weekend. But Dalry Thistle have become the 15th side to withdraw – after their opening game of the season was rained off. That’s left Conference C a side down – but with us we have a manager from that section whose side certainly started on the up. Lanark United are seen as one of the favourites to finish top of the pile. But Jamie Nesbitt’s Thorniewod United produced one of the performances of the weekend with a 3-0 win at Moor Park. Jamie joins us on the show this week. We’ll discuss that impressive victory – and look forward to their next game against Glasgow Perthshire as well as some of the other main fixtures this weekend. With no relegation and promotion this season, we’ll find out just where the priorities lie at Robertson Park. We’ll look back at Jamie’s outstanding spell at Royal Albert, which saw the club win their first title in almost 90 years - and why getting five in a motor was a key part of that success. Plus there's why he didn't make the most of his playing days - and the reason he won't make the same mistake as a boss. There's all that and more as we go Down The Divisions. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. Likewise if you're at a club who would like your post-match audio featured on the show then do get in touch. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have St Roch’s boss Paul Kelly on our latest show, which is out now and includes a preview to the West of Scotland League season. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 028 St Roch's' Paul Kelly: WoSFL lacking leadership & punishing teams who want to compete, clubs' honesty & sharing the pain, appetite for Ayrshire football to return & season preview THERE’S been more upheavel in the West of Scotland League this week. On the day of recording, 13 teams had confirmed they CAN’T take part as long as fans aren’t allowed into games. Lesmahagow have since joined them. That’s seen the conferences redrawn and confirmation there will be no relegation or promotion. In the meantime fixture secretary Kennie Young has worked like a Trojan to ensure there are games to play this week. St Roch's have gone from Conference C to Conference A – and their manager Paul Kelly joins us on the show this week. We'll hear why he says the decision-making at the new setup leaves a lot to be desired and the reasons he thinks show the league aren't respecting the clubs who want to play and those lower down. Paul tells us why an idea of the football family doesn't match reality, asks why players weren't consulted over the decisions for the future of the league and tells us why he thinks there's an appetite for Ayrshire football to return. Plus we’ll preview the season which starts this Saturday as both Pauls take a look at where the winners could come from in all three conferences and the Premier League. It’s all here on Down The Divisions. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Thanks for listening and for the kind comments

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have legendary Auchinleck Talbot boss Tommy Sloan on our latest show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 027 Tommy Sloan: the legendary boss on Auchinleck Talbot pulling out of the league and looking back on his all-conquering career IT'S been a bombshell week Down The Divisions as football tries to make a comeback. While the BetFred Cup and Lowland League has kicked off, the start of the new West of Scotland League is still up in the air. With no fans allowed in some clubs have pulled out and there might be no promotion or relegation for the ones who will try to play. Last year’s juniors champions Auchinleck have said they won’t be there – so who better to have on this week than their legendary boss Tommy Sloan. The man known as Tucker probably thought he’d seen it all across 40 years in the game. He’s won seven Scottish Junior Cups and seven league titles. But the impact of the coronavirus crisis is a first. We’ll hear what he thinks of the current situation and just where it leaves the Talbot and lower league football in general. Once we’ve got through that minefield we’ll take a look back at Tommy’s long and distinguished career, first as a player then as one of the best managers around. It’s all here on Down The Divisions. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have freescoring Ashfield striker Callum Graham on this week's show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 026 Ashfield striker Callum Graham: 198 goals in five seasons, 11 in one game, 42 last term & why he's stayed at Ashfield CALLUM GRAHAM scored 198 goals in five seasons. After making his name at amateur side Motherwell Kings he stepped up to the juniors with Ashfield last season. The strikes kept coming as he hit 30 by November and had 42 to his name when football when into lockdown. He’s decided to stay with Paul Maxwell’s side for another season and joins us on the show this week. Callum started out as a defender until two of his coaches at the Kings finally caved in and pushed him up front for the first time. We hear about that day, when he scored a hat-trick that put him on the path to 60 goals for the season. Callum also looks back on the afternoon he scored all 11 in an 11-1 win - yet didn’t get the match ball. He tells us about where he wants to go with football and how it’s felt being a marked man. There’s meeting his hero James McFadden during a celebratory pitch invasion at Fir Park – and how it didn’t quite live up to expectation. Plus we hear about the couple of months he had playing alongside Chris Cadden as a kid. It’s all on Down The Divisions. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have former Albion Rovers, Dumbarton and Annan manager Jim Chapman, who is currently assistant coach of the University of Kentucky's women's team, on the show. It's out now and its synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Just search Down The Divisions. Thanks for all your support. 022 Jim Chapman: winning at Ibrox & meeting his hero, losing a captain, the legless guy who helped him deal with injury ending his playing days, buying back his Albion Rovers shirt on ebay & missing Twirls in Kentucky WE’RE going trans-Atlantic on Down The Divisions. For the past two years Jim Chapman has been assistant coach for the University of Kentucky’s women’s team. But before that he had a long and distinguished career in Scotland’s lower leagues. After turning out for Albion Rovers and Dumbarton his playing career was cut short by a cruciate injury at the age of 25. But seeing a patient with no legs fall out of the hospital bed next to him helped put things in perspective – and ensured nothing was going to take away his love for the game. Since then he’s thrown himself into coaching and coach education. After turning Kilmarnock Ladies into an all conquering side he lifted Albion Rovers then led Dumbarton to a title before navigating the club through the tragic death of their captain. We'll hear how he met the hero he pretended to be in the playground after guiding Annan to their biggest ever win – and Rangers’ biggest ever loss. Jim also tells us about the day he bought back his Albion Rovers championship winning shirt after someone spotted it on ebay. Plus Jim talks about how he's missing Twirls in Kentucky - and how he's reinvented himself as a coach since leaving Clyde. All that and more on Episode 22 of Down The Divisions.

Thanks a lot Gordon. Appreciate it!

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have Kelty Hearts striker Matt Flynn on this week's show, which is out now. With Paul away we also have Airdrie director of football Stuart Millar as a special guest co-host. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 023 Matt Flynn: Promotion ripped away at Kelty, Fergie, Scott Allan, losing both parents & his way, bouncing back, teammates chipping in for op & selling lubricants THERE'S no Paul this week so Airdrie director of football Stuart Millar joins Gareth as guest co-presenter to speak to Kelty Hearts midfielder Matt Flynn. Matt could have been preparing for a new season back in the SPFL but the promotion door from the Lowland League was slammed shut during lockdown. Sitting on a fishing chair in his front room, he gives us his thoughts on that controversy and how Barry Ferguson has got his men ready to do it all over again. As a kid Matt came through the ranks at Dundee United, where he started a friendship with Scott Allan that's as strong today as it's ever been. Hear more about the Hibs midfielder - and why Matt moved to Tannadice despite an offer from boyhood heroes Rangers. Matt talks about how being let go saw him fall out of love with the game and eventually led to him losing his way on and off the pitch. Then after getting his game back on track at Annan Matt tells us how the tragic loss of both parents and a long-term injury left him feeling disillusioned again. But after his Clyde teammates chipped in to help pay for an operation he's not looked back. We’ll hear how he's rebuilt his life and look back on a career which has also taken in the likes of Brechin, Stenhousemuir, Caledonian Braves and East Stirling. Plus Matt tells us about his job selling lubricants - but, no, not that kind. It’s all here on Down The Divisions. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have Drumchapel United co-manager Adam Hopes on this week's show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 020 Drumchapel United co-boss Adam Hopes: from amateurs to landing Darian MacKinnon, their 90-year-old player and how Austin Powers nearly got him a move to New Zealand ADAM HOPES owns his own roofing company. But he’s also one of the men hoping to show there’s no ceiling on what Drumchapel United can achieve. The Drum have made the bold switch from top amateur team to the new West of Scotland League setup. When football resumes they’ll be mixing it with the traditional former juniors’ sides in Conference C. Adam is the Drum’s co-manager with John Black – and they’ve been busy adding plenty of players to cope with the step up. One of those is former Hamilton skipper Darian MacKinnon, who was playing in the Premiership less than a year ago.. We’ll speak to Adam about how they’re setup for the season ahead, just how they managed to persuade MacKinnon to drop down the leagues and why he's not called Alan. Adam gives us the lowdown on just how many teams and players there are at the club - including the 90-year-old who plays in their grandads walking football side. Plus we’ll hear how a distant family relative, a cricket pundit nicknamed Austin Powers, nearly landed Adam a move to New Zealand early in his playing days. It’s all on Down The Divisions. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Thanks a lot Matt. Really appreciate your comments and support!

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have Stranraer manager Stevie Farrell on this week's show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 019 Stevie Farrell: lockdown relegation, bottling the chance to meet his hero, Alan Ball, Chris Kamara, Paul Lambert & a love for Eastenders STEVIE FARRELL has signed the likes of Roy Keane, Terry Butcher, Paul Ince and Stuart Pearce. Not as boss of Stranraer, but in his high-powered day job working for a trade union. This summer life in charge of the Blues hasn’t been quite as much fun. Stevie was one of the three managers who saw his side relegated without completing the season. Stranraer were bottom of League One when we went into lockdown - and after legal wrangles and arbitration they’ll come out of it in League Two. We’ll hear his views on that – and how a cup draw last season helped the club survive the pandemic. A job in the dugout was something Stevie always craved, even as a teenage player at Stoke City. Back then he played under the likes of England world cup winner Alan Ball. We hear how he was in charge of his kit - and flat cap. Stevie tells us how his mum's tragic death forever puts football into perspective - and why he was on a bus to Forfar to play football just seven hours after her passing. We find out who his football hero was - and the night he bottled the chance to meet him. Plus there are the lessons passed onto him by Chris Kamara, watching Paul Lambert change as a player and his addiction to Eastenders. It’s all on Down The Divisions. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have Kilwinning Rangers manager Chris Strain on this week's show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 018 Kilwinning Rangers boss Chris Strain: Lockdown title loss, sacked then reinstated after 2 promotions, secret weapon Winston, Scottish Cup regrets at Irvine Meadow, Ross Stewart proving him right & The Naked Tea Cup HEADING into lockdown Chris Strain had Kilwinning Rangers flying high at the top of the West Premiership. Coming out of it they’d watched Auchinleck Talbot handed the title. Before last year Chris guided the Buffs to two successive promotions - only to be sacked then reinstated. Still only 40 he’s already had six years in the dugout after growing up around a father who made his name as a boss. We’ll hear his views on missing out on that silverware last season and speak to him about how he’s gone about his business since becoming a boss. We hear about his secret weapon at Kilwinning - the kitman known as Winston - and why he'll always have regrets at not winning the Scottish Cup with Irvine Meadow. There's the lightbulb moment when he knew he had to calm down in the dugout and his toughest ever pre-season - on holiday with Stranraer boss Stevie Farrell. We hear how Chris predicted a striker he signed would play in the Premiership one day - and is being proved right as Ross Stewart scores in the top flight for Ross County. Plus Chris explains just what The Naked Cup was. It’s all on Down The Divisions. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Thanks a lot Gordon. We really appreciate the kind words and support.

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have Caledonian Braves owner Chris Ewing on this week's show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 017 Caledonian Braves owner Chris Ewing: building & branding a new club which fans control through an app & heading to France with just £40 Chris Ewing is the brains behind Caledonian Braves, one of the most unique and innovative clubs in Scottish football right now. He wants to give fans the right to run their club and has even created an app to make it easier for them to call the shots. A new documentary Brave Calling was released on the STV Player last week and charts their rise. Initially an academy for French players to come to Scotland to learn football and English, they became the first club to get promoted into the Lowland League. Now boasting a new home in Strathclyde Park and the Braves new name chosen by their supporters, Chris gives us a fascinating insight into the initial idea and his plans for the future. He explains why having no fans and no benefactor can be an advantage on a football scene too often hindered by tradition. Plus we hear how Pollok-born Chris is now a full-blown French national living in Paris after originally heading to the country 16 years ago with just £40 in his back pocket. The documentary Brave Calling can be found on the STV Player at https://player.stv.tv/summary/calbrave-bravecalling/. The Caledonian Braves app is available to download for iPhone and Android users. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have BSC Glasgow manager Stephen Swift on this week's show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 016: BSC Glasgow boss Stephen Swift: from daftie player to serious in the dugout, singing karaoke to Paul McStay & impersonations during Stranraer's glory years AS a player Stephen Swift had a reputation for liking a laugh and a joke. But now he’s deadly serious about becoming the best manager possible. Stephen is boss of Lowland League side BSC Glasgow. Last year he led them to an historic clash with Hibs in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup. Their achievement in getting there – and the way they played on the day – was yet more proof of his growing credentials in the duguout. Life as a gaffer started at Kilbirnie Ladeside eight years ago. We’ll take a look at that transition including his first team talk - and learn about his ambitious in the dugout too. We’ll also reflect on those madcap days playing for the likes of Benburb and Stranraer, when he sang karaoke to hero Paul McStay and impersonated Stranraer assistant manager Stuart Millar. There's the day Raith star Martin Prest had him on toast - literally - and the proud moment he was capped for Scotland. Plus much, much more. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have Linlithgow Rose manager Brown Ferguson on this week's show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 015 Linlithgow boss Brown Ferguson: continuing family fortunes at The Rose, why Uruguayan football succeeds where Scottish football fails, lessons learned from Stenhousemuir & working with Commonwealth Games stars LINLITHGOW'S eye-catching main stand is named after Brown Ferguson's grandad's brother. The lounge at Prestonfield has his grandfather's name above the door. Plus there's a plaque not far from the pie stall which remembers his late uncle. Brown used to charge about the ground as a toddler - but now he's the man charged with bringing them glory. But The Rose's manager isn't just concerned with success in the East of Scotland League. In a fascinating chat deep-thinker Brown talks about his research into just why Scottish football has failed for so long - and why the likes of Uruguay and Iceland punch above their weight. He also tells us about the parallels between the young footballers he saw while working at Rangers' academy and elite athletes like swimmer Duncan Scott who he deals with in his day job as a performance lifestyle adviser with SportScotland. We hear about just what he learned during his spell as Stenhousemuir manager, why he thinks the Lowland League will soon be the most competitive league in the country and the day he gave one of his players the chance to give the teamtalk. All that and more on Episode 15 of Down The Divisions. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have former top referee and new Kilbirnie Ladeside assistant manager Des Roache on this week's show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 014 Kilbirnie Ladeside No2 Des Roache: top ref to assistant boss, training with Paula Radcliffe & racing Haile Gebrselassie, talking Chinese meals on the pitch, why he chucked refereeing & the Champions League winner's top his wife wears to clean the house DES ROACHE was once the ninth best Under-20s athlete in the world over 1500 metres and used to train with Paula Radcliffe. When a knee injury ended his dreams of making it on the track he turned to refereeing. He took charge of the 2010 Scottish Junior Cup final and spent five years as a category one whistler. But when football gets up and running again Des will be making calls of a different kind. In May he was appointed assistant manager to Martin Ferry at West of Scotland League side Kilbirnie Ladeside. He tells Gareth and Paul how he hopes to keep his emotions in check now he’s the man in the dugout rather than the man in the middle. We hear how he was desperate to get to the end of his first ever game as a ref – and why officiating in the juniors was what he loved most. Des talks us through his thought processes after sending a player off in that junior cup final and why he once told a player on the pitch all about the Chinese meal he was having a night after a game. But he also explains why he felt he would never reach the top of the game as a whistler and why that led to him packing it in and reveals who the toughest player to referee was. There’s the Champions League winner’s shirt his wife wears while cleaning the house and the day he came up against running great Haile Gebrselassie too. All that and more on Episode 14 of Down The Divisions. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have Pollok manager Murdo MacKinnon on this week's show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 013 Pollok boss Murdo MacKinnon: Life at The Lok & Budgie McGhie, the glory & lucky pants at Ashfield, Irvine Meadow's highs & lows, why half-filled water bottles annoy him & the day a player's tie caused fireworks MURDO MacKINNON had his Pollok side sitting second in the West Premiership when football went into lockdown. On episode 13 the business and computing teacher tells Gareth and Paul how he's trying to maximise the output at Newlandsfield along with his assistant, the legendary Budgie McGhie. After Paul reveals he received his first ever Moonpig card for Father's Day, Murdo takes us back to the day in 2006 when he walked into Ashfield as No2 to Stevie Rankin - and how a pair of lucky pants played a part in hauling a club with few resources up the divisions. Murdo tells us about the pair's spell at Irvine Meadow, when they came agonisingly close to winning the league then hit troubled times - and why he still believes they could have turned things around. He explains why he'll forever be grateful to Blantyre Victoria for giving him a route back into the game and the opportunity to be a boss in his own right. Plus we find out just why he hates his water bottles being half full, the day a player's tie caused fireworks - and if Murdo can help Paul level things in the Down The Division decider. All that and more on Episode 13 of Down The Divisions. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound l

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have Annan defender Mark Docherty on this week's show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 012 Mark Docherty on being St Mirren's worst boot boy, ditching his gambling addiction, being smashed by pal Andy Millen and the Alloa Legends' group chat WHEN Mark Docherty joined Annan in January he probably didn’t know how lucky he was. Mark is one of the fortunate ones thanks to the 18-month deal he penned at Galabank. But he tells Gareth and Paul how he was already counting his blessings after a trip to Gamblers' Anonymous eight years ago turned his life around. In a frank interview Mark reveals how he was addicted to betting since his late teens and would tell his parents he was playing a reserve game for St Mirren when he was actually in the bookies. Hear why he thinks it affected his playing career - and just how he got back on the straight and narrow. If you're in the same boat then you can do the same by going to https://gascotland.org/ for more information. There are also some great stories including whose boots he'd clean when he was coming through the ranks at the Buddies - and why he was rated so badly with the polish. In the week Andy Millen returned to first team football as assistant manager at Kilmarnock, Mark tells us why his mate has been away from football's frontline for so long and the night he was on the wrong end of his desire to win. Mark lifts the lid on the Alloa Legends' group chat he's still a part of - and who else is in there. Plus he reflects on his spells at the likes of Stirling, Brechin, Stranraer, Dumbarton, East Fife and Forfar. While lockdown has been quiet for some, Mark tells us what it was like becoming a dad for the second time in the midst of a global pandemic - and life as a key worker at St Philips residential school in Airdrie. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Thanks very much for the kind comment. Really appreciate it!

Hi everyone, We just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have new East Kilbride manager Stephen Aitken on this week's show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. 011 Stephen Aitken: Kilby's ambitions, Ian Durrant, history-making at Dumbarton, unlocking Allan McGraw's knees, Jari Litmanen, why he'd be a better player & Stuart Millar's exploding pen STEPHEN AITKEN had the high of taking over at ambitious East Kilbride last week - only to suffer the crushing blow of losing his day job at Rolls Royce just a few days later. With the aviation industry on its knees, Stevie’s focus is now on sparking Kilby’s take off. The former Dumbarton manager has been handed a budget to get the club up up and away out of the Lowland League and into the SPFL. Plus with plans for a new stadium at K-Park already given the green light, Kilby could be the place to be this season. Hear from Stevie on: *Kilby's big plans. *How even he doesn't escape a slaughtering from Ian Durrant. *Self-doubt during 18 months out of the game *Turning Dumbarton into the best part-time team in the country and reaching their first national cup final in 121 years. We also talk to Stevie about his playing days at Morton and Stranraer including: *Why he'd be a better player if he had his time again. *How he became a key player in helping Allan McGraw get his knee and shoulder unlocked *Stuart Millar's exploding pen *Why Jari Litmanen's Finland shirt if the best ever top he wore. And much, much more. If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

Hi everyone, Just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have Rossvale manager David Gormley on this week's show, which is out now. The episode's synopsis is below. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support. FOOTBALL wasn’t at the forefront of David Gormley’s mind when we all went into lockdown. He was suffering coronavirus symptoms – and his wife was 30 weeks pregnant. But after a spell of self-isolation and getting meals delivered to his door he’s back up and running again and joins us on the show this week. After a successful playing career down the leagues and in the juniors David took up his first post in management last season at Rossvale. They’ll take their place in the new West of Scotland League when the game gets going again. We’ll hear how David used quarantine to build his Rossvale squad for real - and another on Football Manager. As someone who never had plans to be a manager he'll tell us just how he ended up in the dugout and reveal the two bosses who have left their mark on him most of all. We'll take a look back at his days with the boots on at the likes of Motherwell, Glenafton, Ayr United, Alloa, Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, Auchinleck Talbot, Clyde and Pollok. You can hear what winning the Scottish Junior Cup was like - and how it felt to play in the fearsome Auchinleck-Cumnock matches. Plus at a time of so much uncertainty for players David lifts the lid on how his day job with C&G Systems is helping footballers play part-time while also building a career working on the railways. For anyone interested in finding out more on that go to https://cngsystems.co.uk/ If you have any comments or suggestions for other guests we'd love to hear from you. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. . Gormley audiogram 1.mp4

Hi everyone, Just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have Darvel manager Michael Kennedy on this week's show, which is out on Wednesday night. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support!

Hi everyone, Just wanted to alert you to our podcast and the fact we have Glenafton's captain and MacMillan Cancer Support's Craig Menzies on the show this week. We're on all podcast players including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Acast, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts. Thanks for all your support!