Dykes tips Leonard for Scotland call-up
Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes reckons his Birmingham City team-mate Marc Leonard could soon be pushing for a place in Steve Clarke's squad. (Scottish Sun), externalManager Brian Riemer insists he will accept no excuses if Denmark don't beat Scotland in their World Cup qualifying opening game and go on to win the group because they are better than Steve Clarke's side. (The Herald, external - subscription required)Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
22 minutes ago
- BBC News
Oxtoby sees NI's 'growth' after securing play-off
Northern Ireland boss Tanya Oxtoby believes their 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Nations League in Zenica shows the "growth" of her Simone Magill's composed finish was cancelled out by Sofija Krajsumovic's equaliser for Bosnia, but NI saw out the draw which secured second place in the group and a promotion is an improvement on their third-place finish in the last edition of the Nations League, and despite the nervy nature of the draw, Oxtoby praised the application of her players to grind out a result."It's always a difficult place to come with the travel, I thought we should have scored a few more in the first half and we conceded a sloppy one, but to show the character to see the game out that's all that matters at this point," she said."In international football there are no easy games, I said all along every game was going to be competitive in this group and you have to show the character and resilience."You have to win when it's not pretty and get results when it's not pretty and we've certainly done that when there have been times previously when we haven't, so for me, that is growth." NI success 'takes everyone' Northern Ireland will now face one of Austria, Belgium, Denmark or Iceland in the play-offs in October after those four sides finished third in their respective League A groups, with the draw taking place on was keen to stress that NI being in a position to reach League A for the first time takes a whole squad effort, particularly after a difficult trip to get to Bosnia."When you talk about the culture of the group, everyone adds value and contributes to what we're doing," she added."I said to the players whether you played or not you have contributed to the success of the group, it takes everyone."The travel day wasn't exactly smooth but to see the way the group look after each other in the airport that pleases me no end because that is the foundation you build team character and resilience on."
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Matthew Goode recalls 'heady days' at Glasgow unions
English actor Matthew Goode plays Detective Chief Inspector Carl Morck in Dept. Q - the latest gritty Netflix drama which is gripping viewers. READ NEXT: Football fans warned ahead of Scotland v Iceland at Hampden Park (Image: Matthew Goode arrives for the special screening of Netflix's Dept Q. Photo credit: Ian West/PA Wire) The show, which is based on the novels by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen, follows flawed-but-excellent detective Carl Morck (Goode), who after a traumatic shootout that killed a cop and paralysed his partner, returns to work to find that he's been assigned to a new department. The show, which also stars Trainspotting's Kelly Macdonald, moves from Copenhagen to the Scottish capital Edinburgh, and is directed and written by multiaward-winning Scott Frank. READ NEXT: Theatre chief quits months after Scottish Government funding row Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Goode said: "My brother used to go to Glasgow University, so I spent quite a hefty amount of time going back and forth and when I went up to Scotland I was going, 'I wish I'd come here instead'. "There were two unions there and my brother used to go to the Sports Union. I think they had the Hive nightclub attached to it. "He met me, after about 10 pints, and he went off and did an exam. Those were the heady days." Speaking in a brilliant Glasgow accent, the actor added: "There was another place where we'd end up eating cheesy chips." Fans of the actor flocked to the social media video to share their joy at Goode's memories of the city and his spot-on accent. One person said: "Wow, brilliant Glaswegian accent and absolutely loved Dept Q." Another said: "Matthew Goode knowing The Hive was not on my bingo card."
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
'It's a dead town' - voters speak ahead of Hamilton by-election
On an overcast and windy afternoon, noise is echoing from the top of Hamilton's town possible appearance of Nigel Farage in the area has sparked protest and counter-protest ahead of a Holyrood by-election, caused by the death of Christina McKelvie earlier this away from the soundbites and slogans of political confrontation, locals in the area have more direct concerns needing addressed."The town centre is dying", says Linda Smith, who has lived there for 15 years. "We need to regenerate Hamilton - at the moment it's just a nowhere town." The decline of shops in the area is noticeable, with to let signs adorning numerous premises throughout the town centre. In the Regent shopping precinct some of the biggest units lie vacant, telling a story of long departed retail giants such as Marks & Spencer, Boots and WH Smith."Hamilton town centre is like a ghost town," says Sandra Panton, 65. "It'll take years to rebuild that, because it has been years and years of mistakes there and it's a ring road for East Kilbride now. "I remember going down on the bus when I was six and it was heaving. It was a busy place – I don't know what else they can do. It's sad but it's a dead town." Local councillors are aware of the problems facing the area. Last year, South Lanarkshire Council revealed a "masterplan" that would see the shopping centre demolished, as part of a push towards creating homes and a new neighbourhood in the believes the plans look good, but is sceptical of whether they will go told BBC Scotland News whoever wins Thursday's by-election for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse seat must focus on rejuvenating the area, whether through shops or by increasing social housing."If there's nowhere to shop, then people will go online. Try and get the footfall up – we don't need another hotel because there is nothing for people to come to Hamilton for."It isn't just shops leaving the area. The future of local team Hamilton Academicals is uncertain after they announced plans to play at Broadwood in Cumbernauld next supporter Andy Fleming listed it among the top priorities for any new MSP. "The town centre is a disgrace, and Hamilton Accies going is another thing - I've been a season ticket holder for a good number of years and I'll not be going to Cumbernauld to see them, that's a certainty." However, Connor Sullivan, 23, who works in a family jewellery business on the town's Quarry Street, is positive about the possible changes to the town said: "People want to have a community feel to the town centre. They want something that you feel is at the centre there, like a Marks & Spencer, but you can get independent shops providing that."We are losing a lot of big businesses but the idea is you remove them and get a better focus on independents."Such an approach has helped in Larkhall, the town which forms another part of the Barr is a volunteer with the Larkhall Plan Partnership, a group working to bring "positive change" to the believes the main street there is usually busy because it emphasises local services for people."Covid taught us about the social side of shopping – it can't just be about people getting what they need and then going home. A wee chat is part of that experience." Nancy is speaking while sitting in the Lighthouse building that serves as the group's base, just up from the train station into where she and her colleagues work on a variety of ideas to promote the town, which she believes can be overshadowed through being in the same constituency as Hamilton."Folk in Larkhall hate the council with a vengeance. We were spending time putting flowers up on the main street and someone told us we'd be better spending money on fixing the pavements. "We're tempted to get bright T-shirts saying we're not the council…"The group's activities include an ongoing survey, aimed at finding out local views on everything from health services to fly most common concerns relate to struggles getting GP appointments and the ongoing cost of living crisis, says Nancy."A lot of people here are asset rich, living in a big house, but having to stay in one room because they can't afford to heat anything else."There's a 10 year discrepancy in age expectancy depending where in Larkhall you live and some of the inequality is so obvious." Sandra Panton is treasurer of the residents association in Hamilton's Hillhouse area. She has similar concerns - that the focus on the town centre means elected officials miss things happening in other parts of the constituency. Those activities include creating a gardening space and play area for kids in Dunkeld Place, where flats used by drug dealers once believes community spirit is flourishing again, thanks to the hard work of outdoor space, used for anything from summer playschemes to costumed Halloween gatherings, has helped fill a gap common in many smaller communities - of there being nowhere for teenagers to go."The young ones get hunted because people always think they're out to cause bother but there's nothing else for them to do," says Sandra. "There's no clubs, there's no cafes to go with their pals. So this is a community area that is open to anyone – you'll get young ones sitting here who'll order a McDonalds in. They just want a place to sit around." However, community efforts can only go so far. The closure of a local library and being unable to afford the let on a community hall are a "major loss" for the area, she says. "This is a community – it's taken a good few years to get back there, but we need help as well." Both volunteers speak fondly of Christina McKelvie, who died in March aged 57 after being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer last summer."She'd come here when no-one else was around, so it wasn't for publicity," recalls Nancy. "There were loads of things you'd phone her about and she'd go out of her way to help us out. We felt she cared."We want an MSP who can lead, who can go in there and speak for us. We need someone to fight for us, regardless of what your party says. You have to decide whether you're for us or for the party." There are a total of 10 candidates contesting this by-election on Thursday 5 are:Collette Bradley - Scottish Socialist PartyAndy Brady - Scottish Family PartyRoss Lambie - Reform UKKaty Loudon - SNPJanice Mackay - UK Independence PartyAnn McGuinness - Scottish Green PartyAisha Mir - Scottish Liberal DemocratsRichard Nelson - Scottish ConservativeDavy Russell - Scottish LabourMarc Wilkinson - Independent
