logo
SPFL club condemn vandalism and call on ‘real supporters' for help

SPFL club condemn vandalism and call on ‘real supporters' for help

The National25-04-2025

The Scottish League Two club confirmed on Friday that toilets in the north end of the West Stand had been defaced with graffiti ahead of Saturday's match against Clyde.
Although the facilities will remain open, neither the club nor stadium operators Active Stirling have the capacity to undertake repairs before the game. And they've had to apologise to any younger fans who may take offence to what has been written by the vandals.
In a joint statement, the fourth-tier club and Active Stirling expressed regret and frustration over the incident, saying: "We are disappointed to report that the toilets in the north end of the West Stand have been vandalised.
"Neither the Club nor Active Stirling has sufficient resource to carry out remedial work before tomorrow's William Hill League 2 fixture against Clyde.
"The toilets are operational so will remain open but we apologise to anyone offended by the graffiti. If you are attending with children or are easily offended you may wish to use the facilities at the other end of the West Stand.
Read more:
"It's disappointing to find that yet again we are having to spend money on addressing issues caused by a tiny minority of supposed fans when we would rather be spending that money strengthening the playing squad.
"Both Stirling Albion and Active Stirling condemn the actions of the people responsible. We will be monitoring the situation and anyone found to have been carrying out such actions will be reported to Police Scotland for criminal damage.
"We would ask all real supporters who come across such behaviour to report any such instances to stewards or club officials so that we can take the appropriate action."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Clyde boss blasts 'frustrating' Premier Sports Cup rule and pleads for u-turn
Clyde boss blasts 'frustrating' Premier Sports Cup rule and pleads for u-turn

Daily Record

time3 days ago

  • Daily Record

Clyde boss blasts 'frustrating' Premier Sports Cup rule and pleads for u-turn

Darren Young wants to use the competition to run the rule over signing targets Clyde boss Darren Young has blasted a rule barring trialists from playing in the Premier Sports Cup group stages, and pleaded for a u-turn. Young says he and other bosses are frustrated because allowing trialists would allow them to run the rule over prospective signings in a competitive environment. ‌ He said: 'The frustrating thing is that in the League Cup section you're not allowed to play any trialists, which for me and every other manager I've spoken to is a stupid and horrendous rule. ‌ 'You have trialists in for pre-season, then all of a sudden you can't play them in this League Cup section, but you then can in the league. 'I don't know why, or who makes the rule, or how hard it would be to change it. I don't understand why they don't allow us to change it. 'Even if they turn around and say to teams, even part-time teams, you can play two trialists it gives us a chance to see them in a more competitive environment, rather than making a decision on people, or they need to sit about for two to three weeks with nothing, apart from training. 'It's frustrating.' Clyde were drawn in Group G alongside Premiership side Motherwell, Morton, Stenhousemuir and Peterhead. ‌ The Bully Wee start their campaign at home to Motherwell on Saturday, July 12, and travel to Peterhead seven days later. Clyde host Stenhousemuir on Tuesday, July 22, and visit Morton to complete their campaign four days later. Meanwhile, the club have announced that midfielder Barry Cuddihy will enter his ninth season with the club after agreeing to stay for 2025-26. ‌ The 28-year-old achieved the milestone of 250 appearances last season, and boss Young told the club's website: 'I'm delighted Barry has signed on for next season. He's a great player, and a leader on the park and in the dressing room. 'He's got lots of experience, sets the standards, and is the exact type of person you want in the team. 'Hopefully he will get a good pre-season under his belt, and I know he'll be raring to go again. 'Barry is an influential member of the squad and others look up to him. When he plays well you find the team usually plays well, too.'

Josh Cooper singles out two key improvements he wants at Dunfermline Athletic next season after signing new deal
Josh Cooper singles out two key improvements he wants at Dunfermline Athletic next season after signing new deal

The Courier

time3 days ago

  • The Courier

Josh Cooper singles out two key improvements he wants at Dunfermline Athletic next season after signing new deal

Josh Cooper has set his sights on holding down a regular starting berth with Dunfermline next season after agreeing a contract extension. The 22-year-old has penned a 12-month deal after signing on for just a year with the Pars last summer following two years rebuilding his career with Stirling Albion. The ex-Morton player worked under three different managers in a difficult first season back in full-time football, but still managed to score three goals and make 28 appearances across the campaign. However, with just six of those being from the start, Cooper wants to make a bigger impact on the first-team next term. 'I'm delighted,' said the attacking midfielder of his new contract. 'I was delighted to hear about getting the extension and I couldn't wait to sign it. 'I enjoyed being here last season. It was an up-and-down season, obviously, and not what we wanted. 'But, personally, I really enjoyed it and I felt I did well. Hopefully I can try and kick on this season. 'I think I adapted [to full-time football] quite quickly and I was starting to find my feet. 'Obviously, I had a bit of an injury as well around Christmas time. But then I had not a bad end to the season and got myself back in the team. 'I just want to do more of the same as last season, and hopefully add more goals and try and get myself an actual starting position in the team. 'Obviously, I impacted a lot off the bench, but hopefully I can get more starts under my belt this season.' Cooper spent the whole of last summer 'on trial' at Dunfermline as previous boss James McPake waited for clearance to sign the youngster. McPake was subsequently sacked in December and his replacement, Michael Tidser, lasted just 59 days in charge before he was also axed. The Pars are hopeful of some stability now that Neil Lennon has agreed a new two-year deal to stay on in the dugout. And Cooper is relishing working again under the former Celtic and Hibernian boss, who spoke earlier this week of his hopes for the Greenock native. 'It was really good to work under the new manager,' added Cooper. 'Obviously, he's got a lot of experience and he's somebody you want to play for. 'He gives you confidence and belief in yourself. So, I really enjoyed it.'

How Johannes Edvaldsson made Celtic history and led a foreign invasion
How Johannes Edvaldsson made Celtic history and led a foreign invasion

The Herald Scotland

time4 days ago

  • The Herald Scotland

How Johannes Edvaldsson made Celtic history and led a foreign invasion

So Edvaldsson, the Icelandic internationalist who spent five memorable seasons in a green and white hooped jersey during the 1970s, was by no means a trailblazer for foreign imports. Yet, did the impact which Edvaldsson, who quickly endeared himself to the Celtic support as a result of his wholehearted and highly effective performances in a variety of outfield positions and who was soon affectionately nicknamed Shuggie, pave the way for other overseas players? Andy Lynch, who was involved alongside the defender cum midfielder in some of the most momentous victories in the Glasgow giants' long and storied history during that era, is convinced the success which his old team mate enjoyed on these shores led to the foreign invasion which followed his departure. Read more: The Celtic side which has taken to the field in the past season has comprised of young men who come from Denmark, Canada, Finland, South Korea, the United States, Japan, Ghana, Belgium, Germany, Portugal and Poland. But the football landscape on these shores was entirely different 50 years ago. 'It was a bit of a novelty for us to have an Icelandic player coming in,' said Lynch. 'I think Johannes was the first foreign player we had played with. It was a very unusual at that time. But looking back I think that was maybe the beginning of more outsiders coming in to the Scottish games, of more foreign players coming in.' Sean Fallon, the Celtic assistant manager who was put in charge of the first team in 1975 while manager Jock Stein was recovering from the injuries which he had sustained in a near fatal car crash, was tipped off about Edvaldsson by Joe Gilroy. Gilroy, the former Clyde, Dundee and Fulham striker, was the head coach at Valur in Iceland at the time, had seen the player in action in an international match and had been highly impressed. The 6ft 3in utility man, who had previously been rejected by Dundee United before following a trial at Tannadice, joined a pre-season tour of the Republic of Ireland that summer and was offered a contract after scoring the winning and only goal in a friendly against a Derby County side packed with England internationalists on his Parkhead debut. (Image: SNS Group) 'He adapted to Scottish football very well,' said Lynch. 'He was best at centre-half, but he could play in other positions. He was a useful player. He was good at corner-kicks and free-kicks and could score goals. He was a good man to have on your team. He was a good lad, too. He enjoyed life. 'He liked a pint after the game, liked to let his hair down a wee bit. We used to go out for a pint in town after a home game, but it would always be quiet. But Shuggie would always want to go out and party. There was no stopping him. He would say, 'I played my game, now it's time to relax'. He was a funny big guy. 'He formed a good central defensive partnership with Roddie MacDonald. Roddie was a quiet lad from the north of Scotland, Johannes was far more outgoing. But they really hit it off. Opposites attract I suppose. They were good at their job, were a real handful for opposition players. They would just kick them for 90 minutes.' Lynch is perhaps best remembered by Celtic fans for scoring the winner against Rangers in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden in 1977. The left-back converted a first half penalty, his first of his professional career and the first of many, after Derek Johnstone had handled the ball on the line. He is reminded about the moment to this day. However, that was arguably Edvaldsson's finest hour-and-a-half as a Parkhead player. He was drafted into the starting line-up in midfield after Ronnie Glavin was ruled out by an injury he had picked up on Scotland duty and performed brilliantly. He always seemed to rise to the occasion in Old Firm derbies. Read more: 'That was a very tetchy game,' said Lynch. 'But I think we deserved to win. It was a big thing for the club, beating our greatest rivals to complete a league and cup double. Shuggie had a very good game that day despite being played out of position. 'Pat [Stanton] slotted in behind Roddie and Johannes and that meant Danny [McGrain] and I were able to attack down the flanks. We were forced into it because of Ronnie not being available, but it actually made us stronger. Our defence was able to cope with Rangers' long ball game.' Both men were in the Celtic side two years later when they came from behind to beat leaders Rangers 4-2 in their final Premier Division game at Parkhead and clinch a famous Scottish title triumph despite Johnny Doyle being sent off – a victory which has since become known as 'When 10 Men Won The League'. 'That's probably the biggest game I was ever involved in,' said Lynch. 'It was incredible night. The official attendance given was 52,000, but there were far more people than that there. When Johnny got sent off with Rangers leading 1-0 and we went down to 10 men. I thought, 'That's us done'. But we came back to win. Johannes played his part that night too.' (Image: SNS GROUP) Edvaldsson moved on the following year and played for the Tulsa Roughnecks in the United States and Hannover 96 in Germany before returning to Scotland and spending two seasons with Motherwell. He moved into the hospitality industry when he retired from football and ran a pub in Glasgow as well as a hotel in Poolewe in the Highlands. 'He opened a pub in Bridgeton Cross after he left the club and I popped in to see him shortly afterwards,' said Lynch. 'I said, 'Johannes, this area is a real Rangers stronghold, it's not a Celtic area!' He said, 'Oh no! They told me they'd love to have me here!' He picked the wrong spot. But that was the sort of guy he was, he would just go for it.' The 34-times capped player certainly had, after stints with Valur in his homeland, Cape Town City in South Africa, Metz in France and Holbaek in Denmark, no qualms about moving to this country to further his career. His old captain is adamant that, despite the overseas players who had plied their trade here before him, he had a seismic impact on Scottish football. 'I definitely think Johannes was the start of the influx of foreign players,' he said. 'He had a good attitude, he adapted to the game and to the lifestyle here well, he was popular with his fellow players and the fans. Yes, more foreign players coming over would have happened at some point. But if he hadn't been able to do the business then clubs would have been put off. 'I think foreign players are good for the Scottish game. I know people get upset at the lack of Scottish players coming through and I understand why, but I do I think they're good for the game. Look at all the brilliant players we've had over the years. They give the fans a bit of colour and excitement. Johannes certainly did when he was at Celtic.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store