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Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
SPORTS DIGEST: New-look Bankies stir the soul as they move one step closer to a return to the senior game
Clydebank undoubtedly possess one of the most unique histories in the Scottish game, given their various incarnations over the years. But could the fifth version of the storied club be on the verge of returning to the senior game following a 23-year absence? The Bankies this week secured promotion to the Lowland League, the fifth tier of the Scottish game, after overcoming East of Scotland Premier Division champions Musselburgh Athletic 3-1 on aggregate in their two-legged play-off final. After a 1-1 draw away at the Olivebank Arena earlier this month, Clydebank emerged 2-0 winners after a fraught second leg at their own Holm Park, with club legend Nicky Little's 74th-minute penalty kick proving decisive. That means they are now just one more promotion away from returning to the senior set-up they departed in 2002 when they were bought out by Airdrieonians after years of decline following the controversial sale of their Kilbowie home. Sunday's win marked the highest point yet in the club's remarkable journey back from oblivion and it ensured the Bankies became the first West of Scotland Football League team to gain promotion via the pyramid structure, following recent domination of the Lowland League play-offs by their East of Scotland counterparts. It also put the seal on a campaign that will live long in the memory for supporters. The Bankies' current Holm Park ground will soon be playing host to Lowland League fixtures The club lost just once in the league all season, pushed Premiership side Hibernian all the way at Easter Road in the Scottish Cup and broke countless records along the way before securing promotion on Sunday. Manager Gordon Moffat, a former East Stirlingshire and Albion Rovers defender, said: 'It's the season of your dreams. 'When you're sitting in July talking about what you want to achieve and you have targets, then it's blown all of that away when you look at our league campaign and then topping it off with promotion. 'It keeps being called a season like no other and it's probably a good way to describe it.' The fact that 33-year-old Little had such a decisive role in the triumph was fitting given that he had broken a 50-year-old record for the most goals scored by any Bankies player in a single league campaign. 'His penalty kick was his 34th of the season. 'I had supporters telling me after the game that they'd seen Clydebank play Celtic in a Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden 35 years ago,' Little continued, 'and that the Musselburgh game was the biggest game in the club's history. 'That put the magnitude of what we've gone and achieved this year into perspective. It shows how much it meant. 'This team of boys will be spoken about in years to come, so to be part of that means a lot.' Scotland's golden boys can bring back feelgood factor This time last year, anticipation for Euro 2024 was reaching fever pitch as Steve Clarke's Scotland side made their final preparations before heading to Germany. Since that disastrous tournament, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster. Improved performances in the first Nations League fixtures went by without any reward, before wins over Croatia and Poland gave Clarke's men the chance to stay in Group A with a play-off against Greece. After doing the job in Piraeus, Scotland capitulated at Hampden in the second leg to relegate them to Group B. Confidence-wise, it feels like this team is starting from base camp again as they prepare for the upcoming friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein. But there are plenty of individuals who will feel on top of the world after success with their clubs. Andy Robertson just won the Premier League with Liverpool for the second time. Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour played key roles as Napoli lifted the Serie A title. Lewis Ferguson captained Bologna to the Coppa Italia, their first major trophy in 51 years. Max Johnston just lifted the Austrian title for the second consecutive year with Sturm Graz. They all bring momentum into a squad that badly needs a lift after the debacle at Hampden against Greece, and with the World Cup qualifiers getting underway in September. Perhaps most excitingly, Clarke can now build his team around the three golden boys playing in Italy. As well as the title, McTominay won Serie A Player of the Year in his debut campaign. He's become an icon in Naples and has long been an important part of Clarke's team, but looks like he's only getting better and better. Gilmour, meanwhile, has yet to establish himself as a regular starter under Antonio Conte but still played a key role at the business end of the season. Plus he brings a level of composure on the ball that no other Scotland player currently has. Ferguson has struggled to get into Clarke's favour and unfortunately missed out on the Euros last year with injury. But he can no longer be ignored by the national team coach. The prospect of those three making up a midfield trio is an enticing one and these friendlies offer an opportunity to see how it could work. Johnston is another who took a risk by moving abroad and the right-back is surely due an opportunity in these games. He's been an ever-present for the back-to-back Austrian champions. These games look the ideal chance for the 21-year-old to show what he can do. On the other side of the back four, Josh Doig could be in line for a first senior cap after helping Sassuolo win the Serie B title. As Clarke looks to build confidence heading into the World Cup qualifying campaign, there's certainly a lot to work with. All the recent silverware should give this squad a shot in the arm. Some may argue that the fact these are friendlies – and the timing of them – render the matches meaningless, but when a team seems to feed off momentum as much as this Scotland side, there is no such thing. Bloom investment adds to positive mood at Hearts In the immediate aftermath of a tough season for their club, fans are normally left scrambling to find reasons for optimism. That's not been the case for those of a Hearts persuasion these last couple of weeks. After a shambolic campaign that saw the Gorgie side tamely exit the Europa Conference League at the group stage, finish in the bottom half of the Premiership and dispense with two managers along the way, the Tynecastle faithful were desperate to see some positive movement in the close season. Thus far, their prayers have been answered. The Hearts hierarchy wasted no time in getting their new manager, Derek McInnes, in the door. The former Aberdeen and Kilmarnock boss has bags of experience and has the strong personality needed to be in charge at a big club. For an outfit keen to 'disrupt' things in Scotland's top flight, McInnes seems to fit the bill. Then came the news earlier this week that Tony Bloom's proposed £10m investment offer had been approved by the club's majority shareholders, the Foundation of Hearts (FoH). The Brighton owner's analytics firm had already established a partnership with the capital club to improve their recruitment strategy. Bloom certainly has lofty ambitions for the Tynecastle outfit and this new cash injection should be a big step towards them becoming a force in Scottish football again. 'We have a wonderful opportunity now, I believe, to begin to tackle the challenge of becoming a disruptor of the long-standing status quo in Scottish football,' FoH chairman Gerry Mallon said in a statement. 'It will take time, and it will require the continued – and indeed increased – financial commitment of Foundation members, current and new, to achieve this goal, but we have never been better placed to reach that position.' The club have also moved fast to improve their squad this summer, with Greek winger Alexandros Kyziridis set to join, Craig Gordon signing a new one-year deal and striker Elton Kabangu making his move from Union St Gilloise permanent after a successful loan spell. After a shambolic season, the mood music around Gorgie feels much more positive all of a sudden. It's very early days yet, but it's funny how quickly things can change. Ritchie has no regrets over missing out on Lions call Scotland back-rower Jamie Ritchie insists he is comfortable with the feeling that he did everything he possibly could to put himself in with 'a real shout' for British and Irish Lions selection. The 28-year-old Edinburgh forward was disappointed not to be included in Andy Farrell's squad for the summer tour of Australia after bouncing back strongly this season from a tough start to 2024 when he lost the Scotland captaincy. Speaking for the first time since his Lions snub three weeks ago, Ritchie told the BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast: 'Personally, I feel like I'd done all I could in terms of how I performed and stuff, so I was comfortable with that. 'At the end of the day, it's down to someone's opinion and decision-making and what they feel they need in their squad. 'At that point, it's outside of my control. For 2021, I feel like I was further away than I was this year, but I was more upset then. 'I'm a bit more mature now in terms of how I react to these things. 'Obviously, it would have been nice to have that moment, but I'm comfortable with the performances that I've put in to put myself in the mix. I said this to my wife because she was quite upset when we watched it together. 'I said to her, if you look at the position we were in a year ago after Six Nations, where it hadn't gone the way I wanted to in terms of selection and missing out on the captaincy and humming and hawing about whether or not I was going to go on the summer tour, if we'd said we'd be sitting here at the Lions announcement day, feeling like we were in with a real shout and then disappointed when it didn't happen, we would absolutely have taken it. 'That's the perspective that I'm taking on at the moment. I felt like I did all I could. The call didn't come, and that's OK.' Asked if he had been given any indication that he might be on a standby list, Ritchie said: 'I spoke to JD (Lions and Scotland coach John Dalziel) afterwards around some of the thinkings around selection. 'I've not heard about anything official, but I'm just trying to stay fit and concentrating on playing well for Edinburgh.' Scots can make up ground in Tri-Nations series It might still be two years away, but Scotland's men's cricket side will next week continue their qualification bid for the 2027 Cricket World Cup. Doug Watson's Saltires face off against the Netherlands and Nepal twice each over the course of the next fortnight in a Tri-Nation Series at Forfarshire Cricket Club in Broughty Ferry, with results going towards the all-important Cricket World Cup League 2. The Scots are currently in a qualifying position in the eight-team table, sitting fourth, but have four tests in hands on most of their rivals. The Netherlands are in second place behind the United States and boast a formidable record at this level, but the Scots currently have the best net run rate (NRR) among all eight nations and will fancy their chances of moving closer to the head of the standings. Whatever happens, there will still be a long way to go before anything is decided... the qualification process runs until December 2026! In Nepal, the Scots face the current lowest-ranked nation, albeit the South Asians have eight tests in hand on some of the sides above them. Scotland kick off proceedings against Nepal on Monday before facing the Netherlands on Friday. They face Nepal againon June 8 before rounding off the one-day series against the Dutch on June 12. After that they will head to Clydesdale in Glasgow for four T20s against the same nations between June 15-20. Tickets for all matches are available on the Cricket Scotland website.
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Shotts boss' relief as Clydebank win means top-flight safety
Shotts were one of four teams that faced the drop, had Bankies not reached the Lowland League Shotts boss John McKeown admitted relief after their West of Scotland Premier League status was secured on Sunday, as Clydebank reached the Lowland League. The Bankies' 2-0 win over Musselburgh Athletic, 3-1 on aggregate, meant that only three teams dropped down from each of the top three leagues, rather than four, had they fallen short. Shotts ended the season in 13th place, five points above Benburb, who were one of three teams dropping into the First Division. As it is, Shotts now face a derby against McKeown's local team, Rutherglen Glencairn, in their second season in the top flight. A delighted McKeown said: 'We hired Bankies TV and we're absolutely over the moon. 'We need to build on this. We're a wee bit fortunate to stay in the league due to Gartcairn's circumstances [15-point deduction] , so we're not naive enough to ignore that. 'I felt we started the league really poorly but went from strength to strength, and had we had five more games we'd have been more than safe. 'But we need to make sure that we're good to go at the end of July.' McKeown added: 'We should be nowhere near the Premier League, in terms of resources and budget, so these boys deserve all the credit. 'We have a team spirit that I don't think many clubs have, and it has kept us up.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Greenock record-breaker admits he'll never top the joy of promotion-winning campaign
GREENOCK footballing hero Nicky Little admits it'll take a while to realise the scale of his achievement after he fired his Clydebank team a step closer to a return to the SPFL. The former Notre Dame High School pupil and long-time Bankies legend scored the goal that sealed the Holm Park side's 2-0 victory over Musselburgh Athletic in the Lowland League play-off on Sunday – completing a 3-1 aggregate win and moving the Bankies up to the fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid, just one step below the SPFL. Little's penalty on Sunday put the icing on the cake of a season he believes he'll never top – after smashing a Clydebank record that had stood for almost 50 years for the most goals scored by any Bankies player in a single league campaign. And the 33-year-old – for whom Sunday's spot-kick was his 34th goal of the season – says he knows it's a moment he'll be able to look back on with enormous pride. "It's not the kind of thing you take in until you've finished," he told the Tele. Nicky Little, centre, fired Clydebank into the Lowland League (Image: Clydebank FC) "I'm just delighted we got it done, for the club and its supporters. 'Clydebank are fan owned and were created more than 20 years ago from nothing. "It's the same people now that are still involved, they had no idea how to successfully run a club, but the next thing you know they've got their club into tier five of the pyramid.' The name of Clydebank hasn't featured in the senior Scottish leagues since 2002, when, after years of homelessness, the old Clydebank FC played out its final seasons in front of smaller and smaller handfuls of spectators, latterly ground-sharing with Morton at Cappielow. A group of supporters set up a new club the following year, starting on the bottom rung of what was then the junior football ladder – and Sunday afternoon marked the highest point yet in the club's remarkable journey. "I had supporters telling me after the game that they'd seen Clydebank play Celtic in a Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden 35 years ago,' Little continued, 'and that the Musselburgh game was the biggest game in the club's history. A record breaking season capped off in style by the skipper. 3️⃣4️⃣ — Clydebank FC (@clydebankfc) May 26, 2025 "That put the magnitude of what we've gone and achieved this year into perspective. It shows how much it meant. "When the goal went in, it was just a moment of pure relief. In Scottish football you shouldn't have two teams winning a league and having to play each other to get promoted, but it is what it is. 'We knew we were favourites. We knew we should've beaten them away from home, so we knew the pressure was behind us. "Expecting to get it done and getting it done are two totally different things. "It's been a fairytale season - not just for me, but for the club. I know I'll not top it personally because of the age I am. "It feels weird finishing a rollercoaster season knowing you'll never beat it again, but I'm really delighted. Nicky Little's second spell at Clydebank dates back to 2018 - but the 33-year-old says he knows he'll never top the achievement of captaining the club to promotion to the Lowland League. (Image: Stevie Doogan) "I wasn't really thinking about it too much, but when I scored the goal the relief poured over me. 'It's a moment that won't be taken away from me and my name's in the history books. "It's my best ever scoring season, bettering 28, which I've hit a couple of times. There's no secret to it, it's all down to the service, hard work and being in the right place at the right time." After playing locally in Inverclyde as a youth, Little headed to the United States to study, before signing for the Bankies on his return to Scotland. He later had spells with Largs Thistle and Pollok before returning to Clydebank in the summer of 2018. Little, second right, says that it's a Bankies team that'll be remembered for years to come (Image: Clydebank FC) The Inverclyde native admits that when looking back on his career, being able to remember being the man who led a big Scottish football name back towards where its supporters are adamant the club belongs is something that he could only have dreamt of. He continued: "When you see how much it meant to the club and you see the part you played, you can only be delighted. "This team of boys will be spoken about in years to come, so to be part of that, and to know I was captain, means a lot. "I wouldn't change a thing about how my career's panned out at all, whether folk were to question how it's not happened for me playing pro or what have you. "Whatever way it's worked out, it's worked out and I think it's been for the best."
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Greenock record-breaker admits he'll never top the joy of promotion-winning campaign
GREENOCK footballing hero Nicky Little admits it'll take a while to realise the scale of his achievement after he fired his Clydebank team a step closer to a return to the SPFL. The former Notre Dame High School pupil and long-time Bankies legend scored the goal that sealed the Holm Park side's 2-0 victory over Musselburgh Athletic in the Lowland League play-off on Sunday – completing a 3-1 aggregate win and moving the Bankies up to the fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid, just one step below the SPFL. Little's penalty on Sunday put the icing on the cake of a season he believes he'll never top – after smashing a Clydebank record that had stood for almost 50 years for the most goals scored by any Bankies player in a single league campaign. And the 33-year-old – for whom Sunday's spot-kick was his 34th goal of the season – says he knows it's a moment he'll be able to look back on with enormous pride. "It's not the kind of thing you take in until you've finished," he told the Tele. Nicky Little, centre, fired Clydebank into the Lowland League (Image: Clydebank FC) "I'm just delighted we got it done, for the club and its supporters. 'Clydebank are fan owned and were created more than 20 years ago from nothing. "It's the same people now that are still involved, they had no idea how to successfully run a club, but the next thing you know they've got their club into tier five of the pyramid.' The name of Clydebank hasn't featured in the senior Scottish leagues since 2002, when, after years of homelessness, the old Clydebank FC played out its final seasons in front of smaller and smaller handfuls of spectators, latterly ground-sharing with Morton at Cappielow. A group of supporters set up a new club the following year, starting on the bottom rung of what was then the junior football ladder – and Sunday afternoon marked the highest point yet in the club's remarkable journey. "I had supporters telling me after the game that they'd seen Clydebank play Celtic in a Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden 35 years ago,' Little continued, 'and that the Musselburgh game was the biggest game in the club's history. A record breaking season capped off in style by the skipper. 3️⃣4️⃣ — Clydebank FC (@clydebankfc) May 26, 2025 "That put the magnitude of what we've gone and achieved this year into perspective. It shows how much it meant. "When the goal went in, it was just a moment of pure relief. In Scottish football you shouldn't have two teams winning a league and having to play each other to get promoted, but it is what it is. 'We knew we were favourites. We knew we should've beaten them away from home, so we knew the pressure was behind us. "Expecting to get it done and getting it done are two totally different things. "It's been a fairytale season - not just for me, but for the club. I know I'll not top it personally because of the age I am. "It feels weird finishing a rollercoaster season knowing you'll never beat it again, but I'm really delighted. Nicky Little's second spell at Clydebank dates back to 2018 - but the 33-year-old says he knows he'll never top the achievement of captaining the club to promotion to the Lowland League. (Image: Stevie Doogan) "I wasn't really thinking about it too much, but when I scored the goal the relief poured over me. 'It's a moment that won't be taken away from me and my name's in the history books. "It's my best ever scoring season, bettering 28, which I've hit a couple of times. There's no secret to it, it's all down to the service, hard work and being in the right place at the right time." After playing locally in Inverclyde as a youth, Little headed to the United States to study, before signing for the Bankies on his return to Scotland. He later had spells with Largs Thistle and Pollok before returning to Clydebank in the summer of 2018. Little, second right, says that it's a Bankies team that'll be remembered for years to come (Image: Clydebank FC) The Inverclyde native admits that when looking back on his career, being able to remember being the man who led a big Scottish football name back towards where its supporters are adamant the club belongs is something that he could only have dreamt of. He continued: "When you see how much it meant to the club and you see the part you played, you can only be delighted. "This team of boys will be spoken about in years to come, so to be part of that, and to know I was captain, means a lot. "I wouldn't change a thing about how my career's panned out at all, whether folk were to question how it's not happened for me playing pro or what have you. "Whatever way it's worked out, it's worked out and I think it's been for the best."
Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Shotts boss on why he'll be a Clydebank fan for next fortnight as side face relegation sweat
John McKeown's side have finished outside the relegation zone in the West of Scotland Premier Division but could still go down Shotts boss John McKeown admits they face a nervy waiting game to avoid relegation - despite victory on the final day of the season keeping them out of the drop zone in the West of Scotland Premier Division. McKeown's men came from behind at home to Gartcairn on Saturday with Liam Craig's double cancelling out Adam McGowan's opener for the visitors. That was enough to keep Bonny out of the relegation zone in the top flight, as they finished five points clear of nearest rivals Benburb. However, Premier champions Clydebank's potential promotion to the Lowland League means Shotts can't celebrate survival just yet. The Bankies play East of Scotland Premier champions Musselburgh Athletic in a two-legged play-off over the next fortnight to determine who comes up to the Lowland League and if Clydebank fail, it will be bad news for Shotts. McKeown explained: 'It is all up in the air and a strange situation. There is this situation with Clydebank being promoted that is making it awkward. 'They have got to play Musselburgh in a play-off to go up to the Lowland League, but if they don't win it would mean they stay down. Broomhill, who finished bottom of the Lowland League, are getting relegated into our league, so if Clydebank don't go up it means that four teams would need to go down. 'It means it is a bit of a waiting game for us, which is really annoying. For me, that's not the way it should be but, unfortunately, that is the way the leagues have worked it. 'It is something the leagues need to look at, things like that need to be decided by your last game of the season, rather than sitting about waiting for a couple of weeks. 'Last season when Beith won the league, they didn't have the SFA licence to go up so there was no change, it was a lot more straightforward. 'Saturday should have been a big day of celebration after retaining our league status, so it does put a bit of a dampener on it, although we are hopeful Clydebank can do the job and go into the Lowland League. 'We will need to keep the champagne on ice and sit tight.' Clydebank travel to Musselburgh this Saturday, followed by the return leg at Holm Park on Sunday, May 25. And McKeown admits he will be cheering them on He added: 'I'm getting my Bankies top on as we speak! I'm just hoping they can go and do us a wee turn now. 'I don't want to curse it, but Clydebank will be the bookies' favourites. They are an excellent side and it is over two legs, so you would hope they have enough to get through. We'll certainly be supporting them.' Shotts have pulled off quite the turnaround to finish 13th in the 16-team division, having been rock bottom at the turn of the year. So McKeown is proud of his players, no matter what unfolds. He said: 'Our boys have done all they can do, which is massive. I am delighted for them and their form since the turn of the year has been magnificent. 'It was a bit subdued and we weren't getting carried away because they know it isn't completely 'job done' yet. 'We were dead and buried at Christmas. We had a good chat with them at that time, changed our shape and worked really hard. 'They have really stuck together. It would have been easy to chuck the towel in, but they've shown a real steely mentality and put themselves in a great position. We're really proud of them.'
