Latest news with #ElginCity
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Brown and Allardice exit County after 'worst possible ending'
James Brown and Scott Allardice have left Ross County following the end of their contracts with the club relegated from the Scottish joined the Dingwall club in summer 2023, 26-year-old defender Brown after leaving Doncaster Rovers and 27-year-old midfielder Allardice from Inverness Caledonian Brown made 33 appearances, 23 of them starts, this season while Allardice made only seven starts and 13 off the said thank you to County on the club said: "It is a shame how things finished with the relegation, but I have no doubt the club will bounce back."Allardice described it as "the worst possible ending" and added: "Whilst it has not gone the way I would have wanted over the last two years, I have always tried to have a good impact on and off the park. "I hope the club gets back up at the first time of asking."Seven players who were on loan with County have also returned to their clubs - centre-backs Will Nightingale (Wimbledon), Elijah Campbell (Everton), Kacper Lopata (Barnsley) and Jonathan Tomkinson (Norwich City), left-back Zac Ashworth (Blackpool), midfielder Nohan Kenneh (Hibernian) and forward Jack Grieves (Watford).Meanwhile, 20-year-old defender Connall Ewan has joined League 2 club Elgin City on a two-year contract having ended the season on loan to Caley Thistle.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Annan reach play-off final on emotional day at Galabank
Annan Athletic made it safely into the Scottish League One play-off final on an emotional day at Galabank. Wullia Gibson's side, who are fighting to save their third-tier status, lost 2-1 at home to Elgin City but went through to the final 5-4 on aggregate. And before the game there were poignant scenes as the club remembered Kaye Kilsby, mum of defender Max, who was previously on Carlisle United's books. A minute's applause was held in Kaye's memory and Annan later announced: "Kaye was the mother of first team player Max Kilsby who sadly passed away this week. "Kaye, along with her husband Rob and their family, have followed Max proudly as he makes his way in the professional game and were ever present both home and away watching the Black and Golds. "Everyone at the club is devastated by her untimely passing and we would like to pass on our heartfelt thoughts and condolences to Rob, Max and all the family." Tommy Muir's first-minute goal at Galabank put the tie further from Elgin's reach after Wullie Gibson's side won the first leg 4-2. Elgin hit back with goals in either half from Ryan Sargent and Oliver McDonald. But Annan held onto their aggregate advantage and will now face East Fife in the two-legged final. East Fife claimed a 3-0 win over Edinburgh City in their second leg to go through 3-1 on aggregate. The side who finished second in Scottish League Two are hoping to overhaul League One's ninth-placed side in Annan to gain promotion to the third tier. The final's first leg at East Fife is this Tuesday at 7.30pm, with the second leg at Galabank on Friday, also at 7.30pm. Annan are hoping to avoid a return to the fourth tier after two seasons in League One. Peter Murphy's Queen of the South, meanwhile, saw their hopes of returning to the Championship dashed by Cove Rangers. After a 0-0 draw in the semi-final first leg at Palmerston Park, Paul Hartley's Cove claimed a 2-1 win over the Doonhamers on Saturday. Cove struck an early penalty through Mitch Megginson before Blair Yule put them further in control. Kai Kennedy pulled one back but Queens could not complete their fightback. Our season comes to an end as we suffer defeat in the second leg of the play-off semi-final.#CVRQOS | #League1 | #TheDoonhamers — Queen of the South (@OfficialQosFC) May 10, 2025 It means Cove go through to the final against Airdrieonians, who defeated Stenhousemuir 2-1 on Saturday and 5-2 on aggregate. Queens will now rebuild for another crack at promotion in 2025/26, having finished third in the table in Murphy's first season in charge.
Press and Journal
07-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Former Buckie Thistle and Elgin star pocketed cash for training courses
A former Elgin City and Highland League star has admitted to pocketing more than £10,000 he was given to provide non-existent football training courses and sponsorship. Ceiran McLean, who once turned out for and won the Highland League title with Buckie Thistle, strung along his customers for more than a year with promises he could deliver bespoke packages after taking their cash. At Elgin Sheriff Court today – on the first day of his scheduled trial – the 34-year-old admitted conning customers of his football training business. Ceiran McLean once played for Buckie Thistle. The court did not hear the circumstances of McLean's crime, but was told that his illegal efforts stretched from June 15 2020 to August 11 2021. Throughout that period, he admitted breaching a section of the Trading Regulations Act, which prevents businesses from conducting unfair commercial practices that are likely to influence the behaviour of the average consumer. His own defence solicitor, Matthew O'Neill, said the sum he would pocket by doing so was more than £10,000. Mr O'Neill, who was appearing on behalf of Aberdeen firm George Mathers & Co., said the former footballer was now attempting to pay that money back and asked for sentence to be deferred to allow him to do so. He said: 'My understanding is that the amount obtained will amount to £10,686.66. 'The principal agents have engaged in conversations, significantly, with Mr McLean. I understand Mr McLean is currently in employment and has certainly proposed to the principal agents a plan that he has in relation to be able to return those funds. 'Mr McLean should be in funds to do that within three months.' 'There ought to be a punitive element' Agreeing to defer sentence on the case, Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov advised McLean, of Inchbroom Avenue in Lossiemouth, to start saving money. 'Restitution is one thing, but there ought to be a punitive element,' she said, addressing McLean's solicitor. The sheriff also called for background reports on McLean, as well as a restriction of liberty assessment, which, if he were sentenced to one, would limit the hours of the day during which he could leave his home. McLean, who has a previous conviction from Elgin Sheriff Court, will now return to the dock in June. In 2013, while he was still at Elgin City FC, he was sentenced to 12 months behind bars for his part in a horror smash on the A96 Nairn to Alves road, which left a trialist in a coma for two months. McLean and another Elgin City player were racing each other in separate vehicles when the crash happened. McLean also suffered broken legs, a broken pelvis, and a brain injury.
Press and Journal
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Elgin City face uphill task in play-offs after 4-2 home defeat against Annan while Cove captain hobbles off in Queen of the South stalemate
Elgin City boss Allan Hale still believes his side can be victorious despite falling to a pulsating 4-2 League One play-off semi-final first leg defeat against Annan Athletic – with all the goals in the first half. The Moray club earned their place in the promotion play-offs after finishing fourth in League Two, as they bid to reach the third tier for the first time since joining the Scottish leagues 25 years ago. After a bright start, Tommy Goss fired Annan in front before Ryan Sargent drew City level. Quickfire goals from Max Kilsby and Tommy Muir gave Athletic a 3-1 advantage during a breathtaking goal rush. Matters worsened for the Moray side when Muir headed the Dumfries and Galloway team further ahead, but Jack Murray's header on the cusp of half-time encouraged home supporters amid the crowd of 1,104. 'This Elgin side has character in abundance' Hale said: 'The goals we conceded were uncharacteristic. We were too easy to score against in the first half, which is so unlike this team. 'We are much more organised and disciplined than that normally. We got spooked by the the physicality of their front two and the runners who came off from that. 'We didn't deal with their runners and a pull-back cross, which we spoke about before the game. Elgin City manager Allan Hale, left, and assistant Stefan Laird, Image: Bob Crombie. 'The response was really good and we scored the second goal at a good time just before half-time. We regrouped and, in the second half, did everything but score. 'It was a much better performance in the second half. We need to go there on Saturday and believe we can turn it around. It has been done before andd we'll aim to do it again. 'We just have to cut out the naivety we showed in periods of the game. 'This Elgin side has character in abundance and we're going to Annan to try and win the game.' Blown away in goal rush first half Annan took the lead on 17 minutes when Gibson's corner from the left was met by Tommy Goss, who headed home his sixth goal of the season. Five minutes later, Elgin were all square as, from Maciver's free-kick, Sargent was ideally placed to tuck away his shot. The delighted home crowd were soon silenced as, one minute later, from another Gibson flag-kick, defender Kilsby headed home inside the box to make it 2-1. Elgin had little time to recover before they fell further behind when Goss lined up Muir, who crashed home a drive past Glavin. It was soon 4-1 for Annan as Aidan Smith's cross was headed past keeper Aidan Glavin by Muir. In first half stoppage time, Elgin gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Murray pounced to power home a header from a Maciver corner. Elgin pressed for a third home goal The next goal was going to be so crucial and both teams were giving their all in an attempt to find it. A Maciver snapshot pulled wide just after the hour mark was the only noteworthy moment. With 20 minutes to go, Elgin full-back Owen Cairns almost brought his team to within one goal as his 25-yarder crashed off the crossbar. Jack Murray scores Elgin`s second goal. Image: Bob Crombie. The hosts pushed on from this and won a free-kick on the edge of the area when substitute Olly McDonald was brought to ground by Gibson. Maciver let fly, but his powerful drive was beaten clear by Smith. Jake Dolzanski, Mark Gallagher and Kane Hester all had late close calls for Elgin, but Annan departed Borough Briggs with a two-goal lead intact. So, it's down to Galabank this Saturday, where the overall winner of the tie will meet the victors from the East Fife v Edinburgh City semi-final, where the capital club hold a 1-0 advantage. Queen of the South 0-0 Cove Rangers Cove Rangers and Queen of the South played out a stalemate at Palmerston to set up a Championship play-off semi-final shootout at Balmoral Stadium on Saturday. After the goalless draw, Cove boss Paul Hartley said: 'We knew we had to come here and make sure we're still in the tie and we've done that. 'I thought we were very good, disciplined and our shape was excellent. 'They didn't cause us too many problems but we caused them problems with our pace but we were a little wasteful. 'But the game is finely balanced and it's a shootout on Saturday. Hopefully we can get a good crowd in.' Cove Rangers manager Paul Hartley. Image: Sandy McCook/DC Thomson. After a quiet opening ten minutes, the visitors had a great chance to open the deadline. Fraser Fyvie's defence-splitting ball found Mitch Megginson inside the box but before he pulled the trigger, Queens centre back Jack Hannah made a goal-saving challenge. The visitors had clearly settled the better with Queens making several slack passes throughout the first period. But Cove failed to punish the slack Doonhamers when Reece Lyon's pass was intercepted by Adam Emslie but his curling effort was palmed to safety. Queens were dangerous on occasions, especially with the pace of wideman Liam Smith. He quickly whizzed past two Cove defenders before his low shot from the edge of the box was saved by Nick Suman's legs. Megginson was causing the home backline all sorts of trouble. He muscled his way past Matty Douglas and burst through on goal. But Megginson was about to pounce but once again he was stopped by Hannah who made another sensational tackle to deny the frustrated hitman. And Hartley's men suffered a blow two minutes before the interval when Fyvie had to be subbed off with an injury. Cove Rangers' Fraser Fyvie. Image: Darrell Benns/DC Thomson. But the man who came on for the visitors had a glorious chance to get the first goal on the hour mark. Emslie found Declan Glass inside the box and fired a shot that looked destined for the top corner but Stewart did well to palm over the bar. Then Megginson finally got the better of his nemesis Hannah but couldn't get his volley from eight yards on target. Suman had little to do in the second half until making a brilliant stop to deny Kai Kennedy's 25-yard free-kick. He was called into action seconds later but this time it was a more comfortable stop to deny a tame Lyon header. On the injury to captain Fyvie, Hartley said: 'Fraser was touch and go before the game, he hasn't trained much. He had a knock on his ankle and he felt it again in the first half. We had to take the risk to play him but he's now a major doubt for the second leg.'
Press and Journal
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
Elgin City's 82-year-old groundsman says the role helped him cope following the death of his wife
Elgin City groundsman Cecil Jack – the oldest in a professional club in Scotland at the age of 82 – has spoken about how the role helped him deal with the death of his wife. The Scottish Professional Football League are turning the spotlight on those behind the scenes at clubs throughout their leagues in a series of films called 'Unsung'. Cecil spends almost every day at the Black and Whites' Borough Briggs Stadium and believes the club's support has helped him recover from losing wife June, 59, to cancer in the mid-2000s. The grandad-of-one still travels across the country to every game and has been cheering on the side at matches for over six decades, including with late wife June, who used to work at the club's pie stall. His huge impact within Elgin is marked in the first edition of Unsung, celebrating the inspiring real life stories of characters from across the Scottish game, which will run in the coming months. 'I'd be bored sitting at home watching daytime TV without Elgin City' Cecil, who lives in the town's New Elgin, said: 'Elgin City's been a huge part of my life. I spend more time here than I do at home. 'I said I'd help out as groundsman for a few weeks around two decades ago and I've been there ever since. The pitch looks as good as it has in my whole time here, which I'm really proud of. 'Football gives me a lot of fun, even at this age. I'd be bored sitting at home watching daytime TV without Elgin City, so it keeps me going. 'The club really helped me during my mourning process of losing my wife June and being involved in the club has helped me immensely in recent years.' Late wife June persuaded Cecil to join the club board Cecil first became connected to Elgin City aged 15, selling club raffles and then running matchday coaches. He was persuaded to become a supporters' club committee member in 1986 and later served as vice president and president of the supporters' club. The retired carpet fitter travelled to games with June, who was also a member of the supporters' club, and she worked in the club's pie shop. Cecil's late wife June pictured with the late Elgin City Supporters' Club president Ronnie Eddie. Cecil was asked to join the club's board shortly after June was diagnosed with bowel cancer, and she persuaded him to take up the role in the months before her death in 2006. Shortly afterwards he took on the role of club groundsman. Been to more than 1,000 games The dad-of-one, whose son Arthur is a youth coach at Caley Thistle, estimates he's been to around 1,000 games during his time following the club. And Cecil speaks about the impact June had on his life, with their passion for football certainly shared. He added: 'June helped out in the pie shop after we got married and was a stalwart of our supporters' club. We had a really happy marriage and loved going to games together. 'June was unwell when I was asked to join the club board, and I wasn't sure if it was the right time, but she said I should do it as that's where I belonged. I went on the board with her blessing and it was the best thing for me. 'I've travelled home and away to every game since I joined the board 17 years ago. I'll have been a few years round the world following Elgin, and I do it because I love it.' 'He portrays himself as Mr Grumpy, but he's a great guy.' – Isla Benzie Elgin City vice chair Isla Benzie has known Cecil for life as he is best friends with her mum and dad Susie and Martin Graham and said he's a huge character at the club. She said: 'Cecil's whole life is Elgin City. He's at the club every day. 'He's a huge character. I've known him all my life. He portrays himself as Mr Grumpy, but he's a great guy. 'He's an encyclopedia on club history. Pretty much everyone in Elgin knows him. Isla Benzie, Elgin City vice chair. 'Joining the board has helped keep him young and keep going after June's death, which has been great.' Delight to have Cecil as first featured Calum Beattie, SPFL chief operating officer, said: 'There are so many unsung figures doing vital work at clubs right across the country in our men's and women's game, which is why we wanted to launch this new series. 'It's great to hear the huge impact Elgin City has had on Cecil's life, and how well appreciated he is by everybody at the club. 'We'd like to pass on our thanks to Cecil for the incredible contribution he's had to his club and Scottish football, and we look forward to telling more Unsung stories in the coming months.'
