Latest news with #LivingstonFC
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Livi visit East Fife in season opener
Livingston will begin the 2025-26 season with a trip to East Fife in their Premier Sports Cup Group H opener on 12 then meet fellow Premiership side Kilmarnock at Rugby Park before welcoming Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts to the Home of the Set Fare Arena.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Who will Livingston face in League Cup?
Recently-promoted Livingston have been drawn alongside fellow Premiership side Kilmarnock, Kelty Hearts, East Fife and Brora Rangers in Group H of the 2025-26 Premier Sports opening group fixtures will take place on 12-13 July, with further matchdays on 15-16 July, 19-20 July, 22-23 July and 26-27 eight group winners and three best runners-up will join Scotland's five European entrants - Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee United - in the last 16 on the weekend of 16-17 who will return to the top flight next season after beating Ross County in the Premiership play-off final, won the League Cup in 2004 and finished as runners-up four years ago.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Nobody likes us... and we don't care! Why newly-promoted Livingston are ready to ruffle feathers like never before
Livingston's return to the Scottish Premiership is redolent of a scene from an old black and white cowboy movie. The tall mysterious stranger walks into the saloon. As the doors swing open, the pianist stops playing. The revelry turns to silence as everyone turns to stare. Outwith West Lothian, the welcome being afforded to David Martindale's men for reclaiming a place at the game's most selective party might only be marginally warmer than that reserved for an out of towner in the Wild West. They felt the stony silence when they walked into the room last time. They're aware that they've not won any popularity contests with fans of other clubs in the interim. And, as far as they are concerned, that is absolutely fine. 'It's all over and we make our way back to the top flight,' said a post on the club's official X account when the full-time whistle at Dingwall sounded on Monday. 'Not liked. Not wanted. Not bothered.' While football by its very nature is adversarial, some of the flak that flew the way of the account's administrator was striking. One Aberdeen fan claimed he'd have gladly forgone seeing his side win the Scottish Cup had it meant no trips to Almondvale next season. A Celtic supporter said they were the most 'tin pot' club in the land. Amid a litany of such salutations, a Partick Thistle fan suggested they should have been prevented from going up purely on account of their fanbase. The Lions, it can safely be stated, are about as welcome in these parts as a punch in the throat. This outright hostility does feel a little over the score. When Gretna arrived in the top flight in 2007, the accompanying narrative was that it was a fairytale. Yet, they had no ground that was compatible with regulations, a truly paltry support and — as it eventually transpired — no money to honour their players' contracts. Where was their malice? Since then, we've seen clubs such as Hamilton and Inverness Caledonian Thistle joust with the giants. Both sides played their matches at grounds with supporters only housed on three sides. That's not the case at Livingston's home. With a capacity of 9,713, Almondvale may be — in the parlance of estate agents — compact and bijou. But, unlike the lop-sided Falkirk Stadium (holding 7,937), it is symmetrical. Livi are also hardly the first club to make it this far with a modest fanbase. They drew an average home crowd of just 3,889 in 2023-24. Yet, in the season just ended, Ross County had 4,353 and St Johnstone 5,579. It's hardly a gargantuan difference. Based just 19 miles from Edinburgh, Livingston is a town of 55,836 people, many of whom supported the big city clubs when their local side was a works team called Ferranti Thistle. If Livingston's League Cup triumph in 2004 wasn't going to drag them away from Tynecastle or Easter Road on a Saturday, then the subsequent financial turmoil which saw them demoted to the bottom tier certainly wasn't going to win over any hearts and minds. The themes of Livingston's story this century include ambition, the perils of over-stretching, overcoming adversity and redemption. Throw in winning a major trophy and a season playing European football and there's a good book in there somewhere if only there was a demand for it. David Martindale's life story is worthy of a weighty tome in itself. In 2006, he served four years in prison for his part in a drug-dealing and money-laundering operation. He enrolled at Heriot-Watt University and, upon his release, got his foot on the coaching ladder and became Livingston's manager in 2020. He's never sought to play down the seriousness of the crimes which landed him a lengthy custodial sentence. Quite the opposite, in fact. He has, unquestionably, made the most the second chance he's been given in life. Say what you like about Martindale as a person — and many still do — but his credentials as a football manager are hugely impressive. When Livi went down a year ago, you wondered if his days in the dug-out were numbered. The Championship is the most competitive league in the country. There is no guarantee that any side dropping into it simply bounces straight back. In the past 13 seasons, 15 teams have taken the drop. Only eight have succeeded in immediately regaining their top-flight status. Against all the odds, Martindale has earned the right to again pit his wits against Brendan Rodgers, Derek McInnes and company when August arrives. He's a survivor. 'Last season was difficult, but the club stood by me,' he said. 'I think I had credit in the bank from what I'd done.' What he did to ensure the club was only exiled from the big time for a single season proved that he's more than just a ball-of-fire motivator who knows how to make a side hard to beat. Rather than doubling down on the physical, in-your-face approach which had won his club no friends in their last stay in the Premiership, the 50-year-old changed the style of play. Martindale recruited the skilful Lewis Smith to play in front of the cultured Danny Wilson. He drafted in experience in Ryan McGowan and Stevie May, goals in Robbie Muirhead and hunger in Robbie Fraser and Macauley Tait, who joined on loan from Rangers and Hearts, respectively. The reshaped side worked every bit as hard as his previous creations. But their approach was much easier on the eye. 'They've reinvented themselves,' said former Livingston boss John Robertson. 'This is what one year in the Championship has allowed them to do. 'Martindale's recruited really good football players. They play good football, which is not something you associate with a Livingston team who've had to find a way to stay in the league for six years.' Another thing will be different next season. While the much-maligned plastic pitch isn't being replaced with grass, it is being ripped up with the latest generation of MX Elite — apparently the best artificial surface money can buy — then being put down. Whether Livingston, Falkirk or Kilmarnock are minded to challenge the top flight's ban on synthetic surfaces from 2026 remains to be seen. One thing we do know is that — new-style or not — when it all kicks off again, there won't be any rose petals being scattered in front of Martindale's side wherever they go. Until the day arrives when the SPFL hand out bonus points for popularity, that won't cost them a single minute's sleep.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Martindale changes narrative to drive Livingston revival
"I'm in with the bricks and mortar, and if that changes I'm happy to shake everybody's hand and move on." David Martindale isn't a man who beats about the bush. The straightest talker in Scottish football stood on 19 May last year in front of the cameras. His team relegated and with new ownership coming into the club, the Livingston manager found it difficult to see what they future would hold for him. One year on, he was standing in the middle of a party, surrounded by pizza boxes, spilled beer and raucous footballers, conducting a chorus of celebration at their instant return to the Scottish Premiership. Visit our Livingston page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views Get Livingston news notifications in the BBC Sport app Livingston's route back to the top was in Martindale's own image - through hard graft and adversity. While the Premiership play-off final win over Ross County may have looked convincing with a 4-2 scoreline on the night and a 5-3 aggregate, they had to deal with losing a late equaliser on Thursday before then going 2-0 down in the Highlands. Even to get to this stage, nothing was straightforward. For so long Livingston were in the title hunt with eventual Championship winners Falkirk, only to fall away as the season hit the home straight to finish three points behind. Partick Thistle were then despatched 4-0 over both play-off semi-final ties, teeing up a date with a Ross County side without a win in 10. "I'm really proud of the players, really proud of the staff. I get the credit but this isn't about me," said Martindale in Dingwall, surrounded by supporters. "The players showed personality, they showed character. That was my players out on the park tonight and I'm so proud of them." Martindale's teams in the Premiership were renowned for being awful to play against. Physical. Aggressive. In your face. Coupled with an ageing plastic pitch, watching silky soccer wasn't a Saturday staple for the Livi support. However, since dropping down to the Championship, he has taken the opportunity to rebuild and rethink. Quality players like Lewis Smith, who scored his side's fine first in Dingwall, Robbie Muirhead and Stevie May were recruited. Combined with a solid core in defence, Livingston finished the Championship with the second best goal difference of 28. "They've reinvented themselves, this is what one year in the Championship has allowed them to do," said former Livingston boss John Robertson on Sportsound. "Martindale's recruited really good football players. They play good football which is not something you associate with a Livingston team who've had to find a way to stay in the league for six years." BBC Scotland pundit Michael Stewart added: "He drives a lot of it, he's recruited really well, they play good football, they've got new investment and you heard it from the man himself the club are in a really good position." There will perhaps be a few football fans disappointed with the result of Monday's play-off final. Partly because of the aforementioned combative style used by Livingston in their previous stint in the top flight. Partly because of their rather modest support. Partly because of the denial of a cracking away day to Dingwall when the football returns after the summer... Some supporters will also not be overly happy with the prospect of another team with an artificial pitch - along with Falkirk and Kilmarnock - being added to the Premiership. A few quips from the Livingston social media admin pointed towards the club perhaps not being the most popular. Scottish Football right now… — Livingston Football Club (@LiviFCOfficial) May 26, 2025 But none of that will matter to Martindale and his players. Calvin Ford, the great-great-grandson of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford, has recently become the club's majority shareholder. "There's a good foundation here, let's build this better and get this club back where it belongs, back in the [Scottish Premiership] and then let's see where we can go from there because I think there's a tonne of potential there," he said earlier this month. So with fresh investment, and also a fresh new artificial surface being laid, it's quite possible that the Livingston returning to the top flight will be a far different beast to the one which departed 12 months ago. What looks set to remain the same this close season though, is their manager. "David Martindale is an integral part of the club," added Stewart. "You've got to give him a lot of credit this season. "He himself saying Calvin Ford has reinvigorated him and you can see that. David Martindale is such an integral part not just for the obvious reasons, last season it looked as if the fire had started to dwindle in him and they got relegated you look at him this season and you could sense it was bubbling away in him again. "They've got back up to the top flight and I do think he is such a strong part of that club."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Martindale changes narrative to drive Livingston revival
"I'm in with the bricks and mortar, and if that changes I'm happy to shake everybody's hand and move on."David Martindale isn't a man who beats about the bush. The straightest talker in Scottish football stood on 19 May last year in front of the cameras. His team relegated and with new ownership coming into the club, the Livingston manager found it difficult to see what they future would hold for him. One year on, he was standing in the middle of a party, surrounded by pizza boxes, spilled beer and raucous footballers, conducting a chorus of celebration at their instant return to the Scottish Premiership. Livingston's route back to the top was in Martindale's own image - through hard graft and the Premiership play-off final win over Ross County may have looked convincing with a 4-2 scoreline on the night and a 5-3 aggregate, they had to deal with losing a late equaliser on Thursday before then going 2-0 down in the Highlands. Even to get to this stage, nothing was straightforward. For so long Livingston were in the title hunt with eventual Championship winners Falkirk, only to fall away as the season hit the home straight to finish three points behind. Partick Thistle were then despatched 4-0 over both play-off semi-final ties, teeing up a date with a Ross County side without a win in 10."I'm really proud of the players, really proud of the staff. I get the credit but this isn't about me," said Martindale in Dingwall, surrounded by supporters."The players showed personality, they showed character. That was my players out on the park tonight and I'm so proud of them." Change in style driving revival Martindale's teams in the Premiership were renowned for being awful to play against. Physical. Aggressive. In your with an ageing plastic pitch, watching silky soccer wasn't a Saturday staple for the Livi support. However, since dropping down to the Championship, he has taken the opportunity to rebuild and rethink. Quality players like Lewis Smith, who scored his side's fine first in Dingwall, Robbie Muirhead and Stevie May were with a solid core in defence, Livingston finished the Championship with the second best goal difference of 28."They've reinvented themselves, this is what one year in the Championship has allowed them to do," said former Livingston boss John Robertson on Sportsound. "Martindale's recruited really good football players. They play good football which is not something you associate with a Livingston team who've had to find a way to stay in the league for six years."BBC Scotland pundit Michael Stewart added: "He drives a lot of it, he's recruited really well, they play good football, they've got new investment and you heard it from the man himself the club are in a really good position." The future is gold for Livingston There will perhaps be a few football fans disappointed with the result of Monday's play-off because of the aforementioned combative style used by Livingston in their previous stint in the top flight. Partly because of their rather modest support. Partly because of the denial of a cracking away day to Dingwall when the football returns after the supporters will also not be overly happy with the prospect of another team with an artificial pitch - along with Falkirk and Kilmarnock - being added to the Premiership. A few quips from the Livingston social media admin pointed towards the club perhaps not being the most popular. But none of that will matter to Martindale and his Ford, the great-great-grandson of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford, has recently become the club's majority shareholder. "There's a good foundation here, let's build this better and get this club back where it belongs, back in the [Scottish Premiership] and then let's see where we can go from there because I think there's a tonne of potential there," he said earlier this with fresh investment, and also a fresh new artificial surface being laid, it's quite possible that the Livingston returning to the top flight will be a far different beast to the one which departed 12 months ago. What looks set to remain the same this close season though, is their manager."David Martindale is an integral part of the club," added Stewart. "You've got to give him a lot of credit this season. "He himself saying Calvin Ford has reinvigorated him and you can see that. David Martindale is such an integral part not just for the obvious reasons, last season it looked as if the fire had started to dwindle in him and they got relegated you look at him this season and you could sense it was bubbling away in him again. "They've got back up to the top flight and I do think he is such a strong part of that club."
