Latest news with #NorthLanarkshireCup
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Cumbernauld Colts boss: Hamilton Accies' move to Broadwood could lead to regular Friday nights under the lights
The gaffer of the Lowland League side has had his say after the news Accies will be joining them at Braodwood next season Cumbernauld Colts boss John Doyle reckons Hamilton Accies move to Broadwood Stadium will lead to plenty of Friday nights under the lights next season. The Lowland League side have been the main tenants at the Cumbernauld venue since Clyde moved to New Douglas Park two years ago to ground share with Accies. But over the course of a bizarre couple of weeks, Accies - who have just been relegated to League One from the Championship - have now announced they are leaving their home town for Broadwood, while Clyde will be remaining at NDP for the 2025/26 campaign. With both clubs vying for Saturday slots, it will be up to the leagues to sort out who plays at home when, but Doyle reckons Friday nights could be a popular option. On the news of John Rankin's Accies joining them at Broadwood, Doyle said: "As far as I am aware it is still going to be mainly our stadium and the signage and all that stuff we have won't change. "The club are still in talks with North Lanarkshire Council to see how everything is going to work, but my understanding is that Hamilton's move will impact on us very little. "Hamilton will be in training during the day and we will be in training at night. "We obviously need to make sure we are not playing games the same days as Hamilton, so that might be a wee headache for the fixtures secretary. "If anything, there could be more Friday night games now and then. Sometimes the Friday night games can bring bigger crowds, the players get the weekend off and I can watch other games on a Saturday so that could be a win for us. "As long as Hamilton aren't coming in and upsetting how we operate, I am okay with it and we'll just deal with it." Earlier this week, Lanarkshire Live Sport revealed the pitch at Broadwood is being torn up this summer and replaced with a new 5G surface, putting the stadium out of action over pre-season and potentially into the early weeks of the campaign. Doyle said: "We were aware that the pitch is going to be relayed in the summer. "It is not ideal when you are training on the pitches outside the stadium and playing pre-season games away from home. "I think our first league game of the season could be the first time we are on the surface. It is not ideal in terms of preparation, but it is what it is. We will still have use of the changing rooms and facilities inside the stadium. "We will do pre-season on the astro pitches at the side of the stadium and have a few games away from home." The pitch upgrade will also hit Colts in the pocket with their pre-season money-maker, the North Lanarkshire Cup, cancelled.
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Hamilton Accies pre-season setback as Broadwood pitch to be ripped up
Hamilton Accies' pre-season plans have suffered a setback before they have even completed their move to Broadwood Stadium - with the pitch at the Cumbernauld venue set to be ripped up this summer. The South Lanarkshire side announced last week that they would be ending their 24-year stay at New Douglas Park after failing to come to a buyout deal with the stadium landlords, HAFC Stadium Limited which is headed up by ex-Accies owner Colin McGowan. A deal to secure a switch across the region is close to completion after talks with North Lanarkshire Council. However, Accies will need to go elsewhere for their pre-season training with the artificial Broadwood pitch out of service while upgrades are made at the request of the Scottish Football Association and NLC. Lanarkshire Live Sport can reveal the Cumbernauld surface is set to be ripped up and replaced at the end of June, with a completion date earmarked for July 25, although it is hoped it could be ready before then. Some minor stadium repairs are also expected to be carried out. Hamilton's pre-season training starts on June 19 and it is understood the club will either use the public pitches adjacent to the stadium or look elsewhere. A training camp outside of Scotland is also under consideration. This is also likely to cause issues for Accies in terms of competitive action, with the Premier Sports League Cup group stages kicking off in July. Match dates for the competition are July 12/13, July 15/16, July 22/23 and July 26/27. The draw for the competition will take place on Wednesday, May 28. All pre-season friendlies will need to be played away from their 'home' ground and the pre-season North Lanarkshire Cup, which has taken place at Broadwood in four of the last five seasons and included the likes of Airdrieonians, Albion Rovers, Cumbernauld Colts and Motherwell B, will not go ahead. It is the latest setback to his crisis-hit Accies, who are licking their wounds after a 15-point deduction for multiple breaches of SPFL rules saw them relegated from the Championship last week. Rangers Women and Lowland League side Cumbernauld Colts are also tenants at Broadwood so will face the same issues over the close season.
