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Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
I was meant to be on a stag do in Portugal cheering on my ex-team Aberdeen vs Celtic but I wasn't allowed to board plane
CAMMY SMITH loved watching Aberdeen stamp their passport to Europe on the weekend. He just wishes he'd been able to use his to watch it in Portugal on the stag do he'd organised. Advertisement 2 Aberdeen were crowned Scottish Cup champions at Hampden Credit: PA 2 But Cammy Smith wasn't there to witness it in person - or from abroad Credit: Kenneth Ramsay (Photography) Limited, Trochrague, 78 Newark Street, Greenock PA16 7TF Peterhead attacker Smith came through the ranks at Pittodrie and won the League Cup in 2014. He was supposed to be in Albufeira decked out in a Dons retro top from the days when the club last lifted the trophy in his role as best man to ex-teammate Mikey Rose ahead of his wedding next weekend. But a RyanAir jobsworth barred him from travelling because the start date on his documents was over ten years ago, despite the expiry date still being valid. Advertisement Smith felt so deflated he then rejected the chance of a ticket for Hampden on the morning of the game - so was left to look on from his sitting room as Jimmy Thelin's men made history. While he was gutted to miss out on both parties, he couldn't stop smiling as he watched one-time Dons pal Graeme Shinnie lift the silverware at full-time. Smith, 29, said: 'I got offered a free ticket on the morning of the game from one of my mates and I said No because of the way the weekend had turned out. I wish I'd gone now. 'My brother was there and said it was one of the best days he'd experienced. All my mates were out there in Portugal and had a bar booked to watch it in. I'd organised it all. 'The majority of them are Aberdeen fans and they all had Aberdeen tops on. We'd organised a retro Aberdeen top day with the 90s tops and stuff like that. Advertisement 'I saw the videos and you can see how much it meant to a lot of them. A lot of them are older than me and they'd been following Aberdeen for years. 'They were quite emotional seeing their team win the cup. But despite not being there or at Hampden it still felt amazing to me and I got goosebumps watching it and the fan celebrations.' Aberdeen fans react to historic Scottish Cup win Smith turns 30 later this year so wasn't even born when the Dons last lifted the trophy in 1990. He said: 'It turns what would have probably been an average season for Aberdeen into a really good one. 'You saw the support they had at the game and the parade on Sunday. Hopefully it gives the team more confidence to do it more regularly. Advertisement 'Coming from Aberdeen and playing for Aberdeen ten years ago after coming through the youth system meant you'd always heard about how successful they were back in the good days. 'They used to regularly come down to Hampden and win the cup and league. Rightly or wrongly, that's the expectation at Aberdeen. The fans expect you to win a trophy every year. 'They expect you to be challenging Celtic and Rangers. Times have changed and that's not as easy with budgets nowadays. 'But the weekend showed how big the club actually is. The League Cup we won was amazing and everyone still remembers that team and the manager and the key players. I was fortunate to be a good squad player. How they rated Dimitar Mitov - Saves from Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston in the shootout plus denying Daizen Maeda late in regular time wrote him a place in Aberdeen's history books. Is now a legend. 10 Alfie Dorrington - Didn't know anything about it as Arne Engels' corner kick cracked off his shoulder before sneaking in. Luckless stuff for the defender, who'd started well and had Adam Idah's card marked. 7 Jack Milne - Shock inclusion as Jimmy Thelin moved to three at the back in a bid to outfox Rodgers. Was superb as part of their back three and showed he's got a big future. 8 Mats Knoester - The most experienced of Aberdeen's back three by far so was tasked with talking them through the afternoon and keeping them organised. Led by example throughout as the Dons dug in. 9 Alexander Jensen - Up against Maeda and kept the Japanese striker as quiet as anyone has throughout the first half here. Did deliver some good balls when he got high enough up. 9 Ante Palaversa - Asked to use his physical presence and cover the ground to block off Celtic's midfield from bombing forward - which he did. Slammed a superb spot kick high into the net. 8 Graeme Shinnie - Slotted back into the middle of the park as part of Thelin's tactical tinkering and brought the grit they needed in there. Great penalty in the shootout to win the cup. 9 Nicky Devlin - Brought back into the side as left wing-back in the Dons' new formation and did his job stopping Nicolas Kuhn cutting inside. Did well until running out of gas late on. 7 Leighton Clarkson - Normally Aberdeen's' creative spark but saw far too little of the ball to make an impact with waves of attack coming the other way. Second half free kick easily saved. 6 Topi Keskinen - Tasked with injecting pace into Aberdeen's rare attacks when they sprung forward but was unable to bring enough quality to the table to hurt the Hoops. Hooked for Pape Gueye. 5 Kevin Nisbet - Defended from the front as the Dons sat in for the first part of this game. Had a good chance from Leighton Clarkson's free kick but headed over. Fed on scraps. 6 Subs: Pape Gueye (Keskinen 56) - Sparked the Dons into life with his pace and energy, turned the game. 7 Dante Polvara (Dorrington 79) - Replaced crocked Dorrington at the back. 7 Shayden Morris (Clarkson 79) - Caused Kasper Schmeichel's late OG leveller within seconds of coming on. 7 Oday Dabbagh (Nisbet 79) - Slammed his penalty in the top corner. 7 Jack MacKenzie (Devlin 89) - Will bow out a cup winner. 6 Kristers Tobers (Milne 93) - Replaced Milne in extra-time. 6 'But everyone always wanted the Scottish Cup. It had been so long so to get it against Celtic, who are probably the best team in the country now, probably makes it all the more special.' Advertisement Dons skipper Shinnie turned up for the parade on Sunday still wearing his kit from the previous day. Smith grinned: 'I saw the photos of him! He's not actually a big drinker so he probably had a few beers and that hit him for six! 'He's a family guy, isn't ever out too much and keeps himself to himself. He actually lived in the village of Balmedie, which is where I grew up. He was a five or ten minute walk from my parents' house. 'He's from Aberdeen and he's an outstanding guy and such a humble person. I think Derek McInnes signed him as a left-back when he signed the first time and he gave him the No3 shirt. 'We went over to Croatia and he played in the middle of the park against Rijeka. He was unreal that night and played with so much energy and he ended up playing centre mid a lot that season. Advertisement 'He's so down to earth and one of the boys. He's been such a good servant to the club and regardless of whether people know Shinnie personally or not, I think everybody just wants him to do well and they're happy for him. He really deserves it.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
High street chain with 178 shops puts ANOTHER store up for sale ahead of three more branches shutting
A MAJOR discount store with 178 shops has put one site up for sale ahead of closing three more stores. The landlord of The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) in Nairn, Scotland, has listed the site for sale. 1 The retail unit is already listed for sale on the TSA Property Consultants website, suggesting it is likely to close soon. This follows news that another TOFS location in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, has been listed for rent. Staff at the Peterhead store told The Press and Journal that it is expected to shut in June. These developments come just weeks after TOFS' owner, Modella Capital, launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 of its stores. Despite these efforts, the retailer has confirmed that two more stores, in addition to the Peterhead location, will be closing in the coming weeks. Its site in Market Place, Staveley, Derbyshire is set to close permanently on July 12. The announcement, shared on the store's Facebook "The Original Factory Shop Staveley has served you for 20 years and will be closing its doors for the final time on the July 12." TOFS' store on Charles Street, Milford Haven, has also announced its closure with the launch of a 30% off closing-down sale. A post on Facebook read: "Closing down sale now on in store! Why are shops closing stores? "Up to 30% across all items." Its unclear when this store will pull the shutters down for the final time. A spokesperson for The Original Factory shop told The Press and Journal: "The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) recently confirmed that as part of a restructuring a number of its loss-making stores will have to close. "Closing stores is always a tough decision and we are committed to keeping as many stores open as possible. "This is, however, dependent on successful negotiations with landlords as we strive to build a sustainable and successful business for the future. "We have already announced that two stores will close. "Additionally, a small number of other stores are currently under review, with their continued operation subject to ongoing negotiations with landlords." While many bargain stores such as B&M and Home Bargains have seemed to profit from the cost of living crisis, The Original Factory store has struggled to stay afloat. Duke Street Capital, which had owned the company since 2007, attempted to offload the business in 2023 through Deloitte, but a deal never came to fruition. In February, TOFS was eventually sold to private equity firm Modella Capital, which also owns Hobbycraft and WHSmith 's high street stores. What's happening at TOFS? Modella Capital, the new owner of the Original Factory Shop, drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) at the end of April. Companies often turn to a CVA as a means to stave off insolvency, which could otherwise result in store closures or the collapse of the entire business. A CVA provides struggling firms with an opportunity to explore strategies to safeguard their future, such as negotiating reduced rent rates with landlords. For TOFS, this involves trying to renegotiate rents at 88 of its 178 stores. However, it's important to note that landlords don't have to agree to reduced rents. If an agreement cannot be reached, TOFS may be forced to close stores, which would unfortunately result in job losses. For now, the future remains uncertain. The retailer has also shuttered more than a dozen stores over the past 12 months. History of The Original Factory Shop FOUNDED in 1969 by the Black family in Keighley, the first shop was part of Peter Black's retail network. Initially, it focused on selling surplus soap produced by one of Black's factories, offering local communities great value. Over the years, TOFS evolved from its humble beginnings, expanding its product range to include clothing, homeware, beauty products, toys, and more. It became known for offering a diverse selection of well-known brands at discounted prices. The company grew steadily, reaching 185 stores by 2011 and expanding its headquarters and warehouse in Burnley to accommodate its increasing needs. In 2007, the chain was acquired by private equity firm Duke Street Capital. Since then, TOFS has undergone various transformations, including store closures and openings, as it adapted to the changing retail landscape. In February 2025, Modella Capital, the owner of Hobbycraft, acquired TOFS. Hard times for discount stores Store closures are indicative of the harsh retail climate which has plagued high streets up and down the UK in recent years. Rising costs, coupled with shoppers tightening their purse strings, have placed pressure on businesses and damaged sales. Bargain retailers such as B&M and Home Bargains have performed better than others thanks to their low price point, but this has created rivalry. However, much like TOFS, Poundland is also grappling with challenges to remain competitive in the market. The discount retailer, owned by Pepco, enlisted advisory firm Teneo earlier this month to manage the potential sale of its business. A significant number of stores could be axed as part of the proposed sale, reports say. It comes after Pepco said it was looking at "all strategic options" to separate Poundland from its brand. The Polish group said it might turn its focus to its more profitable businesses in Europe. Pepco previously warned that hikes to employer national insurance contributions (NICs) and national minimum wage would significantly add to its costs. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said during her autumn statement last year that she would raise employers' NICs from 13.8% to 15%. She also announced a reduction to the threshold at which businesses start paying NICs from £9,100 to £5,000. It's estimated that the move will raise £25billion, costing the equivalent of around £800 per employee for businesses. Late last year, it was revealed that profits at Poundland also tumbled by £641million in the year to September, with bosses again blaming slow sales amid a poor outlook thanks to measures set out by Reeves. The firm is not the only business to have warned of these challenges. The move has been blasted by a number of high street stores including Greggs, Sainsbury's, Next and Halford s, which all said it could force them to raise prices and further bruise the industry. Why are retailers closing shops? EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre's decline. The Sun's business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors. In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping. Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed. The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing. Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns. Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead. In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few. What's increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online. They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Scottish 'pipeline pilgrims' cycle 170 miles to highlight carbon capture fears
A group of pensioners have cycled 170 miles along the route of a proposed carbon pipeline to highlight potential safety risks. Trekking from Grangemouth to St Fergus in Aberdeenshire earlier this month, the 'North Sea Knitters' are raising concerns over a controversial carbon capture scheme. The women say there are serious risks associated with the project, which will use a decades-old pipeline to transport the carbon dioxide gas. Bridget Cooper, one of the North Sea Knitters, said: 'I have always been uncomfortable with the plan to make a new gas fired power station somehow tick green boxes by attaching the really dodgy and unproven carbon capture to it. 'But I was shocked when I learnt that part of that plan was pushing CO2 from Grangemouth to Peterhead through an old pipeline.' Carbon dioxide generated at industrial sites across Scotland will be transported via pipeline to the St Fergus energy terminal, several miles north of Peterhead. It will then be stored deep below the North Sea in a bid to reduce emissions. The women cycled through a number of coastal towns. (Image: Friends of the Earth Scotland)Cooper added: 'We wondered if people living along the pipeline knew about this plan and if they knew that leaks from a CO2 pipeline in the US had hospitalised people. 'So we thought, let's travel the pipeline and let people know. Walking was not possible with my old arthritic knees, so biking it had to be. 'I really loved chatting with people and giving them some basic information as we pedalled along.' The group of 'craftivists' left Grangemouth on May 3. Travelling along the route of the pipeline over the next five days, the group passed through Stirling, Perth, Forfar, Stonehaven, Aberdeen and Peterhead, before reaching their final destination in St Fergus. According to the 'pipeline pilgrims', their activism was spurred into motion after reading about the rupture of a carbon dioxide pipeline in Mississippi. In 2020, 40 people were sent to hospital with CO2 poisoning and hundreds were evacuated from their homes after 31,000 barrels of the liquefied natural gas was released into the air. Energy companies are keen to construct a new gas plant in Peterhead. (Image: Friends of the East Scotland) Friends of the Earth Scotland oil and gas activism officer Freya Aitchison praised the efforts of the activists. She said: 'It's great that the Knitters have been getting out there and talking to the people who will be impacted by these plans. 'Communities must be meaningfully consulted about what a carbon pollution pipeline could mean and the risks to which they will be exposed. 'Carbon capture is a greenwashing excuse that the fossil fuel industry uses to fool politicians into supporting more drilling and burning. 'These companies have put us all at risk from climate breakdown and now they want to run a dangerous pipeline through the heart of Scottish communities up the east coast.' The Knitters previously staged a 'knit in' in oil company offices and the Court of Session, interrupted the SSE's AGM, and met with the First Minister. Read more from Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco: Political parties barred from Glasgow Pride in wake of Supreme Court ruling Glasgow Pride criticised over ties to Israel-linked companies Is there a place for religion in the assisted dying debate? Pope Leo welcome to visit Scotland — but should go to COP30 first, says charity Protesting outside the Scottish Parliament last autumn, Knitter Chris Aldred told The North Edinburgh News: "Knitting symbolises the hope that we can pass on, not just our skills, but a thriving future for all that come after us. 'The Scottish Government says that climate is a priority but it must turn these words into concrete action to cut pollution now and into the future. 'This means using its power to firmly reject new fossil fuels, standing up to the oil industry and prioritising the needs of workers through the transition.' Friends of the Earth Scotland have long criticised plans by SSE to build a new gas burning energy plant outside Peterhead. The plant, which would produce 910 MW of electricity, would be built alongside the existing power plant; which was Scotland's largest polluter between 2018 and 2020, as well as 2022, when it emitted 1.35 million tonnes of CO2. A diagram of how carbon capture works. (Image: Derek McArthur) A carbon capture facility on the site is expected to be built by energy giant Equinor. The new plant could open as early as 2027, and would be operational until at least 2059. Last autumn, more than 13,000 people signed a petition opposing the proposed build. Previous attempts at developing carbon capture facilities in the region, in 2007 and 2016, were unsuccessful. On their website, SSE Thermal has praised the project, writing: "The Peterhead site in Aberdeenshire is ideally placed for carbon capture technology, with access to essential CO2 transport and storage infrastructure. "The Acorn CO2 Storage Site, which will be used by the Scottish Cluster to safely store CO2, is located about 100km offshore in rock formations deep below the North Sea."
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Major discount store with 178 shops confirms it will shut ANOTHER site as future of dozens of stores hangs in balance
A MAJOR retailer with 178 stores is shutting another location in weeks as the future of dozens more hangs in the balance. The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) in Peterhead, Scotland, will pull down its shutters for the final time next month. 1 The closure comes just weeks after the retailer's owner, Modella Capital launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 of its stores. The Peterhead store is likely to close in June, according to a store member, The Press and Journal reports. The retail unit has also been listed for rent on property consultancy website TSA Property Consultants. Shoppers and locals finding out the branch is shutting for good have been left gutted. One said on Facebook: "I feel for the staff, they are always very nice." Meanwhile, a third added: "Not long opened." It comes as two other TOFS stores are set to shut - one in Milford Haven, Wales, and another in Staveley, Derbyshire. The Staveley store will welcome in customers for the final time on July 12 while an exact closure date has not been confirmed for the Milford Haven branch. A closing down sale has also been launched at the Milton Haven site with up to 30% off. Britain's retail apocalypse: why your favourite stores KEEP closing down What is happening at TOFS? Modella Capital, a private equity firm which now owns TOFS, drew up plans to renegotiate rents at 88 of the company's stores in April. The proposals come as part of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA). A CVA allows businesses to explore opportunities to survive including negotiating rents with landlords. Businesses usually take out a CVA to avoid having to close stores and prevent themselves from going bust. History of The Original Factory Shop FOUNDED in 1969 by the Black family in Keighley, the first shop was part of Peter Black's retail network. Initially, it focused on selling surplus soap produced by one of Black's factories, offering local communities great value. Over the years, TOFS evolved from its humble beginnings, expanding its product range to include clothing, homeware, beauty products, toys, and more. It became known for offering a diverse selection of well-known brands at discounted prices. The company grew steadily, reaching 185 stores by 2011 and expanding its headquarters and warehouse in Burnley to accommodate its increasing needs. In 2007, the chain was acquired by private equity firm Duke Street Capital. Since then, TOFS has undergone various transformations, including store closures and openings, as it adapted to the changing retail landscape. In February 2025, Modella Capital, the owner of Hobbycraft, acquired TOFS. However, if the CVA is unsuccessful, it could lead to TOFS stores closing and staff losing their roles. Specifically, around 176 head office staff and warehouse employees working for TOFS could reportedly lose their jobs. TOFS has closed more than a dozen stores over the past 12 months. HIGH STREET STRUGGLES UK high streets have been in decline for years due to the onset of online shopping. High inflation in recent years has chipped away at shoppers' wallets and purses too. A recent report from PwC noted a "continued move away from the high street" by retailers in 2024 with shops outside of town and city centres seeing less closures and more openings. It said this was being driven by both leisure outlets and larger retailers shifting from high streets to retail parks which offer shoppers "greater convenience". The Centre for Retail Research said more than 13,000 high street stores shut in 2024, with more to come in 2025. The centre's analysis found that 13,479 stores, the equivalent of 37 each day, shut their doors for good over the calendar year. Of these, around 11,340 independent shops were shut during the year - a 45.5% jump against 2023. The centre estimates around 17,350 stores will shut in 2025 too, linking the rise to hikes in employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) and national minimum wage. Since April, employers have had to pay NICs at a rate of 15%, up from 13.8%, starting from £5,000 instead of £9,100.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- BBC News
Son admits stabbing mother to death in 'frenzied' attack in Peterhead
A 32-year-old man has admitted stabbing his mother to death in a "frenzied" attack in an Aberdeenshire Divers struck Elizabeth Watson, 58, at least 40 times at their home in Peterhead's Catto Drive in June was initially charged with murder but admitted the reduced charge of culpable homicide. The High Court in Glasgow was told that the plea was accepted on the grounds of diminished was deferred pending background reports until next month. Divers - who has learning difficulties - attacked his mother when she told him to leave the Bill McVicar said: "Divers stabbed her repeatedly with a kitchen knife he was carrying in his waistband of his trousers."A neighbour heard cries for help and found Ms Watson lying on the floor where there was a large amount of traced Divers to the bathroom where he was found to be smoking a cigarette. He said that he did not know what had McVicar added: "A pathologist stated there were 40 sharp-force injuries to the head, neck and back." 'Profoundly sorry' Donald Findlay KC, defending, told the court: "We can be satisfied that he grasps what his position is."He is profoundly sorry for what he did and it has caused him a great deal of pain and distress."Sentence was deferred to the High Court in Livingston by judge Andrew Cubie, who continued to detain Divers in a state mental judge said: "This was a frenzied attack in which you repeatedly stabbed her."It is disturbing a son killing his mother, and there is nothing I can say or do that can reflect the enormity of this deed."The consequences of your diminished responsibility mean you are unable to manage your emotions and maintain control - alcohol had a likely impact."He added: "You accept the death of a much-loved partner, daughter, grandmother who contributed to our community through her friends, family and church involvement."
