Latest news with #ScottishProfessionalFootballLeague
Edinburgh Reporter
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
New artifical pitch for Livingston
Livingston aim to have their new artificial playing surface at the Set Far Arena ready in time for the new season which starts in mid-July with the Premier Sports Cup. The new surface is the latest generation of MX Elite, a high-tech woven system offering what the club call 'the very best performance characteristics for professional football'. It is the same used by a number of other teams at all levels in the Scottish Professional Football League. A spokesman said: 'We're hopeful that this will be completed and ready ahead of the Premier Sports Cup group stage matches which start in mid-July.' Livingston have been drawn in Group H alongside Kilmarnock, Kelty Hearts, East Fife and Brora Rangers. Meanwhile, Livingston FC have what they call 'exciting job opportunities' for dedicated candidates to work as part of their boys and girls academies. See their website for details. PICTURE: the current surface at Livingston. Picture Nigel Duncan Like this: Like Related
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Footballer hit in the head by seat thrown from stands by own fans
A footballer was seriously injured after part of a chair was hurled from the stands holding his own side's fans. Aberdeen FC player Jack MacKenzie was taken off the pitch in a wheelchair with a bloodied bandage around his head and needed stitches. Police condemned the "mindless act" of violence which happened at Dundee United's stadium after Aberdeen's 2-1 loss on Saturday. Dundee fans had invaded the pitch at Tannadice after their side's win, which clinched them fourth place in the Scottish Premiership and a place in Europe. Amid the chaos, unused substitute MacKenzie was struck by the object and was given lengthy treatment on the pitch. Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin described the incident as "totally unacceptable" while a spokesperson from the Scottish Professional Football League slammed the "moronic behaviour". A Police Scotland statement read: "Part of a chair was thrown from the upper deck of the Fair Play Stand striking an Aberdeen player. He received treatment at the scene and will require further medical assessment." Police match commander Superintendent Ray Birnie labelled the incident a "mindless act" and appealed to all fans to help find the person responsible. Dundee's lap of honour was called off afterwards. Aberdeen manager Mr Thelin said: "It is not acceptable, it is really, really bad. I haven't seen exactly what happened, but our player got hurt, bad. I think everyone understands that is not OK." Dundee boss Jim Goodwin also condemned the violence. Goodwin - who previously managed Aberdeen - said it was "an absolute disgrace." He added: "For him to be hit and seriously damaged by an object thrown by his own supporters, it's crazy." More from Sky News: A spokesperson for the Scottish Professional Football League said: "It's enormously disappointing and frustrating that one of the most exciting games in the season has been marred by such moronic behaviour. "We await the match delegate report but will work closely with both clubs and Police Scotland to help identify the perpetrator and fully expect that appropriately severe footballing and judicial sanctions will be imposed." A statement from Aberdeen said the club was "dismayed and outraged at the scenes" and called for supporters who witnessed the incident to come forward. "When the perpetrator is identified, we will take the strongest possible action available to us," it read.
STV News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- STV News
SPFL considers plan to cut number of Premiership play-off games
The Scottish Professional Football League is considering plans to cut the number of games required to decide who gets promoted from the Championship to the Premiership. In the current system, the teams that finish second, third, and fourth in the second tier take part in play-off alongside the club that ends the season second bottom of the top flight. The fourth-place team in the Championship plays third in a two-legged tie, then the winners play second, and whoever comes out on top will play the team that finishes 11th in the Premiership. So that means, if they want to get promotion, the teams in third and fourth will need to play six games while the team in second will have four and the top-flight side will play just two, one at home and one away. However, the governing body are now considering ways to cut the number of games needed to be successful in the play-offs. Under new proposals, that would come into force from the 2026/27 season, the games between third and fourth would be a one-legged tie, and the same would apply to the next round, with the team who finishes higher in the league having home advantage. The final round would remain a two-legged tie. That would cut the number of games from six to four for promotion hopefuls who finish third or fourth and four to three for the runners-up. For the proposals to come into fruition, it would need to pass a vote between all member clubs. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
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.'
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Hamilton relegation confirmed after appeal dismissed
The club earlier announced they are set to relocate to Broadwood and make plans to build a new stadium in Hamilton after rejecting a proposal to continue leasing New Douglas Park from the club's former owner. An appeal against sanctions imposed by the Scottish Professional Football League last month was dismissed by an appeal panel convened by the Scottish Football Association. Hamilton fans suffered a double whammy (Jeff Holmes/PA) They received the bulk of the punishment – a 12-point deduction – over a failure to notify the league of wage defaults to six players and 'failure to act with the utmost good faith' in representations to the SPFL board over the lifting of a transfer embargo following previous tax and wage defaults. They were deducted a further three points over the downgrading of their SFA club licence and received a £9,000 immediate fine after being charged with giving incorrect information on stadium ownership and the late provision of their membership criteria submission for next season. Accies chairman Jock Brown declared the club were 'obviously very disappointed' at the outcome and added: 'The board is prevented from making any further comment on the matter by SPFL regulations, but will communicate further with supporters in early course.' Supporters now face a 28-mile round trip to Cumbernauld for home games in League One next season. 🏟 We are pleased to confirm that we will continue to play home matches in Hamilton for the 2025/26 season. — Clyde FC (@ClydeFC) April 30, 2025 Accies announced their impending move 24 hours after Clyde, former tenants at Broadwood, confirmed that they would continue playing at New Douglas Park next season. Former Accies owner Colin McGowan last week issued a public offer to the club for a one-year rent-free use of the stadium as the two parties negotiate a purchase. Reports last week claimed that the club owed £260,000 for using it in the two seasons since Seref Zengin's takeover. However, Brown declared that they cannot accept the deal. Hamilton are set to leave New Douglas Park (Jane Barlow/PA) Brown wrote in a statement: 'In the first instance the balance in respect of the funds accruing between the parties over the past 22 months is substantially in favour of the club, so any postponement of settlement of the appropriate balance is inappropriate. The club is not indebted to the owner. 'Second, the terms of the only new draft lease provided so far are unacceptable. 'Third, the club's experience of being tenants over the past 22 months has been thoroughly unsatisfactory.' Brown claimed funds were available to purchase the company that owns the stadium but accused the seller of failing to provide routine due diligence or 'necessary warranties'. 'In such circumstances any purchase would be irresponsible and has thus been rendered unachievable,' he added. Hamilton are set to play at Broadwood (Jeff Holmes/PA) The statement added: 'Arrangements are now being made to relocate the club from the start of next season to Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, with the long-term aim of building a new stadium in Hamilton. Discussions with South Lanarkshire Council have started in order to identify a suitable location. 'The board is now carefully considering several innovative options around fan engagement and season ticket support relating to the relocation.' Accies previously played outside of Hamilton – at Firhill and Cliftonhill – for seven years after selling former ground Douglas Park to a supermarket. They moved into New Douglas Park, which is adjacent to their old home, in 2001.
