Latest news with #Shotts
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Thug who killed brother of Dubai-based gangland figure battered in jail assault
Killer Corey Craig, 29, was attacked while doing time over the death of Billy McGuire JAIL JOB Thug who killed brother of Dubai-based gangland figure battered in jail assault Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A THUG who killed the brother of a Dubai-based gangland figure was battered in jail. Corey Craig, 29, was attacked while doing time over the death of Billy McGuire, 25 - the bro of Robert 'Boab' McGuire, 37, who had previously vowed revenge over the death. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Billy McGuire - brother of Robert 'Boab' McGuire - was murdered in Clydebank in 2020. Credit: PA 4 Robert 'Boab' McGuire has vowed revenge on those involved in Billy's death. 4 Ross 'Miami' McGill is said to be a a Dubai-based associate of Boab McGuire's. The details of the Shotts nick assault emerged at Hamilton Sheriff Court yesterday where Liam Mathewson, 24, admitted leaving victim Craig bruised and bloodied. The court heard how violence erupted in July last year inside the maximum security prison where some of Scotland's most dangerous cons are banged-up. Mathewson was seen entering Craig's cell seconds before the brutal ambush. The victim was thumped twice on his head and body, suffering cuts to his face and ear. After the bust-up Mathewson was shipped out to HMP Edinburgh and thrown in isolation. Yesterday Mathewson, now being held in HMP Kilmarnock, admitted assault. Sheriff Louise Gallacher handed him a 14-month term to run alongside his current sentence for attempted murder. Depute fiscal Rebecca Clark told the court: 'He sustained a number of lacerations which were treated with steri-strips and didn't require to go to hospital.' Eddie Robertson, defending, said of Mathewson: 'In blunt terms this was a case where quite evidently there was no love lost between the two individuals and was a case of striking before one was struck themselves.' Sheriff Gallacher added: 'Given your significant record for violence and your current status there is no appropriate way of dealing with you other than a custodial sentence.' Supercar dealer's drill vid lyrics hail murdered bruv amid 'Dubai ties' claims to turf war hood Craig was jailed for the culpable homicide of Billy McGuire in Clydebank in 2020 while co-accused Brian Folan, 27, got life for murder. Since then Billy's brother Robert, of Drumchapel, has vowed revenge on his killers. The Scots supercar dealer has paid for a series of rap videos made in his brother's honour. 4 Graffiti artwork of Billy McGuire and the Drum Boys logo features in one video. We revealed McGuire is an associate of former Union Bear chief turned gangster McGill, 31, of East Kilbride, who is waging a gang war against rivals in Scotland.
Daily Record
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Shotts' pre-season derby win lets boss run the rule over trialists
John McKeown was able to assess potential new talent as his side beat Newmains 2-0 Shotts boss John McKeown enjoyed a winning start to pre-season as he cast his eye over some trialists in Saturday's 2-0 win over Newmains United. The Bonny kicked off their warm-up matches for another West of Scotland Premier Division campaign with a solid victory, courtesy of goals from new signing Kieran McGuire and skipper Ally Martin. McKeown had three trailists in action during the clash at Dalziel Park and revealed he is also set to bring in a player on loan, who will be announced in the coming days. He said: 'It was good for the boys to blow the cobwebs off, work on formations and get minutes into legs. 'Both teams were missing quite a few personnel just with holidays, but it was good. 'The performance was okay. Some players did well and others you could see that they need to get up to speed, but that is what it is all about right now. 'I have been a manager long enough to know not to get too carried away about things in pre-season either way so it served its purpose to get the boys going again. 'But we had three trialists and I am hoping to sign one of them in the next week. 'We've also got a loan deal confirmed but that won't start until July 6 and it is one we are quite excited to announce. 'The trialists who came in have trained hard and they'll just need to impress over the next wee period.' Shotts now face a trip East of Scotland Second Division outfit Fauldhouse United this Saturday, kick-off 2pm, and McKeown will have two key men back for that one. He added: 'We now play Fauldhouse on Saturday and that will be a big test for us. 'We will have Marc McKenzie and Ally Small back but there's just a lot of comings and goings at this time of year. 'With the turnover of players we had this season - losing so many and bringing in eight players - it is just really important to get everybody communicating and get good habits forming. 'These games are vital and more so than previous seasons with the amount of new players.'
Daily Record
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Shotts boss thrilled to keep duo at club for another Premier Division campaign
Liam Craig and Ally Martin extended their deals ahead of the club's first pre-season friendly this weekend Shotts boss John McKeown is delighted to keep skipper Ally Martin and forward Liam Craig at the club after the duo extended their stay at Hannah Park. Striker Craig - the man who kept them in the top flight this season with a double on the last day of the season - and midfielder Martin have committed for the 2025/26 campaign and it is a big boost to McKeown after a host of exits this summer. He said: 'Both Liam and Ally are good, experienced players. We lost a lot of players this summer and we didn't expect to lose as many as we did, so it is good to keep a bit of stability there. 'Ally Martin has been with the club for nine years and he's the club captain. He's 39 but he is still one of the fittest players in the squad. He leads by example and it is great to keep him on board. 'That kind of loyalty is unheard of these days so fair play to him. He has a lot to juggle with his family life and his day job as a police officer. It takes a bit of dedication. 'Liam Craig came in towards the end of last season so he arrived at a difficult time. 'It was hard for him to break into the side but he managed to come in for the last few games and scored the double that kept us in the league on the last day of the season against Gartcairn. McKeown also hopes to add to his squad in the coming weeks. He added: 'We've got one or two in the pipeline, but nothing sorted yet. We are also hoping to get a player on loan from a senior club so we'll see what happens with that.' Meanwhile, the club will kick-off their pre-season friendly schedule tomorrow with a closed doors clash against Newmains. Following that, Shotts face Fauldhouse away on Saturday July 5, Caledonian Braves away on Tuesday, July 8, Cumbernauld Colts away on Saturday, July 12, Thorniewood away on Wednesday, July 16, Blantyre Vics at home on Saturday, July 19 and they finish up with a home clash against new West of Scotland League Fourth Division outfit East Kilbride YM on Tuesday, July 22. McKeown, whose side will begin their West fo Scotland Premier Division campaign on Saturday, July 26, said: 'We've got a few games lined up and we play our first game against Newmains on Saturday. 'There is work getting done to both clubs' pitches so we've got Dalziel Park booked for that so we are looking forward to it. 'Everything is starting to take shape.'
Daily Record
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Shotts boss says 'having a go' worked well as they avoided Premier League drop
John McKeown's side were on a good run of form at the end of the season Shotts boss John McKeown reckons having a go in games worked well for them, and hopes his side continue that form into next season's West of Scotland Premier League. The Hannah Park side ended with 11 points from a possible 18 in their last six games, as they comfortably evaded the bottom three – though Clydebank winning their Lowland League play-off saved four teams from going down. Now that the dust has settled on their first season in the top flight, McKeown reckons they could have done things differently. 'We know what to expect, but you have to find your feet,' said McKeown. 'As a coaching and management team, I think we were a wee bit negative in the first half of the season. 'In the second half, we had a wee bit more of a go, and ended up doing quite well. In our last six games we won three, drew two and lost one, and that's good going in this league. 'Fair play to the boys, they deserve all the credit they're going to get, and hopefully they continue that form into next season.' Shotts watched Clydebank's play-off in sponsor's pub The Two Chimneys in Uddingston, and the Bankies' promotion to the Lowland League means McKeown can plan ahead. He said: 'I had two lists, and now I can concentrate on the Premier League one, rather than the Championship. 'That gives us a better chance to plan, going forward. 'This is our second season in the Premier League and I think that's for the first time in 30 years, or something like that. 'By hook or by crook, we've stayed there, so fair play to the boys. 'We have a team spirit that I don't think many clubs have, and I think that's what has kept us up.' Having lost Airdrie neighbours Gartcairn to relegation last season, due to a 15-point deduction, one particular fixture stands out to McKeown, who said: 'Glencairn are my local team, I was born in Rutherglen, so that's another wee derby.' Last week the club announced that a number of players have signed up again for the new season Taylor Evans, Josh Gracie and Paul Byrne have joined Ally Small, Rico De Marco and Jack Gordon in committing to the 2025/26 campaign. A number of players have also departed. Leaving the club are Andrew Duffy, Chris Meikle, Danny Burns and goalkeeper Sandy Thomson. Meanwhile, after getting a bye in the first round, Shotts were drawn against Irvine Victoria in round two of the WoSFL Cup. The date is to be arranged.
Daily Record
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Shotts boss' relief as Clydebank win means top-flight safety
Shotts were one of four teams that faced the drop, had Bankies not reached the Lowland League Shotts boss John McKeown admitted relief after their West of Scotland Premier League status was secured on Sunday, as Clydebank reached the Lowland League. The Bankies' 2-0 win over Musselburgh Athletic, 3-1 on aggregate, meant that only three teams dropped down from each of the top three leagues, rather than four, had they fallen short. Shotts ended the season in 13th place, five points above Benburb, who were one of three teams dropping into the First Division. As it is, Shotts now face a derby against McKeown's local team, Rutherglen Glencairn, in their second season in the top flight. A delighted McKeown said: 'We hired Bankies TV and we're absolutely over the moon. 'We need to build on this. We're a wee bit fortunate to stay in the league due to Gartcairn's circumstances [15-point deduction] , so we're not naive enough to ignore that. 'I felt we started the league really poorly but went from strength to strength, and had we had five more games we'd have been more than safe. 'But we need to make sure that we're good to go at the end of July.' McKeown added: 'We should be nowhere near the Premier League, in terms of resources and budget, so these boys deserve all the credit. 'We have a team spirit that I don't think many clubs have, and it has kept us up.'
