Latest news with #Stenhousemuir
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Gary Naysmith on his two big Scotland regrets as Tartan Army hero recalls his strike that downed Iceland
Everton and Hearts icon scored his one and only international goal against this Friday's opponents. One of the proudest moments of Gary Naysmith's career arrived for Scotland against Iceland. He might not have known it at the time but the Nordic nation also played a part in one of his major regrets. The former Everton and Hearts ace boasts a perfect four wins from four against the Icelanders and scored his one and only goal for Scotland in a 2-0 Euro qualifying success in Reykjavik in 2002. But his 46th and final appearance arrived back at Hampden in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory against Eidur Gudjohnsen and co seven years later. And as the two nations prepare to lock horns for the first time since that April 2009 evening, Naysmith admits his biggest disappointment from a 20-year playing career was falling just short of 50 caps and entry to the Hampden roll of honour. That and a failure to qualify for a major tournament with his country. It's a different story now with the latest squad having reached the last two European Championships. And given the number of hall of famers at Steve Clarke 's disposal, Naysmith reckons reaching a first World Cup for 28 years is also now a real possibility. The latest quest begins with Friday's friendly clash against Iceland in Glasgow before Clarke finalises his squad for the World Cup qualifiers starting in September. And Naysmith, now manager at Stenhousemuir, said: 'Every game is big for Scotland and these players seem to appreciate that. I loved playing for my country. 'My only Scotland goal was against Iceland - with my right foot as well! I was playing centre midfield which was an unusual position for me but the goal is something I will always cherish. 'I remember the cross coming in, taking a decent touch and then.. listen when I swing with my right foot the first thing I was just trying to concentrate on was making sure I actually hit the ball! 'I caught it well and it was one of those ones you know is going in straight away. The feeling of scoring for Scotland is incredible. 'Playing for your country's a big thing but then actually scoring for your country's something else. It was one of the highlights of my career, no doubt about it. 'I crossed for Christian Dailly's opener as well so it was a good trip all round. 'Four games against them and four wins isn't bad. My wife also booked us a weekend in Iceland for my 40th birthday so there's been quite a significant link with Iceland. 'But the 2-1 win in 2009 turned out to be my last appearance. I was only 30 so my international career ended quite suddenly.' A hamstring injury picked up with Sheffield United two weeks after that game refused to go away and Naysmith missed an entire year. But never would he pull on a Scotland jersey again. He said: 'I was very lucky to get 46 caps - 45 of them starts. I've not got too many regrets in my career. But the two I do have are both with Scotland - not getting to a major tournament and not getting 50 caps and into the Hall of Fame. 'The second one is probably the bigger regret. It would have been a nice thing to show the grandkids to take them and see the Hall of Fame at Hampden. 'I'd have really loved to be able to say I got 50 caps for Scotland. And I should have got that. I missed too many squads through injury.' Now managing Stenhousemuir, Naysmith will be backing Clarke's side as a fan on Friday night. With newly crowned Serie A champions Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour in the ranks beside Coppa Italia winner Lewis Ferguson, Torino's Che Adams and Premier League big guns John McGinn, Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney there's no shortage of top level quality. And it's a gathering of experience Naysmith hopes can help Clarke's troops get over the line when the World Cup qualifiers begin. He said: 'We have a lot of players who are doing really well in the big leagues. Our teams also had that. Players who were playing sporadically in England or at Rangers or Celtic, big clubs. 'But these lads going abroad and doing well helps the national team. Hopefully this can be their year. 'The choices we have in midfield especially is very strong. 'You wonder if we have a definite centre half pairing. And striker is a bit of an issue - we don't seem to have an out and out first pick. 'But midfield is so strong and it's interesting to see how Steve will fit them all in.' Former Hearts man Andy Irving is the newcomer to the engine room. The West Ham star has his chance to impress Clarke. And although Naysmith never worked with the 25-year-old playmaker at Hearts he came up against him plenty as manager of Queen of the South. He said: 'Technically Andy is superb. He was on loan at Falkirk and one thing you know is that his passing ability is exceptional. 'You had to make sure he never got a lot of time on the ball or he would hurt you. There's parts of his game he has obviously worked hard on in various different countries. 'It's an unbelievable story. It shows you, you have to go and play. You get to a certain age and you need games. 'That's why I left Everton at 28. I had an another three-year deal on the table but I knew in my heart of hearts that I probably wasn't going to be starting in the big games. 'I just wanted to play so I moved on. That's what these boys are doing and they will benefit for that.'
Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Airdrie won't take Cove Rangers lightly, warns Diamonds striker
Club top-scorer Ben Wilson has their League One opponents in his sights Airdrie's top marksman Ben Wilson is looking to continue his goal-scoring form at Cove Rangers tonight, but warned his side can't take their League One opponents lightly. Wilson netted his 17th goal of the season in a 2-1 win over Stenhousemuir on Saturday, providing a 5-2 aggregate semi-final score, and head north to the Balmoral Stadium this evening where they will tackle a Rangers side that beat Queen of the South 2-1. The sides will duke it out for a place in next season's Championship, and Wilson wants to make sure Airdrie come out on top. He said: 'It's in our own hands, but they're there on merit as well, so we're not going to take anything lightly. 'We'll focus on them this week. 'I don't know much about Cove personally and I'm sure the boys behind the scenes, the gaffer and his staff, are doing their homework already. 'We'll be well prepared, and I'm looking forward to it.' Wilson netted the second in a 2-1 win, adding to Alex Bannon's earlier header, when Lewis Strapp launched the ball forward, he danced past a defender and smashed a shot into the left corner. And the Northern Irishman said: 'That's just how simple it is sometimes, one long ball, but I like to make those runs, Strappy found me and I was composed when I got in there, and got my shot on target. 'Personally it's nice to be on 17 now, but we just needed to take care of business and we did. 'I had a wee knock on my hip there for a while, but I'm getting back into it now. I started the game on Tuesday and on Saturday, so I'll look to bring that into the next two games.' Injuries have been an issue for Airdrie this season, and while Wilson reckons that's a large reason for them being in the play-offs, the striker says they must take their opportunity. He said: 'In the first half of the season we were stricken by injuries and everybody could see that from the outside. 'But since the turn of the year, I think once we got a bit of a squad back together we've shown what we can do. 'We've come through all those tough times, and we've been given a lifeline now to be in these play-offs, but it's up to us to deliver, and stay in the league. 'We've hit a bit of form now, it's all about momentum for us and we'd look to take our performances from Tuesday and Saturday into the next two games.'
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Airdrie defender sets sights on Cove Rangers after breaking Diamonds duck
Alex Bannon finally got his maiden goal in Saturday's 2-1 play-off win over Stenhousemuir It took Alex Bannon 14 games to grab his first Airdrie goal, and now the defender is looking to add to that against Cove Rangers. Bannon, who in February joined on loan from Burton Albion until the end of this season, has their League One challengers in his sights, as they head to the Balmoral Stadium on Wednesday, and host Paul Hartley's side on Saturday, for a place in next season's Championship. Former Queen's Park kid Bannon, 21, struck in 38 minutes of Saturday's 2-1 semi-final second leg win over Stenhousemuir, which earned a 5-2 aggregate, and is looking for more. He said: 'I wouldn't mind some goals against Cove Rangers – it took 13 or 14 games, whatever it was, to score my first, but I wouldn't mind two in two. 'It was a good time to get my first goal. It was getting frustrating for us, we had a game-plan, but they had set out a little bit more compact than on Tuesday night. 'We knew that was going to happen, because with us being 3-1 up in the tie they didn't want to concede another goal. 'But the goal calmed the nerves, because the boys were getting frustrated with little chances, and I think going into half-time was probably a perfect time to score. 'We went in, reset, came out and got the other goal.' Bannon's goal came from Adam Frizzell's corner on the right that was swung in to the back post and he powered a header past Darren Jamieson. But he reckons Airdrie could have made life easier for themselves. He said: 'The corner was practiced, it was something we worked on with me, Sam Graham and Ben Wilson, and the block makes it a lot easier. 'There was one I should have scored in the second half but I gave away a foul instead, so it feels good to score. 'Nit-picking, there were a couple of things we could have done that would have meant we saw the game out a wee bit better, and that's something we can take forward to the next two games. 'If we are in that position again we need to see the game out a bit more professionally. 'There were a few times when we let them in and gave them a few more chances than we should have – but again, that's me just picking out little things. 'The play-offs aren't a nice place to be, but any chance is a good one to have. 'Stenhousemuir came here with nothing to lose, that's what happens in the play-offs, and stranger things happen. 'I've played in a few that have been end-to-end and it's just teams trying to get a goal at any point in the game, which is quite tough. 'So I'm glad that we got it over the edge.'
Rhyl Journal
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Airdrie see off Stenhousemuir to set up clash with Cove Rangers
Alex Bannon and Ben Wilson struck either side of half-time as Airdrie, who finished ninth in the second tier, beat Stenhousemuir 2-1 at the Albert Bartlett Stadium to complete a 5-2 aggregate success. Stenhousemuir, the lowest-ranked of the play-off sides after coming fourth in League One, replied in the second period through Matt Yates but the task was beyond them as the Diamonds eased through. Rangers, who finished runners-up in League One to the automatically promoted Arbroath, beat Queen of the South 2-1 after the sides had drawn 0-0 in their first leg. Mitch Megginson put the hosts on the way to victory with an eighth-minute penalty at the Balmoral Stadium before Blair Yule doubled the lead two minutes after the break. Kai Kennedy gave the Doonhamers hope 13 minutes from time but Paul Hartley's side held on. Rangers will host the first leg of the final on Wednesday with the return taking place next Saturday.
Leader Live
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Airdrie see off Stenhousemuir to set up clash with Cove Rangers
Alex Bannon and Ben Wilson struck either side of half-time as Airdrie, who finished ninth in the second tier, beat Stenhousemuir 2-1 at the Albert Bartlett Stadium to complete a 5-2 aggregate success. Stenhousemuir, the lowest-ranked of the play-off sides after coming fourth in League One, replied in the second period through Matt Yates but the task was beyond them as the Diamonds eased through. Rangers, who finished runners-up in League One to the automatically promoted Arbroath, beat Queen of the South 2-1 after the sides had drawn 0-0 in their first leg. Mitch Megginson put the hosts on the way to victory with an eighth-minute penalty at the Balmoral Stadium before Blair Yule doubled the lead two minutes after the break. Kai Kennedy gave the Doonhamers hope 13 minutes from time but Paul Hartley's side held on. Rangers will host the first leg of the final on Wednesday with the return taking place next Saturday.
