Latest news with #Thistle
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
East Kilbride YM ace Barry Russell relishing EK Thistle rivalry in West of Scotland League
The defender will face his former side as EKYM embark on their WOSFL journey Barry Russell admits he questioned whether he should play on for another season at East Kilbride YM, but admits he is delighted he did as he gets to face former side East Kilbride Thistle in the West of Scotland League this season. YM were an amateur side until this summer when they were voted into the Fourth Division in the WOSFL, following Lowland League Broomhill folding and opening up a space at the bottom of the Scottish football pyramid. Now defender Russell - who helped YM win the Caledonian Premier League last term - has penned a one-year deal to stay at YM as they embark on their inaugural season in a setup that has the potential to take them into senior football. Russell has completed a local hat-trick by playing for YM, Thistle and, of course, East Kilbride FC where he was captain and famously skippered the side against Celtic in the 2016 Scottish Cup tie. Now 36, Russell says he had contemplated hanging up his boots but is now relishing a new challenge with YM and the chance to tackle Thistle, where he played at both ends of his career, starting out there in 2011, coming in on loan from EKFC in 2018 and joining the Jags again in 2022. He said: 'When it came to signing the contract I was thinking: Am I stupid to go another season!? 'I was 50/50 to keep playing because I keep getting niggling injuries. But I got a good run at things towards the end of last season and managed to get the YM Players' Player of the Year. 'I sat down and spoke to the manager [Graeme Robertson] and he wanted me to stay on, so I was happy to do that. 'If I manage to stay fit, I should be fine. I have played in this league before and I know what to expect and if I get through this season I'll be happy. 'With EK Thistle in the league I think it will be a good one. I had two spells at Thistle and played under Colin Mitchell, Jimmy Kerr, Alan Paterson and Aaron Connolly, so there's a good bit of history there. 'I've had a good few folk from Thistle wishing me luck, just not against them! 'You always look for your derbies and I'm really looking forward to that game. Hopefully a derby will get people down to watch it.' YM have actually raided the Jags this summer for their former captain Adam Edgar and Ryan Anderson, amid a new manager coming in at the Showpark. Stephen Kane has taken the reins there and a complete overhaul of the squad has taken place ahead of the sides facing each other on August 2 at Kirktonholme. Russell added: 'Thistle have got a brand new team this season so I think they will be pretty decent. 'We've got a good team as well with some of the players we've signed so I'm looking forward to it. It should be a tough league as well. 'It is good for the town to have another team into the West of Scotland League. 'We've taken a couple of their players in Adam Edgar and Ryan Anderson, so they are good players that will strengthen our side and provide good competition. 'Last season we had a team where the same guys would play but you need to be on your toes now. It is a bit different from the amateur game. 'At this level, when you are in there you need to fight to hold on to your position. 'We've got good young players who will be looking to keep the older ones on their toes.' YM will be a bit of an unknown quantity to many in the Fourth Division and Russell hopes that can work to their advantage. He said: 'I thought we were outstanding last season. A lot of sides will look at us and just think we are an amateur team but the players we have got have played at a higher level. 'Personally, I think we should be up in the top half of the table. 'But you don't want to sit in a league and just be comfortable. If anything, I think we'll go for it and see what happens at the end of the season. 'Our aim will be to go and put down a marker. 'Wishaw will be right up there as one of the favourites though. They have a good team and, having just been relegated, they will want to go straight back up.'
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Drug-check facility roll-out needed to tackle rise of opioid overdoses, say campaigners
Rising numbers of drug deaths and overdoses are being linked to lab-made synthetic opioids like fentanyl - up to 50 times stronger than heroin. Facilities to test whether street drugs are laced with deadly synthetic opioids should be available in every community in Scotland, campaigners have urged. It comes as rising numbers of drug deaths and overdoses are being linked to lab-made drugs like fentanyl - up to 50 times stronger than heroin. The opioids are so strong they can cause drug users to overdose instantly. Drug-checking services (DCS) at sites in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee have been proposed since last summer as part of a pilot scheme. However, the plans - which would allow drug users to test what's in their drugs - have been in limbo for more than a year as the Home Office is yet to approve them. A bid was also submitted for Edinburgh this year. Kirsten Horsburgh, CEO of the Scottish Drugs Forum, said: "The fact it has taken so long is, frankly, outrageous. "We say we have a public health emergency, a crisis around drug deaths, yet we can't even provide these services to people. "It's very frustrating and ultimately, delays in these sorts of things cost lives. "We need to stop tinkering around the edges. If we are serious about making significant change, we need to make significant investment and have fewer of these small-scale pilots and more full-scale rollouts for things that we know work and make sense." Horsburgh said Scotland should learn from countries like New Zealand, where a massive and mobile roll-out of DCS everywhere from street corners to festivals has helped reduce harm from drugs and encouraged users to be safer. Glasgow is home to the UK's first legal safe drug consumption facility, the Thistle, which opened in January in a bid to save lives. Scotland is the worst nation in Europe for drug deaths. There were 308 such deaths from January to March, up by 33 per cent on the last three months of 2024. Data had showed a decrease in the number of suspected deaths over the year. There were 1053 suspected drug deaths in the 12 months to March 2025, meaning 166 (14 per cent) fewer such deaths than in the 12 months to March 2024, when the total was 1219. It's understood the recent rise follows reports of dealers flooding the streets with new breeds of heroin laced with fentanyl and other lethal 'nitazenes', also known as synthetic opioids – with the potential to compound Scotland's drug deaths epidemic. The presence of nitazenes in street narcotics is known to drastically raise the risk of fatal overdose - and in some cases, can cause instantaneous collapse. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole Hamilton said: 'When 100 people a month are dying in Scotland's drug deaths emergency, missed targets and patchwork care isn't good enough. 'If ministers are serious about delivering, they need to properly support services and staff, roll out a network of safe consumption rooms and introduce new drug-checking facilities. "Drug checking services allow people to make informed decisions about what they are taking and reduce the risk of accidentally overdosing. 'That's especially important when we are seeing a rise in dangerous synthetic opioids, which can be 50 times as strong as heroin and are often disguised as other drugs." Hosburgh said: "Normally there would be a slower onset of an overdose. "But what people have been reporting more frequently in a number of areas across the country is people using the drug and overdosing immediately, which is quite unusual. "That would indicate a more powerful, potent substance within what people are using and quite often that is determined to be a nitazene." Andy Paterson, of the student-led Help Not Harm campaign which wants to see DCS available for every community in Scotland, said: 'These things come down to political will. If we wanted to set these services up, it would be quite doable.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Drugs Policy Minister Maree Todd said: 'We are determined to continue our efforts to reduce drug-related harm and save lives. Through our National Mission on drugs we are taking a range of action, including the provision of new drug checking facilities. 'We continue to work at pace with partners to deliver these facilities across all our pilot cities as soon as possible.' The Home Office, which is understood to have inspected the proposed pilot sites in Dundee and Aberdeen last year, was approached for comment.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Partick Thistle vs Rangers friendly talks ended by police decision
The Maryhill club had been interested in playing Russell Martin's side in a bounce game on Saturday, July 19. Thistle explored the possibility due to having a free weekend from Premier Sports Cup duty. Wee update for Thistle fans 🇧🇪 Thistle had explored the possibility of playing Rangers in a friendly this afternoon (not behind closed doors) cos they're not playing in the League Cup this weekend. The cops kiboshed it cos Celtic are playing a friendly against Newcastle today. — James Cairney (@jamescairney_) July 19, 2025 It's understood the idea had been floated for a friendly tie - which would have been open to the public. However, the discussions, which were at an early stage, were ended after Police Scotland rejected the suggestion due to a [[Celtic]] match in Glasgow on the same day. Celtic play Newcastle in a pre-season fixture this afternoon with police reluctant to have that and the addition of a match between Partick Thistle and Rangers in the city at the same time. Around 10,000 Newcastle supporters made the journey to Scotland for the friendly fixture at Parkhead. Read more: Instead, reports have suggested Rangers faced Hamilton Academical in a friendly this afternoon - that match was behind closed doors. Thistle are back in action on Tuesday night against Queen of the South in cup competition. Mark Wilson's side have won both of their matches so far in the group stage, beating Edinburgh City 4-1 and then claiming a 2-0 triumph over Stranraer.
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Padel marathon to aid Right to Play charity
Thistle padel members will, on Saturday 2 August, be taking on a 25-hour marathon to raise vital funds for the Right to Play UK charity. Padethon is Scotland's biggest grassroots padel charity event bringing together players, volunteers, and supporters from across the country to play for a purpose. Right To Play is an organisation that uses the power of sport and play to protect, educate and empower children in some of the world's most challenging communities. For the first time this year as well as taking place at Hatton Sports Club players can also take part in The Padethon at Thistle, Paties Road. Players can sign up on their own or with a group to play together. As well as padel there will be many other activities including tennis tournaments, a raffle, exhibition matches and more. Entry is via a donation to Right to Play UK on Just Giving with 100 per cent of all proceeds donated to the nominated charity each year. Game4Padel members will receive priority on padel slots at Thistle. Like this: Like Related
STV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- STV News
Thistle say alcohol trial 'went well' as Ayr United withdraw application
Partick Thistle say a trial to sell alcohol at Firhill 'went well' and was an enjoyable experience for all of the fans who took part. The Maryhill side were in League Cup action with a 2-0 win over Stranraer in the group stages on Tuesday night. They were one of the clubs taking part in an initiative to sell alcoholic drinks outwith hospitality areas in football stadiums for the first time in over 40 years. A blanket ban was introduced in 1981 following crowd trouble after a Scottish Cup final and has been in force ever since. Seven Scottish clubs have now been granted permission to sell beer to those with general match tickets as part of an initiative bidding to show that relaxing the long-enforced ban can 'enhance the fan experience'. Thistle say they are now looking forward to the second part of the trial when they host Queen of the South next Tuesday. A spokesperson for the club said: 'It was great for the club to be involved in the trial. Operationally everything went well and the fans who attended all enjoyed themselves. 'There were no issues with behaviour and we believe that it added to the experience of what was a good night when you consider the result as well. 'We look forward to the second part of the trial when Queen of the South visit The Wyre Stadium at Firhill next Tuesday.' Meanwhile, Championship club Ayr United have withdrawn their application to be part of the trial. They were due to provide alcohol to a small section of match-going supporters at their upcoming games against Arbroath and Forfar, but they have now revealed that they will no longer be participating in the initiative. A statement released on Wednesday said: 'We can advise supporters that it has withdrawn applications for temporary alcohol licenses for the matches against Arbroath and Forfar following further discussions with local stakeholders. Ayr United can advise supporters that it has withdrawn applications for temporary alcohol licenses for the matches against Arbroath and Forfar following further discussions with local stakeholders. The club would like to thank the South Ayrshire licensing board, LSO and Building… — Ayr United (@AyrUnitedFC) July 16, 2025 'The club would like to thank the South Ayrshire licensing board, LSO and Building Standards for their support throughout the process and can confirm it will seek to apply for future licences as part of the ongoing pilot process. 'Supporters who have bought tickets for the events will be contacted directly regarding next steps.' 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
