26th of foot

Watching Boruc's latest blunder brings to mind a quote from a Darts commentater some 25 years previously, Sid Waddell remarked that some lightweight's attempt to thwart a top player was, "akin to stopping a Panzer regiment with a fishing rod". Quite appropriate really, Poland lasted less than three weeks in September'39 from Germany's armoured thrust. The Holy Goalie has been abandoned by his God.

Roddy McNulty is NOT interested in anti-sectarianism, he Never will be interested in such a worthwhile cause. Roddy McNulty's only concern is actively hating Rangers.

I loved Nuremberg Hugh's immediate reaction last evening, deliberately spreading the fall out to include Rangers, "where does that leave Rangers, trailing 4 points behind Celtic and out of Europe to Kaunus, a worse side than Aalborg". Old Shuggie is a creature of habit, I remember him doing similar a dozen years past in the wake of the Bears thumping his beloved Sellik, "Rangers supporters are crowing tonight but they should recall they were knocked out of Europe twice before the nights got dark". Oh, he was hurting big time, just like last evening.(he was referring to the start of season that saw us papped out in a CL qualifier, then gubbed by Strasbourg in the UEFA first round). Of course, Nuremberg Hugh was a most willing participant in creating the ambience of inTIMidation that so bennefits ra Sellik. He regularly waxed lyrical on Snyde and in his Scotsman columns about, 'natural justice'. A phrase he no longer uses, I wonder why? 'Natural justice' was his euphanism for his constant perception that Rangers opposition often suffered 'game changing decision' from officials. He interceded Paul Cooney one Saturday afternoon from Ibrox, claiming Rangers third goal, and clincher against Hibs had to seen to be believed. Clearly yards offside, he was urging Hibs officials to make a formal complaint under the auspices of 'natural justice'. Cooney was motivated and we suffered regular updates as Nuremberg Hugh squirrelled with Hibs Directors, he announced triumphantly that a formal complaint was being made. It all turned to dust that evening as Sportscene's pictures clearly showed Hateley running on to a ball 5 yards inside his own half. Of course, it's impossible to be offside in your own half of the pitch. Amazingly, considering the time and effort Snyde devoted to Shug's ravings and rantings on this particular issue, it was NEVER revisited.

We are a certain vintage, forced to plough our way through Hamlet for Higher English. It took 'Will' power to stay the course, incest, a skull called Yoric, revenge, and moral corruption were the component facts in a Danish tragedy. Davy 'Provo' Provan was the co-comentator from amid the graveyard tonight, it's just as well Aalborg did not field a player called, 'Claudius', Provo would have pulled on the balaclava and made ready his AR 15 Armalite. Cast your mind back to the last 8 games of last season, ra Sellik had a game changing decision from match officials at least every other game, a trend that has continued in the first dozen games this season. In a run of the mill Radio Snyde conversation, Darryl King highlighted this fact, Provo immediately jumped on the moral high ground and accused King of letting support for his team get in the way of objective commentary. Well, the man who rejoiced in the nickname, 'Provo' for a decade at Sellik Park, eyed his cake tonight and scoffed it down with unseemly alacrity. Just before his favourites scored, he lamented the ungiven penalty, slaughtered Paulet's inability to succumb to inTIMidation and award ra Bhoys, "a stonewaller". He threw in Paulets failure to punish Maldini in the San Siro, and the perceived legitimate grievence his fellow happy hoopsters hold against the Austrian referee. He could not resist the magnetism between his nickname and death threats, it's a comfortable existance. Provo's demeanor changed after Robson's headed goal, a replay showed an unsighted Ref during McDonald's upending and Davy accepted his Producer's prompting. However, Aalborg equalised and Provo went into meltdown, in twenty seconds he lost it BIG TIME, "a big deflection off McManus", became, "a wicked deflection", but settled on, "a cruel deflection". Sky's Bill Leslie attempted to move it on; well, the game continued, but Provo could not let go, "that's a huge slice of luck, Celtic should be out of sight". The real tragedy is not Caldwell's own goal with a couple of minutes left, it was Provo allowing support for his team get in the way of objective commentary. Provo was an effortless Hamlet tonight, he spanned the spectrum of overwhelming grief to seething rage with aplomb. Give the guy a skull and a mate called, Horatio.

A dozen years past, I enquired of a friend who knew 'Spiersy', "where did he do his tertiary education"? The reply was a moderate surprise, "St Andrews". I was not aware that Scotland's oldest University offered degrees in Mendacity, Sycophancy, Useful Idiocy, Corduroy Fantasy, Homo-erotic Prose .........etc, so I enquired further, "what was his degree"? The reply was more of a surprise, "Divinity". Graham canoot forgive that Rangers supporters chased him from his position at the Herald. Just because Graham spends a lot of his time on his knees, does not mean he is of a Christian sensitivity, although I have heard he is always more than anxious to 'turn the other cheek'.

Ra Port', Greenock, Gourock, ................. Newton Mortgage - it's all somewhere in Renfrewshire.

The Greenock CSC is named, 'the Tom Williams CSC', their banner is at every game and ALWAYS displayed prominently at Ibrox when the Yahoos visit. They boast that they tell both Stydome and Ibrox security the story of their reverance for former founder member of their CSC, 'Tom Williams'. It must be accepted because the banner is ALWAYS on display. Tom Williams was an IRA operative who shot dead an RUC Constable, Patrick Murphy in 1942(the middle of WW2). He was tried, found guilty, and received the death sentence.

A fair number of English sides have Scottish connections, either going back to their founding, or Scots players continually being the spine of the team. Millwall's badge is also the rampant lion, they were founded in part by Scottish dockworkers. In the early-eighties, I worked in west London for a year, I often crosseed the Thames to find the more Scottish football experience. The larger terrace behind the goals at Cold Blow lane contained numerous small groupings of exiled Scots, watching Millwall - Wrexham/Blackpool/West Brom ........etc; but intently listening to BBC Radio Scotland for the progress of Falkirk, Airdrie, Hibs, ........... Rangers. Another south London club, Brentford regularly had a dozen Scots players on their books, in the 20s and 30s, ten out of the eleven would be Scottish. Preston North end were another club that regularly had over a dozen Scots on their books. I have a football annual from the mid-sixties, 'the Topical Times Book of Football' and it refers to PNE as Preston Scottish. Our biggest export has often been our people, well educated and skilled without sufficient opportunity in our own land. We took our culture(s) with us, our obsession with fitba' being one. Travel to Hong Kong, East and West Africa, Canada, ......etc, you will find the Caledonian/St Andrews Society, the Masonic Lodge, and the RSC are all one and the same membership.

Having attended numerous Remembrance services over the years, the most pertinent, most resonating part for me, is the piping lament, 'Flowers of the Forrest'. A simple repeating melody commemorating the shared experience suffered in all Scottish lowland towns in the wake of Flodden Field. A Coronet arrived and read out the 'casualty list', 90% in most cases. The significance of the above really hit home to me 25 years past in the small Cumbrian village of Warcop. After the Remembrance service, I moved forward to the stone War Memorial and noticed the first three names, all shared the same surname but differed in rank. A Brigadier, a Major, and a Subaltern had all perished in two years between 1915-17. Three generations of the same family made the ultimate sacrifice. A repeating refrain. The other dozen and a half names told another story, at least a dozen of those perished in two months in 1916, obviously members of the Pals Battalions of the great fall-in of ealier that year. Imagine the devastation in such a short period to such a small village. A shared experience. I wish Rangers would place a Piper on the pitch on Remembrance weekend, let the memory of those that have ensured our liberty and freedom resonate around the Stadium.

George Peat's intervention is the latest in a long line of those being deliberately targetted, political pressure is being brought to bear. The Police are being increasingly quoted, it will all stem from Assistant Chief Constable Kevin Smith. I wonder the Procurator Fiscal's attitude to securing a conviction, even if they consider there is a case to answer? Frankie is correct, the song is a dirge.

One can only assume that you contracted said STD from the toilet seat, lifting it with your fingers? Given your inoperate state on the keyboard, how does that effect the bean counter? Black street Loyal RSC.

Phil McGavigan is from Baillieston, he took himself and family off to Donegal a decade past, applied for Irish citizenship and lives his fantasy. Phil made the complaint to the Irish Embassy in London, said complaint was forwarded to the Irish Edinburgh Consulate. It was McGavigan who was the adhesive for Spiers during his manipulation of the Villarreal situation. He was the go-between, bring together the disperate parties in UEFA, EU, the Villarreal CSC, ....etc. His website promotes his fantasies, he promotes his Irish heritage by using the Erse spelling of his name, 'Phil Mac Giolla Bhain'. I take it that Phil has no Irish equivalent? He proclaims himself as a, 'Campaigning Journalist' and, 'Literary Dissident'. He cannot help himself, there is a picture of him dressed as Michael Collins, holding a revolver. He is the real deal, a Continuity Thespian. The Botanical Truth Fairy cannot rersist an Irishman(Plastic Paddy variety) in a wax jacket, wielding a weapon. Spiers loves a bit of facial humiliation.

The Bhoy in Corduroy protests too much, "something wasn't quite right about it, just who was stirring the pot"? He knows exactly, he has been slave to the message being continually pounded out by Phil McGavigan(Phil from Donegal on various radio phone-ins). Spiers boss at Radio Snyde, Bitter Martin's take on the 'famine song' debate last week was lifted word for word from McGavigan's website. Spiers has been a willing amplifier over the last decade for Mcgavigan's sound bites, I can only imagione he is now deliberately indulging in mis and dis information ie running interference. Further, Spiers piece totally omits the Spannish Counsul's involvement and statement reference Nacho Novo, again very similar to Phil from Donegal's contribution last week on Real Radio when Cameron asked about Sellik supporters singing pro-IRA songs at Fir Park, "my contribution to this debate is the racial overtones of the famine song". Instead of the very real threat posed by the Spannish Counsul, Spiers gets after an Ulster politician, discredits him because he is NOT on message to Peter Lawwell. Spiers does not comment objectively or accurately, he projects and holds an established position. Reference Barca'72, as someone who was there in attendance; the only riot occurred on field after the conclusion of the match. It was a wholly legitimate working class response to Franco's Fascist Para-Military Police - the Guardia Civil.

It's easy to forget how much a paragon of all virtue that Lennon really is, I mean someone who abandons his pregnant girlfriend, then threatens her by sending in excess of 300 text messages. The texting included, "now it's your turn to feel pain" , "I will hurt you" and, "I will do you". It is always someone elses fault in the world of Neil, the very epitome of vicTIMhood.

The Lurgan Bigot is only ever SUBJECTED to VILE sectarian abuse. Well, apart from when High Court Lip Reader, Jessica Lees caught him on three seperate occasions in one match at Ibrox, sectarianly(surely, that should be VILE sectarianly abusing?) the Rangers bench, the Rangers support, and Rangers players.

I do not believe any reading is required. Frank has bowed to conditioning, you receive a packet of half a dozen crayons with each copy of the book. Happy colouring-in.

Ewan has previous in this regard. A couple of years past, he gave into inTIMidation when details of the Nursery his two daughters attended, were posted on the same Yahoo messageboard that published Novo's address. I suspect the clown who has threatened hom live on air is aware of this previous history.

The reasoning could be quite base, maybe Sellik Chair and sex pest(ask Dawn Primarollo MP) , John Reid MP is a former disatisfied john/client of Frank McGarvey's wife?

Andrew H Smith is a former Editor of ra Sellik View, his nickname at the Blatt was, 'Bombscare'. He left ra View and these last few years has regularly made an arse of himself at Scotland on Sunday, normal behaviour for such a strict adherent of Spierism. He mirrors Spiers absolutely in his weekly Diary, 'Stramash'. Here is an example of recent contribution : "Sources close to Frank McGarvey allege that Frank's brilliant and frank autobiography Toatal Frank isn't being stocked in the Celtic shops because it is too political. In the book Frank reveals his support for the SNP. Is republicanism in all it's forms to be avoided in official circles at Parkhead"? The last I looked, the SNP's committment to constitutional monarchy remained firm, they accept the present monarch as Queen of Scots and see an independant Scotland as part of her realm. One can only assume that Andrew H Smith's interpretation of nationalism is completely tainted with his immersion in pejorative Irish nationalism, republicanism being a willing bedfellow. Singing the songs of hate and taking the loyal oath has never been a problem to the established west of Scotland Labour Party apparatchiks before. I suspect the real reason why McGarvey's tome has been disavowed at ra Sellik shops, is because all those former and present cabinet members, either sitting on the Boards or in the Main Stand(John Reid, Des Browne, Brian Wilson, .......etc) are concerned as to their future standard of life. Obviously afraid of a former player with an obsession for the GGs and Bookies providing a ringing endorsement to Alex salmon? Confused? You won't be, well not nearly as much as Andrew H Smith's confusion over the meanings of both nationalism and republicanism.

I have a book Big Roddy(ra Proddy), penned back in 1990, 'The Only Game', a history of Scottish football. It's a decent attempt, well researched and well written. I fear this book has been Forsyth's career high, the last 18 years being a struggle to find a niche already firmly occupied by the ****** Baptist. BBC Scotland love Roddy, he willingly utters their every fantasy about the Rangers support. His sister, Janice is ying to Roddy's yang, constantly articulating west end dinner party sensitivities to social and economic ills. This is Roddy's mistake too. His latest faux pas, so cruelly and legitimately exposed by Frankie, proves Roddy's research these days extends all the way to the end of his sister's dinner party table. Love the Manchego and Tio Pepe, hate the Huns, absolutely. Roddy, consider yourself an arsewipe.

Spiers and Snyde deserve each other.

I was frantic in my attempts to receive an update on the Yahoos game on Sunday, driving along Eglington Street, the power lines of the railway surfing against AM reception. It appeared Radio Snyde were playing music. BBC Radio Scotland provided the good news that Dundee United had equalised. I tuned back to Snyde as I headed along Clyde Street, the music continued. It hit me, Snyde were NOT broadcasting football coverage and the Yahoos were playing at Tannadice. I believe this is Snyde's fourth continuous season without live coverage of SPL games? In 2004, Snyde refused to pay the going rate to provide live commentary, they relented to the era of the 'Magic Specs' ie watching all the live feeds of all games covered, doing lots of commentary from the banks of tellies, and keeping Lawyers on stand by to ensure they were not encroaching too far into the terrority of those broadcasters who had paid the going rate. Hence, all those pre-fixes of, 'we believe', 'we are told', 'we are informed',..........etc. Snyde masnaged to keep their level of coverage going because the Phoenix Group's owner, John McGuire sponsored every football related programme. Snyde promised the live commentary would return, it hasn't, and Real Radio has made significant inroads into Snyde's broadcast footprint. John McGuire has pulled the plug, Volkswagon Verve have taken over a much reduced deal. Simply, it appears that Snyde are caught in the laws of diminishing returns. Thus, no coverage of the Sunday, or Monday SPL game, and SuperscoreboardXtra has been reduced by 30 minutes each midweek night. I wonder if Snyde will provide live commentary on their favourite's Champions League adventures this season? Again, it was John McGuire's Phoenix Group that provided the means to allow Snyde to provide Euro coverage these last four years. It was five years past that Snyde's Chief Executive, Paul Cooney joined his fellow Yahoos, Wullie Hee-Haw, Stephen Purcell, Charlie Gordon, .......etc on the Board of Scottish Enterprise(Glasgow). He promoted protege, Bitter Martin to Sports Editor, with the promise that the CE post would be his several years into the future. I wonder if Cooney and Snyde founder and former Managing Director, Sir Jimmy Gordon are accepting of Snyde's continued downsizing? Snyde's owners must be asking questions too? Sailing the good ship Snyde into calmer waters would be a lot easier if they cut the securing ropes that have been tied to ra Sellik's PR machine these last 35 years. Jimmy Sanderson and Bob Crampsey, the real pioneers of Snyde's football coverage, must be turning in their graves.

In the spirit of May'99, you can leap from the top tier to the bottom. I believe an acceptable raison d'etre is, 'ah wiz gaun fur a pie an'at kno'.

Here is a sypnopsis : 'I own 91.8% of the equity, so none of this mess is my fault. Martin agrees with me on this point. Keep giving me, eh sorry, Rangers your dosh'. Brought to you by Belvision and Tele-Hachet from a vineyard en Provence.

The last accounts showed Bain's salary to be �£550,000(including bonuses).