Div3 views Weâ??re the original Old Firm, Queenâ??s Park and Rangers

[Steve1872 4]

Rangers players better prepare for culture shock at some third division grounds, warns Queen's Park stalwart Richie Sinclair

 

Jul 18 2012 By David McCarthy

 

 

Elgin City ground Borough Briggs

 

SOME of Ally McCoistâ??s youngsters will walk into the dressing rooms of the Third Division over the next few weeks and get the shock of their lives.

 

No longer cocooned in the confines of Murray Park, many of McCoistâ??s kids will have their eyes opened to the raw realities of football when they roll up at the likes of Peterhead, Berwick and Montrose.

 

But Richie Sinclair believes it might just be the making of them.

 

You canâ??t even call Sinclair a journeyman pro because he plays for Queenâ??s Park and doesnâ??t get a penny for his efforts.

 

The 30-year-old makes his living as a plumbing and heating engineer and is currently going through the rigours of pre-season for the 14th year in a row.

 

A Rangers fan, the Queenâ??s Park midfielder admits his feelings of dismay at the turmoil his boyhood heroes are enduring sits uneasily with the delight he feels about the prospect of playing against McCoistâ??s men in the coming campaign.

 

And he believes Rangersâ?? ability to get out of the bottom tier of Scottish football will be determined by how quickly players adapt to their new, primative surroundings.

 

He said: â??Itâ??ll be a real culture shock. Going from the dressing-rooms of Celtic Park and even Dundee United into the Third Division will take a bit of adjusting.

 

â??In some of the changing rooms down here, once the squad is named the subs have to leave to allow the first-team some space to prepare for the game. It can get pretty crammed. The subs are then let back in as the starters are going out the door into the tunnel.

 

â??Itâ??s a tough one for Rangers. Iâ??m led to believe the boys might get massages and stuff like that before games.

 

â??Theyâ??re not going to be able to get that at most of the places because the dressing rooms arenâ??t big enough to fit a table.

 

â??Clubs like Queenâ??s Park and Clyde have good facilities and Elgin have upgraded their changing rooms but itâ??ll be a shock.â?

 

Sinclair refuses to name names because he believes every club in his league does its best to make ends meet, which can often mean the comfort of players coming way down their list of priorities.

 

â??But that will be cold comfort to some Rangers players who will be scrapping for spaces under the odd shower here and there at some of the grounds theyâ??ll visit.

 

He added: â??There are a couple of clubs whose showering facilities are atrocious.

 

â??One club still has the old communal bath. It isnâ??t used for health and safety reasons but itâ??s still there and theyâ??ve stuck five or six showers around it.

 

â??Iâ??ve had a few instances where there hasnâ??t been any hot water but that hasnâ??t happened for a long time. Iâ??m pretty sure the Rangers boys will at least have hot water but thatâ??s not to say it wonâ??t have run out by the time the 16th player has used the showers.

 

â??Theyâ??re coming back to the roots of Scottish football. Thatâ??s the only way I can describe it.â?

 

Sinclair reckons some of the more experienced player who have stayed with Rangers will cope without any worries but believes some of the younger ones might need time to adapt.

 

He said: â??I take my hat off to the likes of McCulloch who is sticking with Rangers through thick and thin.

 

â??Guys like him have come up through the ranks, playing youth football and then been with smaller clubs than Rangers. He knows that not everything is laid on a plate for every player.

 

â??Some of the young guys at Ibrox who will now get their chance have not been wrapped in cotton wool but they have enjoyed the best of training and playing facilities as theyâ??ve come through the Rangers youth system.

 

â??They will no longer be playing on luscious green grass. Come November some of the pitches are like bogs. Games are cancelled and have to played at places like Elgin or Berwick on a Tuesday night.

 

â??Itâ??s hard but itâ??s harder for the rest of the teams whose players are part-time and are having to come from their day-time jobs. But at least we are used to it.

â??Itâ??s not going to be all roses for Rangers to come and play in the Third Division.

 

â??The bookies will make them massive favourites to win our league but it will be harder than many people reckon. The assumption will be they will walk through the divisions and be back in the top league in no time, as Gretna did. Iâ??m not saying they wonâ??t do that but theyâ??ll find it hard.â?

 

Sinclair admits he canâ??t wait to face McCoistâ??s men â?? especially when Rangers go to Hampden on December 29.

 

He said: â??Weâ??re the original Old Firm, Queenâ??s Park and Rangers. And now the two Glasgow teams meet again. It has been a while since we met.

 

â??Itâ??s great for me as I look at the tail end of my career. For the youngsters coming through at Queenâ??s, to pitch themselves against players who have played at the very top level will be a great test.

 

â??Even just going to Ibrox and seeing what a fantastic stadium it is, looking at their facilities, can give our boys a sense of where your talent can take you.

 

â??Itâ??s not about financial benefit, itâ??s about seeing how far you can go in your career. Iâ??ve had a look at the calendar and we play them at Hampden on December 29 â?? it will be Glasgowâ??s New Year Derby.

 

â??I am a Queenâ??s man but as a Rangers fan Iâ??m saddened that it has come to this.

 

â??But getting the chance to play against the team I grew up supporting is a dream. Iâ??m not going to lie to you.

 

â??Itâ??s exciting for me but from a fanâ??s point of view, itâ??s terrible that this has happened to Rangers.

 

â??But more than that, we keep reading other clubs will go into administration and you really do wonder what the future holds for the game.

 

â??We need some sort of stability and if that means Rangers going down to the Third Division to put Scottish football on some kind of even ground then maybe the game can start moving forward again.â?

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/sfl/2012/07/18/rangers-players-better-prepare-for-culture-shock-at-some-third-division-grounds-warns-queen-s-park-stalwart-richie-sinclair-86908-23909670/

[Steve1872 4]

Eglin chief Graham Tatters insists newco Rangers in Division Three will be box office gold for broadcasters

 

Jul 19 2012 By Michael Gannon

 

THE revolution will not be televised. Except for viewers in Scotland.

 

The collapse of Rangers has turned Scottish football on its head and while the SPL cling on to their

broadcast deal like a life-support machine, suddenly the SFL is alive with opportunity.

 

There will be 4400 fans crammed into Peterhead’s Balmoor Stadium on August 11 as Rangers kick off in the Third Division.

 

The SFL aren’t daft. They know there will be thousands more in Scotland and further afield desperate to watch. This is a revolution everyone will want to see.

 

Forget build it and they will come, stick it on the telly and people will tune in.

 

If Rangers were big box office in the SPL, they certainly will be in the bottom tier.

 

There is always a scramble by broadcasters to find a potential cup giant killing – Rangers in the Third Division will provide that opportunity every week.

 

Elgin chairman Graham Tatters said: “There is a lot of talk at the moment and everyone I have spoken to thinks some one will pick up the rights.

 

“We are talking about something that has never happened before – Rangers in the Third Division.

 

“I have no doubt their supporters will travel all across the country to watch their team.

 

“It will be a bit of an adventure. But the rest of the country will want to see what happens as well. I’m not saying there should be a live game every week.

 

“But who’s to say there should not be the odd live match and a decent highlights package? There would be plenty of interest.”

 

Elgin are already planning to build a new TV gantry at Borough Briggs but not because they are jumping the gun.

 

Tatters said: “It is something we have wanted for a while. Our cameraman Stuart Crowther does a great job in filming all of our games.

 

“He is getting a bit arthritic, so we’ll put a heater in there for him! We’ll put some press seats in there too, as I expect there will be more than usual here.”

 

Tatters reckons having Rangers move through the leagues could revolutionise the game in Scotland.

 

He said: “When Sky show cup ties at lower league grounds, you are talking about getting £80,000.That is serious money to clubs like ourselves who are hand to mouth.

 

“If we got something like that we could employ youth players, get them on skill-seekers programmes and really build the club from the bottom up.

 

“At the moment the bigger clubs get the lion’s share which helps them get bigger. Maybe now there will be more of a spread.

 

“If the plan to put Rangers in the First Division came off, the SPL were going to buy the rights to all Rangers games for £1million.

 

“That deal is now off the table and any deal will be for all 30 SFL clubs – but the majority should go to the Third Division because we are the ones with the added expense.”

 

Logistics aside, the Third Division are set to welcome Rangers with open arms.

 

Tatters said: “I can’t see any negatives for us - apart from the fact we will probably be playing for a play-off place.

 

“I would expect Rangers to be too strong. They still have players like Lee McCulloch, Lee Wallace and Kirk Broadfoot on their books and they have an outstanding Under-19 team.”

[Steve1872 4]

Berwick director Jimmy Crease: We have a better playing surface than some SPL teams

 

Jul 19 2012

 

Berwick RANGERS director Jimmy Crease last night blasted remarks about the state of Third Division grounds and insisted his club’s pitch is better than Hampden Park.

 

Crease hit the roof when Queen’s Park stopper Richie Sinclair tore into third tier stadiums in Tuesday’s Record Sport.

 

The Spiders star claimed going to Berwick would be a “culture shock” for Ibrox giants Rangers.

 

But Crease said: “We have one of the best playing surfaces in the country, that includes all SPL teams.

 

“Newcastle, Rangers, Middlesbrough and other big sides have all played here because the playing surface is so good.

 

“It’s even better than Hampden so it’s derogatory to talk like that about parks like this.

 

“All our dressing rooms were refurbished last year and we even have a picture of the showers at Ibrox and they’re practically identical.

 

“There has been a lot of hard work in bringing our dressing rooms up to scratch. This season we have taken on major

refurbishments and have taken away part of the board room and made a dining room for hospitality.

 

“I was a wee bit upset about some of the comments. Berwick were mentioned in the piece but our dressing rooms and playing surface are second to none.”

 

Current Berwick boss Ian Little said: “The changing rooms have been done up and are quite exceptional now and the pitch is also up there. The standard is so high and we have done a lot of work on the park.

 

“I’ve seen some terrible grounds but they have improved a lot over the last three or four years.”

 

The newco Rangers’ plans for the new season were battered after their trip to Germany was cancelled but they returned to action against Airdrie at Murray Park on Tuesday.

 

Berwick have seen two games against Hearts and Dunfermline cancelled because of rain with just 16 players to call on for the new start on August 11.

 

Little explained: “I haven’t really thought about facing Rangers too much. I have had a lot of games cancelled pre-season and I still have 16 players signed so I have a lot on my plate.

 

“I’m convinced Rangers will be in the league but this is the first time I have ever seen pre-season games being cancelled.

 

“I am two games behind already and I can’t look at players on trial. We’re due to play Dunfermline on Tuesday and Livingston on Saturday but it’s worrying. We haven’t got enough games to see everyone before the season starts.

 

“The pitch was waterlogged and games were called off so I am behind.”

 

While a long, painful summer for Rangers fans saw what appeared to be a neverending series of

arguments and counter arguments over financial mismanagement and “sporting integrity”, Berwick have continued to cut their cloth accordingly to avoid any sleepless nights.

 

Crease said: “We are a club that got a break a few years ago when we drew Celtic in the Scottish Cup and we have built on that.

 

“We have no debts at all, unlike many others and the playing surface is the envy of many. That’s due to the groundsman.”

 

If you had any doubts – just ask champions Celtic who descended on the sleepy Borders town in the Scottish Cup last year.

 

Neil Lennon’s side won 2-0 at Shielfield Park in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup in January 2011 and Crease points out they had no complaints from them.

 

He said: “Livingston are playing us on Saturday and we have everything in place for that.

 

“Celtic were down here for the Scottish Cup. They have been all over the world and played at some fantastic stadiums but they were more than comfortable with the facilities so what you get here is much better than what people think .

 

“People think we don’t have the facilities to cope with this and we were named in this story but we shouldn’t have been.

 

“We have better facilities than what has been made out and we are up there with the best in Scotland.”

[Steve1872 4]

Peterhead duo split over decision to allow newco Rangers entry into Division Three

 

Jul 14 2012 By John Docherty & Euan McArthur

 

 

Peterhead ground Palmoor

 

FOR

 

Ryan Strachan reckons Balmoor Stadium will be bursting at the seams for the historic visit of newco Gers on the opening day of the Third Division season.

 

The former Celtic youngster admits the Ibrox side will be hot favourites to lift the title after being plunged into Scottish football’s basement.

 

But he warned Ally McCoist’s side not to expect it all their own way – because Jim McInally’s Blue Toon are aiming to go all the way.

 

The 21-year-old midfielder said: “The fact that we are down to play Rangers should bring in a big crowd.

 

“Peterhead is a bit of a Rangers stronghold, our ground holds 4000 and I expect it will be full because history will be made.

 

“It gives our own players the chance to see where we stand and see if we can compete with them for the title.

 

“We will be playing a new Rangers and everyone will be waiting to find out what kind of team they have after losing so many star men.

 

“Playing them four times in the league this season will be a tremendous experience.

 

“But we will not be fooled by the fact this will not be the Rangers side of old. They will probably still be favourites to go up. They are full-time, they are Rangers and will still have a good few players who were there last season.

 

“One thing is sure, McCoist will want to get Rangers back into the SPL as quickly as possible and that will mean winning successive championships.

 

“We’re looking forward to playing them. It’s not every day you get the chance to play a team with the great tradition of Rangers.

 

“I don’t think their players have a point to prove. It was not the players who got Rangers into this situation. It was the previous owners.

 

“Rangers have played before under a lot of pressure, so will be ready for the challenge ahead of them.

 

“I’ve played them a few times. My first club was Aberdeen and I was a season and a half at Celtic.

 

“They will still be strong. At the same time, our aim at the start of the season is to get first place and it still is.

 

“Now Rangers are in our league there will probably be less pressure on everyone’s shoulders.”

 

AGAINST

 

Paul Jarvie last night labelled the decision to send Rangers into the Third Division as the “wrong call” – then insisted the other clubs would be playing for the runners-up slot.

 

The Peterhead keeper is now gearing up to face the Ibrox club on the first day of the new season at Balmoor Stadium.

 

But Jarvie said: “It’s all a bit false. I can’t help but see a huge imbalance developing in our league, so in my view it’s the wrong decision.

 

“We were seriously looking to win the league this season but that prospect has now realistically gone.

 

“Now the best-case scenario from our point of view is a play-off position before a ball is even kicked which sends out all the wrong signals.

 

“I feel a bit deflated by it all. We’re looking at a situation like we had a few years ago when Gretna romped their way through the divisions and Rangers look like doing the same.

 

“Okay, they have lost a lot of players and will be much changed from seasons gone by but when it boils down you’d still expect them to win the Third Division.”

 

Jarvie is a Celtic fan but believes the First Division would have been the best way to resolve the long-running saga.

 

He added: “Even as lifelong Celtic fan, I have to say it would have been better putting them in the First.

 

“I know some Celtic fans were wanting them in the Third but I didn’t go along with that thinking.

 

“If they were to go to the First, it would have been a lot harder for them to gain promotion at the first attempt and there would have been a more level playing field.”

 

Jarvie knows new-look Rangers won’t relish visiting Balmoor and reckons they will find it hard to celebrate victories once the season is under way.

 

He added: “Will they actually celebrate winning games in the new season?

 

“How does a club and its supporters go from the highs of Old Firm games and involvement in the European arena to playing in front of a few hundred fans?

 

“We’ll give it our best shot on the opening day but you’d have to say we’re all playing for second spot.”