CCjag

It's time to go before it causes us grief from those who have ignored decades of sectarian bile from the formerly Gruesome Twosome This from a 2007 PTFC statement: _______________________________________ "SAY GOODBYE TO THE “HELLO” SONG! Cards on the table! Many a time in the past I have joined in singing, with some relish, the song which ridicules the sectarian nonsense which has been the scourge of the West of Scotland in general, and football in particular. The sectarian nonsense which has been calculatedly used by some to accumulate wealth, power and influence in the game but which is now costing those institutions these very things and which is, consequently, being shunned with all the enthusiasm of Saul/Paul on the Road to Damascus. The authorities are now, after more than a century of the aural equivalent of a blind eye, turning their attention to the “small minorities” of several thousand who have poured – and to a considerable extent continue to pour - this verbal diarrhoea from the stands and the singing has almost been drowned out by the howls of righteous indignation from these latter-day converts to a degree of civilisation enjoyed by the rest of us since the dawn of evolution. Any convert is, however, no matter the motivation or the tardiness, to be welcomed and if the attempts to drag these Neanderthals screaming and scratching into the multi-faith, multi-cultural society which we all inhabit are to succeed then we are duty bound to look to ourselves and to ensure that our conduct is above reproach. For that reason, the repertoire of the songsters at Firhill has got to change and while my indulgence in the ironic “Hello, Hello” was all about highlighting the crass stupidity of the bigots (ninety-minute or full-time variety), that argument is no longer sufficient to exempt us from criticism from those who might seek to make an example of a club from outwith the more relevant target group to show even-handedness………or duck the real challenge (delete as applicable). Partick Thistle Football Club has a proud tradition of combating all of the “isms” with which the ignorant stain our society and we will act to ensure that that tradition is maintained and that the authorities will continue to have no reason to turn their attention to Firhill when dealing with the ills of the game. Club stewards have been instructed to apply a zero tolerance approach to any supporter, home or visiting, who breaches the standards expected and that includes the singing/chanting/shouting of sectarian, racist, profane material or any other provocative or unacceptable abuse of groups or individuals. A strategy analogous to that applied on the pitch will be used with a warning (equivalent of a yellow card) being issued to offender who, if repeating the offence, will be ejected from the stadium and face a life-time ban from Firhill. Essentially, all supporters need to appreciate that conduct within a football stadium should mirror that on the streets of their local community. What is not acceptable in your street is not acceptable in your stadium and to ignore that jeopardises your team and your own entitlement to come along and support The Jags. Football is a passionate game and those of us who follow Thistle are, arguably, more passionate than most since the majority of us have been brought up in or around Glasgow as an oppressed minority with all the baggage that comes with an adolescence scarred by the at best patronising, and at worst aggressive, attitudes of our peers who chose a different path by submerging their identities, and often suspending their better judgement and intellect, for the tribal mores of other clubs. Our passion needs, however, to be tempered by an awareness that sarcasm and irony can be lost on those who do not wish to recognise it and that the passage of time and societal changes mean that we too must change and take cognisance of what progress has been made elsewhere. It is, therefore, definitely time for all Jags fans to say goodbye to the “Hello” song! _____________________ Six years on, little has changed other than Sevco's League status!

The clubs (note plural) are subsidising the cost of buses to the tune of £220 per branch. The subsidy, while very welcome, covers - in some cases - approximately 60% of the cost of the coach which branches will have already paid out for travel to the abandoned fixture. As branches need to budget for a season in advance in terms of charges for members and then factor in non-member income, it is unrealistic to expect free travel although the subsidy should be reflected in the fares for non-members. Just to reinforce the initial point, the subsidy is a very welcome addition to the coffers and I'd imagine all branches appreciate the gesture which came 50-50 from The Jags and Cowdenbeath.

I usually try to be more articulate than this, but when it comes to even the idea of that scumbag Ferguson managing the Jags my gorge rises! Only the reason of youth could excuse any Jags fan from reacting in a similar manner given what that odious creature used to get up to when playing for Sevco's predecessors. As one of Ferguson's own ilk once said, "NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!" :angry3:

With all the talk of reconstruction which is, in reality, little more than an exercise akin to rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic after somebody got too much ice in their G & T, it does seem as though Scottish Football will undergo some sort of cosmetic surgery in the foreseeable future. The one positive element in an otherwise blatant attempt at preserving as near as they can get to the status quo will be the redistribution of some cash to ensure that the team emerging as Champions of the First Division will earn more than the currently derisory figure of less than £70,000 or approximately one tenth of the sum accrued by the side finishing in the current SPL relegation slot! This disparity has been one of the major causes of the incestuous nature of the SPL – truly a Self Preservation League. As we know to our cost, promoted teams generally reach the SPL already massively handicapped by the financial disparity, a problem exacerbated by the bonuses which will be due to playing and management staff, to necessary ground improvements, additional policing costs and the need to recruit a new team in an attempt to stay in Scotland’s Promised Land. To again take Thistle as an example, if we win the League this season will we be going up to the basement? Regrettably, but viewing the situation realistically, it is difficult to see any other option! Amidst the miles of column inches devoted to the way forward for Scottish Football and the potential for it to be introduced with a haste far from characteristic of the leaders of our game, the matter of when the increased payment for the winners of the First Division will kick-in has not featured. Unfortunately, I have little doubts that it will not be applied retrospectively and that even if the new structure comes into force for season 2013-14 ( a fanciful idea if it is to be a reasoned and fully considered re-organisation ) then this will be the worst possible year to be promoted since the financial boost will not be there for us and we will go to the SPL with a cash-strapped handicap which would make us more of a candidate for a Findus Lasagne than a thoroughbred chase! Ask me as a fan of almost fifty years and I will unhesitatingly crave the success of a title win and the chance to engage with those currently occupying the upper echelons of the game. Ask me as a reasoning individual and I fear that such success in 2012-13 could be a poisoned chalice and that a 13-14 win (historical resonance and all) would be a far better option. Of course , one doesn't get a choice in such matters - or at least one shouldn't - but you have to wonder whether Messrs Rae (Morton), Yorkston (Dunfermline) or our very own Messrs Beattie and Allan are not already pondering on these huge issues and reaching alarming conclusions? We live in interesting times!

With this sort of arrogance and this sort of result, Morton should quickly disappear from contention: From the Morton vs Dumbarton match report on their official site (http://www.gmfc.net/) “The champions-elect started the brighter”

It might not save Scottish Football, but if it helps saves one life then it's well worth supporting! ___________________________________________________________________ SAVING SCOTTISH FOOTBALL The head of Supporters Direct Scotland and (more importantly) a Jags fan, Paul Goodwin's second book 'Saving Scottish Football' is now available to buy. This is the first book to take account of the current state of Scottish football since the demise of Glasgow Rangers FC. Paul convened a panel of Scottish Football experts to take stock of the game as it stands and to come up with proposals for its future. There are contributions from highly leading coaches such as Alex Smith, Jocky Scott, Sandy Clark, Davie Hay and Jimmy Calderwood as well as respected pundit Des McKeown. Goodwin and his panel of experts look in detail at issues such as the role of fans in running football clubs, a winter break, a complete restructuring of the system to make football a summer sport, community schemes, the draft system of clubs choosing players, club partnerships, financial controls, ground sharing and other initiatives to form a strategy to save Scottish football. Saving Scottish Football: What We Need to do Next challenges the way football is currently being operated in Scotland. The book confronts some of the biggest issues in the sport and with the help of a panel of experts delivers solutions to how football in Scotland can be improved. The book is a not-for-profit project and all money raised will go towards Prostate Cancer Research. You can purchase the book from here. Journalist Reviews · Alan Pattullo says Saving Scottish Football is 'a timely & impressive rigorous study · Graeme MacPherson says of Saving Scottish Football: "Leaving no stone unturned Paul Goodwin’s ideas are innovative": · Stephen McGowan describes 'Saving Scottish Football' as "Required reading for the powers that be" On 4 December 2012 14:33, Paul Goodwin <[email protected]> wrote: Paul Goodwin Head of Supporters Direct Scotland Robert Owen House 89 Bath Street Glasgow G2 2EE Tel : 07702 252519 www.scottishfans.org - now live This email, and its attachments if any, may be confidential or legally privileged and is intended to be seen only by the person to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient you should notify the sender and delete the original email and all copies from your computer systems, you should not read copy or use the contents of the email nor disclose it or its existence to anyone else. The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and should not be taken as those of Supporters Direct, unless this is specifically stated.

Just read about their 140th celebrations this weekend. An amazing achievement. Is it really only twenty weeks since they were formed?

As above! Inspection was 2:15 pm.

I genuinely hope that the initiative of relocating the more voluble members of our support into the North Stand behind the goals will work and that there will be sufficient numbers to generate sufficient noise to motivate the team and generate some of the long-missing atmosphere around Firhill. But will it, and is the motivation really to enhance the atmosphere or simply to address what is seen by some as the perennial problem of hospitality guests being inconvenienced by close proximity to the lumpenproletariat??? Let’s examine the logic. Despite the very good intentions leading up to" sell out Saturday" – it won’t – sell out that is! There may be a bounce in attendances, and that will be welcome at every level, but will it be sustained? All the evidence of long and sometimes painful decades following The Jags suggests that good intentions do not fill stadia. Nor does good football, despite all the nonsense spouted by pundits who should know better. A winning team is the only things that guarantees a permanent upswing in posteriors in positions – and then only as long as the winning run continues. If it is accepted that vocal support is a significant contributory factor in achieving that run of success, then is the decibel level really going to be raised by splitting our support rather than concentrating it in the Jackie Husband Stand? Further, should our singing section of fans be content with the worst view in the stadium? After all, who when given a choice, opts for a seat behind the goals instead of along the touchline? My fears are that: by dividing we will not rule; that after the initial euphoria wears off, the numbers in the North Stand will fill only a small proportion of the seats available; that the first sight for teams emerging at Firhill will ultimately be far from intimidating gaps in the Jackie Husband stand ; To reiterate, I genuinely hope it works since anything that enhances the atmosphere and provides a stimulus for the team is to be welcomed. The cynic in me, however, questions both the logic and the motivation! “A cynic is what an idealist calls a realist!” Sir Humphrey Appleby (attrib.)

'Fraid so!

I’ve now appended the following to my signature on personal e-mails. 100% accurate and already bringing the desired foaming at the mouth response from recipients who are supporters of Sevco United(2012): CCJag (Supporter of Glasgow’s Oldest Professional Football Team)

The Herald Saturday 23 June: Thistle fans consider a boycott of Firhill Christopher Jack Sports Journalist PARTICK THISTLE fans could boycott home games if newco Rangers are given a berth in the first division next season. Morag McHaffie, chairwoman of the Jags Trust, said that supporters would not be appeased by the cash benefits of the Ibrox club playing the league when weighed against the chances of them winning the title. Ms McHaffie said: "Fans are looking for a punishment. If you break the rules then there have to be sanctions, and rules have to be equal for all. I do think boycotts are in the thoughts of some fans. It is very difficult to get a balance between following your team and having your principles. "It is a sad state of affairs when fans are thinking about walking away from their club, but I can appreciate that sometimes is the only way they have of showing chairmen that they are not happy. David Beattie [the Thistle chairman], like all the chairmen, has a difficult job. They have to listen to their customers, the fans. They also have to meet the requirements of the banks and other commercial entities. But the voices of the fans need to be heard. "Jackie McNamara, has shown great enthusiasm in trying to get us promoted and I think [having] Rangers in the league would compromise all the teams. All money is great for clubs across the SFL but we need a better distribution of it and I am sure that is what the chairmen of all the clubs are looking at. It is about commercial interests and income versus being able to watch good ----football and win promotion." ----------------------------------

Surely the Beeb have got it wrong in their article "Scottish Cup adds preliminary round for season 2012/13" Aren't there three new teams (assuming one isn't lobbed out of the Cup for crimes and misdemeanours)? Formartine United, Turrif United and Govan United. If the last named are allowed entry to the SFA, and not banned from The Cup, they must surely join the Highland League teams in the new preliminary round, or might they get a bye??? Meanwhile, The Daily Ranger (and is another name change imminent there?) and The Scotsman are reporting that if Govan United are granted a place in the SFL, the first round of the Ramsden's Cup might have to be redrawn to accommodate them because of their geographical location! Should this happen, I wonder which team they might face in an "open" draw if they get an away fixture? Could it be one with the ground and infrastructure to accommodate such a match, or would it just be the luck of the draw? Either way, if the situation arises and they are not drawn at home I wouldn't be vastly surprised if the "luck of the draw" brought them to Firhill (where they could expect a "warm" welcome" for their first ever match). Rules thrown out the window and cup draws manipulated to suit the team formerly know as Prince, sorry Rangers, some things never change!

I listened with interest to this morning's sports report on BBC Scotland which discussed the latest twist to the Rangers saga. Relegation to the First Division with SKY being “guaranteed” an Old Firm fixture through a revamped Glasgow Cup. The first suggestion is clearly designed to allow honour (I use the term loosely) to be satisfied by relegating Rangers but minimising the financial damage by limiting it to a one season demotion. Not much point in the rest of us turning up next season, is there? By hook or by crook (and how appropriate is that phrase?), the newco will shed the old crimes and debts and be back after the minor inconvenience of one season mingling with the lower orders. As for the second proposal - intriguing that SKY can be “guaranteed” such a fixture since there are four senior teams playing in Glasgow and in membership of the Glasgow Football Association. To offer such a “guarantee”, Rangers & Celtic would require to be drawn against each other in one semi-final with Queens Park facing PTFC in the other. Suits us, but the cynic in me suggests that the intention is to offer SKY an Old Firm game with a trophy, and quite a magnificent piece of silverware it is, on offer at the end. So might the draw be manipulated – a shameful suggestion I know – and then everything possible done to ensure that the “right” result emerged from the semis? As I said, a cynical suggestion but then as far as Scottish Football is concerned, a cynic is what an idealist calls a realist!

St Mirren & Ross County draw. Cup replay on 14/02 so no trip to Dingwall for Jags on that night. Earliest possible date will be Tuesday 6 March.

St Mirren & Ross County draw. Cup replay on 14/02 so no trip to Dingwall for Jags on that night.

So when did we last feature in the august columns of The Scotsman? http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/sfl-division-one/thistle_fans_get_youtube_chop_1_1978127

I note with interest that “Following close cooperation and consultation with Strathclyde Police and both clubs, the SFL are delighted to announce the next Friday Night Football match after the success of the first match at Firhill Stadium earlier in the season.” (SFL Website) Really?? Well with whom did they closely consult? Supporters? I think not! Supporters’ Clubs? No, not them either. So they consulted with our Board, whose attendance record at away fixtures will not be winning any prizes and who are unlikely to be greatly inconvenienced by spending a Friday night in January freezing their genitalia off in Hamilton. Two pilot Friday fixtures, both involving PTFC no form of consultation of any sort with Jags fans. As ever, in football at least, the customer is always irrelevant! I’ll go, because I want to support my team – but I will not go quietly!

Is this game still on? The official site has an update on fixtures today, but when you go there The Well match has been removed?

It was never the Main Stand ("Excellent" or otherwise) other than in the eyes of those for whom sentiment took precedence over sense! It was "The Stand" - we only had one until The Jackie Husband Stand was created with a capacity almost three times that of the original stand. It's no longer "The Stand", since we have two - of which it is the lesser and entirely unused. The only way it merits being called the Main Stand is if we could lift up the crumbling edifice and drop it in the sea. In an ideal world we could retain the façade and build something practical within it in terms of seating capacity consistent with our needs, dressing rooms , club offices etc. These days are probably as far from an ideal world as you can get and, in terms of priorities, the structure should feature about as far down the list as debates about what it is called!

Well we already have the grassy mound!

You could give him a round of applause......no hang on, he's already got a big hand!

A small measure of poetic justice? The Courier