Football

[Howardh]

Bury had 6719 at Gigg Lane for the final home league game of the 2018-19 season vs Port Vale when they were promoted to EFL League One. Also had 7784 at home vs Oldham Athletic in the February that season.

Highest crowd I've been in at Gigg was around 18,000 for a Burnley home cup tie - possibly 70's; most of the ground then was terraced so capacity a lot higher. Maximum ever was 35,000 but now it's around 11,000, maybe more if there's no segregation. Must admit when Bury were expelled I thought I'd never see the ground full again in my lifetime, even if Bury survived.

If grounds could re-introduce standing (think some have "safe standing") that could increase capacity rather than clubs having to build bigger, or build a new stadium?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Highest crowd I've been in at Gigg was around 18,000 for a Burnley home cup tie - possibly 70's; most of the ground then was terraced so capacity a lot higher. Maximum ever was 35,000 but now it's around 11,000, maybe more if there's no segregation. Must admit when Bury were expelled I thought I'd never see the ground full again in my lifetime, even if Bury survived.

That one was played January 1980 (Bury winning 1-0) and the Gigg Lane gate attendance was 17,722, so just over half Bury's supposed 35,000 capacity at the time. The 35,000 gate vs Bolton Wanderers, also in the FA Cup, was some twenty years previously.

 

[Loppylugs]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned that wonderful penalty at Newcastle last night. Mr. Eze of Palace with a stop-start stop-start run up and was at a dead stop when he reached the ball. Result? A gentle tap to Nick Pope. He must have nerve though, he's going to pick up his thousands of pounds in wages for probably the worst penalty I've ever seen and a dire performance to boot (literally!).

 

[Mcr Warrior]

... probably the worst penalty I've ever seen ...

What about Chris Waddle's penalty in the 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany (in Italy) that ended up in low orbit?

 

[DarloRich]

What about Chris Waddle's penalty in the 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany (in Italy) that ended up in low orbit?

I saw one from Barry Conlon playing for Darlo that was so high and hard it has reached Venus and is still going! Waddler was close in comparison.

( it was such a bad penalty it is still talked about. It was an FA Cup game against Peterborough in which we missed the same penalty twice led 2-0, managed to draw 2-2 and then lost the replay which would have given us a lucrative home tie against Newcastle. Sigh. Same old, same old.)

 

[SteveM70]

What about Chris Waddle's penalty in the 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany (in Italy) that ended up in low orbit?

I’ve seen loads worse. What made Waddle’s look bad was the power behind it - the ball only actually went about a foot over the bar, it just kept rising after that

At the end of the day, having the cojones to take a penalty in that situation is pretty amazing

 

[Ted633]

Penalty by Saka last night was poor as well. Scoring that would’ve put the game to bed straight away. No idea why he decided to try and chip the keeper instead of just whacking it. All came good in the end (made up for it with a goal), but it could’ve turned out very differently.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Up in Scotland, Hamilton Accies have just been hit with a 15 point deduction for various irregularities, which will almost certainly see them automatically relegated from the (second tier) Scottish Championship to League One at the end of the current season.

Hamilton face relegation to League 1 after 15-point deduction

Hamilton Academical face being relegated from the Scottish Championship this weekend after they were deducted 15 points for breaching league rules.

www.bbc.co.uk

Extract...

The SPFL revealed the club had been charged with four offences of breaching rules, and say an independent disciplinary tribunal found the Lanarkshire club guilty.

According to the league, the offences relate (to) a failure to pay six players and not acting in "good faith" when dealing with the SPFL...

And also in failing to meet the required standard of Scottish FA licence to participate in the league. Reportedly, the Hamilton Academical club do have the right to appeal the decision.

 

[d9009alycidon]

Up in Scotland, Hamilton Accies have just been hit with a 15 point deduction for various irregularities, which will almost certainly see them automatically relegated from the (second tier) Scottish Championship to League One at the end of the current season.

Hamilton face relegation to League 1 after 15-point deduction

Hamilton Academical face being relegated from the Scottish Championship this weekend after they were deducted 15 points for breaching league rules.

www.bbc.co.uk

Extract...


And also in failing to meet the required standard of Scottish FA licence to participate in the league. Reportedly, the Hamilton Academical club do have the right to appeal the decision.

As an Airdrie fan, delighted by this news. By all reports the owners of the club are very, very dodgy, this has been expected for a while

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Penalty by Saka last night was poor as well. Scoring that would’ve put the game to bed straight away. No idea why he decided to try and chip the keeper instead of just whacking it. All came good in the end (made up for it with a goal), but it could’ve turned out very differently.

The Europa League tie between Lazio and Bodo/Glimt went to penalties won by the Norwegians 3-2. Some of the misses were pretty pathetic. Seems it's been a poor week for penalty takers.

 

[sannox]

Up in Scotland, Hamilton Accies have just been hit with a 15 point deduction for various irregularities, which will almost certainly see them automatically relegated from the (second tier) Scottish Championship to League One at the end of the current season.

Hamilton face relegation to League 1 after 15-point deduction

Hamilton Academical face being relegated from the Scottish Championship this weekend after they were deducted 15 points for breaching league rules.

www.bbc.co.uk

Extract...


And also in failing to meet the required standard of Scottish FA licence to participate in the league. Reportedly, the Hamilton Academical club do have the right to appeal the decision.

Could have been worse, Bonnyrigg got 6 points for their licencing.

This sounds awful - rule breaches all over the place and the punishment is severe. Hamilton have had points deducted before for a players strike too.

Clyde (another club struggling on) also seem to have no place to play as there were issues with Hamilton and their lease.

As an Airdrie fan, delighted by this news. By all reports the owners of the club are very, very dodgy, this has been expected for a while

Once again Airdrie get fortunate - promotions due to Gretna and Rangers going bust. Also saved by Livingston's financial issues one year and now this!

 

[Haywain]

Once again Airdrie get fortunate - promotions due to Gretna and Rangers going bust. Also saved by Livingston's financial issues one year and now this!

Airdrie? Don't you mean Clydebank?

 

[berwicksfinest]

Try the current debacle in our Lowland League !!!!!!!!!

 

[sannox]

Try the current debacle in our Lowland League !!!!!!!!!

I thought the proposals have a degree of sense but the key issue is League 2 needs to be 1 automatic, 1 playoff like the rest of the divisions. I also think 3 leagues makes playoffs a bit weak. I'm not sure how the SOS fits in either.

 

[THC]

I thought the proposals have a degree of sense but the key issue is League 2 needs to be 1 automatic, 1 playoff like the rest of the divisions. I also think 3 leagues makes playoffs a bit weak. I'm not sure how the SOS fits in either.

A three-way tier 5 may well better suit the population distribution within Scotland but there are stil so many questions to be answered, which is why change should not be rushed and, if passed by the clubs, introduced instead for the 2026/27 season. The irony in this case being that the Lowland League was itself set up in a hurry before the 2012/13 season, but two wrongs don't make a right.

Speaking of wrongs, the 'B' teams need to go. I don't see what they bring to the league even though my club's 'B' team are doing well this season. I hope that whatever non-League structure is finally settled upon that their participation is ended. One club, one team - for everyone.

THC

 

[berwicksfinest]

A three-way tier 5 may well better suit the population distribution within Scotland but there are stil so many questions to be answered, which is why change should not be rushed and, if passed by the clubs, introduced instead for the 2026/27 season. The irony in this case being that the Lowland League was itself set up in a hurry before the 2012/13 season, but two wrongs don't make a right.

Speaking of wrongs, the 'B' teams need to go. I don't see what they bring to the league even though my club's 'B' team are doing well this season. I hope that whatever non-League structure is finally settled upon that their participation is ended. One club, one team - for everyone.

THC

Absolutely B teams need to go, Its blatantly obvious its a device to get the B teams into SPFL.

Agreeded Promotion and relegation desparately needs opening up, But this seems to be rushing through, strange that Gala's Chairman is involved

 

[SteveM70]

AFC Fylde 0-1 FC Halifax Town

The most one-sided one nil I’ve seen for years. Fylde were abject and didn’t manage a single shot on target all game; Halifax cut through them at will for the first hour and could, maybe should, have scored four or five - but they missed a couple of good chances, hit the post, hit the underside of the bar, and were denied an absolutely stonewall penner when the ref decided Angelo Cappello had dived.

As it was, one goal was enough to further Town’s playoff bid and relegate Fylde.

First game I’ve ever been to where towards the end the tannoy bloke asked the home fans to applaud the away fans. All a bit odd

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

AFC Fylde 0-1 FC Halifax Town

The most one-sided one nil I’ve seen for years. Fylde were abject and didn’t manage a single shot on target all game; Halifax cut through them at will for the first hour and could, maybe should, have scored four or five - but they missed a couple of good chances, hit the post, hit the underside of the bar, and were denied an absolutely stonewall penner when the ref decided Angelo Cappello had dived.

Was there any doubts about the dive adjudicated by the referee, as some players have got diving off to a fine art. Who can ever forget Francis Lee of Manchester City who had the nickname "One Lee Pen".

 

[43096]

Was there any doubts about the dive adjudicated by the referee, as some players have got diving off to a fine art. Who can ever forget Francis Lee of Manchester City who had the nickname "One Lee Pen".

I thought city’s “Chinese” player was “Lee Won Pen”?

 

[SteveM70]

Was there any doubts about the dive adjudicated by the referee, as some players have got diving off to a fine art. Who can ever forget Francis Lee of Manchester City who had the nickname "One Lee Pen".

We were stood about six yards away, and whilst I don’t think it was deliberate, it was a foul. Clipped his heels. Perhaps the ref had a less good view, and the linesman was on the opposite touchline. I could understand not giving a penalty, but to be sure it was a dive is baffling

 

[Iskra]

Oxford United 0 Leeds 1

Leeds reclaim top spot. More importantly; 2nd and 3rd-placed Burnley and Sheffield United play each other on Monday, which they can’t both win. Three games left. Leeds and Burnley are neck and neck for the title, although I’ll have no complaints if we finish 2nd.

 

[d9009alycidon]

Airdrie? Don't you mean Clydebank?

Err no! Last I looked Clydebank are the current West of Scotland Football League Premier Division Champions: 2024–25.

Please keep up at the back

 

[Haywain]

Err no! Last I looked Clydebank are the current West of Scotland Football League Premier Division Champions: 2024–25.

Please keep up at the back

So how did Airdrie get back into the league after going out of business? Try and keep up, wherever you happen to be.

 

[dangie]

On BBC Radio Stoke news this morning (Saturday) they previewed the ‘upcoming‘ afternoon matches between Stoke & Sheffield Wednesday, and Port Vale & Carlisle United.

This would have been ok, but someone should maybe have looked that the matches had already been played yesterday (Friday). Whoops…….

 

[Mcr Warrior]

So how did Airdrie get back into the league after going out of business? Try and keep up, wherever you happen to be.

Indeed. The old Airdrieonians club had gone bust in 2002. A newly formed outfit called Airdrie United hoped to take their place but lost out in the vote to Gretna FC. The Airdrie United backers still wanted a place in the Scottish League and so, controversially, bought the shares off the ailing Clydebank FC, who were then still in the Scottish League, and renamed/moved them over to Airdrie. A new Clydebank FC was then started up by a supporters' group and Airdrie United was renamed as Airdrieonians FC in c. 2013.

 

[Jimini]

On BBC Radio Stoke news this morning (Saturday) they previewed the ‘upcoming‘ afternoon matches between Stoke & Sheffield Wednesday, and Port Vale & Carlisle United.

This would have been ok, but someone should maybe have looked that the matches had already been played yesterday (Friday). Whoops…….

Whoops!

Stoke's second goal was a classic as well

 

[sannox]

Indeed. The old Airdrieonians club had gone bust in 2002. A newly formed outfit called Airdrie United hoped to take their place but lost out in the vote to Gretna FC. The Airdrie United backers still wanted a place in the Scottish League and so, controversially, bought the shares off the ailing Clydebank FC, who were then still in the Scottish League, and renamed/moved them over to Airdrie. A new Clydebank FC was then started up by a supporters' group and Airdrie United was renamed as Airdrieonians FC in c. 2013.

Was it controversial. From my memory, Clydebank were a basket case at that time, homeless after the owners sold the ground so playing in Dumbarton and Greenock for 6 or 7 years, were in admin for years and support had drifted. Probably did them the world of good.

In trivia they did play one of the last two Christmas day games in Britain - playing Alex Ferguson's St Mirren in 1976. Not sure what happened to that guy!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

North West Counties Football League...Premier Division

Bury 4...Burscough 0

League website gives an attendance of 8,719 who saw Bury score twice in each half against a team that had won five of its last seven games and finish the season as champions and gain promotion to the Northern Premier Leaue as part of their comeback. P46 ... W 33 D10 L3 ... Goals for 133 ... Goals against 49 ... 109 points.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

In trivia they did play one of the last two Christmas day games in Britain - playing Alex Ferguson's St Mirren in 1976. Not sure what happened to that guy!

Didn't the St. Mirren club sack him a year and a half later?

 

[sannox]

Didn't the St. Mirren club sack him a year and a half later?

Yes. There is a lot of contention about it, but the accepted story is Ferguson was approached by Aberdeen and told staff he was going and asked players to come too.

St Mirren found out and were concerned this was destabilising the club so sacked him for breech of contract. He lost his tribunal too where the tribunal didn't rate his managerial skills!