The_Judge

Wasn't so much a dig at Plymouth Argyle as a club...was more the idea that their forum was some kind of famous footballing hotspot renowned for its intensity Maybe the phrase 'absolute meltdown' (and/or ' seething mess') has become too common.

This .

Surely two pensioners, a middle aged housewife from Lipson and a sheepdog called 'Jess' can't actually generate a meltdown?

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/field-dreams-east-kilbride-community-10614791 East Kilbride Community Trust submit detailed plans for stadium, which could be operational by late 2018. A new community stadium in East Kilbride is a step closer this week after detailed plans were submitted to South Lanarkshire Council. East Kilbride Community Trust (EKCT) have lodged a blueprint for a phased 4000-seater development in Langlands which would see “The East Kilbride Community Stadium” operational by late 2018 and completed in its entirety by 2020. The first stage of the development would see a synthetic 4G football pitch laid in the first quarter of 2018 and phase two, the erection of a main stand with 2430 seats and perimeter fencing, is earmarked for completion in the fourth quarter of 2018. Following that, EKCT propose to build a South-West Stand with 780 seats by late 2019 and a North-East stand, also comprising approximately 780 seats, by the end of 2020. The stadium will play host to East Kilbride Football Club matches and other teams from the town, similar to the current operation at K-Park in Calderglen Country Park, which is also operated by EKCT. As well as catering for football, the stadium will house a gym, a boxing ring, sports hall, a function suite and office space. The function suite would be available for community use and private parties outwith matchdays, where it will be used as a corporate lounge. EKCT chief executive Monique McAdams, recently elected as a councillor to serve East Kilbride West, said: “Everyone at the trust is very excited about being able to finally submit this detailed planning application to South Lanarkshire Council after careful planning and design, which takes into account the different needs and abilities of the people that will be using it. “It’s a wonderful project that, once built, will be enjoyed by everyone in East Kilbride. “This project is so much more than just a place to watch or play football; it will house a boxing gym and an indoor multipurpose hall amongst other much needed community facilities. “This is a community-driven development which is very much wanted and needed as East Kilbride and its surrounding areas continue to grow. “There are another 2500 houses due to be built over the next five to 10 years which will further feed the population of East Kilbride, which currently stands at just over 80,000. “We look forward to this project coming to fruition as soon as possible for the benefit of the East Kilbride community”. In May last year the East Kilbride news ran a campaign urging South Lanarkshire Council to back outline planning proposals for the development after the local authority had clashed with EKCT over the plans in the preceding five years. EKCT were granted planning permission in principle with a number of conditions attached - including widening of existing rural roads near the site. In the trust’s detailed plans submitted this month, they state the approach to the site is from the north along Langlands Drive for both pedestrian and vehicular access. Beyond the junction with Hurlawcrook Road, the road will be widened to cater for a new access road into the north corner of site. Plans show pedestrian access to the site will be via a paved concourse. Youngsters from East Kilbride Football Club's additional support needs group celebrate with their families after South Lanarkshire Council approved outline planning for a new stadium in May last year Car parking will be provided around the perimeter of the stadium, with provision for 343 spaces, including 15 accessible spaces. There will also be 10 bays for coach parking and 44 cycle bays. A spokesman for EKCT said: “Up until now we have not heard any councillor’s voicing support for this community development. “We have found some council officials difficult to deal with. “The charity looks forward to a more positive approach with a new administration in place. “The councillors should be acting in the best interests of the East Kilbride people who so very recently voted them in.” Pauline Elliott, head of planning and economic development at the council, said: “This is a live planning application and the planning process must be dealt with in the correct manner. “Officers handle all applications in the appropriate manner and in this case have been keen to engage with the developer on planning and building standards issues to enable the planning decision to be made quickly and efficiently.”

EKFC are delighted to confirm that ex-Airdrie and Huddersfield Town striker Liam Coogans has agreed to join the club for 2017/18.

OMFG .

East Kilbride FC have signed Aiden Ferris and Riccardo Corrieri both from Glasgow BSC.

East Kilbride in Group G with: Hamilton, Queen of the South, Albion Rovers and Stenhousemuir. Nice

Quality post

How much was 'that budget'?

Pleasantly surprised to discover we'll be in tomorrow nights draw for the SPFL League cup with games against teams from the top two divisions .

I doubt it was his results that led to this outcome.

Agreed. There was a big transformation under Lauchlan (we finished 5th in the LL the season before) so will be interesting to see who they go for.

Pretty much as I predicted . If players or managers perform well at this level it can't be a surprise when teams further up the chain take an interest. Joao had a very good season for us and I wish him the best of luck at Rovers. I think McLean was only on loan and is a young lad who will be hoping he can forge a career at a higher level.

Congratulations to our 1st team Player of the Year award winners, Kieran Gibbons, Joao Victoria and David Proctor.

Congratulations to U-20 Player of the Year award winners, Liam Craig, Michael Anderson and James Cassidy.

Congratulations to U-17 Player of the year award winners, Scott Dunn, Martin Beattie and Stephen Docherty.

On Saturday lunchtime I left East Kilbride, a prosperous new town in South Lanarkshire, bathed in warm sunshine and drove the 53 miles to Cowdenbeath, Fife. A once proud but now weary town, cloaked in black cloud and being hammered by driving rain. That weather pattern persisted more or less constantly for the next three hours. I was there to give my support to East Kilbride FC bidding to make history by adding their name to the list of 20 full time, 21 part time and 1 amateur team that make up the current configuration of the SPFL. Cowden' started with pace and hunger and took the lead after only 3 minutes. This earned them the privilege of running down the clock at every opportunity. Much of East Kilbride's success this season has been built on a passing game with pace on both flanks courtesy of Strachan and Winter. Cowdenbeath, under the guidance of Gary Locke, were an adversary of a higher standard than they normally played. Their physical power and speed coupled with the danger they presented in attack clearly ruffled EK and forced them into punting long balls forward. The aerial contest between Victoria and McLaughlin was a mismatch in favour of the defender and he was rarely troubled via that route. As the game wore on EK managed to put some passing moves together at which time they looked their most dangerous. The match came to life after EK equalised and was a really enjoyable end to end battle with every player giving their all. Getting to penalties seemed to be as much as anyone could've asked. I'm disappointed for many of the players who have performed so well week in week out this season...It's been a real squad effort but I'd have to highlight Barry Russell, David Proctor, Kieran Gibbons, Sean Winter and Adam Strachan for their efforts. Cowdenbeath played well and held their nerve and I have no complaints about their victory. Their fans turned out in numbers to support them and I hope they had a great celebration last night. If there was a suggestion box at the ground I'd decry the fact that it wasn't possible to buy a half time pie....only Burgers or Chips!?.....and that they should invest in some additional spare footballs.

SAT, 20 MAY 2017SCOTTISH LEAGUE TWO - PLAY-OFF FINAL - 2ND LEG Cowdenbeath 1 - 1 East Kilbride Mullen (3) Gibbons (64) AET: HT 1-0 FT 1-1 Cowdenbeath win 5-3 on penalties Cowdenbeath manager Gary Locke: "I don't think it's really anything to celebrate. The chairman is a flamboyant character, and when I came to the club, he said, we're in the play-offs, just win them for us. "Credit to the players, they've battled really hard over the two games. East Kilbride were fantastic, I certainly feel if they came up they'd be top-four or top-five team in this league. "So it was a really difficult two games, it gets to be a bit of a lottery when it goes to penalties, but I'm delighted the club's kept their place in the league, because the consequences of going down would've been pretty tough, I'd have thought". East Kilbride manager Martin Lauchlan: "It's devastating - we put so much into the game. We lost a goal early - the worst possible start we could've had. "I think our fitness levels looked terrific. It's so difficult to get to this point, with so many play-off games, and to get here and lose it is tough. "I think they showed in the game they're well capable of playing at this level, but we're bitterly disappointed". Cowdenbeath East Kilbride Possession 46% 54% Shots 14 11 On Target 5 4 Corners 12 9 Fouls 13 9

Oooft...so many good chances

In a fair world maybe. That outcome would tell the league 2 teams that they are safe and unlikely to be relegated with the current system. They'd be in no rush to change to a system that might make relegation more likely where as if it's clear that being relegated is a genuine danger they'll want to mitigate the risk by ensuring there's a decent chance of getting back up.

Congratulations to Arbroath .

Jings...talk about doing things the hard way!! An excellent early goal and a worldy second before a freak own goal. We ended up playing against 9 men but too often nerves took over when a simple pass was required. An excellent away support who passionately backed their team. As I said in a previous post they are a very good side and as Highland league champions I wish them well.

Listened to most of the weeks podcasts...the lowlights were Jackson believing that 'at the moment' Kieran Tierney would struggle with physicality in the EPL against players like YAKUBU?! and that Rangers wage bill had "gone up from 6 or 7 million in the championship to 11 million..it's more than doubled"? Tom English's crime was to criticise the fact that the shortlists for player (and young player) of the year are limited to 4 places and then state he'd struggle to add any other young players to the list of 4. I don't think I could do better than these guys but I expect them to be better. Football journalism doesn't seem like such a difficult gig.