Specky Ginger

My best memory of Laidlaw, like most other Rovers fans, was the 3-2 win at Easter Road in the cup. Aside from the 3-3 Cowden game, I remember him having a shocker against Queen of the south in a Friday night BBC Alba game at Starks Park, then dropping a routine catch at the feet of a Dundee forward in the last minute of the New Year game that same season, which cost us the game. I'm still not convinced, however, he was any worse than Lee Robinson whose clean sheet in the Ramsdens Cup final overshadowed some horrific displays in the league.

Strangely enough he left KHS the same month he left Brechin to sign for the Pars (dropping down a league). The two events couldn't possibly have been connected could they?

If lower league clubs in Scotland were earning similar television revenues to those in England, they could possibly afford high quality grass / hybrid pitches (I'm sure Celtic Park is hybrid). As for McLeish, Gerrard and Rodgers complaining about Livi's pitch - I couldn't give a flying Donald Duck. A deflection tactic to divert attention from the bigot brothers inability to beat Livingston.

Imagine what he might have done to you if we'd actually scored that day?

Cracking kilt on the back right. Looks very much like the Rovers tartan.

Hard to tell - there were a good few behind the goal, but difficult to tell how many were in the seated area. If there were 797 at the game, I'd hazard a guess of 350-400.

So does that mean Flanagan will be moved infield?

In fairness that game was live on BBC Alibaba with a 5.30 kick off. Probably took at least a couple of hundred off our gate and possibly as many as 100 Queens fans. I know it was a manky day on Saturday, but I was surprised at the drop off in our support. I know the Arbroath game was a top of the table clash and McGlynn’s homecoming, but Saturday was well down on the Forfar and Montrose gates. The Queens Park game last November was immediately after we were knocked out of two cups and pumped 3-0 by Ayr in the space of a week. At least we're honest with our gates - look at the Pars highlights from Saturday and tell me there was anywhere close to the reported 4400 crowd.

You are aware of Rovers' recent record at Station Park?

No, the challenge cup started in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the Scottish League (sponsored by B&Q at that time, I think). Since then it's had various sponsors, but it's only the last three seasons we've had this farce of allowing Colts and non Scottish teams into it. As I said earlier, it would have been done to try to sell Celtic and Rangers colts games to TV companies. Thankfully that has, thus far, backfired spectacularly, but it's ended with this farce of inviting teams to play in it outwith their own season.

I really hope this is the moment that brings this, now, farce of a tournament to a head. I fear Neil Cockwomble will attempt to change the date using the excuse of accommodating 'broadcast partners' (Irish TV). Time to get this back to what it was originally intended - a cup for lower league clubs, or bin it altogether. This farce of letting colt and non Scottish teams into it was a failed attempt to get Rangers and Celtic colts games sold to TV companies, and if they could get them playing Irish opposition then so much the better. I'm sure I heard on Radio Scotland that Dunfermline were projecting an 8 to 10 grand loss on their trip to Borehamwood last month. I can't imagine East Fife coming out of this any better.

We don't need it now we train at Starks Park. We can sell it to Nobles and use the dosh to sign the Spanish boy.

I wonder what Joe Hammill is up to these days?

God help the person who cleans the toilets then.

No need.

I agree with almost everything in your post except Levein. Although his statistics / win ratio etc don't look good, I defy anyone who watched us under Dalziel then Levein to say there wasn't a huge improvement in our fitness, shape and style. He certainly gave McGlynn a stronger starting base when he came in, but unfortunately had to work with the likes of Armand One and Sean Kilgannon.

Reading this sent a shiver up my spine reminiscent of when I heard Gary Locke was in the running in 2016.

Ross Matheson as his assistant.

Apparently GarriLoake interviews well and that's how the board fell for it hook, line and sinker. As a fellow Rovers supporter said about Locke interviewing well 'Aye, so did Jack the Ripper, that's how he was let go'.

Smith either going to Morton or back to Dundee? McCann's demise must be imminent.

That'll do fine for me neebur.

Probably more to do with the fact she claims to support the Pars.

I always found that telling them to watch the trains whilst feeding them pies worked a treat when my kids were that age.

Was decent in flashes, but riled Rovers fans as much as opposition fans with some blatant diving. Bad enough people who can dive convincingly, but he was shocking at it. I reckon he had at least four bookings for simulation.

Am I right in suspecting the bigot brothers didn't have to wait a year for their money from the SFA?