Category: Sport

Caledonia Gladiators launch 2026/27 fixtures with greater value for fans

Scotland’s professional basketball club, Caledonia Gladiators, is encouraging fans to secure their seats for the 2026/27 season, with Season Tickets now offering greater value than ever across both the men’s and women’s teams.

Fixtures are now confirmed with the Gladiators returning to East Kilbride this September for their fourth season at the 1,600-capacity Arena at Playsport, with the new campaign bringing another season of top-level basketball to Scotland.

With players travelling from as far as the US and as close to home as Falkirk, fans can secure their place at every home game through a Season Ticket, with packages designed to make following the Gladiators throughout the season more accessible.

Season Tickets for the women’s team start from just £115, while men’s Season Tickets start from £280. Junior Season Tickets are available from £54, while families can follow the women’s team for £284 for a family of four, with a family Season Ticket for the men’s team available for £625.

The value-led pricing comes as the Gladiators continue to see their fanbase grow across both teams. Following the women’s historic campaign at the Playoff Finals earlier this year, Season Ticket sales for women’s games have already increased by 20%, highlighting the growing appetite for women’s basketball and the momentum behind the club.

Season Ticket holders become part of the new and exclusive Courtside Club to benefit from a host of exclusive perks, including a guaranteed seat at every home game, discounts, exclusive access to players, discounts with club partners and more.

Tony McDaid, CEO of Caledonia Gladiators, said: “We want to make following the Gladiators for the season as accessible and rewarding as possible, whether you’re a long-time supporter, a family coming to basketball for the first time or a fan who wants to make sure they never miss a game.

“We’ve introduced a new Season Ticket structure that we believe offers fantastic value across both our men’s and women’s teams, while giving supporters the chance to be part of everything we are building here in Scotland.

“In particular, we know how important families are to our club, so being able to offer junior Season Tickets from just £54 and family packages that make watching live basketball more affordable is something we’re really pleased to introduce.

“Our ambition is to build a basketball nation and our supporters are at the heart of that. A Season Ticket is more than just a seat – it’s the opportunity to be there for the big moments, support our players and be part of the Gladiators community throughout the season.”

Caledonia Gladiators will officially return to the court on 20 September 2026 at 4pm for the 2026/27 Season Opener, with the men taking on Super League Basketball’s newest team, Liverpool Basketball, for the first time.

With fixtures now confirmed, fans can secure their Season Tickets now and guarantee their seat for the campaign, while benefiting from the club’s new value-led pricing structure.

Season Tickets and individual game tickets are available now at:

caledoniagladiators.com.

Edinburgh Leisure opens applications for Talented Athlete Support Scheme

Talented local athletes can apply for free access to Edinburgh Leisure facilities to support their training and development

Following an inspiring summer of sport and the excitement of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Edinburgh Leisure is encouraging talented athletes across the capital to apply for the Edinburgh Talented Athlete Support Scheme (ETASS), which provides free access to facilities to support their training, recovery and development.

Delivered annually in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, National Governing Bodies of Sport and the Scottish Institute of Sport Network (SISN), ETASS helps reduce some of the practical barriers linked to performance sport.

Applications for the 2026/27 intake are now open and available until the 31 August.

Packed arenas, standout performances and stories of determination at this year’s Commonwealth Games highlighted the positive role sport can play in people’s lives. Edinburgh Leisure hopes that energy will encourage more talented athletes in Edinburgh to pursue their ambitions, with ETASS helping to make the facilities needed to train, recover and develop more accessible.

Angela McCowan, Sports Development Manager at Edinburgh Leisure, said: “Watching athletes compete on a major stage can be incredibly inspiring, especially for young people and emerging athletes who see what is possible through hard work, support and opportunity.

“The Commonwealth Games may have come to an end, but the impact they leave behind can last much longer. Through ETASS, we want to help talented athletes across Edinburgh take the next step by giving them access to facilities that can make a real difference to their development.”

Culture and Communities Convener Councillor Margaret Graham said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young and aspiring athletes to develop their skills in Edinburgh Leisure venues across the city.

“The Commonwealth Games will no doubt have been a source of inspiration, in particular Edinburgh’s own gold medal-winner and record holder Josh Kerr.

“By nurturing emerging talent like this the Edinburgh Talented Athlete Support Scheme is helping to encourage the Capital’s next generation of sporting stars.”

Successful applicants will be able to use Edinburgh Leisure gyms, swimming pools and athletics tracks to support key areas of their training, including strength and conditioning, endurance work, recovery and rehabilitation.

Athletes interested in applying can find full details, eligibility criteria and application information on the Edinburgh Leisure website.

To learn more and apply, visit: Edinburgh Talented Athlete Support Scheme

High five for Musselburgh Racecourse shortlisted in major industry awards

Musselburgh Racecourse leads the field with five nominations in the racing industry’s RCA Showcase Awards.

The East Lothian track has been shortlisted in the marketing, food & beverage, raceday, Racing Post Readers’ Award and the RCA/ROA Owner’s Racecourse of the Year categories.

York Racecourse is in the running with four nominations while all five Scottish racecourses have been nominated, with Hamilton Park listed in three categories.

Musselburgh’s hugely popular Corgi Derby on the opening day of the Flat season – which attracted national headlines – is in the running for winning the marketing award, while the annual Luca’s Ice Cream Family Day is listed in the Raceday award.

In the Racecourse of the Year category, Musselburgh is up against strong opposition from Newbury, York, Bangor-on-Dee and Hamilton Park.

The eight core categories in the Showcase Awards are chosen to reflect the diverse operation of a racecourse, while two public-voted awards offering customers the opportunity to have their say and crown their racecourse of the year in raceday and owners’ experience.

Paul Swain, Head of Raceday Experience & Communications at the RCA, said: “This list represents the best of British racecourses over the past 12 months and demonstrates their commitment to providing a fantastic experience for participants and racegoers alike.

“Our independent judging panel commented on the high standard of entries this year which was evident when considering the scores awarded. There is an abundance of best practice that should be replicated across the sport and the RCA will ensure this is front and centre of our raceday experience programme in 2024.”

The Showcase Awards ceremony will be hosted by Aintree Racecourse on 23 November.

Power to the People: double event this week

Power1

Please see below publicity advertising  two information and discussion sessions being hosted by the Power to the People group this  week. Continue reading Power to the People: double event this week

Congratulations, Hearts – and NEN told you so!

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Heart s won the Scottish Football Championship title this afternoon without kicking a ball. Rangers victory over nearest challengers Hibs at Easter Road was enough to ensure the Tynecastle men secured the title.

Hearts topped the league after a victory over Rangers on day one and have never been headed in a remarkable season – the Jam Tarts have been relentless and have built up an unassailable 23 point lead at the top of the league with seven matches still remaining.

Hearts have lost only once during a dream campaign: sitting on 78 points, they’ve won 25 and drawn three of the league matches they’ve played so far, with the one blot being a 3-2 home defeat by Falkirk.

They have scored 84 goals along the way – that tally includes ten scored in a remarkable record-breaking 10-0  victory over Cowdenbeath. Worthy champions indeed – Rangers and Hibs will continue to slug it out for runner-up spot until the end of the season, but who remembers who finishes second?

Hearts’ success is down to meticulous planning, preparation and attention to detail both on and off the pitch, as head coach Robbie Neilson acknowledged. He told fans: “It’s a fantastic achievement and a great day for the club. It’s also testament to the support we’ve had from the fans, it’s also due to the hard work from Ann Budge, Craig Levein and all of the players. Everything that we have asked them to do, they have done it and they deserve every minute of it.

“The key factor has been the hard work from the players. They have bought into the changes made to the training regime. They have worked hard and they deserve everything. I couldn’t ask any more of them, every day at training they give everything. Every game they give me everything and to a man they have been fantastic this season.”

Few would have predicted Hearts’ rags-to-riches revival this season – the pundits, the experts to a man (and woman) predicted Rangers would land the title crown. The Scotsman, Express, The Hun Sun and Daily Ranger Record all said the league trophy would head to Ibrox. BBC Scotland’s Sportsound team confidently said the same.

Only one lone voice spoke from the wilderness:

‘No, it’s Hibs rivals Hearts who are poised to complete a remarkable resurrection. The club now has something the other contenders lack – stability – and the management team, knowing that Hearts were almost certain to be relegated at the end of last season, has meticulously planned this seasons’s campaign with that in mind.

The players brought in appear to have one thing in common – for different reasons, each has a point to prove – and there’s a quiet confidence emanating from down Gorgie way. Whisper it, but don’t be surprised if the Jambos go on to lift the title.’

Yes, you’ve guessed it … step forward your community newspaper North Edinburgh News. NEN – finger on the pulse of Scottish football!

Auld Reekie to face Cambridge Rollerbillies

Tickets to the next Auld Reekie Roller Girls game just £5 when you sign up to the league’s newsletter

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ARRG’s all-women roller derby team the All-Star Reserves hope to hit, whip and skate their way to victory against Cambridge Rollerbillies when they clash this Saturday. 

The game will bring all the big hits and speedy skating to fans rooting for the Edinburgh girls to complete an Oxbridge double, after beating an Oxford team last month.

All Star Reserves’ captain Kiki said: “We’re so pumped for the last All Star Reserves game of the season and can’t wait to channel our amazing training into this game!”

However, the Cambridge team comes fresh from winning the Heartland Series tournament of 24 English and Welsh teams, with a stunning 184-59 score against Plymouth City Roller Girls. The Cambridge skaters have proved themselves fit, speedy and strong and are sure to bring their new skills and strategy to their game against Auld Reekie.

The All-Star Reserves hope to get loud support from the Edinburgh crowd on their home ground at Meadowbank Sports Centre in a fast and fierce demonstration of athleticism on wheels.

Supporters can also snap up merchandise and tuck into home-made cakes at the game on Saturday (28 February) from 2pm.

Tickets for Auld Reekie Roller Girls’ All Star Reserves vs Cambridge Rollerbillies are £8 on the door or £7 from the Brown Paper Tickets website. (www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1017167)

Free entry for children aged under 14 and only £5 if you sign up to the ARRG newsletter on the arrg.co.uk website.

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AARG! Roller girls head south for opening encounter

While it seems like half of Wales has moved up here for the rugby this weekend, a city team is heading the other way …

rocki-300x200The Auld Reekie Roller Girls, Edinburgh’s Roller Derby team, are on their way to Wales this weekend to compete in the first leg of the UK’s first ever progression and relegation based roller derby tournament. 

The tournament includes teams from Scotland, England and Wales, and Auld Reekie are delighted to have been invited into the six-team Premier Division. The team take on the first of their rivals, Middlesbrough, in Newport this weekend.

Captains Skinn’er Alive and Lilo and Stitches said:  ‘We are so excited to be playing this tournament. The teams involved are playing the highest level roller derby in the UK and we are thrilled to be part of it. All six teams in the premier division are amazing, so it’ll be really exciting to see the games play out’.

This season sees a few new faces on the ARRG All Stars, and the team is looking stronger than ever. The Middlesbrough team are not to be taken lightly, however, currently ranking fifth in the UKRDA rankings.

Not only have Auld Reekie got new players, but they’ve got a new name too! This will be the first time the ‘All Stars’ have played – they were previously known as the Twisted Thistles. 2015 saw a new streamlined look for Auld Reekie, as they dropped the team names and are now known as the All Stars and the All Star Reserves.

The Reserves have already had one win this year, with a second home game to come at Meadowbank on 28 February, so the All Stars are looking to follow their lead and take home a win this weekend too.

The All Stars are confident; they’ve been working tirelessly all off-season and are looking to build on their new skills and tactics over the season to come. This being the opening weekend, it promises to prove a pretty exciting game!

If you would like to see the next leg of Champs, the All Stars will be playing at home at Meadowbank on 2 May.

visit AARG website at www.arrg.co.uk. 
ARRG Facebook: www.facebook.com/auldreekierollergirls
ARRG Twitter: https://twitter.com/auldreekierg

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Battling Spartans leave it late

 … but the Hibs go marching on!

The equaliser

Ally MacKinnon is – The Equaliser!

Two Edinburgh teams will go into Monday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final draw – just. A late, late show at Ainslie Park saw Spartans strike deep into injury time to force a replay at Berwick, while Hibs safely negotiated a potential banana-skin when they comfortably saw off Arbroath at Easter Road. Shock of the round was Rangers tame surrender to Raith Rovers at Ibrox.

Spartans fell behind to an early Berwick goal and were often second-best during a stirring encounter played in front of a full house at Ainslie Park. Just as in the last round, however, the Lowland League saved the best ’til last. Deep into stoppage time Ally MacKinnon fired home a equaliser that sent the crowd into raptures and ensured wee Spartans live to fight another day. The replay will take place on Tuesday 17 February, and it will take another never-say-die performance to see the local lads progress.

Easter Road couldn’t match Ainslie Park for drama on Saturday, although Hibs did have to come from a goal down to dispose of fourth-tier league leaders Arbroath. A well-worked move saw Kieran Stewart open the scoring for the visitors, but Hibs fans’ nerves were soothed when Djedje equalised with a sweetly struck volley just before half-time.

Hibs continued to dominate after the break, although there was a lot of huffing and puffing to little effect. The introduction of McGeogh brought a sense of purpose to Hibs’ already dominant midfield, however, and it was no surprise when the Easter Road men immediately capitalised on their superiority.

Hibs’ second had more than a touch of good fortune about it – a Cummings shot that wasn’t going to trouble the ‘keeper took a wicked deflection off defender Liam Gordon on the hour mark – and the Easter Road men quickly followed up to seal their place in the quarter finals with a Dylan McGeoch strike in 68 minutes. More workmanlike than spectacular, this was a case of ‘job done’; sterner tests await.

It will be Rangers, however, that will make all the Monday headlines – but once again it will be for all the wrong reasons.

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Just when you think it really can’t get any worse for Rangers, it gets worse. This Rangers ‘team’ – I use the term loosely – simply couldn’t match an honest Raith Rovers side for determination, energy, effort or endeavour. Barely 11,000 diehard Rangers fans turned up to watch the debacle – these are dreadful times indeed for a once-great club. It’s not funny anymore – even when the coup de grace, the final indignity, is delivered by the oft-ridiculed figure of fun that is Christian Nade.

After today’s showing, the Ibrox Board might consider relocating their Extraordinary General Meeting from the London’s sumptuous Dorchester Hotel to somewhere more fitting with their current status.

Suggestions welcome …

Elsewhere, there were few surprises. Hot favourites Celtic scored early and were never in any danger against Dundee, Falkirk beat Brechin 2-1 and Inverness CT edged a narrow victory at Partick Thistle.  Result of the day was Championship side Queen of the South’s 2-0 victory over Scottish Cup holders St Johnstone with second half goals by Lyle (48) and Reilly (90). On Sunday, Dundee United made short work of Stranraer. Three up at half-time, the Tangerines coasted to an easy victory.

Darts supremo Gary Anderson will help make the draw for the quarter-finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup on Monday afternoon. The current PDC World Champion will be joined by the Scottish FA First Vice-President, Alan McRae and Joe McCallum from competition sponsors William Hill. The draw takes place at 2pm and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports News. You can also follow the draw on the @ScottishFA Twitter feed.

Teams going into the hat are:

Berwick Rangers or Spartans

Celtic

Dundee United 

Falkirk

Hibernian

Inverness CT

Queen of the South

Raith Rovers