THE Civil Service Strollers who play in the Lowland League East, the 5th tier of football in Scotland, are playing Formartine United from the Highland League in the 1st round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup this Saturday.
We are hoping for a good crowd at Christie Gillies Park at Marine Drive to cheer us on to a win and hopefully play one of the top SPFL teams in the next round.
Kick Off is 3.00pm Admission is £15 and Concessions are £8. Tickets can also be purchased on the Fanbase App
For more information about The Strollers see our website:
Saturday, 3 October 2026will see all twelve Utilita Energy Hubs across the UK come together to host National Football Rebooted Day 2026 – a nationwide community event designed to collect pre-loved football boots and make the beautiful game more accessible for families and young people.
Hosted simultaneously at Utilita Energy Hubs in Leith (Edinburgh), Hartlepool, Huddersfield, Blackburn, Sheffield, Derby, Leicester, West Bromwich, Luton, Shirley (Southampton), Gosport, and Newport (Isle of Wight), the event will encourage members of the public to donate unwanted football boots that can be refurbished and rehomed through the Football Rebooted initiative.
Club mascots will be on hand at each high street Hub to welcome fans and pose for selfies, while Football Rebooted Ambassador David James MBE will lead the national celebrations from Derby. Meanwhile, Southampton FC legend Francis Benali will visit the Shirley Hub in Southampton, and former Middlesbrough FC players David Wheater and Craig Hignett, alongside current women’s player Megan Borthwick, will make a special appearance at the Hartlepool Hub.
Visitors to the Leith Energy Hub in Edinburgh will be welcomed by a Hibs Club Mascot and invited to donate football boots via a dedicated Football Rebooted collection point. In return, donors will have the opportunity to enter prize draws featuring a range of rewards, including Hibernian FC football tickets, signed merchandise, an energy-efficient Air Fryer, and other spot prizes.
The day will also feature a range of interactive football-themed activities and competitions, including games such as ‘Guess the Footballer’ and the ‘Lace Race’, giving participants of all ages even more opportunities to win prizes while supporting a worthwhile cause.
Natasha Baillie, Leith’s Utilita Energy Hub Supervisor, said: “Everyone deserves the chance to enjoy the benefits of sport, no matter their background or financial situation. Football Rebooted Day is a fantastic opportunity for people across the UK to support their communities through a simple act of generosity.
“By donating a pair of football boots, supporters can help keep young players active in the game they love, while giving quality equipment a second life instead of sending it to landfill.”
Since its launch, Football Rebooted has helped thousands of pairs of football boots find a new home, reducing waste and helping remove one of the financial barriers that can prevent children and young people from participating in sport.
Members of the public are encouraged to bring along football boots in good, reusable condition and help kick-start a new journey for boots that might otherwise remain unused at home. All donated boots will be re-distributed to local football club foundations.
Event Details
The National Football Rebooted Day forms part of Utilita’s ongoing commitment to supporting communities through its nationwide network of Energy Hubs, which provide free advice, guidance and practical support to thousands of people every year.
A consortium led by Spartans main shareholder Scott Davidson have been given EFL/IFR approval to purchase Shrewsbury Town FC.
The deal has yet to be finalised and is yet to receive SFA approval. The proposed new Board of Shrewsbury Town FC will be chaired by Scott and will also include fellow Spartans directors Will Dotson and Craig Graham, subject to IFR clearance which is expected this week, as well as Brad Friedel the US International and ex Premier League goal-keeper.
There will be an informal relationship between Spartans FC and Shrewsbury Town FC which will allow both of us to benefit from sharing knowledge and experience.
We also both have excellent Community Foundations, this deal will provide valuable opportunities for collaboration and mutual learning.
Further information will be shared as the acquisition process proceeds.
Scotland’s future football stars will benefit from a £500,000 World Cup Fund officially launched by First Minister John Swinney during a visit to Barclays Hampden.
The fund will support a three-year programme delivered in partnership with the Scottish FA to strengthen elite youth development pathways for boys and girls across Scotland.
The programme will provide specialist support to clubs within the boys’ Club Academy Scotland – the national programme for developing young talent at club level – and girls’ Next Gen pathways, enhance player development opportunities and expand the use of performance insights and innovation across the game.
During the visit, the First Minister met young players, coaches and Scottish FA representatives to hear how the investment will help develop talent and support the next generation of Scotland internationals.
First Minister John Swinney said: “Scotland’s return to the World Cup reminded us all of what can be achieved through talent, hard work and ambition. Sport and physical activity can transform lives, and we want to support the next generation of talent in Scottish football.
“Alongside our £20 million Summer of Sport programme to get children and young people active, this World Cup Fund builds on that momentum by investing in the young people who could represent Scotland in years ahead and delivers on my commitment made for the Scottish Government’s first 100 days.
“Supporting both boys’ and girls’ pathways, this investment will help create more opportunities for talented young people, strengthen clubs and support the long-term future of Scottish football.”
Scottish FA’s Chief Football Officer, Craig Mulholland, said: “Scotland was gripped by our return to the World Cup stage this summer, and it united a nation in a way no other event can do.
“It had been too long, and our job is to make sure it’s a regular occurrence.
“We are delighted with the investment and support from the Scottish Government, on the back of their excellent Summer of Sport programme.
“This initiative aligns fully with our Scottish FA strategy. We will take a bespoke, creative, and innovative approach to supporting our club network through Club Academy Scotland, for our boys, and our girls’ Barclays NextGen pathways. Helping our clubs grow in a modern way, using objective insights that will significantly enhance the offering to young Scottish talent – creating better players and coaches.
“We need our young people in Scotland to have ambition and aspire to follow in the footsteps of the exceptional role models we have, such as Andy Robertson and Caroline Weir. Our task, working with the Scottish Government, is to provide the best environment for these dreams to be realised.
“In addition, the wider benefits of football – to the individual, families, communities, and country in general – are apparent.
“We need to harness the power of football, on and off the pitch.”
The £500,000 investment is part of a three-year programme, delivered in partnership with the Scottish FA, running from 2026-2029.
The Scottish Government will invest £500,000, with the Scottish FA contributing a further £85,000.
Big Hearts is leading a national partnership with four other well-established football charities in Scotland to tackle child poverty, through a £850,000 Whole Family partnership funding.
This partnership will establish five Centre Circle Whole Family Hubs across Edinburgh, Falkirk, Aberdeen, Inverclyde and East Ayrshire to support families experiencing financial hardship.
Centre Circle is an innovative model designed to help families access inclusive and preventative support at their local football ground:a place they already know and trust.
The partnership aims to support 500 families in its first year, through relationship-based, whole-family support that helps struggling households improve financial stability, wellbeing and resilience.
Big Hearts Community Trust, the charity of Heart of Midlothian FC, will lead on the Centre Circle partnership with four strategic delivery partners: Falkirk Football Community Foundation, Aberdeen FC Community Trust, Morton in the Community and The Killie Community.
Football sits at the heart of communities across Scotland, creating a welcoming and relaxed environment where people can connect and access support without judgement. Centre Circle will open a new chapter by combining local knowledge with a shared delivery framework and common outcomes across five regions.
Centre Circle is funded by the Whole Family Support Third Sector Delivery Fund. As part of its latest Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, the Scottish Government announced that our leading partner Big Hearts was one of 10 organisations selected through the £20 million Whole Family Support Third Sector Delivery Fund.
Craig Wilson, CEO of Big Hearts said: “Centre Circle is a new approach to deliver whole family support across local communities in Scotland through the driving force of the beautiful game.
“The £850,000 funding announced by the Scottish Government, with only 10 organisations supported for 2026/27, is a testament to the incredible work that has been delivered so far by Big Hearts and our key partners: Falkirk Football Community Foundation, Aberdeen FC Community Trust, Morton in the Community and The Killie Community.
“Football charities play a vital role in engaging with isolated and hard to reach families. Together, we believe Centre Circle can create transformative change with more resilient, connected and supported families.”
Watch England-Norway World Cup quarter-final clash on the big screen at Vue Edinburgh
Football fans can witness one of the most talked-about matches of the FIFA World Cup yet in spectacular fashion at Vue Edinburgh Omni as England face Norway in a blockbuster quarter-final clash this Saturday.
Following popular screenings of Scottish group matches at Vue venues across Scotland, fans will now have the opportunity to follow more of the action on the big screen, whether they are cheering on another home nation, or feeling Norwegian for the weekend!
Those wishing to enjoy some quarter-final drama with fellow fans can do so with the ultimate seat, screen and sound by coming along to Vue where every moment will play out on the big screen.
Kicking off at 22:00 BST, England will be aiming to take the next step towards World Cup glory, but standing in their way is a Norway side boasting world-class talent across the pitch.
Norway’s squad is packed with Premier League experience, with a host of players who know England’s stars inside out and will be hoping to use that knowledge to halt the Three Lions’ march to the semi-finals, while players like Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Declan Rice will look to do the same.
Harry Kane and Erling Haaland will step onto the biggest stage in world football as they continue their competition for the crown as the world’s best striker. With both the strikers aiming for the coveted golden boot, fans can expect a duel between two generational goalscorers in what promises to be one of the stand-out matches of the tournament.
Rachel Bland, Senior Screen Content Manager at Vue Entertainment, said: “Even though Scotland is out of the championship, we wanted to make sure fans here could continue to follow the action on the big screen after earlier successful screenings.
“No matter who you’re supporting, there’s no better place to experience the drama than at Vue. Our next-level screen and sound technology brings every tackle, every goal and every unforgettable moment to life, making you feel like you’re right there in the stadium.”
Vue’s Big Screen Sports line-up
Saturday: England vs Norway (Quarter-Final) – 22:00 BST
Ahead of Scotland’s first World Cup appearance since 1998, a squad of recognisable names took to the pitch in Edinburgh for a one-off match against the Scotmid Brazil squad.
To celebrate Scotland’s return to the World Cup, Scotmid staff, customers, suppliers, family and friends came together to make up a Scotland and a Brazil team.
Those playing for Scotland bore more than just a passion for the game – many of them shared a surname with the squad preparing to take on Brazil on 24 June.
Taking to the pitch were Gunn, McGinn, Ferguson, Ralston, Christie, Stewart, Robertson, Tierney and McKenna, who came together from across the country, united by their passion for football – and a desire to win.
Friends and family cheered from the stands as the match got underway and were treated to a energetic and exciting 90 minutes, which ended in an 11-9 victory for Scotland. Each player received a medal and a goodie bag packed with a range of Scottish favourites, with the winning team lifting the prestigious Champions Trophy.
The event celebrated Scotland’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, giving customers a day to remember through a celebration of community pride and national excitement.
Lauren Rafferty, Commercial Development Coordinator at Scotmid, said: “Scotland reaching the World Cup is a huge moment. We wanted to mark it in a way that would bring people together and give our customers their own moment on the pitch.
“It’s a bit of fun but it also reflects what Scotmid is all about: community, local pride and creating moments that people can enjoy together.”
While the result on the pitch may still be up for debate among those involved, the success of the event was clear, exciting the players for Scotland’s campaign – and a hope that their result is a foreshadow of Scotland’s World Cup success!
SCOTLAND fans are being helped through another late night of football as Specsavers, the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner of the Scottish FA, equip supporters with free eye drops and a pre-written sick note.
Steve Clarke’s Scotland side continue their World Cup campaign with an 11pm kick-off against Brazil on Wednesday night.
Following on from 2am and 11pm starts against Haiti and Morocco, it’ll be another late night for bleary eyed Scotland fans hoping the team can make it through the group stage for the first time.
However, this time, much to Susanna Reid and Ed Balls’ delight, there is no bank holiday scheduled for the day after to help Scotland fans support their team to the fullest.
Thankfully, Specsavers have stepped up to the plate to help, specially producing eye drops that fans can pick up for free from any of their 86 Scottish stores – helping to keep their eyes in tip-top condition for an evening of staring at the TV and, hopefully, partying.
And if Scotland were to do enough to make it through and the celebrations go on a little longer than expected, Specsavers have also produced a sick note for people looking to avoid work on Thursday morning.
Fans can access the sick note on Specsavers’ social media channels so they can inform their boss of their ‘very important eye test’ which means they won’t be back in work until after lunch.
Specsavers Scottish Divisional Chair, Laura Baird, says: ‘Nobody in Scotland will want to miss the Brazil match as we look to make history with our first successful major tournament group stage.
‘With the finals taking place across the pond, managing the time difference has been a challenge for fans watching at home, but luckily Specsavers are here to help.
‘We hope Scotland fans are watching on with joy and fresh eyes, with the option of a Thursday morning lie in up their sleeves as well!’
Specsavers renewed its sponsorship deal with the Scottish FA in 2024, becoming the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner and extending one of the longest-running partnerships in sport.
