Tag: football

Stop and Search: Section 60 authorised in city centre and Leith ahead of Sunday’s derby match

POLICE have responded to a number of incidents of football-related disorder and violence in Edinburgh in recent months. As a result, Chief Superintendent David Robertson has authorised the use of powers under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

This allows officers to stop and search people where this is appropriate and necessary, either in vehicles or on foot.

This power allows officers to require the removal of any item the officer believes is being used wholly or partly for the purposes of concealing their identity.

The Section 60 stop and search power will be in force in various areas, including the city centre and Leith, from 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday, 2 March,2025.

It will be used responsibly and when justified to help prevent disorder and serious violence.

Chief Superintendent David Robertson said: “Over the past few months, we have responded to several incidents of disorder and violence linked to football events in Edinburgh.

“Attacks on police officers, possession of offensive weapons or dangerous instruments, and attempts to evade justice by concealing their identity will not be tolerated. Our officers will take all necessary action to ensure public safety.

“This type of behaviour impacts the local community and the vast majority of football fans who simply want to enjoy these events safely.”

Rethink kick-off times during 2026 FIFA World Cup to protect footballers from extreme heat, report warns

Almost 90 per cent of stadiums hosting the 2026 World Cup could face potentially dangerous levels of heat, Queen’s University research has revealed.

With climate change and extreme heat becoming a growing problem for sport, some governing bodies for football recommend delaying or postponing games if a metric of heat stress termed “wet bulb globe temperatures” reaches above 28°C.

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Dr Donal Mullan from Queen’s University has modelled this metric using 20 years of meteorological data to predict how hot the host stadiums are likely to get if it’s an average summer or a more extreme one.

Of the 16 stadiums, 14 could exceed the potentially dangerous 28°C level at least some of the time – with up to nine stadiums facing this heat at least half the time in a hot summer. Four stadiums could also reach a more dangerous 32°C level of extreme heat.

His research shows that temperatures are likely to be at their peak in the afternoon, when games are usually scheduled. Outside afternoon hours, levels of extreme heat reduce greatly at all host stadiums.

Dr Mullan comments: “Climate change and extreme heat are becoming bigger issues for all areas of our lives, and this includes sport.

“After analysing 20 years of data, our modelling shows that high temperatures are extremely likely, and these will have a major impact on players. We can see that afternoons are the peak time for higher temperatures, regardless of whether 2026 turns out to be an average or hot summer.

“To protect players, and spectators, organisers must rethink the timing of games. The best solution would be rescheduling kick-off times outside the hottest afternoon hours for the locations with highest temperatures, especially those without air conditioning. This is primarily Miami and Monterrey, but also Philadelphia, Kansas City, Boston and New York.”

The research findings have been published in The International Journal of Biometeorology.

The research was led by Dr Donal Mullan from the School of Natural and Built Environment at Queen’s University Belfast. He worked with a team of researchers from a range of universities across the UK and Canada.

Coaching opportunities at Spartans

Unleash your passion for football and make a real difference in North Edinburgh! We are on the hunt for dynamic and inspiring sessional coaches to join our thriving Football Development Department where, you’ll do more than coach, you’ll contributing to changing lives and supporting the community of North Edinburgh.

Be part of a team delivering top-tier commercial football programmes and driving social impact in local schools. We’re looking for enthusiastic, high-energy and engaging coaches who can ignite the love of the game in grassroots players aged 3-15 years.

If you’re ready to inspire the next generation of footballers and create a lasting impact in your community, this is your chance!

Applications close on 3rd February at 5pm.

Find out more about the opportunity here: https://www.spartanscf.com/…/we-are-hiring-community…

Spartans: Weekend Little Dribblers classes for wee ones

NEW INDOOR SESSIONS AT CRAIGROYSTON COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

Looking to introduce your wee ones to football this year? We have the answer!

Our Little Dribblers class for kids aged 3-4 years runs on both Saturdays and Sundays.

You can choose our new indoors session at Craigroyston Community High School on Saturdays or outdoors at Ainslie Park on a Sunday.

https://scf.classforkids.io

Sean Woodburn Memorial Trust support for local footballers

Craigroyston Community Youth Football Club would like to take this opportunity to thank Denise Syme of the Shaun Woodburn Memorial Trust for their very generous donation of £1,465.

This donation will go towards helping our teams who are travelling to Craig Tara Tournament in May 2025.

The purpose of the Shaun Woodburn Memorial Trust was to raise funds for children up to 18 yrs of age and to help them in any sporting endeavour that they have. The fund is registered as an SCIO in Scotland and is registered with the appropriate government bodies.

The funds generated by the Trust will be used to help individuals, and clubs to purchase equiptment to be used in any sporting endeavour, football, rugby, hockey, basketball etc, these funds will only be used within Edinburgh and the Lothians and focusing on the more under priveliged areas of our community.

Shaun was a very talented young man, and not only in a sporting sense.

He regularly sponsored and mentored others in various ways , particularly fitness, and the trustees are all family and close friends of Shaun , and as such we are determined to keep his legacy going forward into the future.

Thank you from all at Craigroyston CYFC

Special offer from Civil Service Strollers

There are no SPFL games this weekend, so why not come to Christie Gillies Park on Marine Drive for your football fix?

You can watch The Strollers battle it out with Irvine Meadow XI for a place in the 5th round of the SFA South Challenge Cup.

As a special bonus for coming along, we’ll let you watch another home game for free!

Here’s how the offer works :-

send us a personal message to let us know your coming and which game you want to watch for free (choose from the list below),

check in at the gate this Saturday, and pay the relevant admission.

You can then look forward to your chosen free game!

Thats it!

We look forward to seeing you and are sure you’ll enjoy both games!

Thanks

Strollers welcome Gretna on Saturday

The Civil Service Strollers are back in Lowland League action at Christie Gillies Park, on Marine Drive, this Saturday,  when they play Gretna 2008.

The Strollers are looking to extend their 3 game winning run having previously beaten, Gala Fairydean, Cumbernauld and Broxburn.

K.O – 3.00pm

Admission- Adults £9, Concessions £5, Under 16 Free with accompanying adult.

Bar & Club shop open from 1.30pm.

Snacks and light refreshments available pitchside.

Visit our website at www.csstrollers.com

Strollers up for the Cup

The Civil Service Strollers who are based at Christie Gillies Park on Marine Drive are on their way to Ayrshire this Saturday as they take on Irvine Meadow in the 2nd round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup (writes CHARLES LAING).

The Strollers have been in fine form this month,  winning their last 4 games and moving up to 9th in the Scottish Lowland League after defeating Broxburn on Saturday.

They also beat Dalry Thisle also from Ayrshire to reach the 4th round of the South Scottish Challenge Cup – thanks in no small part to striker Mackie Scott, who bagged 5 goals in 3 games!

So it’s fingers crossed for a good result and one step closer to a final at Hampden Park versus Hibs or Hearts!

Help Craigroyston kids play in Craig Tara football tournament

Craigroyston YFC 2013 year group are trying to raise funds to attend a big football tournament in Craig Tara.

It’s a big cost for parents who may struggle to go but don’t want to let their kid to miss out. We have 4 mile sponsored walk, race night, bake sale, raffles and loads of other things happening but one of the mum’s has also set up a crowdfunding page.

You’ can find out more and make a donation here:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/craigroyston2025

Arrests after Hibs vs Motherwell game

Six people have been arrested following incidents of violence and disorder in the St Andrew’s Square area after the Hibs v Motherwell match last night (Saturday 5 October).

An investigation is under way to identify further individuals involved.

UPDATE:

Four males, aged 16, 17, 18 and 22, have been charged in connection with incidents of violence and disorder in St Andrew Square, Edinburgh after Hibs v Motherwell yesterday.

Two others were released without charge.

The males have been released to appear in court at a later date.