All set for city showdown

The Championship’s form teams lock horns when Hearts meet Hibs at Tynecastle today. The Gorgie men have established a seemingly unassailable lead at the top of the table but Hibs impressive victory over Rangers last weekend gives them hope that they can end their rival’s unbeaten run.

Everything has gone right for Hearts this season; never mind just the ‘talk o’ the toon’, the Tynecastle club’s transformation has been the talk of Scottish football. In a wee media world where Glesca remains the centre of the football universe, Rangers ongoing woes still capture most of the headlines but there’s been a quiet revolution taking place at Tynecastle.

The club has embraced a radical business idea – well, the football business, anyway – where you only spend as much as you take in and you don’t buy things you can’t afford to pay for! I know, it sounds crazy but it seems to be working so far for Hearts; call me delusional but maybe one day all cubs will operate this way – the ones that survive, anyway.

Living in the real world has done Hearts no harm, either. The club has established a fifteen point gap at the top of the table and has gone eighteen league games unbeaten – the sole remaining unbeaten club in the British leagues. Fans have flocked back in their thousands. It’s working.

Hearts have dropped just four points all season and that’s mainly down mainly to organisation and the increasing confidence that goes with a successful run. Hearts started the season with a win over Rangers and have topped the table ever since – week after week they have continued to relentlessly grind out results (even when they haven’t played well) with a consistency none of the challengers can match. It’s a winning mentality that’s become ingrained.

Hibs performance against Rangers last weekend was mighty impressive – the best ninety minutes the Easter Road men have enjoyed for years. Critics point to a woeful Rangers side but very few teams could have resisted the Hibs we saw last week. The problem is, though, consistency – what Hibs team will we see today? The buccaneering, free-flowing, attacking cavaliers of last week or the timid, disorganised, nervous bunch of individuals who too often underperform against sides they should comfortably see off?

If it’s the former, we’re in for a treat – facing Hearts at Tynecastle is a formidable test and it will be fascinating to see just how far Stubbs’ team has progressed. If it’s the latter, Hearts will bully them and brush them aside.

You don’t need an extra incentive in an Edinburgh derby, but for Hearts it’s surely to keep that unbeaten record intact while Hibs fans would take an awful lot of pleasure if their team was to bring that Tynecastle run to a crashing halt. Realistically it’s too late to mount a serious challenge to Hearts, but a victory over Hearts would get the New Year off to just the right start for Hibees.

Hearts go into today’s game without front men Dale Carrick, Soufian El Hassnaoui and Osman Sow, while defender Kevin McHattie is also an absentee. Lack of front men has not proved too much of an inconvenience in the league campaign so far, however – and who better than Director of Football Craig Levein to offer Robbie Neilson some sage advice about setting up a team without a recognised striker!

Hibs have been boosted by news that talismanic striker Dominique Malonga is available after being given special dispensation to delay his trip to the African Nations Cup with Congo. Neither Jordon Forster or Dylan McGeouch are likely to figure today and Farid El Alagui is also ruled out.

Key men today are likely to be Hibs’ Scott Allan, who was immense against Rangers and has impressed all season, and Hearts’ influential midfielder Morgaro Gomis but there are likely to be key personal duels going on all over the park and it’s just as likely that a totally unexpected match winner will be today’s derby hero.

I don’t expect any silky, flowing football but I do expect drama and excitement and I hope it’s the players, and not the match officials, who make tomorrow’s headlines.

If Hearts take something from today’s testing encounter there’s every reason to believe that they can negotiate the remainder of their league games without defeat. That would be a mighty achievement, and it’s enough of an incentive to convince me that Hearts won’t allow themselves to be beaten today – I predict a score draw.

No New Year Belles for roller girls!

It’s been a year to remember for Auld Reekie Roller Girls – and there’s a lot to look forward to in the year ahead too …

2014 was another exciting year for Auld Reekie Roller Girls (AARG).

January saw us embark upon our third annual intraleague Home Season – and, as we’ve witnessed for the past two years, we saw the Skatefast Club and the Leithal Weapons make it to the final, but this year, for the first time, the amazing Skatefast Club took the title!

February was a busy month of training for us all, and in March the Twisted Thistles played a closed game against Tiger Bay Brawlers, and won.

May saw the Thistles head off to Oregon to compete in the Big O tournament, whilst our Cannon Belles took on Newcastle at home, and won.

We had our annual awards ball in June, which is an amazing celebration of our work both on and off skates, and a lovely excuse to get dressed up and have a night out.

In August we played our annual Fringe games, first our Belles took on Dirty River Roller Girls and then the Thistles faced London Roller Girls Brawl Saints. Sadly we were defeated on both occasions, but the Belles did not feel defeated and they went on to beat Hamburg at home in September. Nor were the Thistles, who also came out with a win when Royal Windsor Rollergirls came to play.

Then, the Belles headed off to Oslo for a tournament with some really highly ranked opponents; Oslo Roller Derby and Dock City Roller Girls. The tournament was incredibly hard and both games saw us defeated, but we fought hard for every point, coming home and ready for the last game of the year, against Malmo’s B team and ended the year on a high with a comfortable win.

And so another year ends, but this time with some BIG changes afoot for 2015.

First and most excitingly, the Thistles and Belles are no more! We have retired these names and as of January 1st, the teams will be known as the Auld Reekie Roller Girls All Stars and All Star Reserves.

This is an exciting movement forward for us, and we are super excited. We’ve also seen big changes with our home season, which is now taking place at the end of the year, from September to November. By the time it comes around, we’ll have a massive number of new skaters in the league so it will definitely not be one to miss.

We’ve also got a lot of really exciting games planned for this year, including being part of the British Champs Premier League where we will play with the other top 4 leagues in the UK to battle it out for the top spot! Look out for more information on that.

We hope to see more and more fans at our home games, and for more information on the fixtures, check on arrg.co.uk or for any enquiries, email communications@arrg.co.uk.

Here’s to 2015!

Auld Reekie Roller Girls

Living wage: there's nae other team to compare to the Hearts!

Heart of Midlothian have scored with anti-poverty campaigners after the Gorgie team became the first football club in Scotland to pay all staff the living wage.

The decision will see all club employees paid at least £7.85 per hour – £1.35 more than the national minimum wage.

Hearts currently top their league by a wide margin and a return to the top flight at the first time of asking looks inevitable. Off the park, the club is doing things right too – and with their profile sky high it’s hoped that where Hearts lead, others will follow.

The Scottish Living Wage Accreditation Initiative was launched in April to provides support and advice to organisations. It’s delivered by The Poverty Alliance, and director Peter Kelly has welcomed Hearts’ initiative. He said: “Almost two in three children in poverty in Scotland live in a household where someone works, and the living wage is a vital tool in lifting people out of in work poverty.

“Football clubs have an important role in communities across Scotland. With thousands of people turning out every week to support their local clubs, they can play an important leadership role, not only for fans but for the businesses they work with.

“I hope that more clubs will follow Heart of Midlothian’s example but not only giving their staff a pay rise this Christmas, but by showing real leadership on this issue on and off the pitch.”

A Heart of Midlothian spokesperson said the move was in keeping with the club’s values. “Heart of Midlothian Football Club is delighted to be given accreditation to become a living wage employer.

“The club feels that implementing the living wage is entirely in keeping with the values that we hold dear as Edinburgh’s oldest football club. Since revealing our intention to implement the living wage the club has received widespread backing from both our supporters and sponsors.”

More than 70 employers are now accredited as paying the living wage, but there’s a long way to go – in Scotland, it’s estimated that at least 414,000 workers are currently paid below the living wage.

Scottish Cup: super Spartans are ecstatic!

Can high-flying Hearts complete capital cup treble?

With Hibs and Spartans safely through to the last sixteen of the Scottish Cup, all eyes with be on Tynecastle this afternoon – can high-flying Hearts make it a capital cup treble?

Both Hibs and Spartans came from behind in their fourth round ties yesterday.

The biggest upset of the day belonged to local Lowland League side Spartans, who came from behind to defeat Greenock Morton at Ainslie Park. A stoppage time strike by Beasley created history for the local team – giant-killers Spartans will now take their place in the last sixteen for the first time in their history.

Andrew Barrowman gave Morton a first half lead, but Spartans battled back and levelled through Willie Bremner in the second half. The tie seemed to be heading for a replay but Jack Beesley’s late late show secured a superb Spartans victory.

“The players in the second half were magnificent,” Samuel told BBC Scotland. “When we scored we were certainly going to go for the win – we weren’t playing for the replay, that’s for sure!”

Hibs successfully negotiated a tricky away tie at Alloa. Hibs fans may have feared the worst when Meggatt fired Alloa ahead in fifteen minutes – some Hibs teams of recent vintage would have wilted after going behind – but Alan Stubbs current side is seemingly made of sterner stuff and first half goals by Liam Craig and David Gray saw them safely through to Monday’s draw.

Now Hearts have the chance to make it a capital cup treble. All’s well with the world at Tynecastle these days: Mr Romanov is a distant memory, business is brisk and the team sits proudly at the top of the table, with the likes of Rangers and Hibs trailing in their wake.

Celtic are Scotland’s top team, but they’ve seldom fired on all cylinders this season and another European defeat in midweek exposed their frailties and showed they are far from the finished article.

Yes, Celtic should be too strong for Hearts this afternoon but all the pressure is on the Parkhead side – Hearts go into the game having comprehensively beaten their main title rivals Rangers last weekend and confidence is sky high. The Gorgie boys have nothing to lose by having a real go today. If Celtic do not perform, they will lose.

Both teams have injury worries ahead of this afternoon’s clash.

Hearts have Prince Bauben back in the squad but defender Kevin McHattie has been ruled out with medial ligament damage. Captain Danny Wilson and striker Osman Sow are also doubtful.

Celtic also have three injury concerns. Influential midfielder Charlie Mulgrew is struggling with a rib injury picked up during Thursday’s Europa League defeat by Salzburg and Jason Denayer is also unlikely to feature. Defender Mikael Lustig is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Four SPFL Scottish Premiership sides exited the tournament at the first attempt yesterday – Aberdeen, Motherwell, Hamilton Academicals and Ross County have gone already. Will Celtic join them?

AARG! Exciting news from Auld Reekie Roller GIrls!

Change of season for city team now world-ranked 60!

We are excited to announce that the Auld Reekie Roller Girls Intraleague Home Season for 2015 is being held at a new time!

As our loyal fans will know, for the past three years we have run our Home Season from January – April. However, 2014 has seen our league take on a lot of new directions as we continue to grow, not only in number but in standing in the roller derby world.

In the past year, we have gone from being ranked #103 with WFTDA to being #60 in the world. That’s right, our wee Scottish team are the 60th best in the WORLD!

We are super proud of what we have achieved. We plan to continue this until we are #1, so we’ve made some changes and moved some things around – and that includes our Home Season!

So, exciting … we will now have our Home Season from September – November 2015! Keep a look out for dates which will be announced later next year.

Because this means we have a whole batch of amazing new rookie skaters who are having to wait a little bit longer to show off their skills in public, we are super excited to announce that we will be holding our first ever InARRGuration game on 30 November!

This is a closed game – friends and family of skaters only – but our whole league will be out in force to cheer on our new guys! The skaters who are making ARRG history have been teamed up as follows:

TEAM GREEN:

Bruiser Black #369, CirqueduSlay #23, Comet Sans #88, emKa#17, Harlot Bronte #303, Hex #71, Klara #14, Lannthrax#92 (guest – New Town Roller Girls), Major Vengeance #1984, Pummela#321, Shamonster#123, Trojan Virus #526, McSpeedy#145, Rage More #96, Bench – Chasing Katy. LUM –BintImperial

TEAM BLACK:

Bacon Roll #4, Ba Humbug #0131, Bunsen BurnHer #61, Coco Schnell – #39 (guest from Newcastle Roller Girls), Calamity Pain #808, Diamond Slayher #10, Jammy Mammie #333, Khal JoJo – #H2O (guest from Newcastle Roller Girls), Looney Tunes #148, Mairi #99, Pukeahontas #92, Roxy Rebel # 31F (guest from Fierce Valley Roller Girls), Teapot Rebellion #24, Tank Girl #46, Bench – DeeDee. LUM – Shiv

We are as excited as they are to watch their first ever inARRGuration game!

GO ARRG!!!”

http://arrg.co.uk/inarrguration-game/

'Auld enemy' clash to help boost Ebola response

Government to match up to £5 m of public donations to UNICEF’s Ebola appeal

The British government will support a major fundraising appeal to help children who have been made orphans because of Ebola in Sierra Leone.

Up to £5 million of donations from members of the British public to UNICEF’s Ebola appeal will be matched by the UK Government, providing urgent support for families and children living under the threat of the disease.

Building on the success of SoccerAid, UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s organisation, will use the upcoming Scotland v England football match to boost their emergency appeal. Britain and Sierra Leone share a mutual love of the beautiful game, making this appeal particularly poignant due to the fact that football matches in Sierra Leone have been cancelled since August.

Ebola has put thousands of children in danger with many being orphaned by the disease. With schools closed, children have been cut off from their friends and many are fighting for survival on a daily basis. This funding will help care for and protect some of the most vulnerable children, especially those who have lost their parents and are in desperate need of food and other supplies.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “The UK has secured real action from G20 leaders here in Brisbane but the generosity of the British people in helping those caught up in the Ebola crisis in West Africa has been second to none. That’s why we will match up to £5m of the money raised during Tuesday’s match, helping to make a real difference to the families and children living under the threat of the disease.”

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: “This week’s Scotland v England match will give the British public the chance to show their support for UNICEF’s Ebola appeal in Sierra Leone.

“By matching pound for pound all public donations to the appeal we will help UNICEF give double the support to children who have been orphaned and had their lives turned upside down by this dreadful disease.”

This is the second time the Government has activated the UK Aid Match Scheme in response to Ebola, underlining the unprecedented nature of this outbreak. The British people have already responded generously to the DEC appeal and again the government is helping this appeal go twice as far by matching donations from the UK public pound-for-pound.

The UK has committed £230 million to date supporting the global effort to contain, control and defeat the disease in Sierra Leone. This includes:

Supporting 700 treatment beds to help up to 8,800 patients over 6 months;
Opening up to 200 Community Care Centres where people who suspect they might be suffering from the disease can seek swift and accurate diagnosis and appropriate care;
Building, running and staffing three new labs in Sierra Leone to help check the spread of the deadly Ebola virus, quadrupling the number of tests that can be carried out every day;
Supporting NGOs on the ground to work with people to agree practices which will allow them to honour their friends and relatives, while ensuring bodies are safely buried;
Doubling the number of burial teams in Freetown – and providing twenty more across the country. We have already made extensive progress on this, with UK support burial teams in the western area, which accounts for approximately a third of Sierra Leone’s population, are now burying 100% of reported bodies within 24 hours and,
Supporting a command and control centre to manage burials and Ebola patients across Freetown and the Western area.

In addition, RFA Argus and three Merlin helicopters are in Sierra Leone to deliver transportation and logistical support for medical teams and aid experts working in the country. In total, around 800 military personnel have been deployed to help with the establishment of Ebola treatment centres and an Ebola training academy.

Spartans look to bumper home support to sink Clyde

East meets West in Scottish Cup Third Round clash

The Spartans are hoping that Hearts and Hibs fans with a free weekend will swell the ranks of the Spartan Army as they face the challenge of Barry Ferguson’s Clyde in the third round of The Scottish Cup at Ainslie Park this afternoon.

Both clubs go into today’s clash in fine form. Spartans are enjoying a ten match unbeaten run, and while the local club are underdogs they are looking forward to the opportunity to tackle the SPFL2 side.

Spartans Manager Dougie Samuel said: “We go into Saturday’s game in a healthy position, with arguably nothing to lose. Playing against higher ranked opposition means that we find ourselves in the unusual position of going into a home game as genuine underdogs; that said, it’s a tag we will set out to enjoy.”

Clyde have been making steady progress under ex-Ranger Barry Ferguson and, unbeaten in five games, currently sit in sixth place in SPFL2 The ‘Bully Wee’ have a fine Scottish Cup history and, as the ‘big’ team in the tie, start the game as firm favourites.

Can Spartans defy the odds? It promises to be a cracker, and don’t be too surprised if the two sides have to do it all again at Broadwood on 8 November.

Kick off today is 3pm.

Admission is by cash at the gate: £8 for adults, £5 for concessions and FREE entry for all under-12s. Due to the anticipated crowd at Ainslie Park, entry will be via the turnstiles at Pilton Drive and Pilton Avenue (open from 2pm).

Strollers strive to stamp out sectarianism

Civil Service Strollers club secretary Keith Stewart writes about an initiative to tackle a problem that continues to blight our ‘beautiful game’:

Civil Service Strollers is the only football club in Edinburgh that has received funding from the Scottish Government’s Voluntary Action Fund to undertake workshops on understanding sectarianism and how it affects the community.

We recognise the problem sectarianism plays in dividing communities, particularly in relation to football allegiance, and have set out to work with players and the local community to participate in informal education workshops that help increase their understanding of the issue and the negative impact on everyday interactions.

The workshops will culminate into a public event, when a range of community stakeholders will be invited to witness the showcasing of Civil Service Strollers workshop participants journey on achieving its aim of non- tolerance to sectarian behaviours in their football community.

A club spokesman said: “It’s about football clubs taking a stance to address sectarian issues that exist by bringing everyone together to understand the impact of sectarian behaviours on day to day relationships.”

Anyone interested in taking part in weekly community workshops should contact Club Secretary Keith Stewart on 07402521912

Police warning ahead of Sunday’s derby clash

Police in Edinburgh are reminding fans that a policing operation will be in place at this weekend’s derby match to identify anyone in possession of alcohol, fireworks or flares.

Over 14,000 spectators are expected at Easter Road Stadium tomorrow for the game, which kicks off at 12.15pm. Antisocial drinking in the surrounding streets will not be tolerated and officers will be enforcing the Edinburgh by-law in this regard.

In addition, police will be assisting stewards to carry out searches outside the ground to prevent illegal or prohibited items being smuggled in. A specially trained police dog will be deployed to detect explosive or combustible materials. Fans from both sides are urged to ensure their behaviour during the match does not put themselves or others in danger.

Superintendent Liz McAinsh said: “The atmosphere at the Edinburgh derby is always electric and we want all supporters to enjoy the day. Police will be patrolling around the stadium with a focus on stopping anti social street drinking and fans will be subject to searches as a condition of entry to the ground. A specialist search dog will be used to detect anyone in possession of fireworks or flares.

“Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe and while the behaviour of the vast majority of Hearts and Hibs fans is exemplary, the reckless conduct of a small minority could place everyone in danger.

“Anyone found to be in possession of these items, or any other objects that are not permitted within the stadium will be refused entry and may face further police action.”

Blackhall Athletic nets Neighbourhood support

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership recently awarded a community grant to local sports club Blackhall Athletic. The club used the funding to equip some of their teams with new tops, and INP Convener Councillor Nigel Bagshaw called in to a training session at Broughton High School to meet players and coaches last week.

Nigel said: “It’s great to support local initiatives like this. Community grants can make a real difference to small organisations and we’re delighted to be able to help Blackhall Athletic, who are doing a great job with our young people”.

Blackhall Athletic’s John Adams said: “We spend an awful lot of time trying to raise funds to support club activities but everyone knows how difficult that has been in recent times. We are constantly working at it and we hope to be self-sustaining in the future, but in the meantime this grant is really welcome. Quite simply, without this support we would not be able to continue to do what we do – so we are all really grateful to Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership”.

Blackhall Athletic is run by twenty-five adult volunteers who carry out a variety of tasks including coaching, first aid, administration and and committee duties. The club
currently has five teams, four boys and one girls, and they plan to start two more over the coming months – giving well over one hundred local boys and girls the opportunity to regularly take part in active sport.

John added: “As well as the sporting element, there are other benefits too. All of our boys and girls will, through training and playing, undertake over 180 hours of physical activity which is a health benefit.

“And then there’s teamwork. Our players come from all over the area; they go to different schools and come from different backgrounds but they are all the same when they put on the club strip. This teaches them that they must all work together to achieve success and the young people learn the life skills they will need as they grow into adulthood.”

That sounds like a home ‘win, win’ for both Blackhall Athletic and the wider Inverleith community.