May date set for Spartans’ sports day

Hundreds of local primary school children will be taking part in a major sports event being organised by Spartans Community Football Academy Event at Ainslie Park in May.

SCFA Youth and Community Worker Jamie Tomkinson said: “The Spartans Community Football Academy Sports Day will be held on the 20th of May. Eight local primary schools are involved – we reckon that will be around 350 P7s over the course of the day!”

Twelve different sporting activities will be delivered by local agencies on the day: Kabo boxing, Edinburgh Judo, Edinburgh Leisure, Fet-Lor, Granton Youth Centre and MY Adventure will all be supporting the programme – and Keith Cook, who is a five-time Commonwealth Games medallist, will share his fencing skills. NEN, North Edinburgh’s community newspaper, has been invited to cover the event.

“Lorna Cruikshank, one of our young volunteers, will deliver a hockey station and we have a local samba band coming along to create an atmosphere and do a show for the opening ceremony!” Jamie added. “Many organisations have come on board to support the day – Ainslie Park Leisure Centre are letting us use one lane of their pool for the triathlon and Nike, who were a major part of last year’s success, will be volunteering throughout the event.

“There’s a lot of organising to be done and we are putting the finishing touches to the programme but the Sports Day is going to be a lot of fun – we’re all really looking forward to it and I’m sure the P7s are too!”

Edinburgh flies the flag to mark Commonwealth Day

Capital to celebrate Games legacy

The Lord Provost Donald Wilson will convey a message from Her Majesty, The Queen before raising the Commonwealth Flag at the City Chambers on Commonwealth Day tomorrow (Monday).

It is expected that 730 flags will be raised on Monday by 53 Commonwealth countries. In Edinburgh, the flag-raising will also be an opportunity for the City of Edinburgh Council to celebrate the start of Legacy Week (9-15 March).

Legacy Week is a Scotland-wide Government initiative celebrating last summer’s Commonwealth Games. In Edinburgh, events spanning athletics, swimming, paralympics, walking and cycling will take place showcasing the variety of sporting opportunities that take place in the Capital.

Lord Provost Donald Wilson will say: “Organisations from all 53 Commonwealth countries are joining to raise more than 730 Commonwealth Flags in a shared celebration of this remarkable family of nations.

“The Commonwealth is made up of two billion citizens drawn from all faiths, cultures and ethnicities. Commonwealth countries come together voluntarily in a spirit of co-operation, partnership and understanding. It is for that reason we are here today to raise the Commonwealth Flag in unity with those throughout all the participating countries of the world.

“We also welcome the Commonwealth Day theme for 2015 which honours the future generation: A Young Commonwealth and commits to advancing opportunities for the development and growth our youth.”

Events to celebrate benefits of the Glasgow 2014 Games

Events will take place all over the country next week as partners come together to highlight the positive impact of the Commonwealth Games.

The third national Legacy Week (March 9 – 15) will put the spotlight on how the Games has helped to boost communities in Glasgow’s east end and beyond.

On the eve of the Week, a Legacy Cycle Ride takes place in the brand new Aberfoyle Bike Park, Stirlingshire, which has received funding from the Legacy 2014 Active Places Fund. Riders will take on a 40 km course to celebrate the positive influence the Games is having to encourage more people to take up physical activity.

On Monday, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, Jamie Hepburn will visit the new Dalmarnock Legacy Hub in the east end of Glasgow. Construction of the Hub is now nearing completion and the new modern community centre next to the Emirates Arena will provide health services, a nursery, leisure facilities and training and employment for local people.

Mr Hepburn will also visit Active East, a Glasgow scheme to inspire young people from deprived backgrounds to take advantage of the training opportunities connected to the Games, and on Thursday he will see some of the infrastructure projects being led by Clyde Gateway.

The legacy of the Games covers opportunities across community development, sport, education, culture, business, tourism, and many more areas of life and the Scottish Government will be supporting a number of events, projects and programmes across the Week.

Other events include a Legacy 2014 Equality and Human Rights Conference at Hampden Park; the opening of a national touring exhibition of artefacts showing the history of the Commonwealth Games Hosts and Champions in association with the Commonwealth Games Scotland Archive;, and activities taking place across Scotland involving community groups, local authorities and national partners involved in delivering the legacy of the Games including Young Scot, University of the West of Scotland, Cycling Scotland and Transport Scotland.

Mr Hepburn said: “The thing that made Glasgow 2014 such a success was the people. It was the spectators, volunteers and competitors who truly made them the best Games ever. It’s no surprise to see that the Games’ legacy is being driven by communities across the country, whether that’s through small local projects or big national programmes.

“Legacy Week is a chance to celebrate the contribution that people are making to ensure that the memory of the Commonwealth Games doesn’t fade.

“Whether that’s a bowls player taking a coaching qualification, or a young person working to build the Legacy Hub in Dalmarnock. All of them are just as much a part of the success story of the Games as the Team Scotland stars who did us proud last summer.”

Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council and Executive Member for Commonwealth Games, Councillor Archie Graham, said: “Hosting the Games provided us with an excellent opportunity to make our city healthier, greener and more prosperous; before, during and after the sporting event. For the council and our partners, legacy is a long term commitment and this week is a chance for all of us including individuals, organisations and communities to celebrate and showcase their achievements so far and what they have planned for the future.

“Yes, 2014 was a fantastic year for our city and it cemented our reputation for hosting high profile events and being a great place to live and visit, but now we have to keep the momentum of legacy going. We are continuing to lead on, provide the means for and support a range of projects and organisations that will help us to continue the momentum.”

During Legacy Week people can also enjoy the Games experience by also visiting the two legacy exhibitions currently running in Glasgow’s museums. Launched last week Blood, Sweat and Gears at the Riverside Museum showcases some of the Scottish athletes’ journeys and challenges faced in getting to the Games, while at the People’s Palace the Host City Volunteer exhibition ‘Our Games‘ highlights the experiences of the many different volunteers who delivered the best ever Commonwealth Games.

A sporting chance for Victoria Park?

New basketball court and upgraded tennis courts in Victoria Park could be ready by in time for school summer holidays

Under-used outdoor sports facilities could soon be brought back into play if funding for upgrades to pitch facilities and new courts in Trinity, Sighthill and Queensferry is agreed by councillors next week.

Members will be asked to agree investment of £130,000 into pre-existing rugby and football facilities and new tennis and basketball courts at Tuesday’s Culture & Sport Committee meeting.

The Sport Partnership Projects: capital contributions by Culture and Sport report has outlined a funding package designed to boost participation in outdoor sport in the Capital.

Under the proposals, Councillors will be asked to allocate £50,000 as the Council works in partnership with Scottish Rugby and Edinburgh Napier University to locate the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy in Sighthill.

The project will enable a stream of selected young players to follow their performance pathway, alongside hosting rugby skills camps through contacts with local schools. The changing pavilion in Sighthill Park will be upgraded as part of the works being undertaken for the Academy, and Edinburgh Leisure will continue to manage the bookings for the pitches which will remain accessible to local people and clubs.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture & Sport Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We have a range of outdoor courts and pitches in Edinburgh but some sites are being better used than others. By upgrading and adding to the facilities we already have, we will hope to inspire more people to get into outdoor sport and physical activity.

“The BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy will support young and aspiring rugby players as they develop their skills and aim to reach their full potential, whether at a club or professional level, but we are also conscious of the needs of local pitch users. In Sighthill Park we have five football pitches but they are being under-used. By partnering with the University, we could offer a new home for Napier’s pitch sports teams, while also offering better facilities for local users, schools and community groups.”

The Council will also be asked to provide £10,000 to complete the re-instatement of two tennis courts and creation of a new basketball court in Victoria Park, to be opened in time for the school summer break with free taster sessions. The rest of the cost is being met by the North Edinburgh Partnership and sportscotland.

Under a Section 75 Agreement with developers of the former Agilent site in Queensferry, £70,000 is available to the Council to be reinvested in local sports facilities in the area. Councillors will consider using the funding to convert grass football pitches into all-weather 3G pitches which can accommodate rugby as well as football training.

To find out what Councillors decide, watch the meeting webcast live from 10am on Tuesday (10 March).

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

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.

Six Nations Rugby travel advice

Scotland play host to Wales in their first home game of this Six Nations tournament today and 67,000 spectators – a few of them Scots! – will flock to Murrayfield Stadium for the sell-out match.

The fixture is the first Six Nations home game since Edinburgh Trams passenger services began last year and the operator is putting in place arrangements to cater to the many thousands of fans who are expected to travel to and from the match by tram.

Advice for anyone planning to travel by tram can be found on the Edinburgh Trams website. Passengers are also advised to keep an eye out for updates from Edinburgh Trams’ Control team on the day via @EdinburghTrams.

To ensure pedestrian safety and to minimise traffic disruption, pedestrian diversions will be implemented around the Haymarket Station area following the match.

The City of Edinburgh Council is working closely with Police Scotland to keep road and pedestrian traffic moving smoothly before and after the game.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “Six Nations home games are always a very exciting fixture in Edinburgh’s events calendar and I know there will be thousands and thousands of people getting ready to make the trip to Murrayfield Stadium on Sunday. I’d encourage everyone to plan their journey carefully and take heed of travel and parking information so that they can have as enjoyable a time as possible. Good luck to Scotland!”

A number of temporary road closures and parking restrictions will be in place.

Police and stewards will be on hand to help direct members of the public from the Stadium to the city centre.

Those heading back into the city centre on foot will be diverted left off the main road up Magdala Crescent to continue back into town.

Pedestrians travelling by rail from Haymarket Station will be guided along the main road towards Haymarket and stewards will be on hand to provide further assistance and advice as they approach the Station.

Although Russell Road is currently closed for Network Rail works, pedestrians will be able to use two dedicated lanes to access and exit the Stadium.

Information about getting to and from Murrayfield Stadium by tram, bus or rail can be found on the Scottish Rugby website.

And the game itself? I’m something of an expert having played for Royal High School’s sixth XV on a number of occasions (yes, okay, twice then and that was over forty years ago, but still …) and I reckon if Scotland can get the basics right we can run the Welsh pretty close today. Cut out the elaborate, ‘fancy Dan’ nonsense, keep it simple and we’re in with a chance.

England exposed some surprising Welsh frailties last weekend and Wales are there to be beaten this afternoon – but Scotland will have to improve and avoid silly mistakes. Unforced errors and conceding daft penalties could prove suicidal, for even when the Welsh are not functioning at concert pitch they can always call on the unerring boot of Leigh Halfpenny. Be brave, Scotland, but beware …

And on another (musical) note – isn’t the Welsh National Anthem the most stirring of them all? Enjoy the game (kick off 3pm)!

Flower of Scotland is fans’ choice

The majority of Scotland supporters are in favour of Flower of Scotland being officially recognised as the country’s national anthem, the SFA has announced.

The Scottish FA was asked to provide football’s view by the Scottish Parliamentary Petition Committee and the decision to ask the fans was met with an overwhelming 35,000 responses in 48 hours.

Of those polled across the SFA’s Scotland Supporters Club (SSC) membership, and a social media audience in excess of 500,000, 56% were in favour of the Scottish Government officially recognising the anthem, with 44% opposed to the formalisation.

The poll was circulated to 35,000 SSC members as well as through the Scottish FA’s Official Twitter account and Scotland National Team Facebook page.

Interestingly, there was a marked difference between SSC respondents and the social media view. While 65% of the 23,000 social media responses were in favour of official recognition, 60% of the 12,606 SSC respondents were not in favour.

The Scottish FA also gave fans the opportunity to suggest alternatives to Flower of Scotland, which has proven hugely popular in the sporting arena and has been performed at Hampden Park by the likes of Amy Macdonald, Nina Nesbitt, Julie Fowlis, Donnie Munro and last year’s X Factor runner-up, Nicholas McDonald.

Caledonia, the Dougie MacLean classic, figured prominently along with Scotland the Brave as suggested alternatives but there was also significant support for the creation of a new anthem, with notable mentions, also, for the Proclaimers favourite, 500 Miles, and the United Kingdom’s National Anthem, God Save The Queen.

The feedback has now been submitted to the Parliamentary Petition Committee.

A Scottish FA spokesperson said: “The response to the committee’s enquiry has been incredible. The easy option would have been to gauge the Board’s view but the wider consultation not only demonstrates the passion and engagement of our 35,000 Supporters Club members but also highlights the power of social media.

“While the majority of responses were in favour of Flower of Scotland being officially recognised by the Scottish Government, there is also plenty food for thought in the feedback analysis.

“There is clearly an appetite among a section of supporters to give consideration to a new anthem. Scotland the Brave retains an affinity among an element of the supporters with the popularity of The Proclaimers’ crowd-pleaser endures.”

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 …

The 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

Battling Spartans leave it late

… but the Hibs go marching on!

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.

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

Dancing in the streets of Sparta tonight?

Scottish Cup weekend again, and for many neutrals the tastiest tie of the round is the Spartans v Berwick Rangers game at Ainslie Park. Spartans go into the game as underdogs, but playing in front of a packed full house it would be absolutely no surprise to see the North Edinburgh community club progress to the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

While it would be a notable victory, on the giant-killing scale Spartans beating Berwick Rangers would barely register a slight tremor. Their visitors, however, know all about cup upsets: Berwick featured in the greatest giant-killing story of them all.

On a cold January afternoon in 1967, 13,365 packed into Berwick’s Shielfield Park to watch a mighty Rangers team, packed with internationals, hammer the ‘wee Rangers’. That was the expectation, but nobody told the Berwick men!

Rangers pummelled away at their hosts from kick-off and forced ten corners in the opening half hour. A goal seemed inevitable, but when it came it shook Scottish football to it’s foundations – in the 32nd minute Sammy Reid hammered the ball past Rangers keeper Norrie Martin to put the minnows ahead!

Rangers battered away at Big Jock Wallace in the Berwick goal – yes, that big Jock Wallace – but they couldn’t break the defiant borderers down. The story goes that, with the game well into injury time and the Ibrox club facing cup exit, Rangers skipper and club legend John Greig had a word with referee Eddie Thomson and asked for another couple of minutes – but was told: “I’ve already given you four!” Berwick Rangers held on to create the greatest shock in Scottish Cup history.

The result was announced on TV and radio in the sombre tones usually reserved for royal funerals and rail disasters. I was a wee laddie at the time, but I remember it like yesterday. What I can’t recall is whether the announcers wore black ties – but I suppose back in those days it was all black and white anyway!

We won’t get shocks of that magnitude this weekend – not if Hibs were humbled by Arbroath, Stranraer stun Dundee United or wee Spartans shock Berwick.

But will there be dancing in the streets of Sparta tonight? I really do think there will be – take your partners!

Scottish Cup Fifth Round ties:

Today:

Dundee v Celtic 12:30pm

Falkirk v Brechin 3pm

Hibernian v Arbroath 3pm

Partick Thistle v Inverness CT 3pm

Queen of South v St Johnstone 3pm

Spartans FC v Berwick 3pm

Tomorrow:

Stranraer v Dundee United 12.30pm

Rangers v Raith Rovers 3pm

Weather’s no match for local Army Cadets!

Nearly one hundred Army Cadets aged 12-18 years shrugged off freezing temperatures during a recent training weekend in the Pentland Hills, their first camp of 2015.

The weekend saw cadets based at Granton Square overcome snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures to put into practice the skills taught at their local Detachment.

Cadets took part in navigation training, first aid and fieldcraft. During the fieldcraft phase, cadets learned how to build improvised shelters and secure a ‘temporary home’ known as a Harbour Area.

Senior Cadets under the supervision of the Adult Volunteers grasped the opportunity to demonstrate to the younger Cadets how preparedness, teamwork and self-discipline can determine your success and survival, whatever the weather.

Major John Tonner, Officer Commanding of the weekend said: “I am extremely impressed with the abilities demonstrated by the Cadets and their maturity in applying themselves in the adverse conditions brought by the cold weather.

“It is a very unique opportunity for individuals to witness how valuable skills provided within our Youth Organisation can steer young people to go further in their chosen path in life”.

The ability to adapt quickly was demonstrated by all of the Cadets resulting in many new qualifications gained and successful testing to allow Cadets to progress onto the next stage of their Cadet careers with 17 Cadets gaining new First Aid qualifications and five Adult Volunteers receiving their First Aid at Work qualification.

17 Platoon is part of Lothian & Borders Army Cadet Force and have training nights every Monday and Wednesday evenings between 7 – 9pm. They welcome cadets between 12 and 18 years of age and encourage parents to get involved too.

You can find out more about the Cadet’s sporting and adventure training activities by visiting their Detachment at the Army Reserve Centre at Granton Square, online at www.lbcadets.co.uk or by calling 01506 856 698.