Saturday 7 th February pm at the Davie Park. East Region North Division BLAIRGOWRIE V BRECHIN VICS. Jack Birrell clears for Blair

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1 Saturday 7 th February pm at the Davie Park East Region North Division BLAIRGOWRIE V BRECHIN VICS Jack Birrell clears for Blair

Blairgowrie welcome high-flying Brechin Victoria to Davie Park today as our first visitors of 2015.

2 Blairgowrie welcome high-flying Brechin Victoria to Davie Park today as our first visitors of Vics have become a major force in the North Division this season, building on steady progress made during season Their recent stunning 5 2 victory at Luncarty bears this out; supporters will recall that Blair were well beaten there back in November. Off the pitch too, Brechin have made significant ground improvements at Victoria Park, clearly demonstrating that they are a progressive club. Manager Charlie King has played a major role in Vics revival. Although he finished his senior career with Forfar Athletic and also played for St. Johnstone, Ross County, Livingston and Stirling Albion, he is inextricably linked with Brechin City where, from , he made 330 appearances, scoring 59 goals. Charlie King player-manager of Brechin Vics. Charlie made a total of 438 senior appearances, scoring 73 goals. Vics kept up their promotion challenge with a 2 1 home victory over Kirrie Thistle in their last match. They found the young Kirrie side a tough nut to crack and they needed a last-minute winner to take all three points. With their games in hand, they are in a strong position, and recent results will make them favourites today, especially given Blairgowrie s lengthy injury list. Away from the North Division, Brechin Vics produced a great result in the East of Scotland Cup when they defeated Super League Lochee United 2 1 in Dundee. Blairgowrie clearly face a difficult task today.

3 It was with much sadness that Blairgowrie Junior FC learned of the death of Jack Birrell in November. Jack, a police officer from Perth, played in the great Blairgowrie sides of the 1950 s and shared in one of the town s greatest sporting adventures the run in the Scottish Junior Cup in when Blairgowrie came within sixty seconds of defeating the mighty Irvine Meadow in the quarterfinal. Jack played at full-back and his play became a watchword for reliability. In total he won five Perthshire League Championships and four coveted Currie Cup medals, as well as a host of other honours, including the Perthshire Cup, the Perthshire Rosebowl, the Constitutional Cup and the Perthshire Advertiser Cup. It is hard today to imagine the excitement that there must have been in the town when Blair reached the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup. Jack and the rest of the team travelled to Irvine on the eve of the tie, while a football special train carrying 750 supporters followed on match day. In front of a crowd of 10,000 Blair led 2-1 until the last minute. The replay saw a record crowd of 5,200 squeeze into Davie Park but Irvine Meadow won convincingly. It is a mark of Jack s contribution to the club that our more senior supporters can readily recall his play and speak warmly of his contribution as a team player. Late President David Scott, who shared some great successes with Jack and the rest of the squad, would decades later hold Jack up as an example of a great servant to Blairgowrie. The club s sympathies are extended to Jack s family.... AND FROM THE MINUTES OF BJFC COMMITTEE MEETINGS... 8 th June, 1959 It was agreed that in the event of Blair winning the league, the players and officials would have supper at the Red House, Coupar Angus; there would also be a late licence. As he would not be available next season, it was also agreed to give Jack Birrell a presentation that same night in recognition of his service to Blairgowrie. Thankfully, Blair did win the Perthshire League and the celebrations went ahead! This is the only minuted record of the league triumph: 22 nd June, 1959 The Treasurer intimated that he had received from Mr. McEwan, Perthshire League Treasurer, the sum of 12, the grant for winning the league.

4 1. Who recently became the first English Premier League player to receive 100 yellow cards? 2. Which non-league club were beaten by a last-minute penalty for Derby County in the recent third round of the FA Cup? 3. How is the song Offside by Barry Stroller better known? 4. Who is the only player to have scored in an FA Cup final, UEFA Cup Final, English League Cup Final and Champions League Cup Final? 5. Not counting Uniteds, name the three English / Scottish clubs with two letter u s in their name. JUNIOR FOOTBALL LIVE BROADCAST! In January, the Linlithgow Rose v Sauchie Super League match was broadcast live via the internet. Great for fans who couldn t be there apparently one Rose fan watched in Tenerife! This event is not without some controversy what effect could this have on attendances at junior football, where even a handful of stay aways has an impact? Is this legal to broadcast live football when there is a programme of football at all levels being played in Scotland at the same time? Or perhaps the rule book hasn t yet caught up with technology? McBookie.com NORTH DIVISION P W D L F A GD Pts Blairgowrie Downfield Brechin Vics East Craigie Kennoway Star Hearts Newburgh Thornton Hibs Luncarty Scone Thistle Lochee Harp Arbroath Vics Kirriemuir Thistle Kirkcaldy YM Lochore Welfare Forfar Albion

Shortly before Christmas, Pat Joyce, who played centre-half for Blairgowrie in the late 1970 s passed away. Pat was a stylish centre-half who played the game with great intelligence and composure.

5 Shortly before Christmas, Pat Joyce, who played centre-half for Blairgowrie in the late 1970 s passed away. Pat was a stylish centre-half who played the game with great intelligence and composure. Pat played for several other Perthshire junior clubs as well as St. Johnstone, where as a youngster he found himself up against a certain Alex Ferguson of Rangers. Club vice-president Dennis Elder played at the same time as Pat and recalled his skill and focus as a player: Pat played a massive part in Blair s escape from relegation in Outwardly quiet and unassuming, this belied steely determination and resolve. The sympathy of everyone connected to Blairgowrie Junior FC is extended to Pat s family and friends. Blairgowrie Junior FC website administrator Derek Scott recently received a message via the club website from diehard Chelsea supporter, Peter Lawson, from Mill Hill, North London. Peter is interested in Chelsea s history and he stumbled across our website when researching former Blairgowrie great, goalkeeper Chic Thomson, who went on to win the English League Championship with Chelsea in Chic Thomson, born in Perth Blairgowrie star who won the League with Chelsea and the FA Cup with Nottingham Forest. Amazingly, it transpired that Peter and Derek had been friends when they were at St. Andrews University together (many years ago now!). Talks are underway with a view to setting up a London branch of the Blairgowrie Juniors Supporters Club!

6 TODAY S SQUADS BLAIRGOWRIE Founded: 1946 Gordon O Brien (vice-captain) Rory Myles Mark Brash (captain) Gavin Burns Robbie Hood Stewart Nicoll Gordan Pirie James Simpson Scott Tovey Ground: League: Record crowd: Nickname: Colours: Alternative: President: Hon President: Secretary: Treasurer: Vice-president: Manager: Assistants: Coaches: Physio: Youth Co-ordinator: Davie Park East Region, North Division 5,200 Scottish Junior Cup, 6 th round v Irvine Meadow, 1959 The Blair Blue / Black or white / Black, red Red / Black / Red Billy Mackay John Gray Mike Coyle; Assistant: Martin Mackay Eoin Walker Dennis Elder Billy Mackay Alex McCulley, Campbell Sands Nairn Gellatly, Russell McLeod Campbell Sands Campbell Sands Kit Bremner Steven Findlay Greg McDonald Ryan Menzies Danny Millar Darren Neave Gary Axworthy Jamie Duncan Sean Kelly Paul Maloney Honours: Perthshire Junior League , 52 53, 57 58, 58 59, 59 60, 60 61, 61 62, Perthshire Junior Cup , 49 50, 50 51, 53 54, 55 56, 56 57, 57 58, 58 59, 59 60, 62 63, Currie Cup , 51 52, , 56 57,59 60, 62 63, 64 65, 65 66, Perthshire Rosebowl , 51 52, 52 53, 55 56, Constitutional Cup , , Perthshire Advertiser Cup , St. Johnstone YM Trophy , 63 64, Midlands League , 70 71, Drybrough Cup Tayside First Division , St. Andrews Fives Tayside Regional League Cup Doreen Winter Cup , Tayside Second Division Rosebank Car Centre Trophy Tay Land Rover Trophy Red House Hotel Trophy Tayside and Fife Inter Regional Cup East Region North Division

7 BRECHIN VICTORIA Founded: 1917 Ground: Victoria Park League: East Region, North Division Capacity: 1,000 Jamie Robbie Josh Main Nickname: Colours: Alternative: The Vics Red, Black stripes / Red / Red Blue / Blue / Blue Barrie Gourlay Steven Eaton Ross Wilson Paul Ross Sean Whitworth Chris Eaton Iain Gauld Arran McKay Ryan Young David Steel Martin Strachan Connor Mitchell Adam Renilson Charlie Fertacz Andy Ferguson Lewis Dunn Charlie King President: Vice-President: Secretary: Treasurer: Manager: Coach: Goalkeeping Coach: Honours: John Cairney Ricky Robertson Bill Barclay Brian Eaton Charlie King Norman Ross Currie Cup Wayne Harrison Tayside Regional Cup Angus Junior League 1925, 1926,1927,1928,1929,1934,1950,1951 Arbroath & District Cup Brechin Rosebowl , , , , , , Forfar & District Cup , Forfar Businessmen s Trophy Promotion to Tayside Division

Many thanks to Wattie Stewart for being the first supporter to take the plunge! Other supporters who wish to be included, please ask at the paygate today!

8 Many thanks to Wattie Stewart for being the first supporter to take the plunge! Other supporters who wish to be included, please ask at the paygate today! Jimmy Dick will be our next supporter to be profiled! NAME Wattie Stewart NUMBER OF YEARS SUPPORTED BLAIR 60 (sixty!) FAVOURITE BLAIR PLAYER NOW Brasher FAVOURITE BLAIR PLAYER EVER Chic Davie BEST MATCH SEEN Away to Irvine Meadow, Scottish Cup Quarter-Final, draw BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT FAVOURITE AWAY GROUND Losing in the replay of the above match (day of record crowd) Montrose Roselea BEST THING ABOUT SUPPORTING BLAIR The fact that the lads are playing for the jersey! WORST THING ABOUT SUPPORTING BLAIR CHANGES FOR THE FUTURE? When too many players have an off day and some of their language! Something to attract more people, especially younger folk

However, the standard is really quite high with some big name players albeit, most are coming towards the end of their careers.

9 Major League Soccer has been in the news, with Steven Gerrard s forthcoming move to North America (to Los Angeles Galaxy) at the end of the season. American soccer is a bit of a grey area among British and European football fans we don t really regard their game in the same light as elsewhere on the planet. However, the standard is really quite high with some big name players albeit, most are coming towards the end of their careers. Here are a few facts: US international Clint Dempsey was the highest paid player in MLS in 2014, earning 4.3m ($6.69m). Dempsey's countryman Michael Bradley was second at 4.2m ($6.5m). Three former Premier League stars were among the biggest earners in the league: Jermain Defoe, third, 4m ($6.18m); Robbie Keane, fifth, 2.9m ($4.5m); Thierry Henry, sixth, 2.8m ($4.35m). At the other end of the scale, 54 players earned the league minimum of 23,800 ($36,500). December's MLS Cup Final - the championship match of the league - was watched by just 1.9 million television viewers in the US. In 2014, the NFL's Super Bowl drew an audience of 112 million, and college basketball's national championship 21.2 million. MLS serves as the top flight for two nations: the United States and Canada. Toronto FC became the first Canadian club in the league in Vancouver Whitecaps followed in 2011 and Montreal Impact a year later. The 2014 MLS season saw record crowds, with an average attendance of 19,151. The average crowd at an English Premier League match in was 36,657. The best supported MLS club in 2014 was Seattle Sounders, drawing an average of 43,734 spectators per match. In the football world, MLS ranked eighth in terms of crowds, ahead of first divisions in nations such as Brazil, Argentina, Portugal and Japan. MLS has a salary cap, which was 2m ($3.1m) per club in However, all clubs can also have three players they can pay as much as they want, and who are not part of the salary cap, under the Designated Player Rule. Created in 2007 and known then unofficially as 'The Beckham Rule', this exception to the salary cap allows MLS clubs to attract - and pay - big-name stars from the US and overseas. MLS uses a play-off system to determine its champion, which occurs in the final match of the year, the MLS Cup. In the 2015 campaign, 12 of the 20 clubs will qualify for the play-offs. Finishing top of the table during the regular season earns a club the Supporters' Shield, and the top seed in the play-offs.

uk/blairgowriejfc The Berrypickers Weigh-in

v Luncarty Forfar Albion v Kirkcaldy YM Kirrie

10 FOLLOW BLAIR Local press The Berrypickers Weigh-in Winning numbers can be found on our web-site and in the Blairgowrie Advertiser. Draw takes place in the Royal Hotel every Monday at 6.30pm. Tickets are available from the Pie Hut or from Committee members. TODAY S OTHER NORTH DIVISION FIXTURES Downfield v Luncarty Forfar Albion v Kirkcaldy YM Kirrie Thistle v Lochee Harp Newburgh v Kennoway Scone Thistle v Arbroath Vics QUIZ ANSWERS 1. Gareth Barry 2. Southport 3. Theme tune to Match of the Day 4. Steven Gerrard 5. Bournemouth, Stenhousemuir, Queen of the South NEXT WEEK? Apologies but at time of going to print, we had no further fixtures to publish. Watch local press and the website etc.

3 rd Round (Round of 16) The GA Engineering Cup now takes on its inter-regional element after a series of all North Region and all Tayside ties in the first two rounds left just 16 clubs eight North

11 3 rd Round (Round of 16) The GA Engineering Cup now takes on its inter-regional element after a series of all North Region and all Tayside ties in the first two rounds left just 16 clubs eight North and eight Tayside. With the draw engineered so that four ties are North v Tayside, and four are Tayside v North, Blairgowrie face a tough away tie to Dyce Juniors of the North Region Superleague. Although Blair have never met Dyce before, there is a historic connection between the clubs. Dyce are the product of an amalgamation, in 1989, of two clubs, Mugiemoss and Rosslyn Sports, who were formerly known as Rosemount. Blair met both Mugiemoss and Rosemount in their Scottish Cup campaign - they defeated Mugiemoss 5-0 at Blair, but lost 4-2 away to Rosemount in the fourth round before a crowd of 3,600. Rosemount went on to reach the semi-final, losing 4-1 to now defunct Baillieston at Muirton Park, Perth. Dyce overcame FC Stoneywood in a North Aberdeen local derby on penalty kicks to reach the GA Cup third round, after a 2-2 draw at ninety minutes. Dyce s home ground is at Ian Mair Park, Dyce Drive, Dyce AB21 0BA. Dyce are currently managerless shortly before Christmas, Andy Robb and his coaching staff parted company with Dyce by amicable and mutual consent. The full draw is: Banks O Dee v Luncarty Culter v Tayport Inverness City or Hermes v Dundee North End Dyce v Blairgowrie Kirrie Thistle v Parkvale Dundee Violet v Ellon United Scone Thistle v Islavale Forfar West End v Stonehaven Ties to be played on 21 st February.

Ian has made the brave decision to repeat this great effort in February and supporters are invited to sponsor him to do this!

12 WANTED! Wanted please! Your backing for Blairgowrie supporter and committee member Ian McDonald. You may remember that a couple of years back, Ian undertook a cross-trainer marathon to raise funds for Blairgowrie Juniors. Ian has made the brave decision to repeat this great effort in February and supporters are invited to sponsor him to do this! DRAMATIC DRAW VERSUS KENNOWAY STAR HEARTS Blairgowrie travelled to deepest Fife for their last fixture to take on Kennoway Star Hearts with a severely depleted squad. Injuries, illness and work commitments conspired, with the result that Blair had only 13 fit players, with Jamie Duncan and Danny Millar returning from lengthy injuries. Blair s team was still a strong one, however, and they gave as good as they got in atrocious conditions. A gale force north-westerly blew across the exposed pitch, punctuated by snow flurries in Arctic temperatures, and it is a great credit to both sides that they served up an exciting game. Both teams had chances, but really clear-cut opportunities were rare. A scoreless draw looked on the cards (in stark contrast to the 5-4 win for Blair in September) until Hearts scored in the 87 th minute. Gordon O Brien had made three great saves in a goalmouth scramble, but eventually he was beaten at the fourth attempt. It looked all over for Blair but they came roaring back. Sean Kelly saw two netbound shots blocked in the goalmouth before a Gary Axworthy corner led to substitute Jamie Duncan (pictured below) hooking the ball into the net from a tight angle. This was the last kick of the match cue wild celebrations! Fantastic spirit from Blairgowrie! However, it is unclear whether player availability will be any better this week Ryan Menzies was injured at Kennoway and Greg McDonald limped through the final minutes with no further substitutes available. Despite recent postponements, manager Billy Mackay will be making a late selection for today s encounter!

Saturday 25 th October, pm at the Davie Park East Region North Division BLAIRGOWRIE V KIRKCALDY YM

Saturday 25 th October, pm at the Davie Park East Region North Division BLAIRGOWRIE V KIRKCALDY YM Saturday 25 th October, 2014 2.30pm at the Davie Park East Region North Division BLAIRGOWRIE V KIRKCALDY YM Players, coaches, committee and supporters of Blairgowrie Junior FC welcome everyone connected