North of the Border

Last night's surprise home defeat to East Kilsyth by challengers Dunkeld United effectively gave the title to Granoch Celtic who have a far superior

goal difference ahead of their final two games against bogey teams Muirton and inform Cup finalists St.Mirvan....at the bottom the Diamonds of

Inverairdrie picked up a point in their game in hand to force a nervous run in...

2011 - 2012. 24th April 2012

PREMIER DIVISION. (Two points for a win..two to play)

1 Granoch Celtic 59
2 Dunkeld United 55
3 Granoch Rangers 53
4 East Strathaird 49
5 Roxburgh Hearts 49
6 Dunfreith Athletic 45
7 Braedeen 43
8 St.Mirvan 42
9 Strathaird Albion 42
10 Albeath Rovers 41
11 Kilbannock 41
12 Roxburgh Hibernian 39
13 Inverglenn Thistle 38
14 Mirrenwell 38
15 Muirton 38
16 Brodwick Rangers 37
17 East Kilsyth 34
18 Halmiston Academical 30
19 Pittodrie Thistle 29
------------------------------
20 Inverairdrie 29
21 Dunkeld 26
22 St.Peterstone 23

SECOND DIVISION

1 Elvin City 61
2 Stenkirkmuir 61
-------------------------------
3 Melrose 56
4 Felkirk 54
5 Cairnbank 53
6 Ayrdlaw United 51
-------------------------------
7 Rathness County 50
8 Caithmannan 49
9 Rossfife Rovers 48
10 Stranraeth 48
11 Alloway Athletic 47
12 Caulderbeath 45
13 Inverglenn Caledonian 45
14 Arbraith 42
15 Queen of The Vale 42
16 Dalkeith Celtic 41
17 Queensburgh 41
18 Forfirth Athletic 40
19 Peterhaven 39
20 Meadowburn Thistle 34
21 Third Leithen 32
22 Annanbie Athletic 29
23 Blantyre City 26
24 Dumbrechan 22

Ralph, I love the play on names. Excellent.
A few action shots with the report would bring it to life still further. Love it!

I need a new camera ... The Scottish names are easier to spot as the club colours mimic real life clubs and all but Dalkeith Celtic were devised to represent a real club ... Dalkeith were originally slung in to make two equal Divisions but over the years they've become Leith Athletic...not all the English/Welsh clubs are so obvious because when my Dad started the League they were just names from comics or maps and didn't always represent a real club...in later years they were all matched up to a real football club...

In my world the Inverness clubs are still seperate...Meadowbank never moved and Third Lanark and Clydebank survive Gretna never appeared in my League - tricky one that, I didn't lose any sleep when they vanished...

Inheriting and continuing the tradition of solo play in the family gives the whole thing an even greater charm.

One of the Italian lads asked me why we don't use real club names - I think half the charm for us is that even though the clubs have come to have a real place/club on a map to relate to ....after all these years they now have their own histories ...

My Scottish League is weighted a little to keep the obvious big two somewhere in the top 7 or 8 but unlike the SPL they don't always win the title and other than that the Leagues run without worrying too much about real life...

Great reading Ralph

Cheers Jim...the only problem is if you run the thing honestly it doesn't always go to plan...took me two years to get fallen giants Dunkeld back to the Premier and they are about to go straight back down again it can be even more frustrating than the real thing...

......... but considerably more interesting than the real SPL

Less obvious Scottish names above are probably Caithmannan (Clyde) and Blantyre City (Brechin) the rest are easy enough to spot....I've gone back to using Blantyre in the past few years as I couldn't really find a good replacement ..Annanbie is a strange one I'm just about used to it now after two seasons ..sounds a bit corny maybe but their is a little place called Canonbie nearby so I think if I stick with it over time it will become more acceptable.

I think you've moved me, Ralph, to have a bit of solo fun. I like the idea of names that can easily be linked to clubs.
I think I might take my inspiration from old ground names?

Thats a good one .. there are a couple of grounds used above in Pittodrie and Muirton it does help to make them sound right because they are obviously names you are used to hearing..

I like most of them.
Even names like Stamford Bridge has a football team feel about it, as do much of the 'Parks'.
Hmmm ... What to do with 'The Dell' is a tough one. I like Turf Moor though. It's a strong name, unique, and no tails on the letters if you know what I mean. I like that in a name.

Had a sleep on it, Ralph.
Have gone for ...
DELL of the SOUTH
:-)

... new camera .. here are the troubled Diamonds...

Nice team, Ralph.
Love the goals and nets. They have a real 'local park' look about them.
Just needs a bit of mud in the goalmouth.

I've got four sets of NNs two wire and two later plastic sets all bought over the past two years for a fiver or less per set - the wire ones are best

One game to go..Goal Difference used in Scotland..

2011 - 2012. 28th April 2012

PREMIER DIVISION.

1 Granoch Celtic 60
2 Dunkeld United 57
3 Granoch Rangers 55
4 East Strathaird 50
5 Roxburgh Hearts 49
6 Dunfreith Athletic 46
7 Albeath Rovers 43
8 Braedeen 43
9 St.Mirvan 43
10 Kilbannock 42
11 Strathaird Albion 42
12 Inverglenn Thistle 40
13 Roxburgh Hibernian 39
14 Mirrenwell 38
15 Muirton 38
16 Brodwick Rangers 37
17 East Kilsyth 36
18 Inverairdrie 31 (49 - 69) - 20
19 Halmiston Academical 31 (43 - 69) - 26
------------------------------
20 Pittodrie Thistle 30 (47 - 63) - 16
21 Dunkeld 28
22 St.Peterstone 24

SECOND DIVISION

1 Stenkirkmuir 63
2 Elvin City 61
-------------------------------
3 Felkirk 56
4 Melrose 56
5 Cairnbank 53 (74-54) +20
6 Rathness County 51 (62 - 53) + 9
-------------------------------
7 Ayrdlaw United 51 (67 - 59) + 8
8 Caithmannan 50 (64 - 56) + 8
9 Stranraeth 49 (54 - 44) + 10
10 Rossfife Rovers 49 (67 - 61) + 6
11 Alloway Athletic 49 (58 - 52) + 6
12 Caulderbeath 45
13 Inverglenn Caledonian 45
14 Arbraith 44
15 Queen of The Vale 44
16 Dalkeith Celtic 43
17 Queensburgh 42
18 Forfirth Athletic 40
19 Peterhaven 39
20 Meadowburn Thistle 36
21 Third Leithen 34
22 Annanbie Athletic 31
23 Blantyre City 27
24 Dumbrechan 22

Lovely team Ralph , and an excellent photo Why goal difference north of the border then ? Is it a "Dad" thing

Aye its a Dad thing ....Goal difference in Scotland because I'm crap at maths and I am the boss in Scotland !

Goal average in England because he is the top man of the English League !!

Final Tables (short version !) 2011 - 2012. 5th May 2012

PREMIER DIVISION.

1 Granoch Celtic 62
2 Dunkeld United 57
3 Granoch Rangers 56
4 East Strathaird 51
5 Roxburgh Hearts 51
6 Dunfreith Athletic 47
7 St.Mirvan 45
8 Albeath Rovers 44
9 Braedeen 43
10 Kilbannock 43
11 Strathaird Albion 43
12 Inverglenn Thistle 42
13 Brodwick Rangers 39
14 Mirrenwell 39
15 Roxburgh Hibernian 39
16 Muirton 38
17 East Kilsyth 37
18 Pittodrie Thistle 32
19 Halmiston Academical 32
------------------------------
20 Inverairdrie 31
21 Dunkeld 28
22 St.Peterstone 25

SECOND DIVISION

1 Stenkirkmuir 64
2 Elvin City 62
-------------------------------
3 Felkirk 57
4 Melrose 57
5 Cairnbank 55
6 Ayrdlaw United 52
-------------------------------
7 Rathness County 51
8 Alloway Athletic 50
9 Caithmannan 50
10 Rossfife Rovers 50
11 Stranraeth 49
12 Arbraith 46
13 Caulderbeath 46
14 Queen of The Vale 46
15 Dalkeith Celtic 45
16 Inverglenn Caledonian 45
17 Queensburgh 44
18 Forfirth Athletic 42
19 Peterhaven 41
20 Meadowburn Thistle 37
21 Third Leithen 34
22 Annanbie Athletic 31
23 Blantyre City 27
24 Dumbrechan 23

Play-Offs 8th and 12th May

Ayrdlaw United v Felkirk

Cairnbank v Melrose

Final 19th May

Full statistics back to 1976 are available in my most excellent book..... price on application

well the Diamonds go down (despite their newly painted celly kit ! ) but these lads survive with a shock last day win over runners up Dunkeld United...

Promotion play - offs 1st leg

Ayrdlaw United 0 Felkirk 1 (Lorimer)

Cairnbank 0 Melrose 3 (Cummings,Parker,Young)

Great stuff Ralph. I like the fact that you run a full length season, running along with the football season. I did this last season but playing every game. This season is being run over two years.

I still like to play all the games but not really practical timewise.

I tend to physically play only mid-table games in the run in that way the results in the key games are not open to my personal bias ! saying that I should state that my favourite three Scottish clubs would be Motherwell..QOTS and Third Lanark and none of their little plastic equivalents did anything sparkling this season same with the English League - in fact the bottom of Division Two would have me rolling around the floor laughing in real life but in the world of subbuteo I actually felt quite guilty...thats the game though what happens happens

ralphtheclaret wrote:

I tend to physically play only mid-table games in the run in that way the results in the key games are not open to my personal bias ! saying that I should state that my favourite three Scottish clubs would be Motherwell..QOTS and Third Lanark and none of their little plastic equivalents did anything sparkling this season same with the English League - in fact the bottom of Division Two would have me rolling around the floor laughing in real life but in the world of subbuteo I actually felt quite guilty...thats the game though what happens happens

That last sentence says it all , that's EXACTLY how I feel sometimes .
Lovely team too Ralph , red/yellow with a bit of black , works beautifully , always

sunny evening for a change ... I thought good enough for a sunny Cup Final Saturday so...using Mr Parker's Santiagos

Final

Roxburgh Hearts v St.Mirvan 3-1.
(Hay 63,Miller 84,89 min.) (O’Connor 72 min.)

Roxburgh Hearts; Geddes,Verhulst,McNaughton,MacDonald,Robertson,Paterson,
Olsen,Herd,Miller,Hay,Wishart. Sub.McBride Olsen after 78 minutes.

St.Mirvan; Crawford,Connolly,Harrow,Halpin,Vilmunen,McGinlay,McAllister,
Klaassen,Cowan,O’Connor,McCrae. Sub.Kautonen replaced McGinlay after 85 minutes.

Looks like the substitution for Roxburgh was the turning point. Another piece of history.

Just realised last time these two contested a Final was the League Cup of 1978-9... under floodlights in the dining room at my parents house when the Saints won 2-0...in typical getting older style I remember it well but I can't remember what I had for dinner !

In truth the Jambos bossed tonights game from start to finish were denied by some excellent goalkeeping and despite almost being caught out by a well worked Saints breakaway were eventually deserving winners...

Play-Offs 2nd leg

Felkirk 2 (Ross,MacKinnon) Ayrdlaw United 1 (Koskela) Agg 3-1

Melrose 0 Cairnbank 0 Agg 3-0

...can Melrose make an immediate return to the Premier League or will Felkirk end their eight year sojourn in Division Two...little plastic men north of the border can barely stand the tension..Final Saturday May 19th...

Saturday !!!! Oh well traditional day for a Final of such magnitude I guess , great thread Ralph

Felkirk 0 Melrose 1 (McCullen)

an immediate return to the topflight for the Blues in Scotland mosts lucrative game... worth an estimated £13 or so as wild talk amongst club officials includes speculation about a new ref 63 kit for Melrose...

ralphtheclaret wrote:

Felkirk 0 Melrose 1 (McCullen)

an immediate return to the topflight for the Blues in Scotland mosts lucrative game... worth an estimated £13 or so as wild talk amongst club officials includes speculation about a new ref 63 kit for Melrose...

13 quid that's an outrage Ralph

Melrose opted against the trebling of their playing budget and instead stuck with their traditional SSG ref 42s...Granoch Rangers lead despite an Auld Firm defeat to the 7th placed hoops last Saturday...while QOTV are surprise leaders in Division Two.

How are the mighty Pittodrie Thistle doing this season mate ? Not fighting another battle to avoid the drop I hope

The Jags went into this afternoons home derby with Granoch Rangers a point behind their visitors and Roxburgh Hearts at the top of the table...Russell and Johannesen scored for the Blues but Thistle won 4-2 with Danish star Colding scoring twice including a penalty...McAdam and Hegarty also scored to put the Jags top on goal difference with ten games played.......Roxburgh Hearts and Champions Granoch Celtic shared four goals in the capital...

Great to hear mate , slightly makes up for Launcesters disappointing result

Thistle were promoted about six years ago and apart from last seasons near disaster have done well...Launcester were on the up until last night Conisley lost their first two games 0-5 and 1-6 but are now unbeaten in eight..

Thistle are fourth after a 2-2 draw with St.Mirvan..Granoch giants Rangers chasing their first title since 2005 won 2-1 at Kilbannock to remain top..arch rivals Granoch Celtic off the pace in 7th were held to a draw at East Strathaird...meanwhile Braedeen never relegated from the topflight continue to struggle two places above the trapdoor into Division Two..early leaders QOTV top Division Two while Queensburgh the last side still searching for their first win prop up the table despite beating Ayrdlaw 2-1...League Cup tonight live game likely to be Mirrenwell v Pittodrie

Well we are now just past the half way stage and the Blues are top chasing their first title since 2005

2012 - 2013.

PREMIER DIVISION.

1 Granoch R. 41
2 Mirrenwell 35
3 Roxburgh Hearts 35
4 Granoch C. 32
5 Dunfreith A. 31
6 Pittodrie T. 31
7 Muirton 29
8 Halmiston A. 26
9 Elvin C. 25
10 Stenkirkmuir 25
11 Braedeen 24
12 St.Mirvan 24
13 Albeath R. 23
14 Brodwick R. 23
15 Roxburgh Hibernian 23
16 Melrose 21
17 Strathaird A. 21
18 Dunkeld U. 20
19 E.Kilsyth 16
--------------------------------
20 E.Strathaird 15
21 Inverglenn T. 15
22 Kilbannock 15

SECOND DIVISION.

1 Inverairdrie 47
2 Rossfife R. 40
--------------------------------
3 St.Peterstone 38
4 Queen of The Vale 37
5 Arbraith 35
6 Caithmannan 31
--------------------------------
7 Meadowburn T. 31
8 Peterhaven 31
9 Cairnbank 29
10 Dumbrechan 28
11 Dunkeld 27
12 T.Leithen 26
13 Ayrdlaw U. 25
14 Blantyre C. 25
15 Annanbie A. 24
16 Felkirk 24
17 Caulderbeath 23
18 Dalkeith C. 23
19 Rathness C. 23
20 Stranraeth 18
21 Forfirth A. 17
22 Inverglenn C. 16
23 Queensburgh 16
24 Alloway A. 14

2012 - 2013.

    PREMIER DIVISION.

                                                  P.  W.  D.  L.  F.  A.     W.  D.  L.  F.  A.  P.     
                      
    GRANOCH RANGERS                    42  15  2   4   48  25     16  1   4   49  22  65
    
    Pittodrie Thistle                         42  13  5   3   43  21     11  5   5   27  19  58
    Granoch Celtic                          42  11  6   4   39  21     11  6   4   41  20  56 
    Mirrenwell                         42  13  4   4   51  26     12  2   7   34  27  56 
    Roxburgh Hearts                    42  13  4   4   51  23     7   7   7   24  29  51
    Braedeen                           42  12  3   6   31  24     7   8   6   22  22  49
    Muirton                            42  10  7   4   32  18     8   5   8   28  28  48 
    Dunfreith Athletic                 42  11  3   7   41  29     8   6   7   26  26  47 
    Roxburgh Hibernian                 42  9   3   9   31  29     10  5   6   27  25  46 
    Halmiston Academical               42  8   5   8   24  28     10  4   7   33  31  45    
    Dunkeld United                     42  10  2   9   37  27     7   6   8   27  32  42
    St.Mirvan                          42  11  2   8   34  26     4   6   11  18  33  38  
    Melrose                            42  10  3   8   23  27     6   3   12  31  44  38
    Elvin City                         42  9   7   5   36  28     5   2   14  20  43  37      
    Strathaird Albion                  42  9   4   8   26  25     6   3   12  26  42  37
    Brodwick Rangers                   42  10  5   6   42  29     4   3   14  26  44  36 
    Stenkirkmuir                       42  11  2   8   37  29     5   2   14  22  44  36     
    East Kilsyth                       42  8   5   8   20  20     5   3   13  23  39  34   
    Albeath Rovers                     42  6   3   12  30  37     7   2   12  23  45  31      
    
    KILBANNOCK                         42  9   2   10  32  30     3   4   14  18  45  30                   
    INVERGLENN THISTLE                 42  2   6   13  12  31     5   2   14  20  36  22     
    EAST STRATHAIRD                    42  6   4   11  29  35     2   2   17  23  53  22 


    SECOND DIVISION.

                                       P.  W.  D.  L.  F.  A.     W.  D.  L.  F.  A.  P.

    INVERAIRDRIE                       46  17  3   3   53  18     19  1   3   39  14  76 
    ROSSFIFE ROVERS                    46  14  6   3   46  23     12  6   5   30  22  64 

    Queen of The Vale                  46  16  3   4   43  19     11  6   6   29  23  63 
    ST.PETERSTONE                      46  15  6   2   43  13     10  6   7   31  23  62
    Arbraith                           46  13  5   5   42  24     10  5   8   30  34  56
    Dumbrechan                         46  12  3   8   42  19     10  4   9   24  29  51

    Blantyre City                      46  11  5   7   36  27     8   6   9   25  29  49    
    Caithmannan                        46  10  6   7   27  20     8   7   8   31  34  49    
    Dunkeld                            46  12  8   3   44  22     5   5   13  24  36  47   
    Peterhaven                         46  11  3   9   28  24     7   8   8   32  37  47  
    Meadowburn Thistle                 46  11  6   6   37  27     7   4   12  26  40  46 
    Ayrdlaw United                     46  11  6   6   34  25     6   6   11  19  32  46
    Caulderbeath                       46  8   8   7   30  25     6   8   9   23  33  44 
    Third Leithen                      46  9   6   8   34  30     6   7   10  22  29  43                     
    Cairnbank                          46  12  4   7   38  25     3   8   12  16  32  42
    Felkirk                            46  10  7   6   36  26     7   1   15  22  39  42
    Rathness County                    46  9   4   10  24  23     7   4   12  23  33  40 
    Dalkeith Celtic                    46  12  2   9   33  25     4   6   13  25  44  40    
    Forfirth Athletic                  46  10  6   7   35  25     5   3   15  15  44  39        
    Annanbie Athletic                  46  7   6   10  30  34     5   6   12  19  44  36               
    Inverglenn Caledonian              46  8   4   11  27  32     5   5   13  27  41  35       
    Stranraeth                         46  9   7   7   30  23     3   3   17  13  42  34  
    Queensburgh                        46  7   6   10  23  30     2   5   16  23  49  29
    Alloway Athletic                   46  4   7   12  20  30     1   7   15  16  31  24  

    PROMOTION PLAY-OFFS

    Arbraith v ST.PETERSTONE  1-1.1-2.
    Dumbrechan v Queen of The Vale  0-1.2-3.
 
    ST.PETERSTONE v Queen of The Vale  3-3.3-2.

League Cup Final

    Granoch Celtic v Roxburgh Hearts  1-0. 
    (Thompson 63 min.)

    Granoch Celtic;  Deans,Nary,Bowman,Harley,McParland,McPhail,McCulloch,Robertson,
    Heikela,Ritchie,Thompson. Sub.Healy replaced Thompson after 89 minutes.

    Roxburgh Hearts;  Geddes,Verhulst,McNaughton,MacDonald,Markusson,Paterson,Olsen, 
    Herd,Miller,Hay,Wishart. Sub.McBride replaced Wishart after 80 minutes.

FA Cup Final


    Granoch Rangers v Mirrenwell  2-3.
    (Johannesen 58,MacGregor 40 min.)  (Eskelinen 2,Ritchie 85,103 min.)

    Granoch Rangers;  Stewart,Murray,Crawford,Russell,Bertolt,Hamilton I.,McAdam,
    Hamilton S.,Johannesen,de Vries,MacGregor. Sub.McCall replaced Hamilton S.
    after 35 minutes.

    Mirrenwell;  McLaughlin,McCarthy,Rae,Hamilton,Ferguson,Parlane,Gray,Ritchie,
    Connelly,McEwan,Eskelinen. Sub.McNammee replaced Gray after 90 minutes.