Largs Thistle legend George Wall writes for the News about football matters local, national and international...
That was a first for me. Watching the Scotland game and it gets stopped for 95 minutes. The conditions were really bad for the players, as you could see during the time played up to Scotland’s first goal.
I think it’s fantastic that the fans stayed with the team. I have been at Hampden near the front and I can tell you there ain’t no cover when the rain comes on. You get wet wet wet. The team handled the delay well; it could not have been easy waiting around to play but the fans and the atmosphere in the ground must have helped them.
Scotland are well and truly on track now for Germany and the Euro’s next year. Still a few difficult games to play especially with Cyprus, Spain and Georgia being all away but I am thinking they are not going to mess up now. Just don’t get carried away and think it’s done.
It was also good to see Billy Gilmour winning the Man of The Match award. Billy has had it difficult this season but fought his way back into the Brighton team and now gets back into the starting eleven for his country. Well done young man. To continue on the Euros theme, Hampden is part of a joint UK and Ireland bid to host the Euros in 2028, with a decision to be made on October 10.
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Transfer time is on us. Rangers seem to be active in signings. Have they signed the right players to challenge Celtic? I have no idea. I have never heard of their signings. In England and Europe you just can’t keep up with who is supposedly going where. Also, plenty of talk over players moving to Saudi Arabian sides this summer. It’s going to be interesting to see who signs where.
One big transfer already done is Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid for over £100 million . A great move for him. Once add ons are paid it could rise to £133 million, which is £1 million for every senior game he has played in his club career to date.
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I see that Ayrshire team Eglinton FC who are in the WoSFL Division 4, are putting big plans in place to progress through the divisions. They have announced a major partnership with Phoenix Taxi and Minibuses. I am friendly with the owner of the company and I have spoken to him about this. The plans for the club seem to be good and I believe he will be in it for the long haul. It will be interesting to see how the team progresses. They have drawn a cracker of a tie in the South Challenge Cup home to one of my old clubs, Irvine Meadow.
Largs Thistle are at home to another one of my old clubs, Dalry, who they also play in a pre season friendly on July 12. Pollok have announced they will be taking part in the Scottish Junior Cup this coming season, entering as a guest club as they will not be reinstating their membership of the Scottish Junior FA. For me you’re either in or out, there should be no guest clubs allowed to enter. They also get a bye in the first round; lucky them.
Largs Thistle 35’s, sponsored by Cullis Amusements, had it hard on Friday. Still plenty of goals though but all at the wrong end as we were beaten 7-1 by a very good Whitletts team. No game for the team this week. Next game is on July 7 at home to Glenburn.
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