Round-Up: Scottish Football Needs To Raise Spirits, More Women Playing & League Reconstruction Again

Date: 6th January 2021

As much of Scotland settles in for yet another prolonged lockdown due to the heightened risk of Covid-19, Scottish professional football has been given the go ahead to continue.

Hopefully our clubs and players can stay safe, out of trouble and entertain those of us that have to stay at home with some great football. 

I know we’ve had a few breaches of the safety protocols so far this term and Celtic’s warm weather training in Dubai has raised even more eyebrows but on the most part Scottish football has given us fans a nice distraction away from the global pandemic. 

We’ve seen some shock cup results, intriguing league performances and we have even celebrated the Scotland men’s senior team finally qualifying for a major tournament again! 

Hopefully in 2021, our players can make all the headlines for the right reasons and give supporters something uplifting as we all await an end to this latest lockdown. 

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STV Sport recently reported that participation by women playing football has risen by almost 8,000. 

It’s fantastic to see such a sharp increase in females taking up team sports, with rugby also seeing loads of new faces playing their game too. 

I have no doubts that greater exposure from the media as well as our women’s teams doing so well within that timeframe have seriously helped boost those numbers. It is great that young girls now have role models to look up to, learn from and aspire to emulate. 

We have to hope that more of our women’s game can be highlighted on a regular basis. I see no reason why we can’t have more fixtures from the Scottish Women’s Premier League being shown live each week on our TVs. There definitely seems to be an appetite for it, which is awesome!

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League reconstruction has reared it’s head again, within the men’s professional game. 

News has filtered through that Glasgow sides, Celtic and Rangers, are set to come up with a plan that will see ‘B teams’ and sides from The Highland and Lowland Leagues joining League Two and making that tier a sixteen team league. 

It’s believed that both Glasgow sides would be willing to fund the idea by offering join-up fees and paying upfront for 200 tickets per away fixture. 

I am all for league reconstruction but it has to be looked at in greater detail and it has to encompass every team in every league possible and benefit more than just a few sides. 

It all feels a bit 2020 again but I shall hold judgment until I’ve seen the full details of any potential plan. 

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Sadly Partick Thistle announced yesterday the passing of former Thistle Weir Youth Academy player, Scott Martin.

Our thoughts are with the young man’s family and friends at this difficult time! 

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