Late.            The three Murray’s later.

First I was right this morning. “Oh! you’re very smart today, a shirt and tie, what’s up?” I gave up telling people there was something on at the Academy at lunch-time and started saying. “I’ve got an interview with Vlad this afternoon about the Hearts job”.

I must have used that line to at least a dozen people and it invoked the same reaction every time which was laughter. A bit cruel I thought as my track record is actually quite good and I’d probably say yes.

Anyway I bailed out early at lunch-time because Sam was about and he’s on holiday now the schools are closed.

Murray number one is my son and he started a summer soccer school at Gracemount leisure centre today. He wore his Torres top and was proud as punch. I came home to hear all about it and he can’t wait for tomorrow. His mum took him and Robert for a haircut in the afternoon so the Torres tops are in the wash.

Murray number two is Jimmy Murray and here’s where he comes in. My Murr was crying when he saw his Spanish top go in the wash until Irene came down the stairs with a complete Ronaldo Brazil strip. Tarzan gave it to Murray when he was 3 months and 5 years later it almost fits him.  Never had kids Tarzan apart from the Spanish twins.  Jose and I can’t remember the other’s name.

Murray number three is Andrew of course. 3 hours 57 minutes he took to blow Gaquet away and I was on the edge of my seat from the first serve until the last.  The tension in my living room was electric until Irene wandered in during the fifth set – looked at the tele for a minute and said “He looks like Tom Hanks in Big”. That sort of spoilt the rest of the game for me.

I doubt if Rafael is quaking in his Nike gear but whatever happens in the quarters Murray has proved some of the doubters including myself wrong.

The tennis tonight has helped take my mind off other matters and although Craig and Co are working away at Thursday’s presentation there’s little Sam, Mike, myself and the players can do other than wait. I’ll stay away from the Forums until it’s all over and concentrate on football matters on the training ground.

I bumped into Naomi’s dad today and it’s funny to think we might be in opposite dug-outs this season. We spoke about his son’s two seasons with Spartans and how much more he has to offer. His goals tally has been excellent both season and if he adds a bit of consistency we’ll be fighting his Dad and others off trying to sign him. 

Naomi is the only player other than young Bob not to trap so far this season but that should alter tomorrow. One  more night at City Park then pre-season resumes at Peffermill.

Is it still only Monday? 

Early.             I’ll get stick this morning at work for wearing a shirt and tie. You know “job Interview is it?” and smart comments like that. Being in IT (well BT in SW) and kept well away from the general public we can dress casual and casual we dress. I’ve not been brave enough to come to work with shorts on yet but it’s been considered.

Anyway I’ve a shirt and Spartans tie on today just in case. Just in case someone from the media wants to talk to me about Thursday.

I should have gone to bed with Spain winning Euro 2008 in my head but instead I couldn’t help thinking about all our zero points and hoping that the 29 SFL chairmen are aware out ground is nearing completion and in two months time the scores would be very different.

It’s lucky I never sang for Britain in Europe as I’d never get to sleep.

Anyway I was so uptight about the Spanish manager last night I never discussed the goal that won the game. Did they sub Lahm because he was having a poor game or because he didn’t go down in a heap looking for a free kick as Fernando brushed past him? In the last two game Torres on a number of occasions has just failed to use his fantastic pace because the ball as bobbled or it’s hit a defenders leg but in that instant it all came together.

My thoughts today are of Fordie in Cafe Granada with Pepe and Paco where the air horns will have been blasting last night.

I wonder where the air horns will be going off on Thursday?

Late.        I’m not going to Hampden on Thursday. It’s just as well because the last time I helped present a team to the SFL in a similar situation they got zero points. Very similar to the points a £3.5 million complex which will be ready in a couple of months got this week you may say.

Anyway Sam, Tarzan, the Mother-in-Law and myself will head to Kilspindie for a round of golf on Thursday afternoon. Sam went down to book a time today and have a fly 18 holes as a practice for the big challenge. Did he not just go and knock his tee-shot in the hole at the first. Well done old yin – how many shots are we getting?

I went up to the pub tonight with my Torres top on. As usual when Spain are playing the sweep wasn’t about goal scorers but when the best manager in the world – or stupid old goat – was going to substitute Fernando.

I’m not adverse to throwing on a sub when we’re struggling. I’m not adverse to throwing on a sub when a game is won. Luis Aragones was lucky tonight. He put on three subs when no-one was injured and when his team was only one ahead. An equaliser, an injury, even an extra half hour and Spanish dreams were in tatters. I was calling him all sorts of names when he took Fabregas off so I’ll leave it to your imagination what was passing my lips when Torres was withdrawn.

Silva has had a great tournament but was poor tonight. He was the only player who should have been taken off and he was nearly sent off. The best team won but Aragones could have blown it. 

Another big day for Spartans tomorrow. Another chance to get our side across. Let’s hope we are as lucky as Sam and as successful as Spain.

Early.             Or is it? (the publicity I’m talking about – not the time) Time will tell but being the go-ahead club we are every effort is being made to put our message across.

If you buy a Sunday paper or two you’ll realise we had a meeting with the Sabbith press last mid week. It was on Wednesday and before the SFL Management Committee released their markings on the five applicants.  In actual fact Derick and Craig were at Hampden answering supplementary questions at the same time we were being interviewed at Ainslie Park. Most of the Sunday’s have adjusted their story to include our poor rating. 

At the meeting with the Press, Colin introduced everyone and spoke eloquently about the club’s history, the academy and our plans for the future. Sam, Bob, Cloudie, Sammy and myself chipped in answering questions and although I admit to like seeing my picture in the papers I wish there was less of my words and more of theirs in the press today. Maybe I should stay away from any further meetings.

The bottom line is we are fighting for our football lives. Everyone at Spartans think we are the best candidates but how do we get that across before Thursday and in a way that doesn’t make us look big headed or pushy.

At Spartans we know three of the other candidates very well. They have good set ups, have good players and are run by good people. Our friends from up North I don’t know much about other than their success on the park this season and their tight little park which I took an EOS Select up to a few years back.

If any of the East teams get in before us believe me we will be delighted for them and first to congratulate them but until Thursday they are the opposition just as if they were against us on the park.  

Despite the rhetoric and the banter between fans on the Forums there is a very healthy respect between the East teams in the frame this week. In fact add the Uni and Whitehill and you have six teams who would do well in any non league set up including the lauded juniors.

Finally for now the Youth Section Barbie is off today. When we get the keys to Ainslie Park we’ll have a club get-together on the first Sunday (note that down Sammy) where the whole Spartans family can familiarise themselves with each other and our fabulous surroundings.

I can’t wait.

Another good session this morning where the boys worked hard with and without the ball. I was pleased when Dapper MI invited me to take part in a possession function but thought differently when first Donal then Archie tried to take me out. My youngest Robert had a tear in his eye when he saw the blood on my leg when I got home mid afternoon.

Before a late 8 minute run we had a 20 minute 3 touch, one touch finish game where Donal and Archie wisely chose to be on my side. As the Mother-in-Law made up the numbers for the opposition we were able to use it as the first game of the season in the Jack and Victor Champions League. 2-0 to Jack so that’s me (and my boys) top of the league.

I didn’t score but Fireman Dan was the recipient of a nut-meg I’m rather proud of.  

When the running was taking place it seems there weren’t many who wanted to run with Nicky Walker. Last night I got an text from the Electric Seel asking when training started. I told him and he followed up with “Think I might take on the Sand Snake tomorrow.” I responded by asking why he didn’t fancy running with Nicky and got – “Nah. The Sand Snake’s still the top man til proven otherwise.”

Bottle glass – glass bottle.

While I’m on about Nicky I’m going to have to come up with a name for him as I think folk are shouting Micky when they’re calling him. Annie is an obvious one for me but the players won’t know who Annie Walker was. Sky might do but I’ll have to think it thru.

On the way to training Dougie and I were asking Dan how he did betting at Ascot.  It seems he hadn’t won jot but after talking to his mum on his mobile just before the last race she told him she’d had a dream about the number 17. A fiver later and Dan had his first win at 33-1. Why didn’t she phone him two days earlier before the first race he watched.

Dan is giving out the mobile number of Mystic Sally at a tenner a go.    

The high heed yins had a meeting after training to which Sam and I were invited. We discussed the week ahead and the presentation on Thursday. It seems we didn’t score as well with the SFL as we might have hoped in certain areas and we talked that thru.

I suppose there was more investigation needed to our application because our ground is under construction and we’ve never applied before. The SFL will have information on the facilities the other four teams have and it was just a case of checking for changes.

Our ground is still a couple of months away from completion but the plans are there to see, the money in place and it will be finished soon.  

We are all confident we would be an asset to the SFL but we’ll have to work our socks off to convince the 29 chairmen.  Sam, myself, the backroom staff and the players know that Craig and Co will give it their best shot in winning the crucial vote later this week.

Finally for now I see Wendy Alexander and Andy Murray made the Scottish News for different reasons this afternoon. I have voted SNP all my life so I know nothing about politics. I don’t really care who runs the country (apart from the Tory’s of course) but would like to see us an independent nation whatever the cost. I must admit I felt sorry for Wendy watching her on the News early. She’s got a good top lip for a quiver by the way. 

The big Hibbie from Dunblane has had a first class week at Wimbledon. His ability has never been in question but his fitness and temperament have. All three have been top drawer and he’ll have to be at his best against eighth seed Richard Gasquet. Let’s hope he is.

Oh! and happy birthday to Cloudie who is 30 years young today.

Early.        I wrote the other day about the ups and downs of an election campaign. One minute you read, watch or hear something positive about your club and the next it’s negative. You can’t get carried away with one and you don’t let the other get in the way of your application, purpose and desire.

I hinted the other night that we’d heard something negative towards our campaign and the Scotsman has an article on it this morning.  

When Craig, Derick, Hutch and Co get the facts I’m sure they will formulate a response and a way of turning it into a positive during the run up to Thursday.

I’m a mere manager and only get to pick the team so any comment from me at present would be remiss. We have an early start to training this morning so I’ll report back later.