Moira has just spoken to David.  He is in the Selly Oaks army hospital, Birmingham.  He has a fractured bone in his back, is in considerable pain and finds it very difficult to walk.  He expects to be kept where he is for 8 weeks.   It will take several months for him to recover.  The vehicle he was in was completely destryed so he has been quite fortunate.

Craig has his new mobile telephone number for anyone who wants to give him a call, he doesn’t have anyone’s number and is happy to take calls.

Our 19s went down 4 – 2 to Edinburgh City today in the league at a blustery Meadowbank.  Gavin Cattanach and Andrew Sinclair scoring the goals.  It was all square but two late goals from City gave them victory.

Moira spoke to David’s partner this evening.  He is flying back to the UK overnight tonight and she is flying down to the hospital in the south of England to see him on Tuesday.   He was unconscious after the blast on Friday, his back had taken the impact of the bomb.  He is now recovering well, was able to call home last night and can walk a little today.

We will add more news when we get it.

David with some of the youngsters he took to Hampden for the Scotland vs Holland game back in September

Mike says -

“Yesterday wasn’t a good day. The bad news from Afghanistan saw to that and to be honest the football became insignificant. That famous “life and death” quote by Bill Shankly all those years ago couldn’t be further from the truth.

When Craig phoned me just as I was leaving home to head down to the Academy the news we had all dreaded hearing left me numb. “Do I tell the players before the game?” was my initial thought but that was quickly dismissed. Who was I to withhold the disturbing story about one of their own. The home dressing room adopted David the moment he arrived and the players and club took collective care of him when he was with us. Sadly we can’t do that at present.

We thought at first it had been an ambush but it appears to have been a road side bomb with David and two other soldiers seriously wounded. As soon as we hear anymore information Craig will post it on the site but for the moment our thoughts go to David, all his fellow soldiers out there and their families back home. 

David was one of a couple of dozen squaddies, mostly from south of the border who were stationed in Edinburgh and wanted a team to support. We were lucky they chose us and there has been a close relationship between both parties. David will hopefully soon be heading home as “food parcels” from Spartans to the boys are heading the other way.

Forfar deserved to win. There were a good few chances in the game for both teams but not many hit the target. Forfar probably should have got a second as we over committed trying to get the equaliser but other than Chris Templeman’s goal nothing crossed the goal line.

We were second best for the first 15 minutes but came into the game strongly. As the first half progressed the large crowd got behind the team and had Deano’s right foot shot from 25 yards been a foot lower I’m sure the roof would have been blown off our new stand. That spell of dominance didn’t result in shots on target and that ultimately cost us the game. You have to score when you are on top.

At half-time I told the players that the first goal would be vital and that a mistake or a piece of magic would win the game. Chris Templeman’s quick feet in the box were the difference on the day. We pushed hard for an equaliser but it wasn’t to be. Donal side footed into the side netting as we forced Forfar on the back foot with a series of corners. There was nearly an own goal as a Forfar defender headed past his advancing goalkeeper and on another day Cloudies shot would have been deflected the right side of the post by their keeper.

Many referees would have given three spot kicks (two to us and one to Forfar) but Mr McKendrick wasn’t a generous whistler.

Forfar squeezed into the 4th round but our players can hold their heads high. This group of players went into the game on the back of 10 straight wins and I doubt that has been repeated anywhere in British senior football so far this season. We still have all to play for and there is a lot the current squad can achieve this season. 

The Scottish Cup is history for another year but we live to fight another day. Yesterday is best forgotten.”

Mike

Overshadowing all the football today was the news that David Etale our striker currently doing duty in Afganistan was injured yesterday along with two of his colleagues in a bomb blast.  We don’t have many details but we do know that David is in hospital, and that his two colleagues are in a much worse state than him.  As we get more news we will update the website.  

David - we're all hoping for a swift recovery

In the Scottish Cup today we went down 1 – 0 to Forfar Athletic in a very close encounter.  Forfar had the best of the opening 15 minutes as their long ball tactics were putting us under pressure.  Once we got to the pace of the game we did really well for the remainder of the half.  Keith Mcleod twice broke through on the left hand side but his efforts were blocked.  Gavin Malin then came close with a long range drive as we continued to have the bulk of the possession.  Forfar did however have the best chance of the half just on half time when Harty fired over.  The talking point of the half was when Ross Campbell twice handled the ball as it bounced about but the referee didn’t see a problem despite the shouts from the big home support.

We had a superb start to the second half and forced five early corners.  Keith had an effort which the ‘keeper just saved before pressure from Gavin saw their full back almost score an own goal.  Robbie Manson and Alex King both had efforts blocked and it looked like we were about to score however as often happens it was Fofar who scored on the break.  Templeman scoring when his shot on the hour mark was deflected in off Kevin Sivewright.  The big striker had turned well in the box and his goal was a reward for a good afternoon’s work.

For the remainder of the game we still had the bulk of the possession but couldn’t break down their resolute defence.  Donal Henretty came closest with a right foot drive just wide of the post and we had another shout for a penalty for handball but again the referee waved aside the claims.  Forfar did look dangerous on the break and they managed to hold on.  Over the 90 minutes it was an even game but Forfar scored the important goal, they go into the hat for the 4th round draw with our best wishes.

Our man of the match today was Alex King, a booking but his midfield performance was excellent. Team: Flockhart, Archibald, Gerrard, Sivewright, Fowlie, King, Manson, Malin, Henretty, McLeod, Hoskins (Kader 75) Subs not used: O’Donnell, Smith, McGarrie, McAuley

Att 745

Keith breaking through

Our Junior team also went down today, losing 2 – 0 to Haddingston in a league game.  We had 70% of possession but missed chances, especially in the first half when Paul Sutherland and Struan Preston both missed from close range.  Their second came in the dying minutes as we chased an equaliser. Team: Paterek, Cruickshank, Sutherland (Cartwright), Antoni, Hutchison, Scott, Perry (Reid), Bannon (Robertson), Moffat, Preston, K Young

With the game definitely on we have a full squad to choose from today.  Chris Smith was back training this week and is back in the fold.  The squad is: Flockhart, McGarrie, O’Donnell, Fowlie, Archibald, Sivewright, Gerrard, Hoskins, MsAuley, Manson, King, Malin, Henretty, Kader, Vinelli, Cassidy, Smith, McLeod, McKibben.  The Under 21 rule plus the need for a sub GK make the final 16 a tricky choice.  KO is at 3pm, we’re expecting a big crowd so do come down early!

Beating Alloa at City park - Dec 2003

Our Juniors play Haddington away tomorrow in a league game with a 1.45pm ko.  Manager David Cowan has a strong 20 man squad to choose from with only Jordan Steele missing.  After last weeks abandonment its been a frustrating couple of weeks for David and his assistant Stewart Seigel – tomorrow will be atough game as Haddington have shown improving results in recent weeks.  Squad: Paterek, Smith, G Young, Douglas, Mcleod, Cruickshank, Antoni, Sutherland, Hutchison, Boyes, Reid, Preston, Perry, Cartwright, Scott, K Young, Robertson, Bannon, Moffat, Hair