Latest news with #Lanarkshire
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
SPFL fixtures: Hamilton Accies handed Broadwood opener as Airdrie and East Kilbride also facing home starts
The Lanarkshire sides have learned their fixtures for the campaign Four of the five Lanarkshire sides in the SPFL will kick-off the new season at home after the fixtures for the new season were announced this morning. Motherwell start with a blockbuster clash at Fir Park against Rangers on Saturday, August 2 - kick-off 5.30pm on Sky Sports - which will see new boss Jens Berthel Askou lock horns with his old Norwich City team-mate and new Gers gaffer Russell Martin. Championship side Airdrieonians will welcome Ross County, who were relegated from the Premiership last season, to New Broomfield in a regular 3pm kick-off, while League One Hamilton Accies will play at their new home on the opening day. They play host to Montrose at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld. Meanwhile, Lowland League champions and newly promoted East Kilbride will kick-off life in the SPFL by welcoming Spartans to K-Park for their League Two opener and Clyde are the only local side to be on the road, with a trip to Dumbarton first up for them in League Two. Here are thE first six fixtures for the Lanarkshire sides in thE SPFL. Motherwell's first six: August 2 - Rangers (H) August 9 - St Mirren (A) August 23 - Hearts (A) August 30 - Kilmarnock (H) September 13 - Dundee (A) September 27 - Aberdeen (H) Airdrieonians' first six: August 2 - Ross County (H) August 9 - Dunfermline (A) August 23 - Queen's Park (H) August 30 - Arbroath (A) September 6 - St Johnstone (H) September 13 - Partick Thistle (A) Hamilton Accies' first six: August 2 - Montrose (H) August 9 - Queen of the South (A) August 16 - East Fife (H) August 23 - Alloa (A) August 30 - Cover Rangers (H) September 13 - Peterhead (A) August 2 - Dumbarton (A) August 9 - Forfar (H) August 16 - Spartans (H) August 23 - Stranraer (A) August 30 - Elgin (H) September 13 - Annan (A) East Kilbride's first six: August 2 - Spartans (H) August 9 - Elgin City (A) August 16 - Stranrar (H) August 23 - Stirling (A) August 30 - Forfar (H) September 13 - Edinburgh City (A) A full list of the SPFL fixtures for the season ahead can be found on the SPFL website.
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tens of thousands of fans devour my erotic fiction...but I don't want mum and dad reading it!
Many thousands of people have read her raunchy fiction as it took the literary world by storm. But two people who haven't read Sophie Gravia's best selling books are her parents – after she banned them from doing so. The author, whose titles include A Glasgow Kiss and Hot Girl Summer, said: 'I don't allow my mum and dad to read the books. 'They are so proud and they tell everyone about the books, but I am like: 'Please, do not read them.'' It was during the pandemic that the nurse, from Bellshill in Lanarkshire, self-published her debut novel online. 'Literally overnight it was number one on the Amazon charts. It just completely blew up,' she said. And this week she released her fifth book, The Dicktionary Club, based on the real-life phenomenon where women meet in groups on social media to discuss whether they are dating the same man. Ms Gravia, a renal nurse for ten years, is currently on a career break but plans to return to the profession. During the pandemic the mother-of-two had to attend mandatory wellness sessions designed to offer a release from the pressures of the health crisis. Ms Gravia, 33, told BBC Scotland: 'Everyone else had all these great things they were doing in their spare time, while I was using it to lie on the couch watching Netflix most nights. 'Then I said to myself 'look, let's get a grip here', and I started writing. 'I never thought I was good enough at it, but wanted to do something for myself.' It would lead to A Glasgow Kiss, about trainee nurse Zara Smith's dating escapades. She said: 'I just took the worst dating stories I had heard from my friends and the girls in the staffroom. There are a couple of my own in there too.' It is now being made into a TV series by BBC Studios. Ms Gravia's literary success comes amid a long-time love of writing. As a teenager she considered a career in journalism but ended up following her parents into nursing.
The National
15 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Hamilton Accies confirm move to Broadwood Stadium
The embattled Lanarkshire club – relegated from the Scottish Premiership in 2021 – have been mired in financial and ownership difficulties, and were demoted from the Championship last month after incurring a 15-point deduction for breaching multiple Scottish Professional Football League rules. Amid the turbulence, Accies opted to leave New Douglas Park – their home since 2001 – due to a dispute over stadium ownership. Their request to play their home games at Broadwood in Cumbernauld was passed by the SPFL on Thursday, with a two-year lease – and the option of a third year if necessary – agreed with North Lanarkshire Council. Hamilton stated that their 'long-term ambition remains to return to the Hamilton area at the earliest opportunity' once they are 'stronger, more stable, and better equipped to serve the club and its community'. 'This relocation has not been undertaken lightly,' read a statement confirming the move. 'As part of our agreement, the club was required to commit to paying a full year of rental, operational, and security costs upfront, a significant financial obligation that has had immediate consequences for our liquidity. 'Compounding this challenge, since May we have been unable to sell season tickets, generate commercial income, or secure a shirt sponsor while awaiting formal confirmation of our league participation for the upcoming campaign. 'Despite these clear disadvantages, we remain undeterred. This move marks a turning point. A rebirth for Hamilton Academical Football Club. Our time away will be used strategically: to rebuild the club's financial strength, establish proper governance, and put in place a modern, accountable Board of Directors that will uphold the highest standards of compliance, professionalism, and ambition. 'We are committed to becoming a club of integrity, purpose, and innovation. 'We understand the emotional impact this temporary move may have. We apologise to our loyal supporters for the inconvenience, but we promise this: we will fight for our future, and when we return to Hamilton, it will be with a club that is revitalised and stronger in every sense. 'This is not the end of our story, it is the beginning of a bold new chapter.' Accies previously played outside of Hamilton – at Firhill and Cliftonhill – for seven years after selling former ground Douglas Park to a supermarket in 1994.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
East Kilbride ace admits one clash will stand out for him when SPFL release fixtures
Jordan McGregor is looking forward to Kilby's first taste of SPFL action East Kilbride fans are eagerly awaiting tomorrow's League Two fixture announcement as the club prepares for its first-ever season in the SPFL. The K-Park side are in with the big boys after 11 years of chasing promotion from the Lowland League and Mick Kennedy's men can look forward to clashes with Lanarkshire rivals Clyde, former Lowland League sparring partners Spartans and Edinburgh City, while there will be long journeys to the likes of Elgin City, Forfar Athletic and Stranraer as well as clashes against Annan Athletic and Dumbarton who were releagted from League One last term. But for defender McGregor, it is another clash that will really stand out for him, having enjoyed title-winning success at Stirling Albion in 2022/23. McGregor said: "Playing against Stirling is the one I will be looking forward to most, especially away from home. "It is a team I spent a lot of time with - I was there for five or six years - so that's the one I will be looking for when the fixtures come out. I won the league once and then we got promoted as well in my five years. "The one I'm not looking forward to is Elgin City away - and we've already got them in the [Premier League Sports] cup next month [at Borough Briggs]. "Being in the Lowland League, the travelling wasn't too bad but Elgin will be the furthest away game I've ever played in my career!" The fixtures are released at 9am tomorrow and across Lanarkshire fans of Motherwell, Airdrieonians, Hamilton Accies and Clyde will discover how their campaigns shape up for 2025/26.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Bold ideas & bright vision as Askou era begins'
As Jens Berthel Askou approached the top table in the Fir Park press room, where he would face the media for the first time as new Motherwell manager, we were all greeted with a handshake, a big smile and a friendly "hello".It was a nice touch from the Danish coach, who left his post as Copenhagen assistant to become the Lanarkshire side's third boss in five was quick to mention the club's history and community feel, even though he had only been in the country for 24 hours. During that short time he mentioned he fell victim to the school-run traffic a stone's throw from Fir Park. That only added to the community was big on the club board, their ambitions, and was also enthusiastic and clear when speaking about his own hopes, especially on how he wants his team to play. "Some dynamic football, with big intensity," he said. Music to the ears of Well fans, you would came across well and was confident when delivering his ideas and aspirations for the immediate and long-term future. From our early interactions, he seems to have real belief in his own ability as a manager and coach and is determined to "break barriers" in Scottish football.
