"Moment In History"

SPFL clubs to support ‘Moment in History’ this weekend

All 42 SPFL clubs will join forces with teams across the UK this weekend (5-8 December) to commemorate the 1914 Christmas Truce football matches.

As part of ‘Football Remembers Week’, a series of programmes and events to mark the 100th anniversary of the iconic matches from the First World War, Scottish clubs will show their support and create their own ‘Moment in History’ by holding a mixed team photograph before kick-off.

At each of the 21 SPFL fixtures across this weekend, all 22 starting players will pose together for a group photograph to celebrate the spirit of the unofficial ceasefire matches which took place during the first Christmas of the Great War.

Images from across the country will be uploaded to social media using the hashtag #FootballRemembers and fans will also be able to see all photographs at the official website FootballRemembers.com. As well as SPFL clubs, teams from all levels of the Scottish game are being encouraged to create their own ‘Moment in History’ and can find more details on how to take part on the Football Remembers Week website (URL above).

Speaking of the initiative, SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “The 1914 Christmas Truce matches demonstrated the unifying power of football and it’s important we use this opportunity to acknowledge and remember the spirit and humanity of those involved.

“Despite what was happening, these young people were able to put differences aside to enjoy a game of football and it’s pleasing to see clubs across the country coming together to commemorate one of the few bright moments in what was a very dark chapter of history.”

‘Football Remembers’ is a series of programmes and events being delivered jointly by the Premier League, The FA and the Football League, in partnership with the British Council, to commemorate the First World War. The SPFL has been asked to participate and give its support to the ‘Moment in History’ mixed team photograph activity across the weekend of 5-8 December 2014.

East Stirlingshire 4 Montrose 0

Montrose Football Club continued their poor run of form against East Stirlingshire on Saturday when the home side ran out big winners with a scoreline few could have grudged them. It was the home side’s first win against the Gable Endies since January 2012.
Montrose have now failed to win any of their fixtures in league and cup stretching back to 23rd September and have only won two points in that run from two away fixtures at Berwick Rangers and Annan Athletic.
Amazingly enough despite slipping to second bottom in the table they are only two points off fourth spot.
Hopefully the side will return to winning ways in their next league fixture at home to Berwick Rangers on Tuesday 2nd December but it will have to be a big improvement on this fixture to achieve that.

Happy Birthday Charlie

Happy 90th birthday wishes on Saturday 15 November to former Montrose FC  player and life long fan Charlie Douglas from all family in Montrose and Edinburgh.
Charlie who still stays in the town hasn’t been at Links Park as often as he would like but he is still a great source of local knowledge and that certainly came to light when Steve Doyle featured some of this tails in the Time Tunnel feature in the programme. Charlie’s son Graham and grandson Murray have both kept up the family tradition by becoming Montrose fans and both contribute each week to the match programme.
Charlie is pictured left with his son & grandson.

Youth Academy News

17’s playing “For Real”
Since Club Academy Scotland has been established, all 11-a-side games for age groups U13 to U17 has been regarded as “Development” games with no points and no League tables. Having reviewed what has been happening in other European countries the SFA have decided to introduce a competitive element at the U17 age group, so from 9th November 2014 our U17’s will now be playing for points. The current U17 squad have a combination of 15 & 16 year olds who come from various locations stretching from Banff to Dundee and also includes 4 local players from Montrose. The highlight of the season so far was a great 3-1 victory away to Inverness Caley so we look forward to a successful league campaign and hope that our boys can provide many more upsets throughout the season.

Goalkeeper Suspension

Goalkeeper Stuart McKenzie sat out Saturday’s match as he served the second of his two match suspension. Stuart was sent off for the second time this season against Queen’s Park recently.