JOEY HITS OUT AT FA
FORMER Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has hit out at the FA because his ban has prevented him from playing in the Grenfell Tower fundraising clash. Game 4 Grenfell will take place at Loftus Road – home of another of his former clubs QPR – on September 2, aimed at raising money for the victims of the London fire.
Barton’s 18-month ban for betting on 1260 football matches was reduced to 13 months on appeal on Thursday, meaning he can return to competitive action on June 1 next year. But he says the ban also prevents him playing in the fundraiser.
Barton tweeted: “I would have loved to be supporting the £Game4Grenfell but @FA have decided my ban extends to helping a great cause. So unfortunately, unless someone engages their brain, I won’t make it.
“Unfortunately, the game is to be an FA sanctioned game and they’ve informed me that you will not be allowed to play in it due to your ban.” BRORA RANGERS gaffer Ross Tokely believes the Highland League title race will be the closest in years.
The Sutherland club – who finished third behind champions Buckie Thistle last term – have been tipped as favourites by their rivals.
But ahead of kicking off the new campaign against Lossiemouth today Tokely insists the big four of Brora, Buckie, Formartine and Cove will take the trophy fight down to the wire.
The former Inverness and Ross County hero said: “The thing about making us favourites is a lot of people want us to fail.
“I think the champions should be favourites and shown that respect.
“This year will be the most competitive it has been for the last five or six years.
“There are probably four teams capable of winning the league and lots of clubs who have strengthened.
“The main thing for me is getting a good team spirit – and ourselves on a run.”
Tokely admits Brora have suffered a hangover from the back-to-back title glory in 2014 and 2015.
But he is confident experienced ex-Elgin duo Craig Gunn and Mark Nicolson can fire them back to the top.
Tokely said: “I’ve dipped into the freebie market to sign guys with good Scottish League experience.
“Craig is a natural scorer and Mark will bring us steel in midfield. They have come to win things after 10 years of winning nothing at Elgin.
“Before I took over some of the boys got into a comfort zone.
“It is always hard to keep it going after you win two league titles but I know what we can do.”
RESULTS & FIXTURES
Lowland League –
4, Gala Fairydean 4. Cardiff 4, Livingston 0. FOOTBALL TODAY (All kick-offs 3pm) Brechin v Falkirk,
Friendly – Betfred Cup Group A –
Forfar v Inverness CT. Elgin v Peterhead, Hearts v Raith Rovers v Alloa v Hibs, Annan v Ayr,
Group B – Group C – Group D – Group E – Group F –
Dunfermline. Cowdenbeath. Arbroath v Ross Co. Kilmarnock v Dumbarton. Morton v Edinburgh City, Motherwell v Berwick. Hamilton v Stenhousemuir, Queen of South v Albion Rovers. Partick Thistle v Stranraer, St Mirren v Airdrie.
Buckie Th v Clach, Cove v Huntly, Deveronvale v Turriff Utd, Formartine Utd v Inverurie, Forres v Nairn Co, Fraserburgh v Wick, Keith v Fort William, Lossiemouth v Brora, Rothes v Strathspey.
East Kilbride v Dalbeattie Star, East Stirling v BSC Glasgow, Edinburgh Univ v Cumbernauld, Gretna 2008 v Civil Service Strollers, Selkirk v Whitehill Welfare, Spartans v Hawick Royal Albert, Stirling University v Vale of Leithen.
Sunderland v Celtic. TOMORROW
Dundee v
Group G – Group H – Highland League – Lowland League – Friendly – Betfred Cup Group C –
Dundee Utd.
Friendly –
Edusport Academy Sheff Wed v Rangers.