Complete this season when football returns, then shorten the following campaign
I WOULD like to join the debate in respect of the dilemma that is facing the SFA and the SPFL in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.
It now looks increasing likely that next season’s start date is going to be delayed, possibly by weeks or even months, so why not recommence football when the time comes by completing the outstanding 2019-20 games first? This way the integrity of the leagues remains intact and the winner and relegation spots are earned on merit. This of course means next season will be truncated with fewer games being played, but surely this is the fairest solution to the current predicament.
Completing the outstanding eight games and deducting those from the total played next season would mean players would avoid potential injuries caused by a pile-up of fixtures, always assuming of course that the pandemic is over in time for even the combined number of games to be completed.
In terms of payouts due at the
Leap of imagination
ONE accolade that was missing from the tributes to my old boss, Jimmy Gordon, the Labour peer Lord Gordon of Strathblane, who sadly died last week (“Tributes to ‘quiet man of Scots radio’,” The Herald, April 4, and Letters, April 4), is the fact that he was a pole vault champion.
Many years ago, when he told me this, he clocked the look of total incredulity on my face.
He insisted: “It’s true. When I was at Glasgow University, I joined the pole vault team to impress pretty girls and they also had a good social life.”
The university’s sports day end of the current season then lump sums could be apportioned now, on the basis of current league standings, in order to help keep struggling clubs afloat. Adjustments could then be made up or down according to final league table placements and the four outstanding cup games could clashed with an intervarsity pole vault event being held in the Midlands.
Jimmy was left out of the team that was travelling to England because, to be perfectly frank, he wasn’t any good.
It meant that come Glasgow University sports day, he was the only entrant in the pole vaulting event. Despite a somewhat derisory performance he was awarded the winner’s medal.
A surprising man with some surprising talents, who will be greatly missed.
Sheila Duffy,
Glasgow G12. be fitted in as they would any other season.
I am quite sure that season ticket holders would understand this arrangement due to the exceptional circumstances and purchase tickets as normal, in order to help their clubs survive, even if this means being unsure
It’s that show again
MALCOLM Allan’s nostalgic recall of Tommy Handley and the It’s That Man Again show (Letters, April 7) highlighted that several succeeding entertainers, including Morecambe and Wise, Les Dawson and Ken Dodd also hailed from the Liverpool area.
Sadly, they are all now deceased. Locally, Kevin Bridges follows on Glasgow’s famed comedians Jack Milroy, Rikki Fulton, Stanley Baxter and Lex Mclean, not forgetting the now retired but greatly revered Billy Connelly.
Finally, on the ITMA catchphrase list may I add “‘ll ‘ave which league their team may end up playing in next season. Christopher H Jones, Giffnock.
CONGRATULATIONS to Matthew Lindsay for his excellent article on Pat Stanton (“Stanton out on his own in Hibernian days”, Herald Sport, April 6).
As a Hibernian fan of very long standing, I was reminded of the Hibernian v Leeds United UEFA Cup tie of 1973 which ended in a 0-0 draw decided by penalties. I attended both ties.
Later that year whilst I was on a football tour with the head branch of my employer’s team in the north of England, we had a match against our Leeds branch.
Our hosts had very kindly arranged hospitality for us after the game and I got chatting to a Leeds season ticket holder about the Hibs v Leeds tie. At the time Leeds were probably the best team in England. I asked the Leeds fan who the best player he had seen playing at Leeds that past season. Without hesitation he said “Pat Stanton”.
Robert Spalding, Dysart, Fife. to ask me Dad” and “I go, I come back” which still will resonate with many.
Allan C Steele,
Giffnock.
Clued up
OVER 50-plus years of enjoyable martial, sorry, martial bliss, divorce has never been mentioned, so I guess that now that we are in a third week of lockdown I may be over-reacting to my good lady’s sudden interest in whodunnits.
Anyway, back to The Beginner’s Guide to Toxicology…
R Russell Smith,
Kilbirnie.