066 Prof John McKendrick: refereeing where it started, warmups, red cards, Michael Palin & child poverty

LAST weekend Gordon Robertson steered Yoker Athletic into their first Scottish Junior Cup final for 86 years in just his tenth game in charge. He might not have decided which suit he’ll wear for the final against Auchinleck Talbot – but things are clearly looking good for the Holm Park side. Gordon tells us why he doesn’t just want his players to enjoy the big day when he pits his wits against Tommy Sloan. We also hear how Gordon always knew he’d be taking charge at the club – but just not yet. Gordon as previously chairman and coach at Clydebank as they re-emerged in the juniors and looks back at those 12 years. There’s all that and more as we go Down The Divisions. We'd also like to give a quick mention to our sponsors FortyFour Creative. They have a team of highly skilled and passionate photographers, graphic designers, videographers and video editors to help promote your content, brand, organisation or event. They make creation personal. Find out more at www.fortyfourcreativehq.com If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. Likewise if you're at a club who would like your post-match audio featured on the show then do get in touch. You can email [email protected] or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Down The Divisions logo design: Adam Aitken Intro and outro music: Bensound

IT'S the semi-finals of the Scottish Junior Cup this weekend as Auchinleck Talbot play Kirkintilloch Rob Roy and Petershill take on Yoker. But if Alex McDowall has his way there will only be one more season of the competition in its current guise. The chief operating officer at the Scottish Junior Football Association joins us on the show this week and he has some big news for clubs. In a Down The Divisions exclusive he outlines his proposals for a replacement for the flagship tournament and the bumper prize money up for grabs. It’s a must listen as we look at what’s on offer and what’s needed to make it a reality. Before taking over at the SJFA Alex was chairman at Gartcairn and he tells us why he thinks the conferences in the West of Scotland league were a bad idea. He also hits out at the decision to give the Old Firm colts more time in the Lowland League and explains why there should be a board made up of every league at tier six. Plus there are his plans to reopen junior membership for clubs who left. There’s all that and more plus Mark Mackay’s Best of the West as we go Down The Divisions. We'd also like to give a quick mention to our sponsors FortyFour Creative. They have a team of highly skilled and passionate photographers, graphic designers, videographers and video editors to help promote your content, brand, organisation or event. They make creation personal. Find out more at www.fortyfourcreativehq.com If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. Likewise if you're at a club who would like your post-match audio featured on the show then do get in touch. You can email [email protected] or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Down The Divisions logo design: Adam Aitken Intro and outro music: Bensound

AS a kid Ryan Caddis gave taekwondo the heave-ho to play football instead. After a successful career in the amateurs and juniors he and Andy Bell landed their first jobs as co-bosses of Craigmark Burntonians last year. Early on Ryan had to buy HIMSELF as a player. But it’s been a debut season in the dugout to remember for the long-time pals as The Mark have made THEIR mark in Conference A in the West of Scotland League. We hear how they’ve become obsessed with turning around the fortunes of an East Ayrshire club whose ground was built by miners on their way to a shift down the pit. There’s the FIFA red tape they faced when Ryan tried to get his former Celtic playing brother Paul a game. And there’s the reason why Ryan’s three-year-old son went viral earlier this season. After a weekend to remember for Thorniewood their manager Jamie Nesbitt also joins us and tells us why today’s players just don’t celebrate like they used to. There’s all that and Mark Mackay’s Best of the West as we go Down The Divisions. We'd also like to give a quick mention to our sponsors FortyFour Creative. They have a team of highly skilled and passionate photographers, graphic designers, videographers and video editors to help promote your content, brand, organisation or event. They make creation personal. Find out more at www.fortyfourcreativehq.com If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. Likewise if you're at a club who would like your post-match audio featured on the show then do get in touch. You can email [email protected] or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Down The Divisions logo design: Adam Aitken Intro and outro music: Bensound

JAMIE McKIM once joined a team as a player knowing he’d get less game time there – but he’d enjoy the training more. It’s something that’s stayed with him as he moved into the dugout. The Johnstone Burgh boss takes a break from trying to steer his side into the West of Scotland League’s second tier to join us on the show this week. He looks back on last Saturday dramatic Renfrewshire derby in Conference A – and tells us why he thinks The Burgh should have ended Arthurlie’s unbeaten season. As we get closer to the end of another campaign, Jamie and Paul discuss recruitment and how they go about shaping their squads. There’s also the Keanie Park kitman who’s helped keep the club going despite missing the opening periods of pretty much every home game. It’s also hotting up in Conference C, where Drumchapel could – in theory – wrap up the title this weekend by winning their final league game of the season. But Petershill have a game in hand over the Drum and they’ll finish top if they win this weekend and seven days later. Drum boss Adam Hopes tells us why he’s given up on lifting the trophy and tells us why they must have their home ground sorted for next term, whatever division they’re in. Paul also gets all romantic on us and tells us about the difference between loving football – and being in love with the beautiful game. There’s all that and Mark Mackay’s Best of the West as we go Down The Divisions. We'd also like to give a quick mention to our sponsors FortyFour Creative. They have a team of highly skilled and passionate photographers, graphic designers, videographers and video editors to help promote your content, brand, organisation or event. They make creation personal. Find out more at www.fortyfourcreativehq.com If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. Likewise if you're at a club who would like your post-match audio featured on the show then do get in touch. You can email [email protected] or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.   Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken   Intro and outro music Bensound

LANARK UNITED have had to play their home games away from Moor Park after it was damaged during the recent storms. But there’s been plenty of grounds for optimism at the Yowes after they were taken over by a new management team. They still prop up the West of Scotland League’s Conference C – but last Saturday’s win over East Kilbride Thistle showed things might just be starting to turn. One half of their new dugout duo Andy Souter joins us on the show this week. He tells us how he and co-manager Simon Eeles plan to take the club forwards. There’s also their cup run which has kept their season alive and the upcoming clash with Pollok. Andy talks about his time coaching in the pro-youth ranks, when he worked at Inverness, Ross County, Morton and Queen’s Park – and why there needs to be a better exit strategy for kids who aren’t quite good enough to make it at that level. We also hear about his spell working with youth teams in the States – and the one Americanism he struggled to shake off. There’s Mark Mackay’s Best of the West too – and it’s all here as we go Down The Divisions. We'd also like to give a quick mention to our sponsors FortyFour Creative. They have a team of highly skilled and passionate photographers, graphic designers, videographers and video editors to help promote your content, brand, organisation or event. They make creation personal. Find out more at www.fortyfourcreativehq.com   If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. Likewise if you're at a club who would like your post-match audio featured on the show then do get in touch. You can email [email protected] or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.   Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken   Intro and outro music Bensound

CHRIS CAMERON grew frustrated watching Neilston tumble down the tables when he was on the outside. Now he’s one of the men back on the inside determined to take The Farmer’s Boys back up. Chris shares the Brig O’Lea management duties with Derek Carson and joins us this week. He tells us how gutted the club were to lose to table-topping rivals Petershill last Saturday – but how it won’t derail their plans for progress. Chris takes us back to the day he left a pitch with both his cruciate ligaments in bits – and his playing career in pieces. We also hear why coaching was once never something that interested him. Also last weekend, Ardeer Thistle rubberstamped their rise from worst in the league to a Division Two team next season. They did it without kicking a ball too. Their boss Sean Kenney joins us later in the show. Mark Mackay gives us his Best of the West too and it’s all here, as we go, Down The Divisions. We'd also like to give a quick mention to our sponsors FortyFour Creative. They have a team of highly skilled and passionate photographers, graphic designers, videographers and video editors to help promote your content, brand, organisation or event. They make creation personal. Find out more at www.fortyfourcreativehq.com   If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. Likewise if you're at a club who would like your post-match audio featured on the show then do get in touch. You can email [email protected] or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.   Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken   Intro and outro music Bensound

FINNART became the first trophy winners in the West of Scotland League last week as they wrapped up the Division Four title. Their boss Brian Blair joins us on the show and tells us where he wants to take the club – and the work they’re doing to ensure it happens. We hear how he’s having to change mentalities AND why he apologises to referees BEFORE games. There’s also the day they travelled all the way to Campbeltown only for the ref to call off – but why it was still a good result. And what next for the likes of Finnart and the other clubs in Division Four? The West of Scotland League’s fixture secretary Kennie Young is back to give us as many answers as he can. Plus we hear about the prospect of more teams joining the setup in the summer – and there’s a great debate between Kennie, Paul and Brian over that. There’s also Paul's return to the dugout at Carluke Rovers and Mark Mackay’s Best of the West. It’s all here as we go Down The Divisions. We'd also like to give a quick mention to our sponsors FortyFour Creative. They have a team of highly skilled and passionate photographers, graphic designers, videographers and video editors to help promote your content, brand, organisation or event. They make creation personal. Find out more at www.fortyfourcreativehq.com   If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. Likewise if you're at a club who would like your post-match audio featured on the show then do get in touch. You can email [email protected] or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.   Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken   Intro and outro music Bensound

CRAIG PALMER had to learn to walk again after suffering a horror accident at work. But now he’s the player turned assistant manager who’s getting Arthurlie up and running again. The Barrhead side have played 20 league games this season – and incredibly they’ve won 19 and drawn the other. Craig joins us this week to look at just how they’ve got the Dunterlie Park outfit flying at the top of Conference A in the West of Scotland League. We hear about the moaners who are setting the standards – and who’s the biggest farter in the dressing room. Craig also takes us back to those dark days recovering from that spell in intensive care and reveals just how much the football community rallied round to help. There’s also the way he uses his positive outlook on life to help players going through injury setbacks themselves. Recorded from the home of Glasgow Girls Football Club, it’s all here as we go Down The Divisions. Paul mentions on the show that people can get involved with the new Glasgow Girls Football Club Media Academy. To get in touch go to www.glasgowgirlsfc.com/contact/ We'd also like to give a quick mention to our sponsors FortyFour Creative. They have a team of highly skilled and passionate photographers, graphic designers, videographers and video editors to help promote your content, brand, organisation or event. They make creation personal. Find out more at www.fortyfourcreativehq.com If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. Likewise if you're at a club who would like your post-match audio featured on the show then do get in touch. You can email [email protected] or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

NEIL SCHONEVILLE was handed his first manager’s job last April after Lesmahagow boss Rab Irving moved upstairs following a 17-year association with the club. With just two players signed for the season, Neil had to work quickly to rebuild a squad which had drifted away after The Gow skipped the covid hit previous campaign. It’s been a baptism of fire for the veteran centre-half, who signed on as a player too. Neil joins us this week and tells us about getting to grips with life in the dugout – including seeing his one goalie get sent off four times. Never one to shirk a challenge on the pitch, Neil talks about having to get used to the modern day player not hurting as much as he does after a defeat. He and Paul also discuss the death of the no-nonsense defender and the rise of the astro turf generation. There’s also the moment former Motherwell star Colin O’Neill made him cry. It’s all here as we go Down The Divisions. We'd like to give a quick mention to our sponsors FortyFour Creative. They have a team of highly skilled and passionate photographers, graphic designers, videographers and video editors to help promote your content, brand, organisation or event. They make creation personal. Find out more at www.fortyfourcreativehq.com If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. Likewise if you're at a club who would like your post-match audio featured on the show then do get in touch. You can email [email protected] or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound

After Paul quit as co-manager at Newmains United there have been more developments at the club this week. Paul gives us the latest as one era ends at Victoria Park and another begins Craig Menzies also joins us to discuss his move to Premier League leaders Pollok at the age of 35 – and Southy’s shock exit from St Cadocs which led to his decision to leave too. With just a few games left this season we look down across all the divisions in the West of Scotland League. We hear Paul’s team of the season so far, why he thinks the conferences have worked and the big issue about the new Division Three next term. Plus there’s Mark Mackay’s Best of the West. It’s all here as we go Down The Divisions. We'd like to give a quick mention to our sponsors FortyFour Creative. They have a team of highly skilled and passionate photographers, graphic designers, videographers and video editors to help promote your content, brand, organisation or event. They make creation personal. Find out more at www.fortyfourcreativehq.com If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. Likewise if you're at a club who would like your post-match audio featured on the show then do get in touch. You can email [email protected] or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken Intro and outro music Bensound