I WAS at Saughton Enclosure again on Friday, May 10th, 2013, and I got soaked - AGAIN! Heavy rain fell on this dump of a place prior to the start of the under-17 Victor Paris Cup Final between Spartans and North Merchison Club. It was so miserable, Spartans - recent winners of the SYFA Challenge Cup in Airdrie - had to halt their warm-up and try to find shelter from the downpour under the branches of a tree that is in a back garden of the houses situated on the far side of the ground. Saughton Enclosure is the modern-day equivalent of THE DISGRACE OF EDINBURGH. In no way does that take away the real DISGRACE OF EDINBURGH - our elected representatives and those who serve under them as paid officials (Civil Servants) in the City Chambers in the High Street.

I will soon be 79 years of age and this absolute pit of a sports venue is virtually the same now as it was when I was young, apart from the pitch. It used to be considered the best pitch in Edinburgh but at the most recent of the festival of cup finals arranged by the South East Youth FA, the grass was in need of a cut and some of the lines must have been done by a drunk person. Gouges in the turf, areas where the grass was so long it held up the ball when players attempted to pass on the ground. There has been no real investment in making this in to a modern sports stadium! I know there are plans being discussed about the place being revamped but these have been ongoing for a long time now. This morning, Saturday, May 11, I received a phone call at home after my return from the schools under-14 cup final at the sports complex at St Augustine’s/Forrester High Schools (where there is no shelter for spectators). This phone call involved me meeting with someone who wanted to see if I could help in any way to highlight the attitude of councollors and others who appear to be determined to turn Saughton Enclosure in to a no-go area for football. The place, frankly, is dangerous to use. However, I will not attend any meeting, however, without the express permission of the Gowans family, who are heavily involved in the plans to revamp this awful place and create, instead, a top-class synthetic pitch, covered seating area, toilets and other civilised facilities. In return for what could be a huge financial commitment by this wonderful family, the stadium would be renamed the Craig Gowans Stadium, who died in the most dreadful circumstances almost nine years ago while on the training ground of Falkirk FC. I do however, want to do something to highlight the current state of this stadium and other council owned venues throughout Edinburgh and in particular, bring to everyone’s notice, the lack of civilised modern facilities for our young people to use as well as spectators.

In this modern age where corruption among politicians and other elitists is rife, see if we can name and shame those who appear to me to want to insult our young people by allowing Saughton Enclosure and other venues to be used for finals and special events.

This year’s Craig Gowans Memorial Day will again be held, next month, in Saughton Enclosure and all funds raised on that very special day will go towards providing facilities at the Sick Kids in Edinburgh. Some of the very disabled kids helped by the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund will be at the ground again, to see legends from Rangers and Celtic play each other in this year’s challenge match. I repeat, there is no shelter anywhere in this antiquated sports venue. None at all, neither are there any toilets anywhere within the ground. No place, either, for tea or other refreshments.

WOULD YOU HELP ME TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE STATE OF THIS SPORTS VENUE AT SAUGHTON AND OTHER PLACES IN EDINBURGH?

If you agree with me, send me by email a message and I will forward each message, including this one of my own, to every councillor in Edinburgh City Council and every MSP in the Scottish Parliament. Also, every Scottish MP at Westminster and MEP elected to represent us.

I ask for your support and you can help by sending this messge on to others please.

I will email politicians every day of every week to uuntil something is done to improve sports facilities in Edinburgh. During the conversion on the phone, North Lanarkshire Council were mentioned and In the view of the person who spoke to me - THE NORTH KOREA COUNCIL! And the SNP wants us all to vote for independence! We cannot provide our young people with good, modern, civilised sports facilities.

MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Airdrie manager Jimmy Boyle insists that young star Jordan Allan is just one of many prospects at the Lanarkshire side.

The 14-year-old became the youngest ever player in Scottish league football when he made his debut at New Broomfield on Saturday.

Boyle says that while this season has not gone to plan, the Diamonds have a bright future.

“We’re really positive. The youth set-up has gone well with people like Jordan coming through and others like Liam Coogans and Chris O’Neill. When you see things like that happen and these boys getting into the first team squad and playing, the future is bright for the club.”

Both Boyle and Allan said they had no idea that the youngster could break the record, previously held by Ronnie Simpson.

Boyle said : “The thought never crossed my mind that it was going to be a record. All we thought about was that he’s had a good season and deserved something from it. We believe that he’s got ability that he can score goals at a higher level. We know he’s only 14 but we believe in his ability.”

Allan, who recently had a trial at English Premier League side Fulham, said that he has been welcomed into the senior squad with open arms.
“The players were great. They were giving me loads of advice and talking to me throughout the game and in the changing rooms afterwards.”

While Tony Watt and Gary Mackay-Steven have earned SPL deals after playing for the relegated First Division side, manager Boyle insists that his young star’s eyes are set firmly on improving next season in an Airdrie shirt.

“What’s most important right now is that he continues enjoying his football. That’s the biggest thing. He’s working hard and he’s scoring goals and he’s been rewarded for that. We’re down a division next year, so he may get more shots, but that will be up to Jordan and myself. I know that the future is good at this club and hopefully Jordan will be a big part of that.”