Andy Harrow, Shaughan McGuigan and Craig G Telfer bring you the Scottish Football Bucket List; all the reasons you need to visit the Ladbrokes Championship, League 1 and League 2 during the Premiership winter break.
Cammy Belford's Reasons to be Cheerful
Formed in 1870, Stranraer are the SPFL's third-oldest club after Queen's Park and Kilmarnock. If you visit Stair Park there's a fair chance you will see a goal fest as the nine home games played by Stevie Farrell’s team in Ladbrokes League 1 this season have produced 38 goals. Further joy is inspired by Stranraer keeper Cammy Belford - not only a good shot-stopper and someone with command of his area, Belford also revels in playing the pantomime villain and enjoys good-natured banter with opposition players and fans alike. Stand behind the goals at Stair Park to witness Belford in his element.
Luke Skywalker is a Diamond
You don't often expect to see Darth Vader’s son, otherwise known as Mark Hamill, cutting about with an Airdrieonians strip, nor Ricky Gervais, Tom Hanks, William Shatner or Ben Stiller for that matter, but they were just some of the stars involved this year in helping raise money for the Airdrieonians Supporters Trust. The Trust raises funds for a variety of good causes and has generated around £10,000 so far by auctioning off its signed celebrity Diamonds tops.
Alan Trouten Goal Machine
When Alan Trouten joined Albion Rovers in the summer, there were some thoughts the player wasn’t quite the force he once was but any rumours of his demise were greatly exaggerated after a sensational start to the season. The forward scored an astonishing seven times in the Betfred Cup group stage and has gone on to net 24 goals in 25 games. A clever, canny attacker and arguably the best penalty taker in the lower leagues, Trouten could conceivably score more than 40 goals before the season ends.
New Talent
Earlier this season, Hearts signed Ross Callachan from League 1 side, Raith Rovers; in the summer Hibernian picked up ex-Arbroath striker Simon Murray from Dundee United; last term Ross County acquired Jason Naismith from St Mirren and now Lewis Morgan has signed for Celtic. There is a wealth of talent bubbling underneath the Premiership, as the number of successes from the lower leagues have already proven. January offers the chance to see some of the emerging talents before they make the step up.
Experience History at Tannadice
Two clubs out with the Premiership can claim to have hosted a European final. One is, of course, Queen’s Park and Hampden. The other belongs to Dundee United and their tangerine dream, Tannadice. In 1987, the stadium hosted the second leg of their UEFA Cup Final against Gothenburg, which ended 1-1 as the Swedes won 2-1 on aggregate. Although the ground has changed significantly since, a trip to Tannadice offers the opportunity to re-live a major moment in Scottish football history and the Jim McLean Fair Play Stand is a reminder of that time.
Read the rest of the SPFL Bucket list:
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-1/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-2/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-3/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-4/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-5/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-6/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-7/
