Reasons to be Cheerful

It was brought to my attention that my first few columns were not exactly brimming with positivity. 

That’s honestly not my intention, but there are often fundamentally flaws with the Scottish game that sometimes are screaming out to be addressed.

So without further ado and to prove I’m not entirely a moaning git, here’s my list of reasons to be cheerful:

1. On Any Given Saturday…

This season in the SPFL Premiership, it’s looking like we’ve got some real parity. Aside from Celtic, who we know are going to run away with the league, every side looks capable of defeating each other. Inverness demonstrated to other clubs how to take on Celtic’s second string, Hamilton are early runners as the league’s surprise package (did anyone have them down to win three in four at the start of the season?) and even at the bottom, St Mirren & Ross County, despite being winless haven’t been battered yet and look capable of winning if they take their chances. When the rest of Europe’s league tables are beginning to look more and more familiar, we should embrace our new found parity.

2. Marvin Andrews is still playing football

As an Elgin fan, I’m obvious a little bit bias (and a huge bit delighted) with the signing of ‘Marvellous’ Marvin Andrews this week. Andrews may not be the finest footballer we’ve seen in Scotland, but there’s no doubt he adds to the gaiety of nations. You would have to have a heart of stone not to love the idea of a preacher who once played in the World Cup running out every second Saturday for the Juventus of the North (of Scotland)?

3. Celtic’s European Adventure

Even ardent Celtic fans are amused by their frankly bizarre European escapades this season. Playing games in rugby stadiums and 2700 capacity ground, being dumped out of the Champions League twice, suddenly becoming UEFA’s bezzie, it’s been a rare old time. At the time of writing, their Europa League draw hadn’t been made, but knowing Ronny Deila’s luck, another trip to Warsaw could be on the cards. Celtic fans may have found the previous few seasons boring, but there’s no way that can be said this year.

4. Standard of play so far

I’ve seen more than a few games this season, both in person and on television and aside from the Rangers-Clyde mismatch, all of them have been competitive and dare I say, entertaining. Football in Scotland is developing both tactically and aesthetically. I’ve seen less long balls and direct play this season (although it’s not something I’d like to see disappear altogether) and plenty of teams trying (something being the operative word) to play attractive football on the deck. Long may it continue.

5. Tasty kits

Can we take a second to reflect on how good some of this season’s strips are? Hearts’ home strip is already a classic; Falkirk’s away kit is a thing of wonder, Aberdeen’s effort is a great retro look and St Mirren’s new strips are, um, unique utterly rancid, but brave nonetheless. Rarely have our clubs looked, dare I say it, trendy.

6. There’s a book about Duncan Ferguson coming out

September 11 sees the publication of Alan Patullo’s long awaited biography of the former Rangers, Everton & Scotland striker and all round enigma, Duncan Ferguson. In Search of Duncan Ferguson has been received great reviews and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Growing up in the early 90s there was also something about Ferguson – a pigeon fancying boy from the Raploch who was as much a sensational striker as he was an all-round mad radge. 

And finally, 

7. Above all, football can still put a smile on your face

There I was on Tuesday night, sitting in the stand watching Hibs 2-0 down to Dumbarton, which was leading me to an existential crisis about why I invest so much in the game. Hibs looked dead and buried. But Hibs started a fightback and when Sam Stanton fired in a winning goal in stoppage time I was leaping out my seat and smiling with delight. That’s the reason we go to games, for those moments. I’m not prone to sentimentality but in those moments, it feels great to be invested in something that is bigger than just you. Sometimes, it’s good for your soul to invest in something you can’t control. And for me, that’s a pretty good reason to be cheerful.

Written by Duncan McKay