Saints must look to the future
So St Mirren Park it is. The new digs have been christened but to be honest I couldn't have cared whether the place was called Hame'lldaeme.
The First Minister will be asked to do the honours on 31 January by which time the flitting of Saints from Love Street a half mile or so round the corner will be done and dusted. The removal lorries are already revving up for action.
There will be tears of course. Saints fans, directors and maybe even one or two of the players will be greetin' at the emotion of it all on the final day, when Motherwell come to call on 3 January and the last man out the door switches the lights off. For good.
But when Alex Salmond unveils a wee plaque inside the main entrance at Greenhill Road shortly before kick-off time in the Kilmarnock game at the end of next month, Saints will be, irrevocably, well into the first days of the rest of their lives. And there can be no looking back.
Not even for a sneaky wee glance over the shoulder.
I had a the guided tour of the new dream home this week, with the full talk from chairman Stewart Gilmour.
It was a bit like when your dear old mum gives you a birthday present and you are hoping and praying that you really, really like it, but fearing deep down that it will be something as useful as a chocolate teapot.
But suddenly, just this once, she gets it right and you scream with genuine delight.
The new ground was never going to be a work of architectural joy, with an entrance like the Arc de Triomphe and a boardroom ceiling like the Sistine Chapel. But neither does it look like it came out of a flat-pack. It's practical, new and shiny. And, most of all, it's paid for.
All of which puts St Mirren in a rosy cheeked, healthier state than just about every other club in the land.
It was a sunny day when I first set my eyes on the place, always an enhancer. But it massaged my eyes.
The pitch is huge, three yards wider and six longer than Love Street and because the stands are lower it seems more expansive still. Land rolling on forever, like the Kansas Prairies have come to Ferguslie Park.
OK, maybe I have taken this too far, but then cowboys have been spotted in both outbacks.
The board was left with no option. Love Street - or the original St Mirren Park as its given name was registered in the... well, wherever you officially register stadium names - is an anachronism.
I will caress its memories till the day I die, and if you have a kid, go take him or her there and show them how football grounds used to be but can never be again, before they wheel in the bulldozers.
But the old place is coughing and wheezing. It has done its time.
St Mirren have been just a couple of steps ahead of the Grim Reaper for too long and in the end were forced to flog the family silver to survive. Just a few years ago they might even have been forced to sell up and ground share with Partick Thistle, which would have been suicide by instalments.
And then along came the supermarket get-out clause.
Build a new stadium, pay off the debts and even have a couple of quid in the bank. It's a no-brainer.
But, of course, football fans become gripped by emotion, recalling childhood days on the North Bank, at Cairter's Corner or other nooks and crannies of the old ground. And the truth is that we're not very good at change.
And yet think on this. In maybe another 100 years - and I wouldn't bank on me to do the reporting - another two or three generations down the line will be in torment when St Mirren are forced to quit the decrepit Greenhill Road - sorry, St Mirren Park - to move again to, well, the Good Lord only knows where.
Maybe to the site of the long-gone Glasgow Airport, which couldn't adapt to the age of space travel. Maybe to the vacated Ibrox Stadium where the local team never survived the way going of David Murray and the swallowing of Glasgow and its own identity by the ever burgeoning Paisley.
But at least all this selling up jiggery pokery and flitting has given St Mirren a chance to be here in 100 years. And there are a few clubs in our professional game who aren't assured of another 100 weeks.
"Tell them who you are and what you are about," they said. To be honest, there are days when I struggle to remember myself. Forty years toiling at the coalface of football journalism does that to you. But I have reason to believe that I have reached the heady heights of the title of Football Correspondent of BBC Scotland which gives me a renown, in Scottish terms, of somewhere between Alex Salmond and the deep fried Mars Bar.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~02~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
St.Mirren's new ground is nearly ready.
Chick thinks it's ok.
How on earth does that constitute a professional blog???
Complain about this comment
Was this really the pressing issue this week in Scottish football? If he had to write this blog, could it not have waited until January?
Complain about this comment
He had to write something to try and convince us again that he is a St Mirren fan and not one of the Old Firm faithful.
What a load of nonsense, i mean how can the bbc pay for you to write this. Fair play to St Mirren who's new stadium im sure will be lovely but why on earth a full blog by a supposed top sports journalist is beyond me before it's even close to being used.
Something. anything could of been better than this
I mean there was a big thing about the age of referees in the country this week, or about the frozen pitches in respect to fixture pileups after what happened to your beloved Rangers last season but no a whole load of dribble about a stadium that still has a few weeks until it is used and no disrespect to St Mirren but it's not like it's the new national stadium or anything either.
better luck next week Chick
Complain about this comment
Why do you always have to gush about David Murray ?
However, sad to see yet another old ground disappear .
Complain about this comment
Fair enough Chick. Good luck to them.
They'll be mince in their new stadium too...
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Delighted you have a nice shiny place to watch football really. But honestly for a blog, the internet, you have more potential readers than their are people in Scotland...Paint a picture at least of what it was this love park place, what memories are held there, why would the last person out be brimming full of tears? Oh wait, it's St Mirren, there is no reason, no memories perhaps, just one of many who make up the numbers to make believe Rangers and Celtic and maybe Hibs have some oppostion......Oh Sweet flower when will we see your likes.........
Complain about this comment
I don't know what to say Chick, each week I read your blogs and think that you come in for some harsh criticism. However, this week I think it is merited to a fair degree.
This article would be much better placed on the St Mirren website, it is by all means a landmark in the history of the club.
However, for the article to be so unnecessarily long in contrast to the little that it contains - those that are really that interested (i.e. St Mirren fans) will no doubt see it for themselves.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
great article, thanks chick. we'll have a real time of it next month adjusting to the changeover.
Complain about this comment
Thanks, Chick. You get a lot of stick about these blogs but this one was really great. I appreciate you taking the time to reflect on a great loss for Scottish football.
Complain about this comment
I should like an explanation as to why my last comment was removed.
Complain about this comment
Anyone else reckon Chick had to check on Wikipedia for the name of St. Mirren's current stadium?
Complain about this comment
I am deeply upset that my post (9.54pm) was found to 'break house rules'. As a staunch supporter of the BBC I found my comment to be perfectly justified in view of my attempt to uphold the high standards set by the organisation.
If I find Mr. Young's writings to be of poor quality, why should I not state so?
There was certainly no profanity, nor anything other than criticism and a statement of intent on my part.
As aforementioned, I should like an explanation as to why my comment (9.54pm) was removed.
Allen Smith
Complain about this comment
Chick - why so many on your back about this blog? I don't get it? You humorously touched on how new 'stadiums' are financed, you rightly lamented on the passing of the old (there really is something wonderful in some of these old decrepit stadiums) and hinted heavily that some won't make the transition from old to new. It was good insightful writing even though it may not be the hot topic of the moment. So what if it isn't? Why do you cop so much flak? I found it both entertaining and interesting and that's how it should be judged. Keep it up wee man (I'm presuming your wee as I've only seen you on the telly and your always looking up to people when interviewing them)...
Ben,
Brisbane Australia.
Complain about this comment
Chick,
Ignore some of the comments above, it's nice to see someone passionate about one of the few good news stories in Scottish football. The stadium may not be a 60,000 all seater but it is a massive step in the right direction for the club and the area
If other clubs could follow suit Scottish football could attract better quality football players and retain its best youngsters for longer.
Complain about this comment
INteresting, informative, relevant, good quality blog. Up to the usual standard.
No, I don't support scottish football, I know little about it, but I do recognise a decent journalist.
All those whingers, its a blog, not an article, get a grip. Its propmted some debate, well done Chick, keep up the good work.
Complain about this comment
Sorry Chick, but having seen it with my own eye's I'll think you'll find that the new ground definitely is a 'flat pack' stadium, just you can't see it because colours you support..... still, be nice to know that your team wont be any different just because they have a new ground.....
Complain about this comment
Reading the comments every week in response to this blog just makes me remember why I left Scotland. I can't think of another nation who gets as bitter as us. If you think the blog is embarrassing, look at the narrow minded, petty comments you all make in response. It's childish and cowardly.
I do not agree with a lot of what Chick says, but it is his opinion. He doesn't hide anonymously like those who make cheap shots at his expense.
Why read something that you have already decided will be rubbish before you click on the link? Scottish football will never move forward with so much negativity. Is anyone else bored of all the conspiracy theories and paranoia???
I have no affection to St Mirren, but it makes a nice change that a small club is being romanticised about to a global audience.
Complain about this comment
just imagine if your prophecy came true and your pretend team really did get to move in and play at your real teams stadium.
happy days eh Chick!
Complain about this comment
Is the criticism of this article because Mr Young is a St Mirren "supporter" as he likes to shout to just about anyone who will listen or is it because so many Old Firm "supporters" get incensed that they do not hog the headlines over the "wee diddy teams" of the SPL - who of course they would survive without at the bottom of the English 2nd Division.
OK, the article is not great, but a little reminiscing about the old style football grounds of yesteryear is not really a bad thing. If you want to experience it, just get the ferry across to Ireland where you can stand freely on board and ash and have the local drunk urinate down the back of your leg.
Complain about this comment
I really do not see the need for this column.
I stopped reading half way through simply so I could get to the comments section and assure myself that I wasn't the only one questioning the relevence and style of this journalist's blog.
Scottish football fans could not care less about this delapidated old dump or the shiny new identi-kit stadium taking it's place. If they did, St Mirren might be able to attract more than an average of 6,500 per week. Stop ducking and diving your way out of the pressing issues in our game Chick, simply to avoid being lambasted by those you fear to offend. Blogs are about opinions and expressing them, not drivel regarding a stadium holding sentimental value thats not seen a full house in near on 15 years.
Like I say, if so many of your "fellow" Buddies held such a fond view of the place, they might visit it once in a while rather than hiding up in the Club Deck or the Lisbon Lions stands a few miles away.
How about a grass roots story next week regarding the state of our game? A scouting insight into rising prospects in our lower leagues? An appraisal of the weekend's cancelled matches or a review into yet more falling crowd numbers at Scottish games?
Just spare us the drivel Chick and give us a blog that non Scots (actually, non- Buddies in light of this week) might want to read... see Gavin Strachan or Tim Vickery for example.
Complain about this comment
Well done, Mr Y.................
The 'supporters' of teams who have their empires based on religion seem to get upset about not getting all the cake these days.............
Complain about this comment
I have to agree with everything no.19 says.
As a recent ex-pat now living in Melbourne I have come to realise just how cynical and inward looking we Scots can be. I'm not a buddy or an old firm fan but, I like Chick. He often shoots from the hip, can get it wrong and is sometimes biased - probably everything he is paid to be!
We can all disagree with each others views and opinions but the continual drivel of abuse, rhetoric about license payers fees and Chicks poor journalistic qualities is very boring.
If you don't like his articles or opinions and it irritates you that much then simply don't read them.
Complain about this comment
It's mentioned that the stadium was financed by the sale of the old ground to the stadium and that there is money still in the bank.
If that's the case then why did St Mirren get a 1.7million pound grant towards the stadium?
Did we (Hibs) get any grants for our training centre/west stand/soon to be new east stand? I don't think so...
Complain about this comment
Good blog Chico!
Saints have not had nearly enough credit for what the board have achieved. We face relegation to Division 2 and near extinction with crippling debts, and possible a ground share! We now look forward to a brand new stadium, a training complex and no debt to face in a time where people will face the bite.
And for the chap who mentioned the 'other pressing issues in Scottish football', what are they? What is more pressing in Scottsh football this weekend? Artur Boruc' mental state?
Grow up, and quit being so petty minded. Chic is highlighting a club that is leading the way in Scottish football in terms of finance and structure of Business. Yes we are a small club, but every punter that shows up week in week out loves that club and knows how important the move is to us. Maybe being an OF supporter you will never have this feeling, but maybe you should just go back to watching your 70 mins of football a week, while you leave 20 mins early to reach your car in time to beat the traffic!!!
SMTID!
Complain about this comment
JamesWood1985 - Perhaps you should try to understand the deal that was set up with Tesco. Tesco basically built the ground for Saints instead of paying them and letting Saints DIY it. But while the money was waiting to be paid to Barr it was held in Saints accounts so we gained interest from it. Not a bad deal. Im sure if you look on Saints websites you will get a better explanation.
Complain about this comment
giantaldo - If what you are saying is correct regarding the deal then fair enough. I don't know the ins and outs of the deal. However, why the need for a £1.7million grant towards the stadium?
The below makes it sound like this was done solely by the supermarket when in fact it came out of the taxpayers pocket....
--
And then along came the supermarket get-out clause.
Build a new stadium, pay off the debts and even have a couple of quid in the bank. It's a no-brainer.
--
I don't actually mind that St Mirren got the grant but it would be nice if other clubs got something as well. Hibs have invested a hell of a lot of money in infrastructe and if I'm correct, haven't had anything in return.
I Just don't see what makes St Mirren so special to get a grant like that.
Complain about this comment
I agree with the points made by some other people who have "escaped" from scotland. It wasn't until i left that i realised how pathetic and bitter us scots can be. I have no love for Chick Young, but its the same names having a go at him each week. Im not a fan of St Mirren or more importantly the old firm, so i have no vendetta against Chick and do not get my weekly jollies from having a go at his blog, no matter what he has written. If you dont like him, you dont need to read his blog
Complain about this comment
As long as the stadium has black, white and red seats then it will be fine!
Amazingly, St. Mirren aren't the first team to do the "we're in a new stadium and it's actually paid" routine - in fact they're not even the first Saints to do it! Remember a wee team back in the late 80's had a decrepid old stadium in the Fair CIty of Perth and had it bought by the supermarket and built a nice shiny new ground further up the road (albeit about a mile away rather than the half-mile length of that Paisley dive).
At least we had the decency to name it something that was meaningful (after the supporter who owned the land before the stadium was built and became the honorary chairman - Bruce McDiarmid) however we still we ended up with blue (good), yellow (change kit) and red (????) seats just like a certain ground you used to frequent very often Mr Young (in fact, you still do!!!).
So, after all that - as long as the undersoil heating actually works the ground will be enjoying the visits of Airdrie United, Raith Rovers and Brechin City before it is even a year old.
Complain about this comment
I quite enjoyed this blog. Being a Cardiff City fan, about to leave our beloved Ninian Park after 99 years, it struck a chord with me!
Complain about this comment
Hi Chick,
I always read the blog but never commented until today. The criticism on here is daft, plain daft. As a few have rightly pointed out, if you dont like it, feel free not to waste valuable time posting on it. I liked it a lot. I am an Irishman in Germany and I have greatly enjoyed following some of the smaller sides in the Bundesliga, Mainz being my local team. One thing I have noticed is how even the smallest of bundesliga sides have fantastic facilities, like St Mirren, most like Mainz´s Bruchweg stadium won´t win any architectural design compeitioins, its exactly as you put it, ´practical, new and shiny´. In an era of debt-ridden clubs St Mirren´s is a real success story of financial sensibility and good luck. And I hope it pays off for them and they can attract more top players. Thanks for the good read.
Complain about this comment
There are so few of these old grounds left, in the SPL. But look to the lower divisions and there are still some gems.
Take a trip to Dumfries and sit in the away stand for example. Or stand behind the goal at Stranraer. Or sit- stand anywhere at Somerset Park.
Well done chico. Some well chosen words for the passing of a grand old boy.
Complain about this comment
I sometimes get sick of hearing you on the radio Chick but I'm afraid you could write a masterpiece worthy of Shakespeare on this site and people would still immediately complain....
Notice how many start with " I read your blog every week" and this will maybe tell them and you something..
Folk are needing to give it a break man..
Complain about this comment
My goodness, do some people not get the difference between a blog and an article???
Complain about this comment
Chick, I enjoyed this article. I read your blogs each week, and through a combination of my lack of knowledge on Scottish football, and your unorthodox writing style, I sometimes don't enjoy them too much.
However, I really enjoyed this one, found it informative, useful, and containing good use of analogies.
To all the people constantly writing in to criticise you - Why are you all wasting your time?? If you don't enjoy it, please do not ruin this blog for other people by posting negative comments. I am sick of scrolling through the comments section, (which is surely designed for people to add opinions and facts related to the topic in question), just to see endless reams of pothetic criticisms. If you don't enjoy it, don't read it - and definitely don't announce your discomfort to the world!
Thanks Chick
Complain about this comment
If I was Tesco I think I would just have built the supermarket on the site where St Mirren Park is now.
Complain about this comment
jameswood1985
Perhaps you can enlighten us. Who gave St Mirren a £1.7 million grant towards the new stadium?
Complain about this comment
I'm sure the 4000ish fans who turned up to watch Dundee will be interested in this blog, but as for the rest of the world?
Complain about this comment
What a bunch of negative and bitter posters on here.
For goodness sake, can the wee clubs never get a mention? Does it have to be just about the Old Firm all the time to be relevant to Scottish Football?
For the wider football audience there was a DVD released a couple of weeks ago specifically about the old St Mirren stadium.
Its was made to record Love St before the club move and is demolished. It’s a low budget fans production called Love Street The Movie and Chick is in it.
Anyone under doubt about where his allegiances lie should watch it. It’s only a tenner from the Saints club shop, google St Mirren DVD.
Well said Chick, come on the wee teams!
Complain about this comment
Thanks Chico for your thoughts about leaving our wonderful old stadium. Like other posters I too am often embarrassed to be Scottish when I hear the small-minded opinions of my fellow countrymen. Why cant something that is good and positive for Scottish football be given a little praise. We have had SPL clubs go into Administration owing money to many businesses and individuals but when a club lives within their means, cheats nobody and comes up with such a great deal all we get is moaning.
We had to build new stands at Love St for SPL compliance when other clubs didnt. We had to install undersoil heating for 2 years when other clubs regularly have games off on pitches that are not suitable for purpose. We paid through the nose to abide by the Rules and play fair so congratulations to the Board for their great work. Good blog.
Complain about this comment
There's one thing that Love Street has that will surely never be re-created, the away stand. This is surely the steepest stand in the world. It would have been a good idea to have seat-belts on those seats in case fans plummited to pitch-side every time a goal was scored.
I challenge anyone to find me a steeper, more cliff-like stand than the away end at Love Street!!
Complain about this comment
As I understand it the new ground includes a an artificial surface training pitch and other facilities which will be fully available to the surrounding community for use / hire; which covers part of the grant. The rest of it is money which would be available to any commercial development in the north Paisley area, due to its economic deprivation. Think some of it is from EU via council.
Complain about this comment
good blog chic,
Some people seem to think the blog is boring and irrelevant simply because it is about st.mirren.
As a saints supporter and a supporter of scottish football, i find it refreshing that you are willing to write about a smaller club going through a positive and exciting journey.
It would be interesting to read the comments of those being negative if it was THEIR club which was moving. Im sure they would be praising you for showing an interst in their team and for highlighting what a successful deal the club has done in assuring its long term future, but because its only st.mirren
Complain about this comment
out of interest chic, has the new ground officially been named st.mirren park?
if so, great exclusive but not too sure why the club havent released an official statement
Complain about this comment
RE post 19 Reading this blog just makes me remember why I left Scotland. Chick Young.
Complain about this comment
I think the criticism is partly justified.
It's a good topic for a blog but as always it's poorly written and doesn't develop.
Nostalgia for old stadiums is justified here, but Chick could have added some flesh to the bones, maybe with an anecdote or adding specific quirks or character about Love Street, demonstrating why it will be missed.
And, more importantly, are St Mirren the model for how other struggling Scottish clubs could be run? Could they be an inspiration for bigger clubs, particularly given Hearts' problems, which Chick talked about last week? If not, why not? Are there problems with the St Mirren model?
Chick makes me feel like a journalism lecturer marking a frustrating underachieving student's work. Perhaps I should thank him for this.
Complain about this comment
Another Chic blog, another batch of drivvel from the Chico-bashers.
You can't win mate. You're lambasted for your imaginary allegiance to your 'beloved' Rangers and Sir David, then you're lambasted for wrting an article about a so-called lesser team because its boring and doesn't appeal to everyone. Unbelievable.
Great article Chic. I appreciated it as a true football fan and, ramshackle it may be, it's sad to another old ground disappear.
Complain about this comment
I'd justr like to tell the first poster DelaneyVonTrap that this isn't a blog, it's a column. Or so Chick insists.
It seems like the sub-editors haven't changed too much this week eh Chick?
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Why on earth did my comment break the house rules?
Complain about this comment
I would like to quote a previous post in response to the removal of my post:
"I am deeply upset that my post was found to 'break house rules'. As a staunch supporter of the BBC I found my comment to be perfectly justified in view of my attempt to uphold the high standards set by the organisation.
If I find Mr. Young's writings to be of poor quality, why should I not state so?
There was certainly no profanity, nor anything other than criticism and a statement of intent on my part.
As aforementioned, I should like an explanation as to why my comment was removed."
Complain about this comment
Don't know why my first comment was removed....
Sub editors at work again no doubt.
One question though:
Do you have a bet on with someone which means you must mention David Murray in every 'column'?
Complain about this comment
Why has my comment been referred to the moderators?
There is absolutely nothing in it that could even come close to breaking any of the house rules.
Complain about this comment
Chick,
This blog has less meat on it than a Chicken Nugget. Granted, a mention about St Mirren moving grounds is more than acceptable and quite right. However, padding out an entire blog on this one, dry issue is a disgrace. I cannot believe you haven't considered some of the other happenings in Scottish football such as your real 'favourite' team Rangers scoring seven, the weather problems that have seen two SPL games postponed and Celtic finally losing a match in the SPL to a team other than Rangers!
I shall summarise the Blog:
St Mirren are moving from their old ground in Love Street to a new one (which I don't know the name of but I am sure Wikipedia can help me!). They move at the end of January. Their last game at home is against Motherwell.
Ps. St Mirren 1 Rangers 0
Complain about this comment
Where on earth is St. Mirren?
Complain about this comment
So what exactly is a blog supposed to do, number 56 - just turn out rote facts that are already supplied elsewhere, or maybe provide a little more interest in the subject which might provoke a little discussion other than how boring etc.
I know more info about St Mirren than I did before I read the blog, when they were just a name on a league table in Scotland. I already know Celtic lost a match, it was on the news...
Complain about this comment
You know, I'm getting as bored of reading whingeing Sellick Fans in disguise trying to nitpick criticisms of Chick's blogs as I am of the blogs themselves.
Fair play in lamenting the passing of something historical within Scottish Fitbaw. And to the 'intellectual' criticisms : You can 'summarise' almosty any blog to a few lines, so there is no great display of intellect in doing the same to this one. Sometimes Chick writes a lot of nonsense, sometimes he doesn't.
Good blog for what it is. The rest of you pipe down.
Complain about this comment
Surely the nature of a blog open to debate is to let people from all sides of an argument join in? I don't see why people who are not happy with the blogs written by Chick should simply stay silent. If it's constructive criticism you want, then by all means have it.
In my original post to this blog, I questioned the timing of posting this particular piece by Chick. I stand by this point. The most pressing issue in this week was indeed to do with stadia, but it had nothing to do with St. Mirren's new ground. The absolute disgrace of the stadia at Kilmarnock and Motherwell having frozen pitches needs further scrutiny. Why was the undersoil heating not put on? Why did Chick feel it necessary to write about St. Mirren this week when the stadium isn't to be used until the end of January? I think a blog posted then might have been received better.
It really doesn't matter to me whether Chick follows St. Mirren, Rangers or the Mars XI, I simply find his style of writing hackneyed, full of cliches and has numerous improper over-uses of tired old metaphors. Chick, what do you feel would actually bring down the hegemony of the Old Firm? How can we make the SPL more competitive? No more harking back to romantic pictures of yesterday; that's why Scottish football is in the mess it is.
I've nothing against the man personally, but I'd just like to see more from him, given that the world is reading, judging by the comments from our friends down under!
Complain about this comment
Journalism is one of the arts. The whole point of art is to create controversy, get people reacting and encourage radical thinking. So those who don't enjoy Chick's blogs or opinions, but speak out here, are proving that he is a success. Some may not enjoy what Chick writes, but he sure gets people talking. And communication is what everything is about. As for me, I just enjoy a good read, as provided by Chick and the other BBC bloggers.
Complain about this comment
I agree with King-Dion No. 61 that journalism is one of the arts. It's just that calling Chick Young "art" is like asking for a nice painting for your living room and coming home to find it covered in Dulux off-white.
Complain about this comment
SMCC42 - see post #43
As I said I have no objection to the grant as I suspected it would be for the community as well as the club but was worried it was just a grant purely for stadium development which I don't think would be right.
How shan would it be if the Saints were relegated this season!
Complain about this comment
With respect King-Dion, and not being funny, right?, but that's nonsense.
What? The point of journalism is to generate debate?
No. The point of journalism is to report facts.
Receiving a lot of criticism does not make a journalist successful.
"Communication is what everything is about"? Then someone should at the BBC should ensure that Chick stops mangling the English language.
But nae worries big man, I know you're just having a bit of fun.
Complain about this comment
In fact, GiantJambo put it much better and more succinctly than me, so ignore what I just said.
Good use of shan, jameswoods1985. How I miss Embra...
Complain about this comment
re #37
you've obviously never been to "Feegie Park" Mark.
It may be only half-a-mile of a difference, but following your suggestion would have cost Tesco in the long run, due to the fact that their insurance premiums would have quadrupled... MINIMUM!!!!!
Complain about this comment
FinInGermany, is the new ground in Ferguslie Park? I didn't realise. Now the sums add up...
Good luck to the Buddies getting away fans to turn up.
Complain about this comment
re 67
I've been to Pittodrie, Fir Park, Easter Road and Tynecastle in my younger days, so I don't see why anybody should be feart to come to St. Mirren Park ;-)
Complain about this comment
I've not been to Fir Park, but I think Ferguslie Park's got to be on another level from the others. Unless you accidentally wander into Robertson's Bar in Gorgie...
Maybe I shouldn't have gone in in my Celtic shirt.
Complain about this comment
Maybe they should call it Ferguslie Park Park.
Complain about this comment
To All The Guys That Bash Chick's Blogs,
One question if I may......Why do you read it?
If it's full of rubbish and not relevant etc etc etc, then why bother, just move on. I happen to think Chick's blogs are fine and informative.
Lay off Mr Young. I'd like to see you guys come up with anything better. All the senseless bashing of his blogs reminds me why I left Scotland in the first place. A nation of Whingers.
Del, Canada
Complain about this comment
Better than your usual guff, Chick, but still not a patch on the other BBC bloggers.
I for one lament the passing of the old style grounds in Scottish football. They had a distinctive look, and you could instantly tell what ground you were in. These days, they're identikit. In fact Chick, given you're penchant for a pretentious and shoehorned metaphor, I'm surprised that you didn't mention that football grounds these days follow the Bauhaus school of design - Their design is pure practicality with everything else stripped away. You can goto Almondvale, Broadwood, Forthbank and see stadiums that are identical apart from the colour of the seats.
Am I the only person who will miss going to the likes of Cliftonville and finding that 3/4 of the ground is shut?!?
Complain about this comment
This is possibly a worse blog than Mihir's. Its terrible. I thought reading this would give me an insight into scottish football having known little about it. How wrong I was.
Complain about this comment
RE #57: St Mirren isn't a place, it's a football team as you would have discovered if you had read the blog or had any idea of happenings outside of England.
Complain about this comment
As the Cardiff City fan stated, the blog would ring true to any fan that's moved or is about to move stadiums.
I don't think it was aimed at the Sky Sports armchair fan of the Premiership, many of whom wouldn't know an Archibald Leitch gable if it walked up and smacked them in the face.
Complain about this comment
A nice humorous blog Chick, an'tae'hell'wi'aw'yerr crabbit critics.
As a life long SinMurren fan, born next door to the old ground, I will miss it more than most. I have many memories, good and bad. I was there as a wee boy in the record attendance crowd of over 47,000 against Celtic in 1949. I was also there in the late 1950's when we beat Celtic 6-2 in a League Cup game. As an ex-pat, my last visit, was in October, when we shocked Rangers 1-0. What a blissful final memory!
I had a look at the new ground in October, and sorry Chick, flat pack it is. It could well be named Ikea Park....mmmmm, I wonder how much THEY would pony up for naming rights?!
Complain about this comment
RE: #71
The reason we keep reading is because it's the only BBC sports blog dedicated to Scottish football. I pay my license fee like everybody else, and I think that entitles me to say whether I like Chick Young's blog or not.
What's the point in having this comment posting facility if we've simply to nod our heads in agreement and say what a fantastic writer Chick is.
There's no way Chick rose to the top by having no talent, surely? I'm convinced he has to more to offer the BBC than these tired metaphors and mundane subject matter.
Complain about this comment
Good work Chick. Keep collecting the paychecks for doing nothing of value.
Complain about this comment
Re. #77
With respect, I disagree with your reasoning. Paying your subscription does not make you the centre of the world. The blog is not about you or your subscription to BBC or Chick Young, it is about St Mirren's new ground. What is your opinion about St Mirren's new ground?
What I would like to know is why the moderators don't enforce the house rules. One rule is that comments that are off topic are not allowed. Yet every week, without fail, I have to wade through 75 posts that only criticise CY, his choice of topic, his real or phantom 'favourite' team, his height (or lack thereof)... (etcetera) to get to the 10 or so comments about the topic of the blog.
I ask the moderators to please enforce the rules and block EVERY comment about CY. Every such comment is off topic by definition, because CY has never (as far as I am aware) written a blog about himself.
Complain about this comment
I just have to say, what a storm in a tea cup. I mean, those of you who are complaining, are you the sort of people who have lived in Scotland your whole life, yet still complain about the weather?
Just so all the cards are on the table, I'm a St Mirren fan.
Does it really work you up to see a blog by a BBC (Sports!) journalist report on an issue like the opening of a new football stadium? I mean, Darfur, Mumbai, climate change, the mismanagement of our financial systems: these are things to get worked up about.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the darling Buds, but I'm not going to get worked up just because Chick chose to write about St Mirren's move to a new stadium instead of the rumours of the latest Old Firm January transfer window targets.
You see, that's the thing about being a supporter of one of the 'diddy teams' in Scotland. You get used to most of the media having a one-track (i.e. Old Firm) mind as far as Scottish football reporting is concerned. Yet how often do you hear the tens of thousands of non-Old Firm Scottish football fans complaining?
For the record, I thought it was refreshing to see St Mirren's stadium move be the subject of the blog. I mean, we've been there for 118 years for goodness sake! The story of Love St (as it'll always be called to me) is a window into the story of Scottish football itself. It's been there through it all, and seen some amazing football occasions.
I would have thought all Scottish football fans would realise that.
Complain about this comment
As someone who has criticised Chick's choice of topic in the past, I consider it only fair and responsible to opine that this topic is an improvement. However, the lazy, cliched, pseudo-chirpy tone still well and truly rips my knitting.
That's down to my personal taste. By definition, and put simply, journalism is the process of reporting news. Very seldom, however, is an article written without some element of the tastes and perspectives of the author bleeding into the final draft. Some of the comments above rightly note the distinction between an article and a blog, which is fair enough. It can be argued however that Weblogs (to use the full term) are borne from - and largely produced by - the amateur, not by the professional journalist. Chick (or whichever shady figure does this for him) is paid to produce these columns and - as his paymasters - UK license-fee payers are fully entitled to comment and criticise if they feel the broader purpose is not being met.
Look at the blogs by Tim Vickery and Gavin Strachan; Vickery's consistently excellent work can be opiniative, but generally when his opinion is requested. Strachan's job is to report from the perspective of a journeyman footballer and his experiences of the lower leagues. This week, somebody had the temerity to accuse him of having poor journalistic talent - a pretty feeble criticism of somebody very much taking the first steps in a career as a writer. In distillation, his blog is so readable because he because he does exactly what he is asked to do.
Chick states at the top of each blog that he is the Football Correspondent of BBC Scotland, which he then cheekily jokes gives him a 'renown, in Scottish terms, of somewhere between Alex Salmond and the deep fried Mars Bar'. If he perhaps took the job more seriously - as, say, Bob Crampsey might have - then he would probably see a lot of the criticism disappear.
I write the above as an ex-pat myself; starved as I am of objective analysis of Scottish fitba and all its foibles, I yearn for a factual discourse of the current affairs of the game back home and views from all participants in the joys and desperations that ensue. This blog doesn't provide me with this, so I should really stop reading it. However, I read my own club's fansite for my beloved team's news because nobody else reports it, and I rely on the BBC for a broader assessment of the game as a whole, so I feel compelled to read this blog. It's a sort of religious fanaticism, similar to that experienced by the hardy souls packing the terraces (or what's left of them) week in, week out.
I also don't think that the amount of criticism that Chick receives is directly related to the amount of Scotsfolk who read this column. I have always considered Scots as being more discerning followers and archivists of football because we are not a nation jaundiced by the spectre of past successes. Perhaps I am wrong in this, but that has been my enduring experience. And the vast majority of comments from apparent Scots on the other BBC blogs are as positive there as they are negative here. Those who take cheap shots at Chick's integrity because of his long-suspected affiliation with Rangers debase their opinions therewith, but there is still a weight of opinion that Chick is wasting his talents by sleepwriting through the drivel of his usual output.
But returning to this blog; it's better than previous efforts, not least because it doesn't feature the terrible twosome. It can be argued that Chick has then relied on the only other club with which he has a direct relationship but, still, the subject matter is far more fruitful than before, even if some of that fruit remains unpicked. I would add my opinion regarding the topic, except for the fact that the lack of any real point of debate in the article itself makes it slightly difficult. I would however say that the efforts of St Johnstone and latterly Partick Thistle have provided something of a precedent for sustainability in Scottish football, and in those two cases that the balance for this long-term attitude seems to be a prolonged existence in the lower divisions. Maybe a holistic assessment of the benefits and detriments of boardroom strategy and grass roots investment across several clubs throughout the Scottish Leagues would be something to consider for the future? Personally, that's something I would be fascinated by, and it's easily achievable by somebody with the respected title of 'Football Correspondent of BBC Scotland'.
Complain about this comment
Don't really think you can claim the Harry Rags as being a financial model for everyone to follow, they are going through some trying times and facing part time football to remain sustainable.
If people don't want to read about the diddy clubs then they can go read one of the Scottish newspapers online, absolutely dripping with stuff about the OF.
Again, Chick has blogged on an issue within Scottsh football, a club who nearly went Bust, who have shafted Tesco (which can only be a good thing), and are now a model of financial prudence within football. With the current credit crunch and the debt that still exists in Scottish football Saints should be applauded, not poor little Chico being ostracised.
Complain about this comment
I thought the Plastic Whistle had trimmed their wage bill to the point where, despite crowds being down, they were at least running without serious debt and were turning a (very modest) profit over the last couple of years. I'm prepared to be wrong - maybe a Jags fan could clear this up for me? It's probably because I no longer live in Scotland and can't get regular updates that I get stuff like this wrong...greet, whinge etc etc.
I agree that the Midden have done very well out of their deal with the devil, and I also applaud what is a 'good news' story from that perspective. However, poor little Chico can stop getting berated by simply providing some sort of proof that he's paying attention to those who take the time to read what he says. If you look back through his previous blogs, the criticism does not come from a single source, nor is it constrained to fans of the Old Firm or otherwise. Good Lord, there's even one from what seems to be a Spurs fan above, which implies that outside interest is being repelled by the nauseatingly twee tone of the column.
If you read just about any other blog anywhere else on the web, you will see that the author will respond to questions raised by readers. This hasn't happened at any stage on any of Chick's blog. He doesn't address the critics nor, damningly, does he answer questions related to the topic asked by interested readers. I know that there is no law compelling him to do so, and I don't know why he doesn't respond to people, but it looks very much as though he wants to retain the superiority and impregnability of the press journalist/correspondent on a forum which is supposed to promote interaction between author and reader. If so, then just give him a column and get somebody else who is willing to do the Scottish football blog properly!
Complain about this comment
Who really cares St Mirren are only an SPL Pub Team
Complain about this comment
Good article Chick, but it's no surprise to see so many negative comments.
Typical Scottish football fans who aren't happy unless they see the same endless, repetitive rubbish on frojen pitches, poor referees and Old Firm team selections.
Keep up the good work.
Complain about this comment
Got to agree with you again PeleDuarte. It's only recently that Chick's column/blog has had the post-a-comment facility. I suspect it wasn't his decision to bring it in.
Complain about this comment
Thanks to Chick for this article. It's nice to have something not Old Firm based for a change and not Scottish-football's-in-crisis-this month either!
As a St Mirren fan I was disappointed that BBC didn't report on the website that Saints had made a £10m profit last year (through selling the ground etc) when there were big articles on Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and Hearts accounts.
To those moaning that this blog should have waited until January or been featured on St Mirren's website it appeared tis week because he had just been invited for a tour of the new ground by the chairman the other day. To date the selling of Love Street and building of the new ground has had less coverage on BBC than the building of training grounds for Celtic, Rangers and Hibs. If we were a month away from Rangers or Celtic opening a new ground you could expect hour long documentaies on BBC Scotland with clips of famous matches at the previous ground and interviews with ex-players as well as some kind of analysis about the future of the club... so i hardly think one blog is excessive.
Complain about this comment
I am on the fence when it comes to Chick, but honestly a lot of the people commenting here need to grow up.
You leave comments bad mouthing someone out of bitterness.
How about the lot of you stop acting wide and put your money where your mouth is?
Instead of "your blogs crap, thats why i read it every week" why dont you try posting underneath YOUR blog and we can all see how good you are.
I can bet top dollar that half of you dont have the linguistic skills you claim.
Complain about this comment
ChadamsFrontTeeth, here's my money: http://www.worldcupinonecity.blogspot.com
I guarantee I could do a better job than Chick
Complain about this comment
I may not like some of Chick's blogs, but I rather enjoyed this one. As well as simply telling the story of St Mirren's relocation and describing the new stadium it also makes valid points about the state of the game in Scotland.
Complain about this comment
Do some of these guys know what a blog is? It's a web log, an online diary.
Chic got a tour of St Mirren's new ground this week, so he blogged it.
Current, personal and football related.
Pretty much on the money for a blog post.
And no, I'm not a Rangers fan, or St Mirren for that matter.
In fact I'm a Celtic fan, but I just can't stand all this small-minded and ill-infomed bile.
Decent Blog.
Complain about this comment
An SPL team who have been struggling financially as of late get a turn of good luck and out of it they get a new owned ground and somewhat solidify there future in the game.
I neither like nor dislike Chick as i dont know the man unlike the majority of the haters on here each week it gets more tiring and boring...move along there's nothing to see here, Don't like chick or his blog? Dont read the thing then it's not rocket science.
I gladly read stories with a change of theme ie : What soup is served at the old firms training facilitys and why walter hasnt changed his pants this week or whatever useless drivel the media seem to find facinating.
Good luck to St Mirren and there new ground hope it all goes well.
PS : Chick i will say this last week at the Rangers game i listened to your outbursts on open mics and for being so called impartial you seemed to squeal with more delight with each goal that went in, it's enough for the Hamilton fans getting trounced 7-0 but to listen to you rub it in must've made them want to brain you, Why they keep letting you follow Rangers is beyond me almost as much as letting "onion heid" Preston cover the Hibs games.
Complain about this comment
The only time wee chic shed a tear at St Mirren park was when they beat Rangers
Complain about this comment
Chic,
I am delighted that you have posted this blog. It has given me the opportunity to say to all those Paisley based Rangers and Celtic fans that January 3 is a day to celebrate their local team by coming on down to Love St. I am sure that there will be many amongst them who will have happy memories of their 'real team' at the venue, as welll as the occasional Saints victory.
Come on ye Saints.
Cheers
Complain about this comment
Every single week this blog is infested by know all people critcising it. Get a life, its pathethic reading it, if this blog and Chick Young's writing quality is crap, its crap, who cares, its an opinion.
Complain about this comment
Good riddance Love Street, a toilet of a place behind only old Brockville as the worst ground I've visited.
Good to see both clubs moving on & sensibly, from a financial perspective.
Complain about this comment
Ok, I'm prepared to back down and see what Chick has to offer us next week.
Complain about this comment
Nothing back from ChadamsFrontTeeth? What a shame.
MarkRP, quite simply, that's how it should be done.
Complain about this comment
to allenwjrsmith
are you being serious??
that is all!!
Complain about this comment
like everyone else i am SO SICK of people just slagging this blog off for no reason.
boring - the people who do it are nowhere near as clever as they obviously think they are...
i think the blogs are not bad, but i do think we need to discuss things in scottish football with a bit more depth - these blogs are a bit more comedic than anything else.
i love scottish football, but i cant see how a rubbish plastic stadium can be better than Love Street - a characterful place with the best name in British football.
Shame...
lets hope QOS never move from Palmerston, as that's the best old stadium left in the land.
altho Tynecastle, and Tannadice are pretty good as well (and Stair Park)
Complain about this comment
#96 you obviously don't get out much. At present Love Street is all-seated with 4 stands... 2 of them new builds - one with training facilities and a gym underneath it. We have a great playing surface and undersoil heating too. Not sure how this equates to a "toilet of a place" or is anything like the old Brockville.
So the main stand is a bit crap and run down looking, and the north bank is just seats on the old terracing... the same could be said about several other SPL clubs and its worse when you drop down to the SFL clubs and stadia... last time i was at Cappielow parts of the ground were closed because the terracing was crumbling and there were big holes in the roof.
Complain about this comment
For people moaning about the size of grant St Mirren got... maybe its a change in fortune for the club when we recently had to build a £1m stand to take the capacity above 10k and then the next season the SPL changed the rules, and being made to put in undersoil heating for the final 2 seasons at Love Street when it wasn't going to be worth the cost to potentially save 1 or 2 home games during the winter from possible postponement over those 2 seasons.
Complain about this comment
#69 The Greenhill Road site may technically be in Ferguslie Park but the ground isn't situated in the housing scheme... its surrounded by small factories and workshops and an industrial estate... close to the old racecourse and not far from Love Street.
Complain about this comment
hi chick, enjoyed reading this piece.as an exiled buddie i always enjoy your blog,always listen to open all mikes on saturdays ,and heard you mention last week about the difference between a blog and a column, still waiting for the explanation ? maybe this week. looking forward to my next trip home on 30th jan ,and our first game at the new st mirren park.
Complain about this comment
just because Chick isn't writing about the old firm or joining the whining about referees that endlessly perpetrate articles about Scottish football he is being criticised.
Personally I found it really interesting to read about one of our oldest clubs leaving one of the oldest grounds in the country and doing so without running themselves into the ground.
Then again, maybe I should come clean and admit to being a St Mirren fan exiled in Hong Kong!
Complain about this comment
Do you post on Blackandwhitearmy.com the unofficial (allegedly) st mirren fans website?
No?
Neither do I any more it, used to be a good site until the manager complained about it.
Complain about this comment
Pel-duarte...
Nothing back from me??
What were you expecting?
I didnt come on here bad mouthing Chicks blog because i dont like him.
It is pompous nutters who reply back with a 1500 word essay on how poor Chicks grammar is that you should be bothered by.
Its a Blog...
It isnt supposed to be impressive.
I can tell you this much the people that write those massive reviews on Chicks blog do so to massage their own egotistical urges.
Complain about this comment
Excellent blog, but how disappointing to see the carping and mean-spiritedness of some of the comments. Like it or not, this is one of the big stories in Scottish football this season. Of course, there are many who think that Sellik/Rangers winning the league for the gazillionth time is the only thing worth talking about, but at least some on this blog don't have to take their shoes & socks off to count past 10!
As a lifelong buddie (born above the Wee Barrell) who has endured and enjoyed so much at Love St over the years, I have huge regrets about its demise. I'm dreading the 3rd of January - but I'm reassured (a bit) by reports that the new groud looks more impressive from the inside than it does from the outside. Lets hope we can make it a home to be proud of.
Complain about this comment
How is this not a big story?
Because it's not negative?
St Mirren are just off the back of 4 wins in a row, and now looking for a 5th.
Gus MacPherson in his 5 years there has improved the clubs league finish EVERY season.
They are now about to move into a brand new stadium which not only has all 4 stands, but is fully paid for. They'll own the stadium which is fully paid up and will have no debt, unlike nearly every football club in the UK.
They will also have a brand new training complex ready by this summer and STILL have no debt.
If this hard-earned success is not worth shouting about for the good of Scottish football, then I don't know what is!
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS