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    Billy Gilmour’s brother signs for seventh tier club two years after being tipped to join him in Premier League

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    BILLY GILMOUR was all set to make it a family affair at Chelsea.Just two years ago, the Premier League giants were on the charm offensive to try and tempt younger brother Harvey to join the former Rangers prodigy at Stamford Bridge.
    Harvey Gilmour with brother Billy last year when he signed a deal at Kilmarnock
    Harvey was 15 at the time and there were some who thought he could go on to become even BETTER than his brother.
    A midfielder like Billy, Harvey was starring for the Kilmarnock youth sides and was still on the books at Rugby Park up until the summer just gone.
    Just last year, he signed his first professional contract with older brother Billy there to support him.
    Now 18, Harvey was without a club since July as he waited to make sure his next move was the right one.

    He had been spotted training with Kilwinning Rangers and appeared as a trialist in a game for the West of Scotland Football League First Division outfit a couple of weeks ago.
    The youngster has now signed a contract with the club but he WON’T be playing for the first team right away.
    Instead he will feature for the Buffs’ under-20s team, who play in Conference D of the West of Scotland Football Development League.
    Harvey’s new team currently sit top of the table, two points clear of Bonnyton Thistle (though they have played two games more).
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    Other names familiar to fans of junior football populate the division with Auchinleck Talbot, Darvel and Cumnock being some of the teams Harvey will come up against.
    Should he make the step up to the senior team, he could face the likes of Petershill, Rutherglen Glencairn and Shotts Bon Accord at Buffs Park.
    Also in the same league are uber-ambitious Johnstone Burgh, who over the summer signed Kyle Lafferty and Graham Dorrans.

    Kilwinning Rangers Under-20s said in a statement on social media: “We are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder @harveygilmourrr from Kilmarnock FC. Another fantastic prospect, we are thrilled Harvey has decided to come to @steadythebuffs to play his football amidst interest from a number of other very good teams.”
    Billy himself was spotted training with a team outside of the SPFL in the off-season, working on his fitness with Glenafton Athletic as he prepared for the upcoming campaign with Brighton.
    He’s also taken in some matches involving local team Ardrossan Winton Rovers in the past.
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      ‘You need to appease clubs’ – Scots Fifa referee who moved to England stunned whistlers turn ‘blind eye’ to simulation

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      BOBBY MADDEN has lifted the lid on the power English clubs hold over referees.The former Fifa whistler retired in the summer after a season taking charge of games down south.
      Bobby Madden quit the game in Scotland to go and further his career in EnglandCredit: Kenny Ramsay
      Madden had achieved all he’d set out to as an official in Scotland and wanted a fresh challenge in EFL League One.
      But he hung up his whistle for several reasons, including being stunned at how the observer marking system is weighted in the clubs’ favour.
      Madden, 45, said: “There were challenges and a different mentality in how they manage situations from an FA and PGMOL point of view.
      “The clubs pay them, so they have control over officials.

      “One of the frustrations which didn’t affect me directly is the clubs have 40 per cent of the mark that’s given to a referee.
      “Essentially you need to appease the clubs to get on, so anyone going into that system needs to referee with that in mind.
      “It’s difficult when you’ve refereed to a level with an observer system then you have a club system like that. It’s difficult for the referees.
      “There were good referees in League One and Two, but would they turn a blind eye to obvious simulation or clear dissent or foul or abusive language? I saw it happen.
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      “I think that’s one of the challenges they have.
      “Each club has 20 per cent of their mark.
      “In Scotland it’s one observer and you receive one mark and it’s the same with Uefa.
      “In England the assessor only has 20 per cent. They also go to a panel and review it, so it was a new system.
      “The clubs and players and managers know they are marking you.
      “I’ve heard comments like, ‘Just remember who’s marking you’. The clubs know they have that power.
      “It’s a challenging environment for referees coming through.
      “I didn’t change my tactics, though. I just managed games the way I always have.
      “I was probably known for not showing that many yellow cards and I tried to follow that, but it’s probably a more difficult arena to do that in.”
      Madden was also disappointed by the quality of the game down south, despite its bold claims, and the lack of respect shown by players towards officials compared to Scotland.
      He said: “In England the football and the teams are very well organised. The surfaces and facilities are good.
      “But I was disappointed with the football.
      “League One there compares to the bottom three or four in our Premiership and League Two compares to the Championship.
      “But England are very good at marketing their leagues, so people believe it’s high level.
      “Of course it’s very well organised, but the level of football probably wasn’t what I expected.
      “I was still fortunate to referee some decent games in League One.
      “In Scotland teams play against each other four times a season or whatever, so there’s a lot of repetition and it’s the same with referees.
      “You’ll referee each team five or six times a year. Take that over ten years and you are in a lot of contact with the same people so you build up a relationship.
      “They might not agree with your decisions and players will use foul language and I’ll use the same type back.
      “In England that level of respect isn’t there because of their approach, but it was maybe because I was a new face that they didn’t know.
      “They’re also in that arena where they’re very well paid, they have a fantastic environment and there’s maybe a degree of entitlement.
      “I did find a lot of players difficult to deal with and they didn’t like to be challenged.
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      “In Scotland I liked the banter and to give a bit back and have that relationship.”
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      Full list of Storm Babet postponements as SIX Scottish football matches called OFF including two Premiership clashes

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      STORM BABET has hit Scotland – causing severe disruption to roads and public services across the country, and sadly also fatalities.And now no fewer than SIX clashes are off amid scenes which have left thousands of Scots without power.
      Aerial views of Brechin in Angus after the River South Esk burst its banksCredit: Alamy
      Cars have been left stranded as the flooding causes chaos in areas of ScotlandCredit: PA
      Aberdeen’s Premiership clash with Dundee, scheduled for Saturday night, is the highest profile casualty of the storm, with damage and flooding in two of the Pittodrie stands.
      St Johnstone’s meeting with Motherwell is also off, despite reports earlier in the day from both clubs that the match WASN’T in doubt.
      In the lower divisions, Arbroath vs Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers vs Montrose are both off.
      So too is Elgin City v Forfar and Stenhousemuir vs Peterhead.

      An SPFL statement read: “The Scottish Professional Football League has confirmed that several games scheduled for this weekend have been postponed following significant weather warnings for much of the country.
      “The SPFL has been in discussions with clubs, Police Scotland and relevant authorities on the developing situation and after the red weather warning issued for Tayside, Aberdeenshire and Angus earlier today, it has postponed matches in the interests of safety. ”
      Calum Beattie, SPFL chief operating officer, said: “We have been in close contact with Police Scotland and our clubs and it’s clear that we continue to face very severe weather, particularly in the North East, in the coming days.
      “We never postpone any matches lightly, but our discussions with the emergency services left us in no doubt that this was the correct decision.”
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      An Aberdeen statement read: “The SPFL and Police Scotland have confirmed Saturday’s SPFL Premiership match against Dundee at Pittodrie has been postponed.
      “Much of the Scottish east coast has been ravaged by Storm Babet, leading to significant damage, disruption and, tragically, loss of life.
      “Pittodrie itself has not been immune, with both wind damage and flooding sustained in both the Richard Donald and Main Stands.
      “With the United Kingdom MET Office having updated its weather warning status to red for large parts of the northeast on Saturday, the most severe threat level which includes a risk to life, Police Scotland and the SPFL have postponed the fixture, along with five others, to a future date.”
      Chief Executive Alan Burrows said: “Given the current awful weather and the updated warnings now in place for Saturday, and the associated risk that would pose to the players, staff, and supporters of both clubs, postponing this match to a later date was the only sensible and logical step.
      “It goes without saying that we would ask everyone to heed the current warnings and advice and stay safe until the worst of the weather has passed.”
      The date and kick-off time of the rearranged match will be confirmed in due course.
      Road closures and cancellations to ScotRail services will make it difficult for players and fans to travel to games.
      Scots were urged to stay at home as a matter of course on Friday.
      The worst of the weather will affect the north and east of Scotland, in particular the areas of Angus and Aberdeenshire.
      In the town of Brechin in Angus there has been tragic flooding, with Met Office red weather warning for rain issued for the area.
      Full list of postponements (as of 3pm Friday 20 October)
      cinch PremiershipAberdeen v DundeeSt Johnstone v Motherwell
      cinch ChampionshipArbroath v Raith Rovers
      cinch League 1Cove Rangers v Montrose
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      cinch League 2Elgin City v Forfar AthleticStenhousemuir v Peterhead
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      Rapist footballer David Goodwillie FINALLY released by Raith Rovers eight months after they signed him

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      DAVID GOODWILLIE has finally been RELEASED by Raith Rovers.Goodwillie joined Raith from Clyde in January this year but his signing caused huge uproar at the club.
      David Goodwillie while playing for Clyde
      Goodwillie watching Raith vs Queen of the South shortly after signing for themCredit: SNS
      They attempted to send him back to Clyde but the Cumbernauld-based outfit performed a U-turn after being told by the local council, who own Broadwood Stadium where they play, that he would not be allowed to enter the building.
      He was promptly axed by Raith following a backlash from livid supporters but his contract was never formally ripped up, despite the club announcing in February that they would terminate it.
      Eight months on, he is officially no longer a player at the club.
      Raith released a statement on their website that read: “The club can confirm that David Goodwillie has been released from his contract with immediate effect. The club will make no further comment.”
      Stark’s Park went into meltdown over the signing of Goodwillie, who was convicted in a civil court in 2017 of having raped a woman.
      Author Val McDermid, a lifelong Raith fan, decided she could no longer support the club following the move to bring Goodwillie in and withdrew her sponsorship of the team.
      Other sponsors and celebrity fans called out the Kirkcaldy outfit too, while long-serving board members resigned and the women’s team disbanded.
      Raith initially doubled down on their decision to sign him, citing his record as a “proven goalscorer”.
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      Eventually, manager John McGlynn came out and publicly apologised for the debacle.
      Goodwillie and then-teammate David Robertson, were accused of raping Denise Clair in 2011.
      After not being found guilty in a criminal court due to lack of evidence, Ms Clair took her case to a civil court.
      It was the first of its kind in Scotland.
      A judge then found that both men were guilty of raping her and ordered them to pay £100,000 in compensation. The civil proceedings did not need corroboration, unlike the criminal case.
      Ex-Scotland international Goodwillie, 33, has also played for Dundee United, Blackburn Rovers, Crystal Palace, Blackpool, Aberdeen, Ross County and Plymouth Argyle during his career.
      He won three caps for Scotland, scoring one goal, between 2010-11.

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