With the Olympics looming ever closer, understandably security will be a main concern for the London 2012 organizing committee. It looks as though they are on top of things in this respect, having carried out a security test in Scotland recently. The rehearsal took place at the semi-final of the Scottish Communities League Cup between Ayr and Kilmarnock, which the latter won in extra time, and involved fans.

My dad is certainly two things, he is a Glaswegian, and he is a football fan. Nothing strange I know, but his club of choice baffles some, he comes from a family of Celtic fans, but for some reason in the 1960′s he adopted Clyde as his team. This rubbed off on me, and along with my brother we all follow the Bully Wee as well as Newcastle.

Sort of feels like the final furlong.
And who better to join us, at this early hour, than Stewart Weir?
Stewart's seen it all in his long and distinguished career. And that includes some great Scottish footballing moments. And a fair few bad ones.
His weekly take on the world of sport can be found every week at Caledonian Mercury
Follow him @sweirz
First up a massive thank you to Stewart.

By Chris Wright

For no other reason than that it's currently stair-rodding it down outside my window, here's an 18-strong photographic agglomeration of football being played out in the driving rain...

◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 18

Scotland's Phil Bardsley gets a soaking as he heads the ball clear against Denmark at Hampden Park, 2011

Suggested further viewing for fans of adverse weather.

By Chris Wright

Look what was waiting for us on the doormat this morning, a padded envelope containing a few photos of the brand new Adidas Scotland home shirt for 2012/13...

We'll have more photos (and a wee promo video) up shortly.

The embossing across the stomach, which incorporates elements of both the old and new Hampden Park, the Lion Rampant, the Thistle, the 1928 ball used in the 5-1 demolition of England at Wembley Stadium, the Fleur De Lis and the date 1873, i.

"Ya beauty, a new Scotland strip."
That's me trying to channel my eight year old self because I'm not really sure why anyone who isn't going to wear it competitively or anyone over school age should get excited about such a thing.
But they do.
And here it is. In all it's glory.

By Chris Wright

Pies' pick of the ten (don't count them, we know there's eleven!) best snaps from this weekend's international footballing action from arooooouuund the glooooobe...

Martin Skrtel airs his considerable ink after Slovakia's 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin

During a training session in Calcutta, Lionel Messi pulls what we believe the kids would call a bit of a 'derp face'

England fans drape a flag on the Soviet Army Monument opposite the Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia, Bulgaria

Michal Kadlec's ill-gotten penalty hits the back of the net to chalk up a late equaliser (2-2) for the Czech Republic against Scotland at Hampden Park

US Virgin Islands keeper Carlos Claxton sits dejected on the pitch after Haiti had just put their sixth unanswered goal past him in Port-au-Prince

Silhouetted Albanian supporters light flares before the start of their World Cup qualifier against France in Tirana

Giampaolo Pazzini and Andrea Ranocchia enjoy some Isotonic japery during Italy's pre-Slovenia training session at the Coverciano sports center near Florence

Peephole Pringle: Philipp Lahm removes his shredded jersey during Germany's 6-2 drubbing of Austria on Friday night

Your guess is as good as mine as to what's going on in this goal-mouth still from Israel qualifier against Greece in Tel Aviv

After becoming the first side to qualify for Polkraine 2012 on Friday, Germany warm down with a few 'eye-level crotch scissors'

Ronaldinho talks to a friend following a training session ahead of Brazil's friendly against Ghana at Craven Cottage tonight

Photos: PA

By Chris Wright

Pies' pick of the ten (don't count them, we know there's eleven!) best snaps from this weekend's international footballing action from arooooouuund the glooooobe...

Martin Skrtel airs his considerable ink after Slovakia's 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin

During a training session in Calcutta, Lionel Messi pulls what we believe the kids would call a bit of a 'derp face'

England fans drape a flag on the Soviet Army Monument opposite the Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia, Bulgaria

Michal Kadlec's ill-gotten penalty hits the back of the net to chalk up a late equaliser (2-2) for the Czech Republic against Scotland at Hampden Park

US Virgin Islands keeper Carlos Claxton sits dejected on the pitch after Haiti had just put their sixth unanswered goal past him in Port-au-Prince

Silhouetted Albanian supporters light flares before the start of their World Cup qualifier against France in Tirana

Giampaolo Pazzini and Andrea Ranocchia enjoy some Isotonic japery during Italy's pre-Slovenia training session at the Coverciano sports center near Florence

Peephole Pringle: Philipp Lahm removes his shredded jersey during Germany's 6-2 drubbing of Austria on Friday night

Your guess is as good as mine as to what's going on in this goal-mouth still from Israel qualifier against Greece in Tel Aviv

After becoming the first side to qualify for Polkraine 2012 on Friday, Germany warm down with a few 'eye-level crotch scissors'

Ronaldinho talks to a friend following a training session ahead of Brazil's friendly against Ghana at Craven Cottage tonight

Photos: PA

Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam has pulled out of Tuesday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Lithuania due to a hip injury, the Scottish Football Association has announced.
Adam picked up the knock during Saturday's 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic at Hampden Park and was forced off the pitch in the 79th minute.

Liverpool's Charlie Adam ruled out of Scotland's Euro 2012 qualifier against Lithuania with hip injury

The former Blackpool midfielder, who joined the Reds in the summer, has been added to Craig Levein's long injury list ahead of Tuesday's crucial Group I meeting at Hampden Park

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-09-04 23:07:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Liverpool's Danny Wilson seeks loan to help protect Scotland prospects

• Former Rangers man wants temporary move this month • Liverpool willing to let him go to gain experience Danny Wilson, the Liverpool reserve defender, has spoken of his desire to leave Anfield on loan, partly to help retain his place in the Scotland team.

Nicklas Bendtner is set to play against the Scots this coming Wednesday evening, NB's future is far from settled at Arsenal but is still one of the stars of his native Danish National Team. NB52 has continued to train with The Gunners' in the past few weeks despite his future not entirely sorted.

David Goodwillie in Scotland squad to face Denmark

An eventful period for David Goodwillie continued today when he was named in the Scotland squad for next Wednesday's friendly with Denmark at Hampden Park.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-08-02 11:30:38 from: The Mail

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Denmark International Manager Morten Olsen has spoken about Denmark's crucial encounter with Norway on the 6th September. He has talked also about featured player Nicklas Bendtner and four other members of the Danish national eleven. Morten Olsen declared that theres still a long way to go till the transfer window closes and his hopes for the NB and the other 4 to be fighting fit come kick off time.

England football team 'could be forced to wear EU flag' Telegraph.

Apparently, the winds of change are blowing through the halls of European governments today with regard to presenting a more unified stance for sports teams who perform in a European setting.

Plans are afoot from some dumbass Spanish politician to mandate that an EU symbol or flag be present on every shirt or uniform of EVERY European country.

Zidane becomes director of football at Real Madrid - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Real Madrid and France legend Zinedine Zidane has revealed that he will become the new director of football at the Santiago Bernabeu next season. The former player has been working closely with Madrid president Florentino Perez as a special advisor, creating a link between the first team and the management at Los Blancos.

"Qatar #1, Russia #1... ethics...hach pewy!"
There isn't too much else we can, or want, to say about Toronto FC this week after sitting through their 6-2 drubbing on Saturday. So, we thought we'd take a look at another well-oiled football machine with no apparent problems - FIFA. Unless you've been living under a football rock (I think it's in Oklahoma) then you've heard about the many accusations and allegations of corruption coming out of The Death Star FIFA's Swiss headquarters.

Following their fourth UEFA Champions League triumph on Saturday virtually every superlative has been used to describe Pep Guardiola's current crop of FC Barcelona stars. The Catalans' 3-1 triumph over Manchester United meant that Guardiola, in only his third full season in charge at the Camp Nou, has won ten major trophies including the amazing Sextuple triumph from the 2008-09 season.

Fraser Forster was in the Celtic side who won the Scottish Cup at Hampden Park yesterday when they beat Motherwell 3-0. Fraser Forster - will get his chance in summer But Alan Pardew has come out today and said that Newcastle have watched Fraser all season long in Scotland, but have been disappointed with the [.

Ki Sung-Yeung's unstoppable 32th minute goal helped Celtic to their 35th Scottish Cup after beating Motherwell 3-0 at Hampden Park. Today It was Neil Lennon's first trophy success as Celtic manager and after the off field situations he's been through already this season it was a welcome success.

GLASGOW, Scotland — Neil Lennon ended a troubled first full season as Celtic manager with glory in the Scottish Cup after his side beat Motherwell 3-0 on Saturday. Ki Sung-yueng and Charlie Mulgrew scored either side of Stephen Craigan's own goal at Hampden Park. Lennon has faced death threats, had parcel bombs sent to him [.

Excited about the 2012 Olympic soccer tournament?
Me neither, but a reminder if you are Europe-based to get your ticket applications in by midnight on Tuesday GMT. With all those big stadia unlikely to sell out at once, further sales are probable.
Games are taking place at Wembley, Old Trafford, St James Park, Hampden Park, the Millennium Stadium and Coventry's Ricoh Arena between July 25th and August 11th 2012.

Así como los clubes y las federaciones tienen su escudo distintivo, muchos estadios alrededor del mundo están sumando una imagen identificatoria a su estampa de hormigón. En la Argentina se destaca una joya arquitectónica en la capital de la provincia de Buenos Aires: el Estadio Único Ciudad de La Plata.

Wales' European Championship clash with England on Saturday has a frisson to it which most international matches between a major footballing nation and one which has failed to qualify for a finals tournament for over half a century fail to generate. This is of course owing to a fierce local rivalry engendered by centuries of cultural and historical struggle between the two countries which helps to foster a healthy sporting rivalry.

Maurice Edu will proudly be able to display another medal on his trophy mantle after Rangers' extra-time victory over hated rivals Celtic in the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday afternoon at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Celtic v Rangers 2011 Scottish League Cup Final 2011- Hampden Park, Glasgow- 20/3/11- March 20, 2011. Final score:- Celtic v Rangers 1-2 ( Joe Ledley/ Steven Davis, Nikica Jelavic) An extra time winner from Nikica Jelavic allows Rangers to beat Celtic 2-1 in the final of the 2011 Scottish League Cup.

Silverware is at stake on Sunday afternoon at Hampden Park in Glasgow as Maurice Edu and Rangers once again tussle with Old Firm rivals in the final of the Scottish League Cup.

Maurice Edu and Rangers take a break from league action this weekend when they face Motherwell in the semifinal of the Scottish League Cup on Sunday at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Today marks the fortieth anniversary of what could, with justification, be described as British football's forgotten tragedy. Whereas the disasters of Heysel and Hillsborough took place in front of the nation, live on the television, and the Valey Parade fire of 1985 took places in front of photgraphers and television cameras which ensured iconic images that became instantly part of our mental imagery of the decay of the game during the mid-1980s, the Ibrox Disaster remains obscure in the memory, but it claimed the lives of sixty-six people and had ramifications that would go on to effect the way that everybody in Britain now watches the game.