For the football (soccer) fans amongst you

[Lawrence]

This probably is not of great interest to most (if not all) of you but I thought I would just brag a little about the team I support, Raith Rovers are a small provincial part time team that plays in a town called Kirkcaldy in Fife.  We currently play in the second tier of Scottish football (1st division) having been promoted last season.

On Saturday we took 3000 fans to Dundee to play them in the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup, and we beat them 2-1, putting us into the semi final of the competition for the first time in 47 years, and now we will play the winners of the Rangers v Dundee Utd replay (both in the top half of the premier league), at Hampden Park, Scotland's National football stadium.

For a club which, 4 or 5 years ago, was on the brink of extinction, it is a wonderful day for everyone, I have been a volunteer at the club for over 8 years and I am really looking forward to our big day (it will be our big day because I am realistic, we wont get to the final!)

If you want to know more about Raith Rovers, have a look here http://www.raithroversfc.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi

[Martijn Meerts]

That's the great thing about the cups over there, quite often the smaller, lower division teams get quite far. I prefer watching them play actually, they still seem to play for the actual playing, rather than for the money ;)

Good luck ;)

[hbr245b]

They'll be dancing in the streets of Raith tonight!

[Lawrence]

They'll be dancing in the streets of Raith tonight!

Someone has either got a very good memory or has been on google 

[hbr245b]

I just looked it up on Google. It was before I was born  .

A Scottish friend of mine from University (late 80's/early 90's) used to say it whenever something good happened (and explained the origins). I use it in the same context sometimes.

[IST]

On Saturday we took 3000 fans to Dundee to play them in the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup, and we beat them 2-1, putting us into the semi final of the competition for the first time in 47 years, and now we will play the winners of the Rangers v Dundee Utd replay (both in the top half of the premier league), at Hampden Park, Scotland's National football stadium.

My favourite football team is Videoton, here in Hungary as it is the team of the city where I lived for 23 years. Videoton was 2nd in the UEFA Cup in 1984/1985 but has never ever won Hungarian Championship title. Now they are on the 2nd place and has a great chance to be the first at the end of the season. It is funny, but attendance is below 3000, however the city has 100 thousand residents. Our hockey team is better than the football...

[Mudkip Orange]

Football is Football

American "football" is handegg.

[Lawrence]

I remember Videoton in the early 80's, think it was the curious name that made it stand out 

Mudkip - American "football" is handegg Handegg? wat?

[Claude_Dreyfus]

I am a football fan, and a big follower of the English cup competitions. Unfortunately (for me) I am a Portsmouth fan and, having endured one of the most torrid seasons any set of fans can endure, the FA cup is one of the few highlights left for us this season.

[Lawrence]

I am a football fan, and a big follower of the English cup competitions. Unfortunately (for me) I am a Portsmouth fan and, having endured one of the most torrid seasons any set of fans can endure, the FA cup is one of the few highlights left for us this season.

I see they have now been given permission to sell players outside of the transfer window.  No doubt it will be the championship for you next season, here's hoping they have enough quality left to get straight back up!

[IST]

I remember Videoton in the early 80's, think it was the curious name that made it stand out 

Videoton was the name of a television manufacturer company in the town. I think the right pronunciation of the team's original name (Székesfehérvári Vadásztölténygyár) would cause some dreamless night.   

[Bernard]

I remember Videoton in the early 80's, think it was the curious name that made it stand out 

Videoton was the name of a television manufacturer company in the town. I think the right pronunciation of the team's original name (Székesfehérvári Vadásztölténygyár) would cause some dreamless night.   

Not to mention trying to fit Székesfehérvári Vadásztölténygyár on the back of a jersey. 

[Lawrence]

Following a quarter final replay tonight we now know that we will face Premier League team Dundee United in the semi-final.  This is to be played on Sunday 11th of April at the national stadium (Hampden) in Glasgow

[Claude_Dreyfus]

I am a football fan, and a big follower of the English cup competitions. Unfortunately (for me) I am a Portsmouth fan and, having endured one of the most torrid seasons any set of fans can endure, the FA cup is one of the few highlights left for us this season.

I see they have now been given permission to sell players outside of the transfer window.  No doubt it will be the championship for you next season, here's hoping they have enough quality left to get straight back up!

Yes, but there isn't really anyone left to sell... James won't go as any players that leave for another Premiership team won't be able to play for the rest of the season - he, like Mokoena, has the world cup to think about (and Mokoena being captain of South Africa especially want to play in the world cup). Also players like Finnan, 'The Hermanator' and Belhaj - although the latter may go to Spain, may stick around. Diop may go to France...it's just that decent players such as O'Hara have been brought in on loan.

We are certain for relegation, however a good season for 2010/11 will be to stay in the Championship, as opposed to doing a Leeds/Southampton/Charlton/Norwich and go into free-fall and drop through the divisions. Some stability and a couple of years and we may be able to grace the top-flight again.

[Lawrence]

Well cometh the hour, cometh the man, or 11 men in this case. It is our big day today and I've been up since 7 am, and it's not even Christmas!
Yesterday, 1st division Ross County beat premier league side Celtic in the other semi final, here's hoping we can do the same to Dundee United today.

Where ever you are today at 3pm UK time think of wee Raith Rovers as we begin our adventure.

Come on you Raith!