The Benchman: Ice Cream Wars

This week, the Benchman’s got it licked as he looks back at last weekend’s win over Peterhead.
Mystery Picture: Can you spot a future Bairn?  Benchman week 11Mystery Picture: Can you spot a future Bairn?  Benchman week 11
Mystery Picture: Can you spot a future Bairn? Benchman week 11

PRETTY IN PINK: Recently, we have seen massive criticism of a paint manufacturer. They promised to rename their pink range to make the colours less gender stereotypical. I wonder if they might consider a shade called Peterhead Pink. Pink has been used in football strips more than once, and not just by the Scotland’s women’s team. Scotland’s original colours were pink and yellow before they opted for navy blue. They were the racing colours of Lord Roseberry and the national football team used the colours in honour of their patron and Honorary President.

ICE CREAM WARS: Did you ever think you would see two teams with strikers wearing shirts with the number 99 on their backs? The assembled press pack were ready with headlines inspired by ice creams. Cone Falkirk Close The Gap? Flaky Performance. Wafer-Thin Margins. Mivvi Next Time.

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AULD HEIDS: What a difference Lee Miller made last week. He used all his experience to lead the line, bring others into the game, win most of the aerial challenges and gave his all for 70 minutes. It was hard to imagine that this was the same young lad who starred at Brockville in the title-winning season along with Owen Coyle.

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO: Raith are not going to give up their leadership of the league without a struggle. The race could well go down to the wire, although this league is very unpredictable. Maybe the only issue that looks settled is the relegation of Stranraer. Points will be prisoners and Falkirk need to make sure they focus on their own games and not think about Raith’s matches.

ANSWERS: Last week we featured a picture of Willie Kilmarnock who captained Motherwell’s 1952 Scottish Cup-winning team. He was the inspiration for the famous quiz question-“When did Dundee play Motherwell and Kilmarnock in the same afternoon at Hampden?”

BUILDING BRIDGES: Good to see the new chairman trying to restore better relationships with fans by meeting the various supporters’ group representatives at the club on Thursday. The board-supporter bonds were well and truly shattered by the untimely events of last season and new depths were plumbed. Things can only get better and maybe relegation might prove to be a watershed moment.

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SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL CLUB?: How does a fan identify with his team? Is it the town identity? Is it seeing local lads in the team? An interesting half-time conversation with a Blue Toon supporter revealed some interesting views on the subject. He felt many of the fans did not really identify with the current players who he saw as having no real feeling for the town. They trained at various clubs nearer their home bases, such as Forfar, Arbroath and Montrose. He preferred the Highland League days when he felt the bonds were stronger. I have heard similar sentiments from Stranraer fans.

BENCHMARKS

Match rating:8

Team rating: 8

Opposition: 6

Referee: C.Napier 5

Best Bairn: Lee Miller