The View from the Gang Hut.
Well, I suppose there are only so many Sellik Podcasters PQ can squeeze into a couple of weeks of broadcasting? Of course, some of those stick around and become employed and, get their official PQ CSC membership card. Amy Canavan was on A View from the Terrace earlier this season telling the lads her all time football highlight. Sitting down with her family to watch last season's Europa League cup final, she told of her excitement rising as she noticed Aaron Ramsey stepping up to take the next penalty for Rangers. She knew, her family knew, the world knew - they erupted, jumped up and, ran around the family home celebrating. The lads on the show joined in, punching the air amid gaping smiles. Remember BBC Scotland always supports the Scottish clubs in Europe?
Normal service was resumed inside the Gang Hut, Off the Ball had Susie McCabe and Iona Fife as guests on Saturday. Gersnetters may or not be aware that Aberdeenshire born and bred traditional songstress, Iona Fife has had a few Twitter spats with Rangers supporters this last year? Iona has succeeded in raising her profile considerably on the back of these postings. Off the Ball were determined to get to the bottom of the spat and asked Iona to explain? Apparently, it is all politics and Rangers supporters are to blame. Susie was cooing with empathy. Iona finished with, "when I heard the Euro final result, I Tweeted have a nice day". Now, Tam is prone to ask, "we want to hear from Rangers supporters" but, not on Saturday.
Susie's contribution was strange. She told of writing to 'Jim'll Fix It' pleading satisfaction on a burning desire to play furra Sellik. Then, she told of her wife's burning desire to be Hoopy the Huddle Hound. Sounds like another exclusive awaits Wings Over Scotland? This fascination with furry animals and nappies. Anyways, Susie is part of Comedy Glasgow and in promoting the event she was asked to recommend two other Comics? She offered Liam Farrelly from Paisley and Zoe Lyons. I will save you the time, they are fellow products of apartheid education.Increasingly, PQ are determined to support the beneficiaries of denominational schooling.
The scripted part of the show arrived as Susie revealed ra Sellik's half term figures. RAB Cosgrove was cautionary, "that £60 million in the bank is subject to Corporation Tax". Iona piped up with, "football clubs should always pay their tax bills". RAB replies, "absolutely, that tax pays for our hospitals and schools". Susie cackled, she was in on the joke. Going off the script, Iona was asked if a number of well known songs were considered part of the Scots traditional cannon? RAB wanted to know about Matt McGinn's 'wee Effen Bee' and 'the Jeely piece Song'? Tam inquired of, 'the Green Fields of France'? Iona remained strident, "My Degree was in Scottish song" and, proceeded to make a clown of herself. She deemed Green Fields to be Irish and not Scots. Further, the Jeely piece was Scots because it was penned by Matt McGinn too.
Of course, the Wee Effen Bee is in reality the BIG Effen Bee and, the Jeely Piece was penned by Adam McNaughton. As for the Green Fields, it was written by Peebles born and bred, Eric Bogle. Do not worry Iona, the Gang Hut will ensure your errors will be politically generated by Rangers supporters, they are to blame.
On Sunday, Off the Ball had Hugh MacDonald as their guest for the hundredth time. The former Literary Editor of the Herald is a practitioner of careful hate these days. He is a regular along with Token Tam on Peter Martin's PLZ Soccer - you will always receive a point of view, ie ra Sellik point of view. A couple of decades past as Literary Editor he allowed his love furra Sellik to cloud his judgement. In a summary of the years books, he took a few paragraphs to praise a tome entitled, 'Not Playing for Celtic' by David Bennie. Hugh concluded it was a far better take on football club supporting than Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch. I requested my Library to find a copy?
The book ticked Hugh's boxes, east end Protestant lad decides to support local club, the pull of a floodlight Paradise was too strong. He is befriended by a local Priest who uses his influence to gain access to a number of Retreats because the lad suffers from a skin condition. Bennie criticises Hornby's book because his support for Arsenal lacked emotional depth. I seem to remember in Fever Pitch, Hornby describes being put to bed on a school night by his single parent mother and, Arsenal had just gone into extra time in their League Cup semi against Stoke City. His maw left a note of the result for him getting up the next morning, one nil Stoke. Hornby remarked, "if my Mother really loved me, she should have changed that result". BIG emotion?
RAB has entered his eighth decade and as such we receive regular health updates. He has been diagnosed with pneumonia in one lung and is being treated. Further, his blood results have revealed he is at the lowest risk for prostrate cancer. It is good to know that RAB can continue to get it up and nothing gets him more excited than spending a broadcast weekend organising the weekly 'get it right up the H-U-NS weekend'. On Sunday, twice he returned to the Green Brigade's latest banner - VAR Decision, Douglas Ross is a Cnut. RAB loved it, loves the balaclava bhoys. I have never voted Tory in my life but I recognise the Scottish Tory leader continues to put something back into the game we all love.
When will PQ do the decent thing and invite one of the Green Brigade into the Gang Hut?