Latest news with #BuckieThistle
Press and Journal
03-07-2025
- Press and Journal
Disgraced footballer given more time to pay back victims
A disgraced former footballer who conned thousands of pounds out of people in Elgin has been given more time to pay back his victims. Ceiran McLean, who once turned out for and won the Highland League title with Buckie Thistle, admitted to stringing along paying customers for more than a year with promises that he could deliver bespoke football training and sponsorship that he never delivered. He admitted breaching a section of the Trading Regulations Act back in May and was back in the dock today to be sentenced. But after hearing that the 34-year-old, whose address was given as Inchbroom Avenue in Lossiemouth, has been working 'very long hours' to scrape together the thousands he owed, the court allowed him more time to get his affairs in order. Solicitor Robert Cruickshank, who was appearing on behalf of Aberdeen firm George Mathers & Co., said the former footballer had been saving the money in a partner's bank account with the intention of passing it on to his legal team to then pay people back. Calling for a deferral on sentencing, he said McLean had saved more than half of the £10,686 he was due to pay. 'Five-and-a-half thousand pounds has been saved, it is in an account that is not in his name,' he said. 'He's managed to save that by working very long hours and he indicated to me that he would be confident that within, say, three months, he would be able to save the balance.' Sheriff David Harvie, overseeing the case, agreed to McLean's solicitor's request. Addressing the former Elgin player's future, he said a financial penalty would ultimately come his way. 'Aside from the possibility of restitution, the other thing that Mr McLean will need to be thinking about is quite a substantial financial penalty,' Sheriff Harvie said. 'It can only be a financial penalty.' Asking him directly if he would be able to scrape together the remaining cash for the victims, McLean replied: '100%.' Elgin Sheriff Court has yet to hear the circumstances of how McLean carried out his crime, but at a previous hearing was told that his illegal efforts stretched from June 15 2020 to August 11 2021. Throughout that period, he admitted breaching a section of the Trading Regulations Act, which prevents businesses from conducting unfair commercial practices that are likely to influence the behaviour of the average consumer. McLean will now return to court in October to be sentenced for that, but is no stranger to its walls. In 2013, while he was still at Elgin City FC, he was sentenced to 12 months behind bars for his part in a horror smash on the A96 Nairn to Alves road, which left a trialist in a coma for two months. The crash happened after McLean and another Elgin City player made their way along a country road, overtaking cars and driving on the wrong side of the carriageway on the way home from a match. The trialist also suffered broken legs, a broken pelvis, and a brain injury.
Scottish Sun
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Iconic author reveals shock at horror legend pal Stephen King's surprise Scottish football connection
The author is back in Scotland this week to launch the Stirling-based literary bash HORROR icon Stephen King left author pal Linwood Barclay stunned when he arrived for a chat wearing a Buckie Thistle strip. The two bestselling writers have been mates for decades but The Shining and Carrie legend's support for the Highland League minnows was a twist Linwood just did not see coming. Advertisement 2 Linwood is coming to Scotland and excited to meet his fans Credit: Getty 2 Stephen King is a supporter of Highland League side Buckie Thistle King, who has sold more than 350million books, struck up a friendship with the Moray club after he featured them in his 2020 bestseller If It Bleeds. And the 77-year-old proudly sported the green and white merch when doing a video conference with Linwood for the Bloody Scotland crime writing festival during lockdown. Linwood - who is back in Scotland this week to launch the Stirling-based literary bash - said: 'I did that Zoom call with Steve for Bloody Scotland four years ago and that was the sweater he wore. 'I remember because I thought, 'what the heck is that?' as I had no idea of his football connection.' Advertisement Now after writing over 25 best selling crime books the former journalist will follow in his famous pal's footsteps with the release of his first horror novel called Whistle. It features a children's author called Annie Blunt who moves to a small town in upstate New York with her young son Charlie for a new start after the tragic death of husband. But when Charlie finds a forgotten train set in a locked shed in the grounds of their new house it sets in motion a disturbing set of events. However, Toronto-based Linwood insists he wasn't nervous even when he sent his first draft to the undisputed king of genre. Advertisement He says: 'I wasn't intimidated by that. I think the fact is that if you had told me 30 years ago when I was reading Steve's novels that I would even know his email address, never mind emailing each other, then I wouldn't have believed it. 'But Steve is very supportive and encouraging. I feel very privileged and lucky to have the friendship I have with him.' Trailer for Stephen King's 'excessively violent' new movie BANNED by four TV networks However, far from talking about the grim and grisly, the pair normally swap Netflix recommendations. Linwood, 70, says: 'Every once in a while I get an email and it's like, 'are you watching this show, such and such?'. Advertisement 'I sent him a note last week saying 'If you've not watched it yet you should try Mobland (with Pierce Brosnan and Tom Hardy)'. I really hope they make a second season of it.' He adds: 'But it really is very troubling in the sense that I remember being at a book event a few years ago where all of the writers were sitting around saying 'are you watching this show?'. Nobody was saying, 'have you read this book?'. 'It just sort of hit us that the competition is not other writers, it's these TV shows where you can binge all this material at once. 'So I feel like you've got to write something that will make people stop streaming TV at least for a little while.' Advertisement Fans of Linwood's books, including The Accident, Elevator Pitch and Find You First, praise his explosive scenes. But the writer believes that is down to his love of 60s TV shows including The Man From U.N.C.L.E starring Scots actor David McCallum as Russian spy Illya Kuryakin. He says: 'That was my favourite show and from the age of 11, anything I wrote I was thinking of it like it was on a screen.' But the married dad could only dream of being a bestselling author when he grew up on his parents trailer park in the Kawartha Lakes region of Ontario. Advertisement In the early 70s when he was 16, Linwood ended up running the place following the sudden death of his father. He recalls: 'My mum managed it, but I did like, 90 per cent of the work. Including the daily task of burying fish guts, from the fisherman who had gutted their catch. 'I had to haul it out into the woods and bury it. So on days when the writing doesn't go well, I always think it could be worse. I could still be burying fish guts.' Linwood left the trailer park to begin a long career in newspapers until the publication of his first novel No Time for Goodbye in 2007 - which became an instant international bestseller. But now with his first horror novel he's hoping to emulate pal Stephen. The model train enthusiast says: 'My book starts off with a train set because it just doesn't seem fair to me that in the horror genre, when it comes to toys, it's always dolls that get to be evil or maybe a little mechanical monkey or a rocking horse. Advertisement 'So I thought, 'I wonder if I could make toy trains scary?'. I want this book to be able to do for toy trains what Chucky did for dolls and or what Stephen King did for clowns.' Whistle by Linwood Barclay is out now in hardback priced £20 and in audio and ebook from HarperCollins. For more info on the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival, visit the website.
Press and Journal
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
STARTING XI: Graeme Stewart on title joy with Buckie and early days at Caley Thistle
Former Buckie Thistle manager Graeme Stewart takes on this week's Q&A feature. The man known as 'Spider' – who stepped down as Jags boss after leading the club to the Highland League title in 2024 – looks back on his playing and managerial career to date. It was for Caley Thistle in a League Cup tie at Stenhousemuir in July 1999. We won 3-1 and I played an hour. I was 17 and just remember everyone seemed so big and quick. I enjoyed it, but was out my depth and it made me realise I had a lot of work to do to be able to play at that level. Winning the league with Buckie Thistle four times as player and manager. I won promotion with Peterhead for finishing second one season but nothing comes close to the feeling of winning the league and knowing all the hard work paid off. Bobby Mann and Barry Robson at Inverness were both brilliant. If Bobby had pace he could have played at any level, in my opinion. In the Highland league, Ian Murray was an outstanding striker and could have played at a higher level. There are a few others that stand out – Tommy Wilson, David Macrae and Zander Sutherland were all terrific. I always had hard games against Rab Brown, and we ended up being teammates. He was a very good hard player, which every team needed. Kyle MacLeod and Andrew MacAskill had the worst gear I've ever seen. It was like they were trying to look bad and the clothes were either too bright, too big, or too small. Hopefully as enthusiastic and encouraging. I was always talking and trying to help those around me. However, in my early 20s, they might have said a few different things. You only get out of something what you are willing to put in. I don't think it's a coincidence that the most successful people tend to work the hardest. I used to love playing against Fraserburgh at Bellslea Park. There was a big rivalry between the clubs and they always had a big, strong and aggressive team. The games were a battle and usually ended in a red card or two. When I went there as a manager, it made me miss playing. I didn't score many, but my favourite would have been against Morton in the Scottish Cup for Buckie. We were away from home and losing 2-0 and I scored to make it 2-2. We ended up conceding in the last minute to make it 3-2, but if we held on, it would have been one of the best results in Buckie's history. I would probably take Daniel Bell as he is one of my best friends. I'm not sure if he would be able to help catch any food, but at least we could have a laugh. Well, I have been away from football for 12 months now, so I have had plenty time to relax and spend time with my family. I have two daughters and it has been good being able to do things with them at the weekend. I also enjoy watching football matches on TV or going to grounds when I get the chance.
Press and Journal
07-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Former Buckie Thistle and Elgin star pocketed cash for training courses
A former Elgin City and Highland League star has admitted to pocketing more than £10,000 he was given to provide non-existent football training courses and sponsorship. Ceiran McLean, who once turned out for and won the Highland League title with Buckie Thistle, strung along his customers for more than a year with promises he could deliver bespoke packages after taking their cash. At Elgin Sheriff Court today – on the first day of his scheduled trial – the 34-year-old admitted conning customers of his football training business. Ceiran McLean once played for Buckie Thistle. The court did not hear the circumstances of McLean's crime, but was told that his illegal efforts stretched from June 15 2020 to August 11 2021. Throughout that period, he admitted breaching a section of the Trading Regulations Act, which prevents businesses from conducting unfair commercial practices that are likely to influence the behaviour of the average consumer. His own defence solicitor, Matthew O'Neill, said the sum he would pocket by doing so was more than £10,000. Mr O'Neill, who was appearing on behalf of Aberdeen firm George Mathers & Co., said the former footballer was now attempting to pay that money back and asked for sentence to be deferred to allow him to do so. He said: 'My understanding is that the amount obtained will amount to £10,686.66. 'The principal agents have engaged in conversations, significantly, with Mr McLean. I understand Mr McLean is currently in employment and has certainly proposed to the principal agents a plan that he has in relation to be able to return those funds. 'Mr McLean should be in funds to do that within three months.' 'There ought to be a punitive element' Agreeing to defer sentence on the case, Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov advised McLean, of Inchbroom Avenue in Lossiemouth, to start saving money. 'Restitution is one thing, but there ought to be a punitive element,' she said, addressing McLean's solicitor. The sheriff also called for background reports on McLean, as well as a restriction of liberty assessment, which, if he were sentenced to one, would limit the hours of the day during which he could leave his home. McLean, who has a previous conviction from Elgin Sheriff Court, will now return to the dock in June. In 2013, while he was still at Elgin City FC, he was sentenced to 12 months behind bars for his part in a horror smash on the A96 Nairn to Alves road, which left a trialist in a coma for two months. McLean and another Elgin City player were racing each other in separate vehicles when the crash happened. McLean also suffered broken legs, a broken pelvis, and a brain injury.
