Latest news with #Macedonians
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Joe Redmond insists St Pat's recent poor form is ‘not a concern' ahead of Conference League clash with Hegelmann
JOE Redmond knows how important European football is to the St Pat's supporters. He remarked: 'We always get great travelling fans. They sell out nearly every section we've got. However they get there, they get there.' Advertisement 2 The 25-year-old has started all 25 of Pat's league games this season 2 Kenny's side currently sit sixth in the Premier Division table And this season is no different. The Saints had to request additional tickets for fans travelling to Lithuania for next week's away leg with Hegelmann. And how those who got the extra tickets will get there will be a magical mystery tour. The direct flight to Kaunas that cost €700 last week is fully booked. But the 210 fans who got the tickets will be at Richmond Park for tonight's first leg more in hope than expectation given the Saints' woes. Advertisement Read more on League of Ireland Sixth in the league, they have scored just one goal in their last six matches and have one win in their last nine. It is a long way from the end of last term when Stephen Kenny's men won nine in a row as they went from third from the bottom to third from the top to qualify for Europe. But captain Redmond insisted that their performances are better than the results, so confidence is not affected too badly. The defender, 25, said: 'There is not a concern, we've got a lot of quality. Advertisement Most read in Football Live Blog 'We're creating chances but we haven't got the ball in the net. We know the ability we have.' Boss Kenny has a similar view and believes their recent run is just a reminder that the club he took charge of 14 months ago is still a work in progress. League of Ireland mascots compete in charity race in Naas He added: 'If everything was perfect I would not have been brought in in the first place. 'It didn't look like much was wrong — we were flying — and we still had a lot to iron out. There is a level of frustration and it is unacceptable. Advertisement "I am hugely disappointed with that but I understand that everyone is giving everything. I know we have the capacity to score goals and we will do so.' And he hopes Europe can be the catalyst for a strong finish to the year, just as it was last season when the Saints flew up the table by winning those final nine games. He added: 'The players worked so hard last year to come up from third bottom. 'It looked so unlikely at that stage. The reason we worked so hard to qualify for Europe is when you get there you want to make an impact. Advertisement "There's no point in doing it and just getting knocked out. You have to show a level of ambition and we will have to fight hard over two legs to get through.' But he insisted that Hegelmann — named after the German freight company who founded the club 16 years ago — are a team not to be underestimated. TONIGHT'S OPPOSITION They do not have much history having climbed the Lithuanian divisions and have one previous European appearance — a 5-0 loss to Macedonians Shkupi two years ago. But they are second in their domestic league, are coached by Lithuanian legend Andrius Skerla and have a side with plenty of experience. Advertisement Kenny added: 'Traditionally, Lithuanian teams would have been mainly Lithuanian players. 'But they obviously have good investment because they have two African forwards. The main one is from Cameroon. One starts and the other comes on. 'They've a Brazilian No 10, a Japanese left-back, a Serbian midfielder and a Ukrainian winger. So they're a multi- national team. 'It's a fairly new club overall and they're going well in the league. They're quite an attacking team. I don't think this is going to be us getting on the ball and having waves of attack. Advertisement 'I think this will be . . . they are quite an attacking team. They'll try to control a lot. We'll have to fight to earn the right to do that. We have worked so hard to get there. When you are in there, you have to make it count.'
Scottish Sun
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Former Celtic and Scotland hero Leigh Griffiths signs for little-known club in Australian second division at age 34
His new club will be the ninth different team he has played for NEW CLUB Former Celtic and Scotland hero Leigh Griffiths signs for little-known club in Australian second division at age 34 FORMER Celtic star Leigh Griffiths is on the move again. The 34-year-old had spent the last three years playing for semi-professional outfit Mandurah City in Western Australia, stepping into a player-coach role for the 2024 season. Advertisement 2 Leigh Griffiths during his heyday for Celtic Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow Griffiths, who scored 123 goals for the Hoops in 261 appearances, also won 22 Scotland caps and hit the net four times for his nation (including two memorable free-kicks against England in 2017). But his career in Scottish football ended on a sour note and he departed for Australia in August 2022. Griffiths was loaned out to Dundee during his final contract year with Celtic but his stint was overshadowed by him kicking a smoke bomb into the crowd during a match. He later joined Falkirk as a free agent but left after only six months, scoring twice in 12 games for the club who were then in the third tier. Advertisement The striker has now signed for Stirling Macedonia Lions of the National Premier Leagues Western Australia (NPL WA) setup. Nicknamed the Macies or the Macedonians, the club is based in Perth, Western Australia and finished fourth in the league last year. That qualified them for the NPL WA Finals and they would go all the way to the Grand Final only to lose to top seeds and league winners Olympic Kingsway. The National Premier Leagues operate on a regional structure below the A-League, the top flight of Australian football. Advertisement Stirling Macedonia released a picture of Griffiths in club kit and he was named on the subs' bench straight away for their match against Perth Soccer Club. A statement from Stirling Macedonia read: "We're delighted to officially welcome Leigh Griffiths to Stirling Macedonia! The diggers move in as Celtic Park pitch is dug up "A former Celtic FC player and Scotland international, Leigh arrives with a proven attacking pedigree and years of top-level experience. He adds genuine firepower to our front third and brings invaluable leadership to the squad. "Welcome to the Stirling family, Leigh!" Advertisement Keegan Ashley, the club's football operations manager, said: "What a pleasure it is to have someone of Leigh's experience join us at Stirling Macedonia. "He brings genuine quality in the attacking third and will have a big impact not only on the pitch but off it as well—helping guide and mentor our younger players as they develop their game." 2 Griffiths was unveiled by Stirling Macedonia this weekend Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Tomb built for Alexander the Great's best friend is aligned with winter solstice, study suggests
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A grand tomb that may have been built for Alexander the Great's best friend and bodyguard around 2,300 years ago has an astronomical secret: Its burial chamber is aligned so that sunlight enters it on the winter solstice, a new study proposes. However, not everyone agrees with this interpretation. Some experts note that the ancient Macedonians used a lunisolar calendar, meaning the winter solstice's date would have moved from year to year. The tomb, now called the Kasta monument (also known as the Kasta tomb or Kasta tumulus), is near the ancient city of Amphipolis in northern Greece. In 2014, archaeologists excavated the tomb's burial chamber and found the skeletal remains of at least five people. For whom the monument was built is a matter of debate, but Hephaestion (also spelled Haphaestion), whose death in 324 B.C. sent Alexander the Great into severe grief, is considered a leading candidate by some scholars. In the new study, independent researcher Demetrius Savvides created a 3D model of the tomb and used Stellarium, an astronomical program that tracks how the positions of the sun and stars change over time, to re-create what the sky around the tomb looked like in 300 B.C. He found that on Dec. 21, the date of the winter solstice, the sun's light would have fully illuminated the burial chamber between approximately 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time, Savvides wrote in a study published May 15 in the Nexus Network Journal. Related: Was Alexander the Great eaten by sharks? Inside the wild theories for what happened to the iconic ruler's body. Sunlight reaches other parts of the monument at different times, he found. Around late July, it touches the entrance. Throughout autumn, the sunlight gradually travels on and near two carved sphinxes and finally passes between them, fully illuminating the burial chamber on the winter solstice. "It is highly probable that rituals were held within or in close proximity to the Kastas Monument, particularly on and around the winter solstice," Savvides told Live Science in an email. Initially, when the tomb was being built, it had no orientation to the winter solstice. But during its construction, the design was changed to create the solstice alignment, Savvides wrote in the paper. An alignment like this would have symbolized "themes of renewal, life, and cosmic order," Savvides said in the email. These themes are also seen in the tomb decoration, which shows a mosaic of Persephone, a goddess of vegetation and agriculture who is also queen of the underworld, Savvides noted. In addition, the tomb has a possible depiction of Cybele, a goddess who was associated with birth and fertility and was married to Attis, a god also associated with vegetation who died and was resurrected. One interesting question this research raises is whether Alexander the Great's tomb, which was constructed in Alexandria, had a burial chamber with an alignment like this, Savvides said. "The use of solar illumination and a consistent geometric design aligns with Hellenistic traditions where rulers, like Alexander the Great, used solar symbolism to reinforce their authority," Savvides said. "If we were to locate Alexander's tomb, it might resemble the Kastas Monument," Savvides said. Alexander's tomb has never been found and might be underwater or underneath Alexandria. Juan de Lara, a researcher at the University of Oxford who has investigated the alignments of ancient Greek buildings, had mixed reactions to the research. RELATED STORIES —Did Alexander the Great have any children? —How did Alexander the Great die? —'I nearly fell out of my chair': 1,800-year-old mini portrait of Alexander the Great found in a field in Denmark "I think it's great that scholars are asking these questions and using this technology to generate new ideas. In the case of the tomb, the researcher presented daring hypotheses," de Lara told Live Science in an email. "However, we must remember to be very careful when relating such findings to 'solar' events, as the Macedonians used a lunisolar calendar — meaning that the dates shifted from year to year." In other words, their winter solstice would have fallen on a different day each year, meaning this day of illumination might have been difficult to observe annually as the day changed. Additionally, de Lara noted that northern Greece is very cloudy in the winter and the effect may not have been noticeable.
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Every Rangers trophy Steven Gerrard competed for and where he finished as '1 in 9' question mark looms large
Is Steven Gerrard the man with the title touch or a let down who delivered just one trophy out of nine? Steven Gerrard remains the last manager to deliver a league title to Ibrox. And the Rangers faithful are waiting with baited breath to learn if he will be the man tasked with leading the hunt for their next. But while many fans are excited about the potential return of the man behind the club's 2021 Premiership triumph, others have voiced concerns over the former Liverpool skipper's record in Glasgow. Gerrard's critics are quick to point to the fact he lifted just one of the nine domestic trophies he competed for during his three-and-a-half year stay in Glasgow. Here Record Sport takes a look back at how Stevie G fared at home and abroad during his time at Ibrox. Europa League (2018/19) With Gers desperate to raise revenue, Gerrard was under pressure to compete not only in Scotland but also on the continent. Reaching the group stages was a major challenge given his side was faced with four qualifiers — but his a new-look squad saw their way past Macedonians Shkupi, Osijek of Croatia, Slovenian outfit Maribor and finally Russian side Ufa to earn a £10million windfall. They certainly didn't disgrace themselves on their return to the round-robin section but could only finish third in a section containing Villarreal, Rapid Vienna and Spartak Moscow. Premiership (2018/19) It was billed as student against master as Gerrard found himself pitted against his former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers in Glasgow. But he was starting a long way back on the Celtic manager, whose relentless winning machine had celebrated a double Treble the season before. With experienced recruits like Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield, Connor Goldson on board - added to by January signings Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis - it was expected Gers would put up a much better fight this time round. Ryan Jack did provide the club with their first league Old Firm win in six years - but they still didn't have enough to halt a Hoops side who won an eighth successive crown by nine points. League Cup (2018/19) Gerrard saw his team kick-off their first bid to reach Hampden with a 3-1 win away to Kilmarnock - but it came at a cost as Jamie Murphy suffered a devastating knee injury. Another comfortable stroll over Ayr United teed up a date with Aberdeen at the National Stadium - but Lewis Ferguson's winner edged the semi-final showdown for Aberdeen after misfit striker Umar Sadiq wasted a glorious chance to score. Scottish Cup (2018/19) Once again it was the Dons who ended Rangers' trophy hopes for the season. Gerrard's team had knocked out Cowdenbeath at Central Park in a re-arranged competition opener but needed two goes to get past Killie, eventually winning the Ibrox replay 5-0. They were taken to a second match by Aberdeen too but this time slumped at home as Niall McGinn and Connor McLennan ensured Gerrard would end his first season empty handed. Europa League (2019/20) Gers again had to qualify the hard way as they faced yet again with four preliminary ties. But after scudding 10 past St Joseph's of Gibraltar and gaining revenge on Pedro Caixinha's old foes Progres Niederkorn, they claimed their place with wins over Danes Midtjylland and Legia Warsaw. They were faced with a tough challenge in the group section as they took on Porto, Feyenoord and Young Boys but big wins against the Portuguese and Dutch giants help them qualify in second place. The thrill ride carried on with a sensational two-leg win against Braga but Gerrard's team were made to wait five months to complete their showdown with Bayer Leverkusen as Covid-19 swept Europa, with the Germans proving two strong in the end. Result: Last 16 Premiership (2019/20) With the additions of Joe Aribo and Filip Helander - plus the permanent signings of Davis and Ryan Kent - Gerrard was hoping to see his side finally get the edge on Celtic. The title race was neck and neck heading into the winter break after Niko Katic's Parkhead winner claimed victory in the New Year Old Firm clash. But a sudden collapse on the team's return from their Dubai camp put the Hoops back in control before the pandemic forced the SPFL to call the season early, with the title awarded to Rodgers' men. Result: Runners up League Cup (2019/20) The Ibrox faithful are still to this day bitter about the way Gerrard's only final appearance played out. His side had roared past East Fife, Livingston and Hearts to reach the Hampden showpiece and looked to be on top as they faced up to Celtic. But while stuttering frontman Alfredo Morelos missed a succession of chances - including a second-half penalty - Rodgers' 10-man Hoops delivered a sucker punch as Christopher Julian pounced from an offside position to snatch the trophy and edge the Parkhead side closer to a remarkable Quadruple Treble. Result: Runners up Scottish Cup (2019/20) With his team's league challenge crumbling, it looked like Gerrard might be set to walk away from Ibrox after his side crashed out of the Scottish Cup early yet again. The Ibrox side had to start with Greg Stewart up front after Morelos was dropped as punishment for returning late from a trip home to Colombia. Without their talismanic striker, the Light Blues laboured and were dumped by an Oliver Bozanic strike. The set-back stunned Gerrard - with the Ibrox boss admitting afterwards he needed 'time to think' about the direction his Ibrox career was going in. Europa League (2020/21) A five-month lay-off imposed by the pandemic allowed Gers and Gerrard to re-set and go again. Rejuvenated, they stormed past Lincoln Red Imps, Willem II and Galatasaray to reach the competition proper. This time, they topped their group after going unbeaten against Benfica, Standard Liege and Lech Poznan. Royal Antwerp were swatted aside 9-5 on aggregate but there was controversy in their last 16 clash Slavia Prague as defeat to the Czechs was overshadowed as Glen Kamara was targeted by a racial slur. Result: Last 16 Premiership (2020/21) With Covid restrictions keeping fans locked out of Scottish stadiums, the Ibrox faithful were forced to watch from their living rooms as Gerrard's team forced Celtic to take a back seat at long last. With summer recruits like Kemar Roofe, Cedric Itten and Leon Balogun, Gers finally had the firepower and the defensive muscle to go the distance. And they did it in style, sealing Rangers' first title in a decade with an Invincible campaign while setting a new British record of just 13 league goals conceded across and entire league campaign. League Cup (2020/21) With Celtic floundering as their bid for 10 in a row collapsed, it was expected that Gers would clean up. But they suffered their first bump on the road that season in Paisley as Connor McCarthy's injury time winner handed St Mirren a shock 3-2 win. Scottish Cup (2020/21) St Johnstone had already made the most of Gers' surprise slip-up to lift the first trophy of the season when they arrived at Ibrox for their Scottish Cup quarter-final. James Tavernier's extra-time strike looked to have been enough for Gerrard's team but Chris Kane's last-gasp equaliser - teed up by keeper Zander Clark - sent the game to penalties, where the Perth No1 was again the hero, forcing Gerrard to settle for just Premiership gold that season. Champions League/Europa League (2021/22) Having 'front loaded' their transfer spend to claim that elusive title, the Ibrox board tighten the purse strings this time - but hinted fresh sums could made available if Gerrard could secure a seat at European football's top table. But defeat to Malmo in the Champions League qualifiers was a £20million blow. Gerrard did secure safe passage through to the Europa League groups, from where Gio van Bronckhorst would take over and set a course for Seville. Premiership (2021/22) It was looking good for two-in-a-row when Gerrard announced he was quitting to take over as Aston Villa boss. Helander's winner in the opening derby of the season helped open up a four point lead by the time the gaffer negotiated his exit down south. But it wasn't enough as yet another mid-season collapse under van Bronckhorst allowed Ange Postecoglou's new-look Celts to snatch the title back.
Miami Herald
10-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Mystery ruins turn out to be ‘once-in-a-lifetime' ancient find in North Macedonia
Under a grassy field in southeastern Europe sat some mysterious ancient ruins. Archaeologists had known about the site for decades but didn't know much about its age or purpose — until now. Recent excavations and radar scans showed the site to be a 'once-in-a-lifetime discovery.' A joint team of American and Macedonian archaeologists decided to revisit the archaeological site of Gradishte near Crnobuki, North Macedonia, in 2023 and 2024. Known since the 1960s, past archaeologists had excavated Gradishte and suspected it was 'a military outpost built to defend against Roman attacks,' California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, said in an April 4 news release. In hopes of solving the mystery, the team used 'ground penetrating radar and cutting-edge drone-deployed LIDAR' scans to survey Gradishte. To their surprise, the scans revealed the ruins actually spanned over 7 acres. When the team began digging, they encountered another surprise: a small silver coin made during the reign of Alexander the Great, about 2,300 years ago, the university said. They also found game pieces, tools, pottery and even a theater ticket. Based on their finds, archaeologists identified Gradishte as a forgotten city established by ancient Macedonians before the rise of the Roman Empire. Archaeologists described it as 'a once-in-a-lifetime discovery,' the university said. 'This discovery is significant,' Nick Angeloff, a university professor and archaeologist, said in the release. 'It highlights the complex networks and power structures of ancient Macedonia, especially given the city's location along trade routes to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey).' Much about the ancient city remains a mystery. Archaeologists suspect the city ruins may have a 'Macedonian-style theater' yet to be discovered. Angeloff theorized that Gradishte could be 'the lost capital city of the Kingdom of Lyncestis' or the birthplace of 'the grandmother of Alexander the Great,' but neither possibility has been confirmed. 'All these studies are just a small part of the research of early European civilizations,' Engin Nasuh, an archaeologist with North Macedonia's National Institute and Museum Bitola, said in the release. 'We're only beginning to scratch the surface of what we can learn about this period.' Excavations at Gradishte also unearthed a roughly 4,000-year-old workshop used for 'seed processing' and 'milling,' suggesting 'humans began occupying (the area) as far back as the Bronze Age.' Archaeologists plan to continue work at the Gradishte site. North Macedonia is a landlocked country in southeastern Europe, bordering Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo and Serbia.
