Latest news with #McDonald'sFunFootball
The Herald Scotland
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
How Russell Martin reshuffle will aid Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers
However, Kris Boyd, who spent two spells at his boyhood heroes and knows just how demanding his fellow Light Blues fans can be, believes the criticism of the £4m centre forward has been unjustified. Read more: He is confident that new manager Martin can help the man who was the leading scorer in the Premiership last term despite often cutting an isolated figure up front by himself if he commits more men forward. Speaking at a McDonald's Fun Football session at Hampden, Boyd said, 'Russell has said he is looking forward to seeing which members of his squad surprise him once pre-season starts – but I don't think Cyriel needs to surprise anyone. (Image: SNS/SFA) 'He's scored over 50 goals during his two seasons at Rangers He is not the problem. There are other strikers in there who should be doing more and who cost a lot more money. Danilo should be doing more for me, there's no getting away from it. 'Hamza Igamane has shown what he is capable of in spells. He's come in and he's done well at times, but then his form hasn't been at the same level. But I get that. It was his first real season in this environment so you're probably going to get little spurts where he goes on a run and then times when he struggles.' Read more: He added, 'There's one thing about Dessers. He's always there. He's always available. He's like every other striker, he'll miss chances from time to time. But it doesn't seem to faze him. He'll always go back for more. 'So for me Russell has already got someone there who's shown he can score goals. In Scotland, we are quick to criticise people for virtually anything. But Cyriel always goes back for more when he misses. 'I think Russell will be looking to see if he can get players closer to Cyriel, to have players more in contact with him. If he can do that then you might see a better level of performance on a more consistent basis from Dessers.' Boyd is hopeful the long-standing McDonald Fun Football programme will produce a few more players who are capable of following in his footsteps and leading the line for Rangers in the years to come. 'Programmes like McDonald's Fun Football are important for communities across Scotland,' he said. 'They give children a safe, positive place to just play the game and have fun. 'McDonald's are offering more free sessions this summer across Scotland and it's brilliant to see. I wish I had this when I was a youngster, I would've loved it. I'd encourage every parent to not miss out and to get their child signed up to their nearest free session.' Kris Boyd was celebrating the latest free wave of McDonald's Fun Football sessions this Summer, available to all children aged 5-11 across the UK. You can sign up now for your nearest free session at
The National
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The National
How Russell Martin reshuffle will aid Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers
Nigerian internationalist Dessers has, despite scoring 29 times in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign and taking his overall tally with the Glasgow giants to 51, been tipped to depart Ibrox this summer. However, Kris Boyd, who spent two spells at his boyhood heroes and knows just how demanding his fellow Light Blues fans can be, believes the criticism of the £4m centre forward has been unjustified. Read more: He is confident that new manager Martin can help the man who was the leading scorer in the Premiership last term despite often cutting an isolated figure up front by himself if he commits more men forward. Speaking at a McDonald's Fun Football session at Hampden, Boyd said, 'Russell has said he is looking forward to seeing which members of his squad surprise him once pre-season starts – but I don't think Cyriel needs to surprise anyone. (Image: SNS/SFA) 'He's scored over 50 goals during his two seasons at Rangers He is not the problem. There are other strikers in there who should be doing more and who cost a lot more money. Danilo should be doing more for me, there's no getting away from it. 'Hamza Igamane has shown what he is capable of in spells. He's come in and he's done well at times, but then his form hasn't been at the same level. But I get that. It was his first real season in this environment so you're probably going to get little spurts where he goes on a run and then times when he struggles.' Read more: He added, 'There's one thing about Dessers. He's always there. He's always available. He's like every other striker, he'll miss chances from time to time. But it doesn't seem to faze him. He'll always go back for more. 'So for me Russell has already got someone there who's shown he can score goals. In Scotland, we are quick to criticise people for virtually anything. But Cyriel always goes back for more when he misses. 'I think Russell will be looking to see if he can get players closer to Cyriel, to have players more in contact with him. If he can do that then you might see a better level of performance on a more consistent basis from Dessers.' Boyd is hopeful the long-standing McDonald Fun Football programme will produce a few more players who are capable of following in his footsteps and leading the line for Rangers in the years to come. 'Programmes like McDonald's Fun Football are important for communities across Scotland,' he said. 'They give children a safe, positive place to just play the game and have fun. 'McDonald's are offering more free sessions this summer across Scotland and it's brilliant to see. I wish I had this when I was a youngster, I would've loved it. I'd encourage every parent to not miss out and to get their child signed up to their nearest free session.' Kris Boyd was celebrating the latest free wave of McDonald's Fun Football sessions this Summer, available to all children aged 5-11 across the UK. You can sign up now for your nearest free session at
The Herald Scotland
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland fans owe Steve Clarke their support in World Cup qualifying
And the national team manager was once again targeted for vicious abuse from the crowd when his charges were defeated 3-1 by Iceland in their first June friendly match in Glasgow on Friday night. Boyd, who played under the former Newcastle United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa assistant at Kilmarnock, felt for his fellow Ayrshireman as he knows from personal experience how difficult the end-of-season fixtures are to negotiate. Read more: The Sky Sports pundit was pleased to see Scotland beat minnows Liechtenstein 4-0 in Vaduz on Monday evening and is optimistic there will be no lingering ill-feeling when the opening Group C matches against Denmark and Belarus away take place in September. 'In football today, the highs are high, but the lows are becoming lower now than they've ever been,' he said after taking part in a McDonald's Fun Football session with Scottish youngsters at Hampden. 'There's so many people with opinions and the fans have got access to so many social media platforms. So the scrutiny on managers has intensified from my day. There's no getting away from it. 'We have come so far under Steve. Look at where Scotland were when he took over. Yes, we missed out on the last World Cup, but he has taken us to back-to-back Euros. Now we are looking qualifying for the upcoming World Cup, you would expect a little bit of more positivity. (Image: SNS/SFA) 'Steve will know himself the friendly results have not been good enough. But when was the last time we won a friendly at Hampden? I think it was 2016, a long time ago. It puts you under pressure before a ball is kicked. There is less margin for error. 'I've played in the June friendlies. I know they are part of the international fixture list now and I know you have to deal with them. But I think they present problems because of the time they come at. 'Look at the highs that so many players have had this season, look at [Scott] McTominay and [Billy] Gilmour with Napoli and [Lewis] Ferguson with Bologna in Italy, look at [Tony] Ralston at Celtic and [Andy] Robertson at Liverpool A lot of boys in there have lifted trophies. They have to come in off the back of that and perform at a half-empty Hampden. 'Because of where Scotland have been the last few years, people just expect Scotland to rock up and win these games of football. But they're not easy. Could the performance against Iceland have been better? Of course it could. But it's end of a long, hard season.' Read more: Boyd continued, 'Luciano Spalletti was sacked by Italy after a 3-0 defeat to Norway. I think these June fixtures are going to cause managers in international football a lot of problems going forward. 'No disrespect to Iceland and Liechtenstein, but these are two teams we should be beating. If they were in our World Cup qualifying group we would be delighted. But because we performed poorly against Greece and Iceland and lost both games a lot of people were saying, 'We've got the World Cup coming up, we've got to be better than that'. (Image: SNS/SFA) 'But Scotland will be better. The players have achieved a lot of their goals. They've gone to back-to-back Euros. They drew with Portugal and beat Croatia and Poland to get into the Nations League play-offs. They have done really well. But the fans expect now. There have been generations of teams who haven't achieved what they have. But the next step is the World Cup. 'Come the qualifiers, everybody will be ready to go. I'm sure Steve will just be delighted to get through these friendlies. I think Steve and this group deserve everybody to be together when they have a crack at the World Cup qualifiers because they have produced for the country before. They have brought the feelgood factor back. 'Will it end sour? Of course it will. That's part and parcel of football. It always happens. But let's see where these qualifiers take us. I do believe we have got an opportunity of getting to the World Cup.' That campaign will come a little too quickly for the boys and girls who took part in the McDonald's Fun Football sessions at Hampden on Monday – but Boyd is hopeful the long-standing initiative will produce a few more players like Che Adams, George Hirst and Lawrence Shankland for Scotland in the years to come. 'Programmes like McDonald's Fun Football are important for communities across Scotland,' he said. 'They give children a safe, positive place to just play the game and have fun. 'McDonald's are offering more free sessions this summer across Scotland and it's brilliant to see. I wish I had this when I was a youngster, I would've loved it. I'd encourage every parent to not miss out and to get their child signed up to their nearest free session.' Kris Boyd was celebrating the latest free wave of McDonald's Fun Football sessions this Summer, available to all children aged 5-11 across the UK. You can sign up now for your nearest free session at
Glasgow Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Scotland fans owe Steve Clarke their support in World Cup qualifying
Furious members of the Tartan Army savaged Clarke and his players after they lost 3-0 to Greece in the second leg of the Nations League relegation/promotion play-off at Hampden back in March. And the national team manager was once again targeted for vicious abuse from the crowd when his charges were defeated 3-1 by Iceland in their first June friendly match in Glasgow on Friday night. Boyd, who played under the former Newcastle United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa assistant at Kilmarnock, felt for his fellow Ayrshireman as he knows from personal experience how difficult the end-of-season fixtures are to negotiate. Read more: The Sky Sports pundit was pleased to see Scotland beat minnows Liechtenstein 4-0 in Vaduz on Monday evening and is optimistic there will be no lingering ill-feeling when the opening Group C matches against Denmark and Belarus away take place in September. 'In football today, the highs are high, but the lows are becoming lower now than they've ever been,' he said after taking part in a McDonald's Fun Football session with Scottish youngsters at Hampden. 'There's so many people with opinions and the fans have got access to so many social media platforms. So the scrutiny on managers has intensified from my day. There's no getting away from it. 'We have come so far under Steve. Look at where Scotland were when he took over. Yes, we missed out on the last World Cup, but he has taken us to back-to-back Euros. Now we are looking qualifying for the upcoming World Cup, you would expect a little bit of more positivity. (Image: SNS/SFA) 'Steve will know himself the friendly results have not been good enough. But when was the last time we won a friendly at Hampden? I think it was 2016, a long time ago. It puts you under pressure before a ball is kicked. There is less margin for error. 'I've played in the June friendlies. I know they are part of the international fixture list now and I know you have to deal with them. But I think they present problems because of the time they come at. 'Look at the highs that so many players have had this season, look at [Scott] McTominay and [Billy] Gilmour with Napoli and [Lewis] Ferguson with Bologna in Italy, look at [Tony] Ralston at Celtic and [Andy] Robertson at Liverpool A lot of boys in there have lifted trophies. They have to come in off the back of that and perform at a half-empty Hampden. 'Because of where Scotland have been the last few years, people just expect Scotland to rock up and win these games of football. But they're not easy. Could the performance against Iceland have been better? Of course it could. But it's end of a long, hard season.' Read more: Boyd continued, 'Luciano Spalletti was sacked by Italy after a 3-0 defeat to Norway. I think these June fixtures are going to cause managers in international football a lot of problems going forward. 'No disrespect to Iceland and Liechtenstein, but these are two teams we should be beating. If they were in our World Cup qualifying group we would be delighted. But because we performed poorly against Greece and Iceland and lost both games a lot of people were saying, 'We've got the World Cup coming up, we've got to be better than that'. (Image: SNS/SFA) 'But Scotland will be better. The players have achieved a lot of their goals. They've gone to back-to-back Euros. They drew with Portugal and beat Croatia and Poland to get into the Nations League play-offs. They have done really well. But the fans expect now. There have been generations of teams who haven't achieved what they have. But the next step is the World Cup. 'Come the qualifiers, everybody will be ready to go. I'm sure Steve will just be delighted to get through these friendlies. I think Steve and this group deserve everybody to be together when they have a crack at the World Cup qualifiers because they have produced for the country before. They have brought the feelgood factor back. 'Will it end sour? Of course it will. That's part and parcel of football. It always happens. But let's see where these qualifiers take us. I do believe we have got an opportunity of getting to the World Cup.' That campaign will come a little too quickly for the boys and girls who took part in the McDonald's Fun Football sessions at Hampden on Monday – but Boyd is hopeful the long-standing initiative will produce a few more players like Che Adams, George Hirst and Lawrence Shankland for Scotland in the years to come. 'Programmes like McDonald's Fun Football are important for communities across Scotland,' he said. 'They give children a safe, positive place to just play the game and have fun. 'McDonald's are offering more free sessions this summer across Scotland and it's brilliant to see. I wish I had this when I was a youngster, I would've loved it. I'd encourage every parent to not miss out and to get their child signed up to their nearest free session.' Kris Boyd was celebrating the latest free wave of McDonald's Fun Football sessions this Summer, available to all children aged 5-11 across the UK. You can sign up now for your nearest free session at
The National
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The National
Scotland fans owe Steve Clarke their support in World Cup qualifying
Furious members of the Tartan Army savaged Clarke and his players after they lost 3-0 to Greece in the second leg of the Nations League relegation/promotion play-off at Hampden back in March. And the national team manager was once again targeted for vicious abuse from the crowd when his charges were defeated 3-1 by Iceland in their first June friendly match in Glasgow on Friday night. Boyd, who played under the former Newcastle United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa assistant at Kilmarnock, felt for his fellow Ayrshireman as he knows from personal experience how difficult the end-of-season fixtures are to negotiate. Read more: The Sky Sports pundit was pleased to see Scotland beat minnows Liechtenstein 4-0 in Vaduz on Monday evening and is optimistic there will be no lingering ill-feeling when the opening Group C matches against Denmark and Belarus away take place in September. 'In football today, the highs are high, but the lows are becoming lower now than they've ever been,' he said after taking part in a McDonald's Fun Football session with Scottish youngsters at Hampden. 'There's so many people with opinions and the fans have got access to so many social media platforms. So the scrutiny on managers has intensified from my day. There's no getting away from it. 'We have come so far under Steve. Look at where Scotland were when he took over. Yes, we missed out on the last World Cup, but he has taken us to back-to-back Euros. Now we are looking qualifying for the upcoming World Cup, you would expect a little bit of more positivity. (Image: SNS/SFA) 'Steve will know himself the friendly results have not been good enough. But when was the last time we won a friendly at Hampden? I think it was 2016, a long time ago. It puts you under pressure before a ball is kicked. There is less margin for error. 'I've played in the June friendlies. I know they are part of the international fixture list now and I know you have to deal with them. But I think they present problems because of the time they come at. 'Look at the highs that so many players have had this season, look at [Scott] McTominay and [Billy] Gilmour with Napoli and [Lewis] Ferguson with Bologna in Italy, look at [Tony] Ralston at Celtic and [Andy] Robertson at Liverpool A lot of boys in there have lifted trophies. They have to come in off the back of that and perform at a half-empty Hampden. 'Because of where Scotland have been the last few years, people just expect Scotland to rock up and win these games of football. But they're not easy. Could the performance against Iceland have been better? Of course it could. But it's end of a long, hard season.' Read more: Boyd continued, 'Luciano Spalletti was sacked by Italy after a 3-0 defeat to Norway. I think these June fixtures are going to cause managers in international football a lot of problems going forward. 'No disrespect to Iceland and Liechtenstein, but these are two teams we should be beating. If they were in our World Cup qualifying group we would be delighted. But because we performed poorly against Greece and Iceland and lost both games a lot of people were saying, 'We've got the World Cup coming up, we've got to be better than that'. (Image: SNS/SFA) 'But Scotland will be better. The players have achieved a lot of their goals. They've gone to back-to-back Euros. They drew with Portugal and beat Croatia and Poland to get into the Nations League play-offs. They have done really well. But the fans expect now. There have been generations of teams who haven't achieved what they have. But the next step is the World Cup. 'Come the qualifiers, everybody will be ready to go. I'm sure Steve will just be delighted to get through these friendlies. I think Steve and this group deserve everybody to be together when they have a crack at the World Cup qualifiers because they have produced for the country before. They have brought the feelgood factor back. 'Will it end sour? Of course it will. That's part and parcel of football. It always happens. But let's see where these qualifiers take us. I do believe we have got an opportunity of getting to the World Cup.' That campaign will come a little too quickly for the boys and girls who took part in the McDonald's Fun Football sessions at Hampden on Monday – but Boyd is hopeful the long-standing initiative will produce a few more players like Che Adams, George Hirst and Lawrence Shankland for Scotland in the years to come. 'Programmes like McDonald's Fun Football are important for communities across Scotland,' he said. 'They give children a safe, positive place to just play the game and have fun. 'McDonald's are offering more free sessions this summer across Scotland and it's brilliant to see. I wish I had this when I was a youngster, I would've loved it. I'd encourage every parent to not miss out and to get their child signed up to their nearest free session.' Kris Boyd was celebrating the latest free wave of McDonald's Fun Football sessions this Summer, available to all children aged 5-11 across the UK. You can sign up now for your nearest free session at
