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Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
East Kilbride defender aims to repeat his Stirling Albion feat as Kilby prepare for SPFL debut
Kilby ace Jordan McGregor was part of the Binos team who won League Two East Kilbride defender Jordan McGregor knows what it takes to win League Two after his triumph with Stirling Albion two years ago and believes he can repeat the feat with Kilby this season. The 28-year-old will come up against his old side in the fourth tier this term and Former Hibs kid McGregor was part of the title-winning Binos team in 2022/23 - along with current EK team-mate Jack Leitch - and says the Kilby team is showing all the hallmarks of the Stirling side that tasted glory. He said: 'It is a great group of boys at EK and everyone gets on so well. 'I noticed that at Stirling when we won the league. We all got on really well, even though we were different kinds of personalities. 'I have been in changing rooms where some people just didn't fit. I can get on with anybody, regardless if they are a good guy or a bad guy, but when you get guys who all just want to achieve the same thing whether they are a sub or a regular, that is half the battle. 'If you have players who are all about themselves, it never works out, but we all want to win for each other. 'It looks like pretty much the starting 11 from last season will be there for this season and that is massive. 'I think a lot of teams will underestimate us and think we aren't good enough, but I think we are capable of winning the league. 'There's a lot of boys in the EK team who are good enough to play in the Championship so we'll see how far we go. 'When I was at Stirling, Jack Leitch and I both won the league by like 10 points or something. 'I won the league once and then we got promoted as well in my five years. In the first six months of League One, we were really good. We started the season really well and beat St Johnstone 4-0 in the League Cup, but after Christmas everything just went wrong for us. 'But I know what it takes to play in League Two and win it. 'It took me a few attempts to get it done, but I know what you need to do to get promoted. 'You need to dig in deep and win the big games when it matters.'
Daily Record
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Celtic hero John Hartson says East Kilbride will be aiming to reach Premiership after SPFL promotion
The former Hoops striker is the club's honorary chairman and was in attendance at New Dundas Park as EK sealed promotion John Hartson reckons East Kilbride will be aiming for the Scottish Premiership now the club is finally in the SPFL. The Celtic legend is the East Kilbride honorary chairman after helping launch the club back in 2010 and the town is also the base for his cancer charity The John Hartson Foundation. And he will be celebrating along with the team having been in attendance at New Dundas Park as East Kilbride defeated Bonnyrigg Rose 3-1 on aggregate to seal their spot in League Two next seaso n - ending an 11-year wait. Hartson, who is close friends with East Kilbride FC owners Paul and James Kean, believes the aim now will be to reach the very top. He told Lanarkshire Live Sport: "It is nice to see them finally go up. Getting into the professional leagues, I think you'll really see them make a difference. "The boys are very keen on taking the club forward and they will want to push on. "I know their ambition is to one day play in the Scottish Premiership and I think they are serious about that. "They have appointed a really good manager in Mick Kennedy and his assistant Si Ferry. So they are doing everything right. It is small steps, but I think you will see a big push from them in League Two because they wouldn't want to be bullied in that league. "It has taken time but they weren't going to chuck £5-10m at it, that's not the business model, so I'm not that surprised it has taken a number of years. They have slowly done it and been through a few different managers." Hartson also revealed he is over the moon for the club's owners and added: "It means a lot to everyone in the town and I know how much it means to the owners. "I have an affiliation with the club as honorary chairman and Paul and James are my best friends. "Paul puts his life and soul into this club. He is down at the training ground all the time, he is football daft and he takes a big interest in it. "They are not just people who build property and houses, this is big for Paul and I know how much this football club means to him and everybody in East Kilbride. "I'm delighted and feel extremely proud to see them finally get promoted into Scottish League 2.. Well done all for a fantastic achievement."
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
East Kilbride's 41-goal hero says promotion to SPFL would top personal accolades
Striker Cami Elliott was at the double as EK defeated Bonnyrigg Rose in the first leg of the League Two play-off final East Kilbride hero Cami Elliott hit his season's best goals tally to put Kilby on the cusp of promotion to the SPFL and insisted going up would mean everything. The striker, now in his second spell with the Lowland League club after returning from Dundalk in the League of Ireland in July, took his total to 41 goals after bagging a brace in Saturday's 3-1 win over Bonnyrigg Rose, which gives EK a strong advantage going into the second leg of the League Two play-off final at New Dundas Park this weekend. Elliott knows how much it would mean to the club to win promotion, having seen them try and fail three times in the play-offs over the last decade. And he insists it would mean so much more than any personal accolade. Elliott, who has helped the side win a treble already this season, said: "It was good, it was a great feeling because that was my 40th goal and then obviously I went and got my 41st in the second half. It was a good feeling because I've been on 39 goals for a few weeks now, so it was great to get my 40th. 'Hopefully I can get some more, try and get to 42, that's the aim anyway. 'It's my best ever goal return in a season. I'm enjoying it, I'm loving it. To get 41 goals for the season is a good achievement but I don't really care about it because it's just about getting the club up to League Two. 'And if we do then you don't know what this club can achieve after that. 'Ultimately the season has come down to these two games. The treble was brilliant but this is what we've all been brought to the club for, to take the club into League Two, so we're looking forward to the next game." While EK will be the favourites to progress at New Dundas Park, Elliott knows the tie is far from over. Kilby took a 4-1 lead to Brora Rangers in the semi-finals and were given a run for their money in the Highlands. Brora led the second leg 3-1 at one stage, making it just 5-4 in EK's favour on aggregate, before the visitors found two goals to earn a 3-3 draw and progress 7-4 over the two ties. He added: "The gaffer was saying it's only half-time now, so we need to be confident and go again. Obviously it will be a totally different game at Bonnyrigg's ground, but we just need to prepare right and see where it takes us. "We can't get complacent. We have to stay positive and stay strong and just see what happens, but hopefully we'll get the job done. "It's only half-time, but we've given ourselves a great platform being 3-1 up. Yet we know it's going to be difficult there. I've played there a few times and it's a really hard place to go to. "But as long as we go with a game plan and set up right, the way the coaching staff want us to go, then we'll be fine."
Daily Record
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
East Kilbride 3 Bonnyrigg Rose 1: Elliott at the double as Kilby take big step towards realising SPFL dream
The Lowland League champions will take a two-goal lead to New Dundas Park next week It's advantage East Kilbride in the League Two play-off final after a sparkling display in the K-Park sunshine gave them the upper hand over Bonnyrigg Rose. The Lowland League champions have waited over a decade for a place in the SPFL, but they have taken a huge step towards that with a strong showing against their higher-ranked opponents. EK made a lighting start in the first leg through Cami Elliott's second minute header, but former Kilby midfielder Aaron Arnott levelled for Rose after 16 minutes with a composed finish inside the box. However, EK found another level in the second half and a second strike of the match from Elliott, plus a smart finish from Jordan McGregor after 72 minutes, has given Mick Kennedy's men a two-goal lead to take into next week's second leg in Midlothian. Kilby boss Kennedy made just one change from the side that successfully saw off Brora Rangers in the Pyramid play-off last weekend, with Ian McShane dropping to the bench and Jordan McGregor coming back from suspension. Rose - who won promotion from the Lowland League through the play-offs in 2022 - had some familiar faces in their ranks with Hibs loanee and ex-Airdrie man Murray Aiken and former EK man Arnott among the starters. The hosts stated their intent very early on and inside 45 seconds John Robertson cut inside before he saw a thumping effort deflected inches over the top. And from the resulting corner, Kilby took an early lead. Reegan Mimnaugh swung in a ball towards the back post and Elliott's looping header dropped into the far corner to get the hosts off to a dream start. Six minutes in, Rose got their first sight at goal when Cameron Ross got in behind and his persistence paif off, with room eventually opening up for a shot. However, he pulled his effort narrowly wide from 18 yards. Ten minutes later, the visitors pulled level in controversial circumstances. EK were screaming for a foul on Jordan McGregor out wide inside their own half, but referee Dan McFarlane waved play on and Rose capitalised. Kieran Somerville drove into the box and his cut back found Arnott for a composed finish into the bottom corner. Kilby's frustrations continued later in the half and assistant boss Si Ferry was shown a yellow card after venting his anger at McFarlane's handling of the game. On the stroke of half-time, Arnott forced Kilby keeper Chris Truesdale into his first real save of the match when Rose won a free-kick out wide. He curled an effort towards the far corner, forcing Truesdale to tip it behind. Mimnaugh came to Kilby's rescue in 52 minutes when he headed Angus Mailer's header off the line and that proved a pivotal moment, as Kiby raced up the pitch and scored from the next attack. Great work from Flanagan saw him burst down the wing and he delivered a tantalising ball across the face of goal for Elliott to slide in and knock home from all of two yards. Rose were still very capable and they had EK breathing another sigh of relief just moments later when a corner to the back post found Cameron Ross, but he headed over the top from just a few yards out. EK went looking for a third and when Lewis Spence played a one-two on the edge of the box with skipper Jack Leitch, the former Accies man curled a fine effort inches wide of Patrick Martin's far post. In 72 minutes EK added to their tally after some fine build-up. Mimnugh dinked the ball to the back post and Jamie Hamilton of all people produced a stunning scissor kick, which crashed off the crossbar and fell to McGregor to poke the ball home. Jamie Hamilton and Sean Fagan both went close with back-post headers as the clock ticked down and Rose tried to cling on to keep the tie alive. In the 90th minute Elliott almost grabbed his hat-trick but Flangan's driven cross just escaped his clutches in the six-yard box. The sides will meet for the second leg next Saturday at New Dundas Park, kick-off 3pm. EAST KILBRIDE: Truesdale, Hamilton, Fagan, Leitch, Flanagan, Balde, Elliott, Robertson, Mimnaugh, McGregor, Spence. Scorers: Elliott 2, 53, McGregor 72 Bookings: Flanagan, Robertson, Fagan, McGregor, Spence Subs not used: Connelly, D Ferguson, S Ferguson, McKinley, Livingstone, Craik, McShane. BONNYRIGG: Martin, Mailer, Martynuik, Murphy, Arnott, McGachie (Porteous 50), Currie, Aiken (Ferrie 59), Somerville, Ross, Connolly. Scorers: Arnott 16 Bookings: Ferrie HT: 1-1
IOL News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Family's dream trip to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix thwarted by Emirates Airlines
McLaren's Lando Norris and McLaren chief executive Zak Brown celebrate on the podium after winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix alongside second place Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. (left), third place Ferrari's Charles Leclerc (right). This was the race that a 10-year wanted to watch with his grandparents, but was apparently denied by Emirates Airlines Image: Reuters, Amr Alfiky A 10-year old boy had his dream dashed when he was refused entry on an Emirates Airlines flight to Abu Dhabi to watch the Formula 1 with his grandparents even though had the right documentation. What was meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and year-long dream for Lola Clarke's 10 year old grandson, to attend the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix with his grandmother, turned into a nightmare when he was wrongfully refused boarding by Emirates Airlines officials at the Cape Town International Airport, despite the family having obtained confirmation from the UAE Immigration offices that he did have a valid visa. Lola Clark, a director of a property investment company, has now sent a letter of demand to the airline through her attorneys, Trudie Broekmann Attorney. Emirates have, however, not responded to the demands. Clark insists that Emirates Airlines reimburse her for the unnecessary expenses she had to incur as a result of their official's wrongful refusal to allow her grandson to board the flight. Clark said her grandson was refused entry on flight EK 771 on 4th December last year by the Emirates Airlines flight supervisor in Cape Town. 'We were informed that the supervisor contacted UAE officials in Dubai via email and was informed that my grandson's visa was invalid for entry into the UAE.,' said Clark. 'They could offer us no proof of this, despite repeated requests.' 'After the boarding gates were closed on 4th December, our agent in Dubai provided us with confirmation of the fact that my grandson did in fact have a valid and compliant visa, approved by UAE Immigration.' 'My grandson was on his way to watch the Abu Dhabi Formula I 2024 year-end Championships with his grandmother, grandfather and uncle. 'This was an opportunity of a lifetime denied my grandson as he wanted to watch the Formula One event with his grandfather, who introduced him to the sport of go-kart racing,' Clark said. 'He is a go-kart champion that received provincial colours in junior motorsport at the age of nine. This was an event which he had been looking forward to since February 2024 when all FI tickets, accommodation and flights were reserved and paid for', Clark said. Clark had to cancel her ticket and that of her grandson on 4th December. She then had to purchase a new flight ticket for herself the following day, but because there was only a ticket available in first class, she had to pay an additional R77000 to upgrade her own ticket. She also had to pay an additional R4 000 in respect of a further transfer between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Clark also demands payment of her grandson's unused accommodation and Grand Prix ticket. She also insists on Emirates Airlines paying the family R200000 as damages for the trauma caused to them. Emirates Airlines said in a statement they are aware of the claim. Rose Leshaba, Account Manager for Clockwork Pr on behalf of Emirates, said, " We are aware of the incident in December 2024, regarding the offloading of a passenger from EK 771 due to visa issues. As this matter is currently under legal proceedings, we are unable to comment further." Clark said the airline did reimburse a portion of her grandson's ticket fee but charged a cancellation fee. Clark demands they refund her in full since she had no intention of cancelling the trip. 'Emirates Airlines erred by denying my grandson the right to board the flight. We meticulously researched the visa-facts beforehand and were given the green light to proceed by Dubai immigration officials. We also received confirmation that the visa application had been approved on 4th December moments after the official had closed the gates,' Clark said. Gerhard van der Merwe of Trudie Broekmann Attorneys, Clark's attorney, said it is clear from the information made available by the Dubai immigration officials that Emirates Airlines wrongly interfered with Clarke's grandson's right to board a flight on 4th December. 'Emirates is not a sovereign state which is entitled to admit or deny access to citizens of other countries, and where it assumes such a role and then gets it wrong, it must accept liability to the public.' 'If Emirates felt they did not have the capacity to supply a flight to our client's grandson, then they are prohibited by section 47(2) of the Consumer Protection Act from accepting payment for the ticket and must refund it in full together with interest.
