A momentous week for football, and the subsequent bans for Rangers players Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor surely demonstrate, if any more evidence was necessary, the desperate state of the game in Scotland.

And the catalogue of events proved again that the central belt media, rather than concentrating on the malaise of the national team on…

Shetland is fast becoming a place noted for the longevity of its top sportsmen and women.

Cyclists Carlos Riise and Christine McLean, both on the wrong side of 40, are still performing well in events on the mainland, with the latter beginning her new season with a personal best time in a 10-mile time trial.…

News that the death knell may shortly toll for the Southern Football Association, while some­what inevitable, will still be greeted with sadness in some quarters.

For nigh on 60 years players turned out for a variety of teams in the Southern League, predomin-antly from Dunrossness, Sandwick and Cunningsburgh. And many a memorable 90 minutes ensued.…

By JIM TAIT

They happen in various parts of Shetland, mostly in February, and according to history are seen as a way of bidding goodbye to the dark and dismal days of winter, with a bit of colour and a drink or two thrown in.

Up to now a few parts of the isles…

By JIM TAIT

Bressay residents are said to be worried over the future of the isle’s ferry service and the dropping in priority of the tunnel project on the SIC’s capital programme.

The issue was raised this week by councillor Caroline Miller, after first declaring an interest as a Bressay landowner herself.

She told…

By JIM TAIT

While Viking Energy’s proposed windfarm in the central Mainland has divided the community and generated bitter debate, Shetland’s original commercial wind turbines continue to go from strength to strength.

Shetland Aerogenerators Ltd, whose five windmills on the hill of Burradale above the Brig of Fitch have been churning out power for…

The 16th Celtic Connections adventure ended on Sunday and as is now customary, a host of familiar Shetland names, predominantly fiddlers, graced the various venues over the 18 days of the festival.

Young Maggie Adamson, having won a Danny Kyle open stage award last year, got her chance at one of the bigger events this…

By JIM TAIT

EASTERN Airways has begun transporting offshore oil workers between Aberdeen and Shetland two months ahead of schedule, after the previous operator Flightline went into administration this week.

Bristow Helicopters announced last month that Eastern Airways would run an interim contract from 7th February next year until June 2010, with the permanent…

By JIM TAIT

CYLIST Christine McLean was named sportsperson of the year on Friday in the second annual Shetland Sports Awards.

In what was a good evening all round for the female nominees, Unst sprinter Faye Richardson was crowned young sportsperson of the year and athletics coach Elaine Park was chosen as coach of…

by JIM TAIT

WOULDN’T it be much better if politicians would stick to what they do best (or worst depending on how you view it) and stop meddling in sporting matters.

In case you’ve missed it, one of the hot topics of the day is whether or not Great Britain should enter a football…