Supporters Direct Scotland has launched its Scottish Football Supporters Survey for 2017 – with a clear message to East Fife fans: your voice is heard.
Officially recognised as the lead supporters group in Scotland by the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) and the Scottish Football Association (Scottish FA), Supporters Direct Scotland has established a formal means to engage with the game’s key decision makers and represent fans’ views.
Outcomes from 2016 were formally presented to the Scottish FA’s Professional Game Board and the Scottish FA Congress, the latter of which includes representatives from all areas of football in Scotland.
You can read more about the results of the 2016 survey, and the resulting “asks” by visiting www.scottishsupporters.net.
This year’s survey covers issues that affect the national game, how football is governed and now also includes more specific club-related questions following a new consultation with supporters and clubs themselves.
Supporters who participate can enter a free draw to win tickets to Scotland’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against England on 10 June.
CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2017 SCOTTISH FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS SURVEY
The survey is open until 2 April 2017.
Following a pitch inspection, tonight's SPFL1 match against Albion Rovers has been postponed.
Ladbrokes Scottish Football League 1
Saturday 18th March 2017
Bayview Stadium
East Fife 0
Alloa Athletic 0
Man of the Match: James Penrice
East Fife XI: Hurst, Slattery, Kane, Kerr, Brown, Duggan, Smith (Cooper 79’), Curran, Robinson, Penrice, Paterson
Subs Not Used: Trialist, Insall, Reilly, Austin
Booked: Robinson
Alloa Athletic XI: Parry, Taggart, Waters, McKeown, Graham, Holmes, Cawley (McCluskey 79’), Flannigan, Spence (Hetherington 68’), Kirkpatrick, Mackin (Longworth 86’)
Subs Not Used: McDowall, Marr, Robertson, Hynd
Booked: Mackin
Referee: Colin Steven
Attendance: 612
East Fife welcomed Alloa Athletic to Bayview and gained a well-earned and potentially crucial point. Manager Barry Smith made one change to the side that beat Livingston the previous week with Pat Slattery returning from injury to replace Jonathan Page who missed out through suspension. Slattery slotted into midfield with Jesse Curran moving out to the right wing, Ross Brown filling in at right-back and Chris Kane moving into central defence.
East Fife had an early sight at goal when Scott Robinson forced Alloa ‘keeper Neil Parry to turn his low drive behind for a corner inside 5 minutes. A couple of minutes later Parry spilled a strike from James Penrice but no one was able to follow up and the keeper managed to collect at the second attempt. Alloa had their first sight of goal on 8 minutes when Callum Water’s free kick was headed towards goal but Mark Hurst was comfortably able to collect.
East Fife had a few other chances inside the opening half hour when first Chris Duggan found himself in space near the penalty spot following a corner but couldn’t direct his volley on target before Nicki Paterson and Jesse Penrice narrowly missed the target from 35 and 20-yards respectively. The best chance of the half fell to Alloa striker Greig Spence when he got in behind the East Fife defence but sent his shot well wide of the post when most in the stadium expected him to score.
Paterson had East Fife’s best chance of the match 3 minutes after the re-start when he got on the end of Robinson’s cross but sent his header wide of the target with Parry beaten. At the other end, Jordan Kirkpatrick sent in strike that just swerved wide of the post on 53 minutes before Frank McKeown headed narrowly over from Flannigan’s free kick with 20 minutes to play.
East Fife finished the stronger side and had two good opportunities to claim all three points inside the final 15 minutes when first Parry again spilled a strike by Robinson but managed to recover with Duggan closing in before last-week’s goal hero Jason Kerr beat Parry with a header but Andy Graham was perfectly positioned on the goal line to clear.
After the match Manager Barry Smith spoke to East Fife TV:
“I thought it was a good game of football and I though, in the first half, we played some good stuff and in the second we kept it even. It’s a good point but when you look at it we’ve played the top two and taken four out of 6 we’ve got to be pleased with that. I think the effort, some of the passages of play and the football we played in the first half was excellent today. The boys deserve a lot of credit for that again.”
Because of the weather in the Central Belt and especially Coatbridge, a pitch inspection is being asked for by Albion Rovers FC today, 21st March, between 1 and 2pm. At the moment according to information, it looks doubtful but this website will keep you up to date on the latest news.
It's third versus second at Bayview Stadium tomorrow as East Fife and Alloa Athletic lock horns for the fifth time this season. Speaking earlier today, Bayview boss Barry Smith looked ahead to the clash.
"The boys are looking forward to tomorrow's game after a great result last week at Livingston. We had to dig deep to get the win and the players can take confidence from beating the league leaders away from home. It will be another very tough match against Alloa, who are going very well at the moment, but hopefully, with it being at home we can take the game to them."
On the injury front, the Gaffer reported that midfielder Mark Lamont remains sidelined, while striker Jordan Austin is doubtful through illness. Jonathan Page also misses out, serving a one game suspension tomorrow. Better news for home fans is that defender Luke Watt is closing in to a return to the squad, although he is unlikely to be involved before next week.
Alloa Athletic have had the upper hand in previous meetings this season, winning all three encounters at the Indodrill Stadium, while the Methil men were denied a Bayview victory in November by a last minute equaliser, in a game ending in a 2-2 draw.
Supporters of both sides are reminded that they are welcome to enjoy pre and post match refreshments in the Stadium bars.