Squad for the Czech Republic game:

Goalkeepers
Craig Gordon (Sunderland)
David Marshall (Norwich)

Defenders
Russell Anderson (Sunderland)
Christophe Berra (Hearts)
Gary Caldwell (Celtic)
Christian Dailly (Rangers)
Alan Hutton (Tottenham)
Stephen McManus (Celtic)
Kevin McNaughton (Cardiff)
Gary Naysmith (Sheff Utd)
Steven Whittaker (Rangers)

Midfielders
Darren Fletcher (Man Utd)
Paul Hartley (Celtic)
James Morrison (West Brom)
Gavin Rae (Cardiff)
Barry Robson (Celtic)
Kevin Thomson (Rangers)

Forwards
Kris Boyd (Rangers)
Steven Fletcher (Hibs)
Ross McCormack (Motherwell)
James McFadden (Birmingham)
Shaun Maloney (Aston Villa)
Kenny Miller (Derby)

For those not going to Prague, the game will be shown live on BBC2 Scotland. The programme starts at 4.15pm and kick-off is at 4.30pm.

Squad for the Croatia game:

Goalkeepers
Craig Gordon (Sunderland)
David Marshall (Norwich City)
Allan McGregor (Rangers)

Defenders
Graham Alexander (Burnley)
Russell Anderson (Sunderland)
Christophe Berra (Heart of Midlothian)
Gary Caldwell (Celtic)
Christian Dailly (Rangers)
Alan Hutton (Tottenham Hotspur)
James McEveley (Derby County)
Stephen McManus (Celtic)
Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United)

Midfield
Scott Brown (Celtic)
Barry Ferguson (Rangers)
Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)
Paul Hartley (Celtic)
Lee McCulloch (Rangers)
Stephen Pearson (Derby County)
Barry Robson (Celtic)
Gary Teale (Derby County)

Forwards
Kris Boyd (Rangers)
Steven Fletcher (Hibernian)
James McFadden (Birmingham City)
Shaun Maloney (Aston Villa)
Kenny Miller (Derby County)
Garry O’Connor (Birmingham City)

Current stockists…

Saltire Fashions Ltd, 6 Upperkirkgate, Aberdeen
Telephone: 01224 640040
Saltire Fashions

Johnny Foxes Pub and Restaurant, Bank Street, Inverness
Telephone: 01463 236577
Johnny Foxes

The Scotland Shop, The Indoor Market, 234 HIgh Street, Kirkcaldy
Telephone: 01592 597309
The Scotland Shop

Pop in and have a look, all proceeds to the TACC.

Pickup points and times for the home friendly against Croatia on the 26th March:

Methil @ 4pm
Lomond Centre @ 4.10pm
Top of the Town @ 4.15pm
Windsor Hotel @ 4.20pm
Sainsburys @ 4.25pm
Crossgates @ 4.35pm

We’d like to take this (overdue) opportunity to welcome George Burley into his new post and to wish him the best of luck in the coming World Cup campaign. Hopefully this will be the only Team GB he manages ;-)

And we’d also like to welcome his newly-appointed coaching team: Steven Pressley taking the first step in the transition from player to coach, and Terry Butcher - I wonder if he’ll take Maurice Malpas’s advice and get “EB” put on his tracksuit?

Here is a summary of Mr Burley’s illustrious career to date:

1956: Born June 3, in Cumnock, Ayrshire.

1972: Joins Ipswich as an apprentice.

1973: Makes senior debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford, and given the job of marking George Best.

1978: Member of the Ipswich side which upset the odds to defeat Arsenal 1-0 in FA Cup final.

1981: Injury forces him out of Ipswich’s Uefa Cup final triumph over AZ Alkmaar. Town miss out on First Division title on last day, finishing runners-up to Aston Villa.

1985: Joins Sunderland after making 500 appearances for Ipswich.

1988: Joins Gillingham.

1989: Joins Motherwell.

1990: Appointed player-manager of Ayr United.

1993: Moves to Falkirk as a player before returning to Motherwell as player-coach.

1994: Appointed player-manager of Colchester. December - Returns to Ipswich four days after resigning at Colchester.

1995-96: Builds an exciting young side but just misses out of the Division One play-offs.

1999-2000: Ipswich make play-offs for fourth year running. Eventually beat Barnsley 4-2 at Wembley.

2000-01: Finish fifth in Premiership to earn a place in the Uefa Cup. Named manager of the year by the League Managers’ Association.

2001-02: Uefa Cup adventure ends with a 4-1 defeat in the San Siro at the hands of Inter Milan. Relegation confirmed on final day of season with a 5-0 loss at Liverpool.

2003: Appointed manager of Derby, who escape relegation from Division One by a point.

2005: Derby finish fourth, but lose semi-final play-off to Preston. Resigns. June - Appointed head coach at Hearts, who start the season with eight consecutive league wins. October - Vladimir Romanov takes his shareholding in the club to 55 per cent. Burley leaves following disagreement with Romanov. December - Named Southampton manager.

2007: Southampton make Championship play-offs but go out on penalties to eventual winners Derby.

2008: Burley named Scotland manager.

THURSDAY 26th JUNE

9pm : Andy Chung (warm up gig) in The Cairn

FRIDAY 27th JUNE

10am - 10pm : Registration at Cairngorm Hotel

Golf comp at Spey Valley/Boat of Garden(details to follow)

2pm - 11pm : Entertainment on open stage at Cairn Car Park

7pm - 10pm : Strathspey Steam(ing) Train inc Ceilidh at Glenbogle Station

SATURDAY 28th JUNE

From 10.30am, kilted men and womens 5-a-side football tournaments at Aviemore Park

Entertainment on stage at Cairn Car Park

Main Event: Pop Concert at Rothiemurchus from 7pm onwards

SUNDAY 29th June

12 noon : March to the TA highland games at Aviemore Park (led by Pipe Band)

Games organised by BASTA and to include locals, finish at 5pm approx

Pre-match entertainment at Cairn Car Park

8pm : EURO 2008 final on big screen, Cairn Car Park

MONDAY 30th JUNE

Departure of TA from Aviemore

Registration fee will be £5 per adult, kids free. Wristbands will be worn by registered footsoldiers to gain access to all events, this guarantees them the option of tickets for the concert, golf, and steam train (golf and steam train are on a first come first served basis)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10th
ELBOW ROOM
KICK-OFF 8-00pm PROMPT

In addition to regular business, we will be taking names for the bus to the Croatia friendly game.

It is expected the bus will depart Methil at approx 15.45/16.00 depending on pick up points - this will be confirmed at the meeting.

Scotland v Croatia
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Wednesday 26th March, 2008

Scottish FA Chief Executive Gordon Smith today confirmed that the Scottish National Team will play a friendly match against Croatia at Hampden Park on Wednesday 26th March, 2008, kick-off 8pm.

Kirkcaldy Tartan Army chairman Mr James Rowbotham Esquire has subsequently confirmed that this will be a free game for KTA members (i.e. free tickets and free transport). These tickets are for MEMBERS ONLY and may not be passed onto non-members.

Any member who orders a ticket and does not attend the game without a valid reason will be expected to reimburse the club for the value of the ticket.

As all future Scotland games are to be 1 ticket per SSC member any KTA member who is not an SSC member due to the waiting list may ask a fellow KTA member who is not going to the game to request a ticket on their behalf.

The date is now confirmed as Friday June 27th to Monday 30th June 2008!!!

A dedicated website for the gathering will be up and running in early January, and although the programme has still to be confirmed it is likely to be similar to 2006.

A 5-a-side footie tournament will take place on the Saturday. Please note that this is totally separate to the ATAC competition to be held in Campbelton two weeks previously. Entry for the Aviemore event will open to any SSC members, not only those with membership of ATAC clubs.

This event will be organised by BASTA with help from other ATAC members. Stay tuned for updates regarding additional events, accommodation etc.

If you intend going to Aviemore this year please let a KTA committee member know so we can start planning for the event.

From the SFA Website…

Saturday 6 September 2008
Macedonia v Scotland

Wednesday 10 September 2008
Iceland v Scotland

Saturday 11 October 2008
Scotland v Norway

Saturday 28 March 2009
Netherlands v Scotland

Wednesday 1 April 2009
Scotland v Iceland

Wednesday 19 August 2009
Norway v Scotland

Saturday 5 September 2009
Scotland v Macedonia

Wednesday 9 September 2009
Scotland v Netherlands

Scottish FA President George Peat commenting on the fixtures said:

“We believe that these set of fixtures give us the best chance possible of securing qualification for the 2010 World Cup. We are happy that we have no games during our close season and have the final two games at home.

There is always a certain amount of compromise involved in these meetings, but we are satisfied with the outcome.”