Changing room chat: End of an era as Maureen retires

IT IS the end of an era for Scottish referees this weekend as the Co-operative Insurance first-round matches are the last appointments to be made by SFA administration officer Maureen Cooper, who has looked after the men in black for nearly half a century.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Jul 2009, 00:03 BST
Updated 31st Jul 2009, 00:11 BST

Cooper has retired after an impressive 46-year career scheduling match officials and, at a dinner in her honour, referees from past and present came to pay their thanks.

SFA chief executive Gordon Smith said: "Maureen showed extraordinary dedication to the Scottish game, in a remarkable 46-year-career. Her hard work over the years at both the Scottish Football League, and latterly, the Scottish FA, has been invaluable, and countless referees have benefited from Maureen's support and guidance. On behalf of everyone at the Scottish FA, I wish her all the best for a long and happy retirement."

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Peter Donald, the former secretary of the SFL, said: "When Maureen started working for us, Third Lanark were still in the top division so that gives you a measure of the change she has seen during her time. Maureen is respected by everyone that knows her and I wish her well in her retirement."

Kaiser acclaims Schuey return

FRANZ Beckenbauer obviously doesn't subscribe to the old cliche that 'no one is bigger than the sport'. Speaking about the return to Formula 1 of Michael Schumacher, the German football legend said: "After Schumacher retired I stopped watching F1. Now I will start again."

Schumacher's return to the track dominated the headlines in his homeland yesterday. "The God of racing has come back. The legend will drive again," said Bild, while "Schumacher steps on the gas again," was how the Frankfurter Allgemeine paper described the news.

Tranmere put up for sale on eBay

TRANMERE Rovers fans surfing the eBay auction site were astonished to find their club also listed for sale with a starting bid of $10million.

"You can imagine how shocked we were to wake up this morning to find out we were on eBay," said the club's owner Peter Johnson, who added they would be reviewing the mandate of Dornoch Capital, the US firm tasked with finding a buyer for the club.

"It's not a second-hand bike we're selling," said Johnson. "We're pretty furious." The listing has now been removed. Going, going, gone...

Tales from the tabs

HAMILTON Accies have already lost James McCarthy to Wigan Athletic during the close season and, according to yesterday's Sun, they could be about to lose James McArthur as well.

The tabloid carried a two-paragraph 'exclusive' on their back page which read: "Rangers are preparing a bid for Hamilton kid James McArthur.

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"SunSport revealed the Ibrox club were keeping tabs on the midfielder last season. Now Walter Smith will make an offer as he looks to replace Barry Ferguson."

The Daily Express, meanwhile, reported that former Aberdeen and Celtic winger Jamie Smith has signed a two-year deal with American MLS side Colorado Rapids. "I am sure it will take Jamie a little time to adjust to the altitude and to the league," said Rapids manager Gary Smith. "But we are working extremely hard to make sure that happens as quickly as possible."

And the Daily Mirror claimed that Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is ready to make a 12m bid for West Ham defender Matthew Upson. It said O'Neill is also after Portsmouth player Sylvain Distin.

Related topics:SFAJames McArthurWalter Smith