22 April

Matches

1996: By losing 2-0 at home to Dundee United, Accies were doomed to relegation to the Second Division.

Events

1880: The A.G.M. took place. Robert Smellie, Ramage Buildings, Hamilton may have been Match Secretary.

2000: An appeal was submitted by the club to the SFA regarding the deduction of points. Until the appeal is heard, the points were reinstated. Another unofficial programme was issued versus Ross County by the ASA.

2004: In an interview reported in the Hamilton Advertiser, Ronnie McDonald, Accies Chairman outlined his plans for the future of the club and revealed that a £400,000 artificial turf surface will be installed at New Douglas Park in time for the new season. He wants to get into partnership with South Lanarkshire Council to produce a Centre of Football Excellence, which will see the New Douglas Park doors thrown open to a wider community than ever before.

He revealed that the club have formally applied to the Scottish Football League to install and artificial pitch for next season and it will be a UEFA “A” class pitch, said to be better than the one recently installed at Dunfermline. It is hoped that all the schools boys cup finals will be played here, with training for schools on a Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday morning. All of the clubs youth teams will train here during the week and play on the Sunday and their parents can come and sit in the stand and watch them play, which no other club allows.

There are no financial incentives for the club and that allows the club to choose the type of surface which is preferred, as already stated it is EUFA approved and will be EUFA tested prior to being laid. At the moment the club has five different teams training in Cambuslang, Anniesland and East Kilbride, everywhere except Hamilton. With the new surface the players can work on it regardless of the weather, it is hoped to commence laying the turf in June. Heart of Midlothian have an artificial surface at their new academy which the Chairman has been to see and it is superb, Their players enjoy playing on it.

At the moment due to the number of sides the clubs runs 27 training lets are required per week, so the need of a central venue is important.

Mr McDonald felt by setting up such a project it will encourage youngsters to use the facilities and assist their general health as well as keeping them away from street corners and give themselves self respect.

He admitted that he was pleased at the progress made at the club in his first year with a youth policy which runs from Under 7’s to Under 17’s as well as the number of young players who have featured during the season. He said the club would never be in a position again where the wages couldn’t be paid which made the club the laughing stock of Scottish football.

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