067 Peter Higgins: Royal Albert being made to pay the penalty and why he nearly quit after 30 years

Down The Divisions

ROYAL ALBERT were the first club in Scottish football history to score a spotkick.

But last week they were unhappy about a penalty of a different kind.

The Lanarkshire-based outfit were hit with a £500 fine and docked three points for fielding an ineligible player.

They admitted they had made a mistake – but an honest one too.

The punishment saw club secretary Peter Higgins take to social media to outline just what it meant to a club that is one of the oldest in Scotland.

This week Peter joins us on the show and tells us why the decision left him close to walking away after over 30 years at the club.

He also explains why he believes clubs who stray should be treated differently, particularly as clubs deal with the effects of covid.

Royal Albert were named after a boat in 1878 – but Peter tells us why he was never keen to steer the ship away from the juniors and into the West of Scotland League.

We also look back at how it all started for Peter, who is one of those many guys football at this level just needs.

All that plus, in a new slot, we look back at last weekend’s lower league scores from north to south and west to east with Tayport’s head of communications Pete McEleny.

It’s all here as we go Down The Divisions.

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