The Story So Far...

Jock Ratties first saw the light of day on Setanta Sports' website at the beginning of the 2007-08 football season. The original brief was to produce topical weekly cartoon strips for use on Setanta's relaunched web presence as they set about significantly raising their profile following their acquisition of the rights to broadcast a tranche of live English Premiership matches on their subscription TV channels.

Jock Ratties cartoon strips are available on a non-exclusive licenced basis to any and all publications, whether online or traditional printed media, for only £100.00 plus VAT per three-frame episode and can be sized and configured to fit the available media space.

If you are interested in running Jock Ratties within your publication please do not hesitate to contact us using the feedback form on our 'Contact' page. Alternatively, read on below for the story so far...

Episodes 41 - 50

Episodes 31 - 40

Episodes 21 - 30

Episodes 11 - 20

Episodes 1 - 10

Episode 11 - Jock's definition of commitment

This episode was published in the week leading up to England's crucial double-header European Championship qualifiers against Estonia and Russia. John Terry was nursing a fractured cheekbone and Michael Owen returned to action for Newcastle only 8 days after a stomach operation, with both players eager to represent their country. Of course, everything in life is relative and we learn from Jock that what an Englishman bears through gritted teeth does not even register on the weather-beaten face of a true Highlands "braveheart"... (Click on the thumbnail to see the full strip)

Episode 12 - Jock dodges a turf question

This episode was published a few days before England's tough European Championship qualifier trip to Moscow where they faced the prospect of trying to get a result on a tricky artificial surface. Jock's general ignorance of astroturf is fortunately masked by his faithful tea lady, Mrs Chimp, who quickly steps in to provide the assembled press corps with her own views on astroturf as formed during her time with some of Europe's elite clubs. Indeed, she once managed to remove an unsightly blood stain from the astropitch at AC Milan's state-of-the-art Milanello training complex with a combination of white wine and bicarbonate of soda. (Click on the thumbnail to see the full strip)

Episode 13 - A bad week for the English

They say bad things come in threes and during one mid-October week in the autumn of 2007 English sports fans were hit by a triple whammy. For a sensitive all-round sports follower like Julian this was all too much to bear but he really should have known better than to seek solace from a flame-haired son of Fife... (Click on the thumbnail to see the full strip)

Episode 14 - Bi-lingual Jock

Modern day football managers are an impressive bunch when it comes to linguistics. Arsene Wenger is apparently fluent in six languages while Jose Mourinho was originally a translator before demonstrating his tactical talents. Jock Ratties might be a surprising candidate for the role of translator, especially with his grasp of the English language not always being as it should be. However, when Spurs appointed new manager Juande Ramos the Spaniard saw the need for a second-in-command who could accurately convey the finer points of his coaching to the players. There were only ever two men in the running for this role... (Click on the thumbnail to see the full strip)

Episode 15 - Jock's first live match commentary

The much anticipated head-to-head clash between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on 03.11.07 eventually proved to be a 2-2 draw. With United leading with only a few minutes remaining they came away disappointed that the Gunners had stolen a point at the death. The following days then saw a series of comments from both managers with Sir Alex Ferguson, in particular, venting his frustration with complaints about the number of foreigners in Arsenal's side and the "dangerous" security situation he found himself in while in the dugout at the Emirates, being allegedly taunted and abused by Arsenal supporters behind him. Jock Ratties just happened to be there at the time and had a clear view of events from the press box... (Click on the thumbnail to see the full strip)

Episode 16 - A man after Jock's heart

To say that Newcastle United's combative midfielder Joey Barton has had a "colourful" career to date is something of an understatement. He has been the cause of many a tabloid headline for his aggressive behaviour both on and off the pitch, with training ground bust-ups and "studs up" challenges being the general theme. Having been out injured for most of the early 2007-08 campaign Barton projected himself back into the media spotlight during the North East derby between Sunderland and Newcastle in early November with a controversial high challenge on Sunderland's Dickson Etuhu. Cue outraged commentary from the media but an altogether different response from a kindred spirit in a tartan hat... (Click on the thumbnail to see the full strip)

Episode 17 - Two good results for Steve McClaren

Napoleon Bonaparte once said that he preferred a lucky general to a good one. In that case he would have loved England boss Steve McClaren who was helped out of the mire by a remarkably committed display from Israel during their surprise Euro win against Russia, in the process giving England a vital qualification lifeline. Media coverage at the time focused on McClaren's nervous wait for the final whistle, allegedly locking himself in the toilet rather than watch the closing stages of the game on TV. However, Jock Ratties offers an alternative explanation for McClaren's anxiety... (Click on the thumbnail to see the full strip)

Episode 18 - The impossible dog

Only days after seemingly clutching qualification from the jaws of non-qualification, with more than a little help from plucky Israel, the hapless Steve McClaren oversaw one of the worst England performances in living memory on rainy Wembley evening that also spawned an epithet that will follow him for the rest of his career - the "wally with the brolly". While his umbrella may have provided temporary respite from the elements and catcalls it couldn't prevent him from getting the sack the very next morning. The search then began for a replacement and it immediately became clear that the more eligible English-born managers would not touch the job with a bargepole. Of course, all of this was of no concern to Jock Ratties who had more pressing concerns relating to his faithful hound, Raith Rover. (Click on the thumbnail to see the full strip)

Episode 19 - Sent to the stands

Maybe there was something in the air but in late November 2007 we saw a spate of incidents where Premier League managers were banished from their "technical area" and sent to the stands after run-ins with match officials. Sir Alex Ferguson got his marching orders during Man United's surprise away defeat to lowly Bolton Wanderers while the normally serene Arsene Wenger was also instructed to remove himself from the touchline during Arsenal's Champions League loss in Seville. Jock Ratties' heavy use of "industrial language" similarly didn't go unnoticed by a fourth official during a recent Northern Albion home defeat but it takes a brave (and wealthy) Assistant Referee to tell this Scotsman where to sit... (Click on the thumbnail to see the full strip)

Episode 20 - Jock's unbroken record

Three proud runs came to an abrupt end one weekend in early December 2007. Having made unbeaten starts to their 2007-08 league campaigns Liverpool and Arsenal both finally came unstuck at the unlikely venues of Reading and Middlesbrough respectively. In between those two upsets, thousands of miles away in Las Vegas, Manchester boxer Ricky "The Hit Man" Hatton finally hit the canvas when he was stopped for the first time in 44 bouts by the impressive Floyd Mayweather Jr. who extended his own run in the process to 39 straight victories. Against this backdrop Jock was similarly prepared to resort to fisticuffs to protect his own precious record... (Click on the thumbnail to see the full strip)

Jock Ratties - Episodes Guide