tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87067536194678878782024-03-04T23:55:41.691-08:00The Amazing One Man Brake Club (A Groundhopping Oddity)A Random Tour Of Scottish Footballing OutpostsiLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-73189983925912622702010-04-03T04:32:00.006-08:002010-04-03T05:17:55.141-08:00Hearts V Hamilton Academicals (Feb 21 2010)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpx-Co58Hkh_Iq9hIXaE0mgrszdMaT7yw9YkRM0JNvX-VE1BCnWoSkcIIFQlECC4qyq1e5Pw8pF1Ak2nWIj6-MB3ijg5Zt2pIdmAS2B2UUi41T2HLj2wU2cEc2cAe7UV3ohCUpXhAjou9/s1600/005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455889422380842610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpx-Co58Hkh_Iq9hIXaE0mgrszdMaT7yw9YkRM0JNvX-VE1BCnWoSkcIIFQlECC4qyq1e5Pw8pF1Ak2nWIj6-MB3ijg5Zt2pIdmAS2B2UUi41T2HLj2wU2cEc2cAe7UV3ohCUpXhAjou9/s400/005.JPG" border="0" /></a> The Gorgie & Wheatfield stands in silhouette as the sun flashes through the steel tubing that links the two structures with the flood lighting<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0rk0njOOSfpl6xb8ljRlkEhn37A1006l_9Ta9wyZoROzVzr0yZF0x5OKxxRwj3ivKiMTZc4yRepj1SNgnou3pMZZ7v1LYA1_3N1Jb8rALrxbtkgGRa-o1m7SFXruyQ-NzP-FJzYTgJoN/s1600/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455889415869890642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0rk0njOOSfpl6xb8ljRlkEhn37A1006l_9Ta9wyZoROzVzr0yZF0x5OKxxRwj3ivKiMTZc4yRepj1SNgnou3pMZZ7v1LYA1_3N1Jb8rALrxbtkgGRa-o1m7SFXruyQ-NzP-FJzYTgJoN/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /></a> The main stand. An Archibald Leitch apparently. No gable though.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0v7xvi_zdjIuCMvCeimOiIJ8Xm5g93khqGidukb1NWDLq4UbdyJpqsfXSdJUGZUT3Giwm3ZDVxOuZFQnp1VsFnAg0znEeQsiO7tGaFSs24Hyws-fSyXJF405zkBcFzXUbj9fPMT0-s7lk/s1600/004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455889409398538418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0v7xvi_zdjIuCMvCeimOiIJ8Xm5g93khqGidukb1NWDLq4UbdyJpqsfXSdJUGZUT3Giwm3ZDVxOuZFQnp1VsFnAg0znEeQsiO7tGaFSs24Hyws-fSyXJF405zkBcFzXUbj9fPMT0-s7lk/s400/004.JPG" border="0" /></a> The Roseburn stand on the right houses the away support.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCASDC9x67ZMAFpBg3nWVnCp0ywvyznK8i_aQ6ErWRe3Ku3z2yyQY_AwyYvzEwobgUqGQhj3Kbr_6GoyQ1_Q0drXVs7mwrlMuxKl2haFkPyKZrSC7UzMOfGECyELjzi2gDYRitM5QCOx7r/s1600/008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455889401264410050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCASDC9x67ZMAFpBg3nWVnCp0ywvyznK8i_aQ6ErWRe3Ku3z2yyQY_AwyYvzEwobgUqGQhj3Kbr_6GoyQ1_Q0drXVs7mwrlMuxKl2haFkPyKZrSC7UzMOfGECyELjzi2gDYRitM5QCOx7r/s400/008.JPG" border="0" /></a> From the lower tier of the main stand. In spite of what the SPL says, standing is allowed at SPL games, or rather, a blind eye is turned. Or am I getting this the wrong way around?</div><div></div><div>They don't mind you standing, as long as there's a bucket seat in front of you.</div><div></div><div>I'll bear that in mind next time I get crushed by fifty Jambo mad lads when the home team scores and they make their way over myself and the girls who sell draw tickets in an attempt to gesticulate at the opposition support. I'll bear that in mind when someone goes arse over tit and breaks their neck. </div><div></div><div>Ah yes, all seater football stadia. A concept that can only have been conceived and implemented by someone who has never been to a football match in their puff, or worse, had only ever attended cricket & rugby matches.</div><div></div><div></div><div>The game itself? A straightforward 2-0 win for Hearts. Accies looked reasonably threatening, from what I recall, but a couple of cracking goals from Obua & Templeton and an imperssive showing from Ryan Stevenson, newly signed from Ayr United capped the day for the home side. </div></div></div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-84150694579416170752010-02-07T09:01:00.007-08:002010-02-07T10:40:32.803-08:00Hibs v Hearts, New Year Derby<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMk5DVptvILCdTbCrBwR23IU8HaqeSRGK94ZCT78slWZWo5vg63bDor4mr8Rfa_LBPpneX8y7GEBJSbzPDZveTPMD0eV9o1tSLVgme5mRvoqfiDpAhgRRDuHUFqc1KpEQe8NwBZ3xlB9jr/s1600-h/240.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435549779045137234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMk5DVptvILCdTbCrBwR23IU8HaqeSRGK94ZCT78slWZWo5vg63bDor4mr8Rfa_LBPpneX8y7GEBJSbzPDZveTPMD0eV9o1tSLVgme5mRvoqfiDpAhgRRDuHUFqc1KpEQe8NwBZ3xlB9jr/s400/240.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEbGWF3xjHC7MZSc8RJquBYN_ZwOKyDYEa80yB2fq3njn0Hue68j2-B5sk1TKz2oWNqQH_Uv0DT0a00tjLe3iZjkSwRQQghT8dZWO4pk3_l4Vh4dAqRWpHO-oE3V3YxAhk7Zvj0Zp5Q4y/s1600-h/239.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435549770379616546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEbGWF3xjHC7MZSc8RJquBYN_ZwOKyDYEa80yB2fq3njn0Hue68j2-B5sk1TKz2oWNqQH_Uv0DT0a00tjLe3iZjkSwRQQghT8dZWO4pk3_l4Vh4dAqRWpHO-oE3V3YxAhk7Zvj0Zp5Q4y/s400/239.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXZe6QlGq2DzVKErcxnf5VzH5_bIkPDEnRu2M3X8hgC5auVJBMRAds5cGM-AxklV0AQJOat3x3UA-YobrybfpgVVJveaF1v9T0SVCfzaj2nTQWiQ1ISQojsI6mR5eR9Fxzq61SorGCHpY/s1600-h/238.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435549760051008338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXZe6QlGq2DzVKErcxnf5VzH5_bIkPDEnRu2M3X8hgC5auVJBMRAds5cGM-AxklV0AQJOat3x3UA-YobrybfpgVVJveaF1v9T0SVCfzaj2nTQWiQ1ISQojsI6mR5eR9Fxzq61SorGCHpY/s400/238.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikX2I5aHGXUkm4bVAceBC9Bw7wPgoA8CJfTVYizsVYHKWrhbFT4ShI2rH5DkKsIG7tfFZgs5zv3YoCHasThdUu1HCM6U2Ybllb0dpfv4J7uAZurSIHcadLYibVMKuQqPy1Oq2Hl0H4ybuW/s1600-h/237.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435549751353446690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikX2I5aHGXUkm4bVAceBC9Bw7wPgoA8CJfTVYizsVYHKWrhbFT4ShI2rH5DkKsIG7tfFZgs5zv3YoCHasThdUu1HCM6U2Ybllb0dpfv4J7uAZurSIHcadLYibVMKuQqPy1Oq2Hl0H4ybuW/s400/237.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Hibernian 1 Hearts 1</div><div></div><div>A few quick shots from Easter Road, taken at the New Year game. A decent game I suppose, with a fairly full-on atmosphere generated by these two sets of loveably hate-filled fans.<br /><br />Three G's<br /><br />Game (3/5) - Hibs looked good initially, Zemmama & Riordan looked pretty tasty but they went behind to a Gordon Smith goal. Cue much celebration in the Hearts end and much lusty singing of certain x-rated ditties in the bogs at half time. Hibs struck back early in the 2nd half and that's how it stayed, neither team really carving out too many more chances. Palazuelos & Cormack had a wee head to head as they jostled about before a Hearts free kick and were both given their marching orders. Suso for Hearts did his best to join them before getting subbed.<br /><br />Ground (3.5/5) - Three great big two tier modern stands surround the remaining part of the old Easter Road. The shed generates a good atmosphere, packed as it is with the Hibby hardcore, and it would be a bit of a shame if it was to be replaced by another big bucket seated monstrosity, as has been intimated recently. It contains bench seating, and seems as close as you'll get to terracing in the SPL.</div><div></div><div>Grub (1.5/5) - Pretty poor. I made the mistake of buying the steak baguette, which looked very nice on the display above the counter. Sloppy with rapidly cooling gravy and tasteless strips of beef. The cola was flat too and none of the kids working in the servery seemed to know how to change the cannister. Maybe next time, eh?</div><div></div></div></div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-43103467134169025122010-02-06T13:15:00.012-08:002010-02-06T18:36:41.628-08:00Petershill v Kirkintilloch Rob Roy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRAe2nG6-XfXSmZ62-2rK9euRibix0FIpWUOL64Melv9ABiMcVKeXhrP5Usj9Du7YzLfToBZ7K0rSBgP9ffgjtYzTYswU2HwpyLBiHKpl_iT-r51CGBHRqJw-0ezcOe_tq17JTk_RANf2/s1600-h/035.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435280016025479170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRAe2nG6-XfXSmZ62-2rK9euRibix0FIpWUOL64Melv9ABiMcVKeXhrP5Usj9Du7YzLfToBZ7K0rSBgP9ffgjtYzTYswU2HwpyLBiHKpl_iT-r51CGBHRqJw-0ezcOe_tq17JTk_RANf2/s400/035.JPG" border="0" /></a> Petershill Park<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkB23GdAGtZNBXxE6DRnJ6uyERKXqcfLLU4tZmPuaCt-HJb0yVw2PgrqKHYr5xef1rnWn3D7iu0NkO9dCE1QZ1lcvggfF6l-AL0O4YoDLl2l9XSJjhyphenhyphen6CEqXEfF20UOu2SM6juQ-gxLI7/s1600-h/041.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435279995063530482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkB23GdAGtZNBXxE6DRnJ6uyERKXqcfLLU4tZmPuaCt-HJb0yVw2PgrqKHYr5xef1rnWn3D7iu0NkO9dCE1QZ1lcvggfF6l-AL0O4YoDLl2l9XSJjhyphenhyphen6CEqXEfF20UOu2SM6juQ-gxLI7/s400/041.JPG" border="0" /></a> View towards stand at half time<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LVspBIuco9r9QLC8apxuj0kjc18d_OhSrBn67l1g6RX1zTeCigz3j7JPmQ6Ut0g5QL62G-FHgf-KVymG51L9dHtpaSLnwOSaD2txMeE7VgAeWjeGaVAyQ_74LJgjfCgkgRMDWIguW0rj/s1600-h/037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435279990954102930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LVspBIuco9r9QLC8apxuj0kjc18d_OhSrBn67l1g6RX1zTeCigz3j7JPmQ6Ut0g5QL62G-FHgf-KVymG51L9dHtpaSLnwOSaD2txMeE7VgAeWjeGaVAyQ_74LJgjfCgkgRMDWIguW0rj/s400/037.JPG" border="0" /></a> Main stand<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wIeYl-NGSxs7cD_XKIfFhWwgyhUP-OMC-N9T-t9NKxw79TnljxKmGoyEMv6WkRfYcFqksGMuGCdmErCAhXBE3FWSPo7Rtdir0kD38ujfWAyc-chlBjuVhbCVZgB5GQR4Y7tmTs90JjuF/s1600-h/045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435278709632631746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wIeYl-NGSxs7cD_XKIfFhWwgyhUP-OMC-N9T-t9NKxw79TnljxKmGoyEMv6WkRfYcFqksGMuGCdmErCAhXBE3FWSPo7Rtdir0kD38ujfWAyc-chlBjuVhbCVZgB5GQR4Y7tmTs90JjuF/s400/045.JPG" border="0" /></a> 50-50<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69RBeUlh11-OnJax4gjrcQ4MJk8C51cO0eDOUbDYVo5v-wDP1m3ZKaho7L2sOch7JWAq4e8VU-wM4SlKvnJB_yzaoyvL_X4_Q4BtO19vzB3xu4zFEZ4ruWWY4uVuaLUgS4M_Z-ryLPxtH/s1600-h/042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435276428578800306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69RBeUlh11-OnJax4gjrcQ4MJk8C51cO0eDOUbDYVo5v-wDP1m3ZKaho7L2sOch7JWAq4e8VU-wM4SlKvnJB_yzaoyvL_X4_Q4BtO19vzB3xu4zFEZ4ruWWY4uVuaLUgS4M_Z-ryLPxtH/s400/042.JPG" border="0" /></a> Rabs move down the wing<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwzvfJxmk_7aGSeCO4mxDEOEB8oomtAaNhp891JBzM5uzvHuE6iPPaz44UbZy7UKVJgjHWIDSo7y4LraQyupxDZIsIRzWa9rscAmydNocDbpFlRcrRLETw3Ka0onDqlZPgztcdN9ywdPk/s1600-h/034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435275842337297154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwzvfJxmk_7aGSeCO4mxDEOEB8oomtAaNhp891JBzM5uzvHuE6iPPaz44UbZy7UKVJgjHWIDSo7y4LraQyupxDZIsIRzWa9rscAmydNocDbpFlRcrRLETw3Ka0onDqlZPgztcdN9ywdPk/s400/034.JPG" border="0" /></a> Peasy No9 tries some fancy footwork<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAq9ambaqK-mvpW31LZpagKFnQiq6ujhZJlKkJrEqDOkTEbmd0gzj6MYBFs8K2zKwCAbXsdSlYJ_1h1cbgbdPj0PMlq5M3gfBOSqyFqsilT7Cm30x_bmRvpmRrQZA_1c8tk-OzTDaAJpc/s1600-h/033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435275619811468770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAq9ambaqK-mvpW31LZpagKFnQiq6ujhZJlKkJrEqDOkTEbmd0gzj6MYBFs8K2zKwCAbXsdSlYJ_1h1cbgbdPj0PMlq5M3gfBOSqyFqsilT7Cm30x_bmRvpmRrQZA_1c8tk-OzTDaAJpc/s400/033.JPG" border="0" /></a> Another high ball<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZk3e6ZeGMePKR46YR8oh1AHPo0qY2-TXGKfiImo8xD5sKpRthbyQra-9zagbqa85VVvIuoPwPOpcd8B_i_oGycrj9LDfXC3i_L5fEVlhQmbBjuGc2ynfC8HBA4YwgCPW3sUv-kpFCjpNu/s1600-h/030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435275204180462626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZk3e6ZeGMePKR46YR8oh1AHPo0qY2-TXGKfiImo8xD5sKpRthbyQra-9zagbqa85VVvIuoPwPOpcd8B_i_oGycrj9LDfXC3i_L5fEVlhQmbBjuGc2ynfC8HBA4YwgCPW3sUv-kpFCjpNu/s400/030.JPG" border="0" /></a> Rabs goalie at full stretch<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y9iR7jxYymvJHcT5HkEtv5KXYV71ywE2FkEsm_46oNgfMIWJ4uQZIY5zfYWcLSCh-o0nim9_fEfvz8j9eXojrx15nvHW5BTpARocNTLUWxmmon1Ck3BnBN8u6tdEVHG9YqfVzg_bvYx8/s1600-h/025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435274725867351506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y9iR7jxYymvJHcT5HkEtv5KXYV71ywE2FkEsm_46oNgfMIWJ4uQZIY5zfYWcLSCh-o0nim9_fEfvz8j9eXojrx15nvHW5BTpARocNTLUWxmmon1Ck3BnBN8u6tdEVHG9YqfVzg_bvYx8/s400/025.JPG" border="0" /></a> Where's the ball?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNrshT7pi4UpOIX3vJgU40JcptLWCLqXk_43SZLtRUPbBCytXDpT0DGphVhgxQxBALsfm6LK0wAcKLZmVYzp8o-evqc1yir6h0JPAjNOROZYCykY0w42nvU_Pb_CCRPmSCUanXDFbw1Tu/s1600-h/051.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435280012151585186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNrshT7pi4UpOIX3vJgU40JcptLWCLqXk_43SZLtRUPbBCytXDpT0DGphVhgxQxBALsfm6LK0wAcKLZmVYzp8o-evqc1yir6h0JPAjNOROZYCykY0w42nvU_Pb_CCRPmSCUanXDFbw1Tu/s400/051.JPG" border="0" /></a> Full Time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0-x7YiG2nI7FMPBNTA_YagWnz_NwBmXyVG7iJhWIwaZMht0pmeYyT1mtLSlT4S4SgTA3LXQeqPiJ6i9t_0kfFDcCoTVLDVyCqdbisO1V5kHklQaXTbAVaiFPj7TFg2lyNH7UK6El3QSb/s1600-h/050.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435280005975373746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0-x7YiG2nI7FMPBNTA_YagWnz_NwBmXyVG7iJhWIwaZMht0pmeYyT1mtLSlT4S4SgTA3LXQeqPiJ6i9t_0kfFDcCoTVLDVyCqdbisO1V5kHklQaXTbAVaiFPj7TFg2lyNH7UK6El3QSb/s400/050.JPG" border="0" /></a> Shaking hands<br /><br /><br />Petershill FC 1 Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 4<br /><br />A grey day in Springburn for this West of Scotland Super Premier league match. Peasy looked out of sorts from the start & Rob Roy's superior pace and less convoluted approach paid off, as they went in at half time 3-0 up. Petershill changed things about in the 2nd half and things improved for them. They started to carve out chances and managed to bag a goal. They were a little stretched though and Rabs capped off a good day by sticking a fourth, decisive goal away with about five minutes to go.<br /><br /><br /><br />Three G's.<br /><br />Game - (3/5) Rob Roy were clinical, physical and pacy, taking advantage of Petershill's defensive deficiencies with frightening regularity. The game turned around in the 2nd half a bit, but it was too little, too late. Peasy seemed happy to move forward at a snails pace in the 1st half, trying to thread the ball through a packed Rabs defence with zero success. Rob Roy on the other hand ripped into Petershill every time they won the ball in midfield, making them suffer on three occassions. Charles Reep would have loved this match.<br /><br />Ground - (4/5) Having watched games at the old Petershill Park, the new ground does seem to lack something in character, but that's not to say it isn't worth visiting. The backdrop of Glasgow tenements and high rise flats is similar to it's predecessor, and the view of the game from the stand is very good. A wander over to the dugouts on the other side of the park at half time provided the opposite, with the big perspex benches getting in the way, even on the top step of the shallow terracing. Curious note. Spectators watching the game at the fence in front of the stand are asked to move on so as not to obcure the view of anyone in the stand. Fair enough, but from what I could tell, there were damn few sitting in the first few rows of the stand. Not because they are undesireable seats mind, but simply because a great many of them no longer exist. In fact, it saddened me to see just how many seats in a stand that's barely three years old have been destroyed. <br /><br />Wear & tear? Vandalism?<br /><br /><br />Grub - (4/5) Very good. The sausage rolls were pretty decent, and very cheap. Three sausage rolls, two cans of coke & a packet of crisps came to less than four quid. <br /><br />I hope that was the right price, cos I came away with the nagging feeling we might have been under-charged.......iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-7016361173559572372009-12-03T17:26:00.006-08:002010-02-11T05:10:55.642-08:00Firhill In The Fog<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35gZHbxz6THEGql8SR7QTeMgMijOHsCPfJF7YNn9vOtfZuA3-43X_o8UvJbNex7sHe3bAhVi9A-XKUsl02V2nwbRwrhP7kyScuod9jU7F-IKSR5SUO7yPcxp8VUmOx32xQtVX-pyTROlp/s1600-h/177.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411190405848483330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35gZHbxz6THEGql8SR7QTeMgMijOHsCPfJF7YNn9vOtfZuA3-43X_o8UvJbNex7sHe3bAhVi9A-XKUsl02V2nwbRwrhP7kyScuod9jU7F-IKSR5SUO7yPcxp8VUmOx32xQtVX-pyTROlp/s400/177.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hello! In the absence of anything approaching activity on this blog, I decided the shots I took last weekend at Firhill would be worthy of being popped up. The fixture was Partick Thistle v Inverness Caley Thistle and the final score was a dramatic 2-1 for the Glasgow Jags. A goal down within ten minutes and seemingly unable to find a man in red & yellow to pass to for the 1st 45, The Jags changed gear after the break and got their act together to stick two passt ICT.<br /><br />It must be stated that there is a general lack of coverage on this blog from Firhill, odd considering they are the team closest to my heart. One day I intend to do a proper Firhill piece, with shots of the grounds many fascinating features and a potted history. Until that day, I hope these low-res, but atmospheric shots will do.<br /><br />Anyway, I promise I'll get off my increasingly flabby buttocks at some point this winter/spring and do a few more grounds. Easter Road, Tynecastle, Meadowbank, New Petershill & Somerset Park are all on the radar.<br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wGvihsvUTXCVv0HlgvFOyaNcw3umnD1fQ6uko4sOp80XjJQxdoUrhbSSv9PP9X2qwYxBfMU6zCNGSp66RwDVVk-S3s0PlOHD24GPHMqV1f9pbIkIdASs7cpQs1AHpGV23eF5oqpDQcEi/s1600-h/172.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411190399556714146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wGvihsvUTXCVv0HlgvFOyaNcw3umnD1fQ6uko4sOp80XjJQxdoUrhbSSv9PP9X2qwYxBfMU6zCNGSp66RwDVVk-S3s0PlOHD24GPHMqV1f9pbIkIdASs7cpQs1AHpGV23eF5oqpDQcEi/s400/172.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Half time, and the fog has descended</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKxa-ELeEeQt6xT7ad9CT7RP1hQ1WY3Y5lPFb4F-YX3qOXxpvl3U687sKd4an8YTIDQdLak8W4VcdlL31xsMg82RXpe9tdSFaGUiJdIcFnoslms24oDn2rtnIl4qvLXmRbn29IfQLdBQN/s1600-h/174.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411190403121280338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKxa-ELeEeQt6xT7ad9CT7RP1hQ1WY3Y5lPFb4F-YX3qOXxpvl3U687sKd4an8YTIDQdLak8W4VcdlL31xsMg82RXpe9tdSFaGUiJdIcFnoslms24oDn2rtnIl4qvLXmRbn29IfQLdBQN/s400/174.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Getting hard to see what's going on now.....<br /></strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigONqq7hGHK1Ssc77W8ZcCFf6tvmJgfvmqY8Oqb0CZDlbvU7IOWhNIcqa9EunDwvTHJywUULmXS6jlcnSNJd8AgLxcAaoMGKKzGBbUbI0c7jihQpKD_0_NcbJSPptYWCpw904WvKQ7udHe/s1600-h/176.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411190403707466690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigONqq7hGHK1Ssc77W8ZcCFf6tvmJgfvmqY8Oqb0CZDlbvU7IOWhNIcqa9EunDwvTHJywUULmXS6jlcnSNJd8AgLxcAaoMGKKzGBbUbI0c7jihQpKD_0_NcbJSPptYWCpw904WvKQ7udHe/s400/176.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Happy Jags head home after a fine victory.<br /></strong>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-17462376874565769292009-03-17T11:24:00.008-08:002009-03-17T14:07:11.255-08:00Beechwood Park, Auchinleck<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUEEdU-B8JcdL5zyu214fdPLYb8G01Sj3Vy9jXhixv1xD4SJ22vKPMXuv6_eD_HSbJG5bi4LXUvLxTztBLa5dbRrtfEcBMA6t8iRRRODkVexRQCQsA9D5GYS1ukGu_TpfySndm4Zy4XCQ/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+3499.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314269850963693314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUEEdU-B8JcdL5zyu214fdPLYb8G01Sj3Vy9jXhixv1xD4SJ22vKPMXuv6_eD_HSbJG5bi4LXUvLxTztBLa5dbRrtfEcBMA6t8iRRRODkVexRQCQsA9D5GYS1ukGu_TpfySndm4Zy4XCQ/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+3499.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>SJFA Cup Sixth Round: <a href="http://www.auchinlecktalbotfc.com/">Auchinleck Talbot</a> 1 <a href="http://www.arthurlie.com/">Arthurlie</a> 1</strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Police horses? At a Junior football match?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Sure, two West Super Premier rivals facing off against each other in the Junior Cup (especially with Rangers & Celtic playing the next day in the league Cup Final) is going to generate a bit of interest and a bigger than normal crowd, but this is just weird. One guy shared my surprise as we stood in the pie queue. He reckoned there would be about 400 Arthurlie fans down, but still little need for the boys in blue (and luminous yellow). In the end, they had little to do but kick out a few shell suit clad dobbers (top marks to the lad caught trying to smuggle in bottles of Buckie and MD) and keep a watchful eye on the Talbot Choir in the shed for some reason.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Beechwood Park is remarkable for it's decent sized stand, though on closer inspection, I found that the seats, especially near the front were in a poor way, and I think the roof needs looking at, the small concourse at the front slippery and green with a lichen like substance. That said, if you found yourself a pew near the back, you'd get a grand view of the game. The rest of the ground is open, consisting of concrete slab terracing of varying depths, with the exception of the aforementioned shed, which provides just about enough resonance to get a good sing-song going. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The atmosphere for this game was actually fairly electric for the first five minutes or so, especially with Arthurlie scoring after less than ten seconds. A combination of strong running and neat first time passes sent John McLay through on the keeper. His initial shot was blocked, but he was alert enough to scoop the rebound into the net. Cue wild celebrations from the Arthurlie players as they all piled into one corner of the field, before making their way back for the KO, doubtless pinching themselves at the ease with which they ripped open the zombie like Auchinleck defence. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The game settled down into a bit of a stodgy affair after that, Talbot coming into the game with plenty possession, but no edge, and Arthurlie looking dangerous on the counter attack on a few occasions. Into the 2nd half, and it was Auchinleck who took the game by the goolies though, pressing relentlessly for the equaliser. It came roughly on the hour mark. From where I stood in the shed, it looked like a series of headers across the edge of the box eventually found Sean McIlroy, who drove into the box and stuck the ball past the keeper. Cue bedlam amongst the relieved Talbot fans, and thoughts turned to getting a winner.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It didn't come. The game looked to be petering out, though with Auchinleck still on top. Unsure of the train times, I sloped off with about five minutes to go, but found out from fans who congregated later on the station platform that the game had ended 1-1. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Overall, an enjoyable day out, and a good atmosphere to soak up on what was a cold, overcast and sometimes showery day in deepest Ayrshire.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Three G's:</strong> </div><br /><div><strong>Game -</strong> 3/5 - Pitch looked a bit heavy, and the first half dragged a bit. Nicely taken goals and the 2nd half was better entertainment.</div><br /><div><strong>Ground -</strong> 4/5 - Tidy, though slightly 'rustic' in places. Good view out to the rolling Ayrshire hills. Main stand makes the ground seem a little bigger than it is. An impressive non-league stadium.</div><br /><div><strong>Grub -</strong> 2/5* - Plenty choice, and all cheap. Tea/coffee/bovril/soft drinks, as well as two types of pie, plain or with onion. I chose a plain pie, but I think it had been in the display too long as it was more than a little crunchy. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*Maybe a little unfair on the Auchinleck pie there, as everyone elses pies looked lovely. Still, it's what I was given for my pound, so 2/5 it is.........</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-30222949870376888962009-03-14T11:48:00.007-08:002009-03-14T12:32:50.113-08:00Beechwood Park<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJbl8OMFaGmWtKuMFVUv0gPxzBOAm2oz86dTMEEmiSQ0M8sEWKAVq_wOEYM9jgCyh3tlk41PJ039IqwHuLbiBoqLSE-9AQLvYL3Ul0TCqCeC8MVWapEKzwUU0D30yfuyA4kr9Wc-ZgCYZ/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+3489.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313138893093525746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJbl8OMFaGmWtKuMFVUv0gPxzBOAm2oz86dTMEEmiSQ0M8sEWKAVq_wOEYM9jgCyh3tlk41PJ039IqwHuLbiBoqLSE-9AQLvYL3Ul0TCqCeC8MVWapEKzwUU0D30yfuyA4kr9Wc-ZgCYZ/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+3489.jpg" border="0" /></a> The shed fills up before the game.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxK6YBEiWXy8z2JwUStdidQWph7Tvor7eniD3pjyK1Ypsqy0k_JAbXM864-duZhLOSGrsJJoSAXPVcLgtr6aXMmA7Az-aEi5KfI6R1q-lTzKn1uAY65FNNabGXNKmIwm-xJAzrfbXuDso/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+3494.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313137310481984578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxK6YBEiWXy8z2JwUStdidQWph7Tvor7eniD3pjyK1Ypsqy0k_JAbXM864-duZhLOSGrsJJoSAXPVcLgtr6aXMmA7Az-aEi5KfI6R1q-lTzKn1uAY65FNNabGXNKmIwm-xJAzrfbXuDso/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+3494.jpg" border="0" /></a> The main stand, transferred brick by brick from Douglas Park, former home of Hamilton Academicals.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKL89gm8ur_PqCGS4RxZ3oLFeqDTzYXw27c1XvV0V9Y4oeLCm-r0TyI8mcBBVC8eGfC6NCshfxAa-JWNU-fvoj20kZfvezAoF9zydUVjfYZEhH9UrepngX2xU7sEKECQc56KopzBSxYVf/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+3497.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313135931415748274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKL89gm8ur_PqCGS4RxZ3oLFeqDTzYXw27c1XvV0V9Y4oeLCm-r0TyI8mcBBVC8eGfC6NCshfxAa-JWNU-fvoj20kZfvezAoF9zydUVjfYZEhH9UrepngX2xU7sEKECQc56KopzBSxYVf/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+3497.jpg" border="0" /></a> You'll get a decent view of the action from the surrounding houses.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmUtSRGJbgHtt7XiS_QluZyTUVNds75Hp_6m7ex_sTgSgToMl35vUpqOCC8Z7glvm07jilSBRREOrsO9UqHZOHGVOJswwEsoElsL3cvsT6-wQks3i_fVx-iKuys9VHPmgeMt8Birj_EVE/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+3491.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313135087339741634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmUtSRGJbgHtt7XiS_QluZyTUVNds75Hp_6m7ex_sTgSgToMl35vUpqOCC8Z7glvm07jilSBRREOrsO9UqHZOHGVOJswwEsoElsL3cvsT6-wQks3i_fVx-iKuys9VHPmgeMt8Birj_EVE/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+3491.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Talbot hardcore congregate in the shed, alobng with anyone sheltering from the elements.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRVn_-qNc1RNtbPjtGHrthyphenhyphen68ds7Fy9ib5J_2VBHSGxSydGZey5TRx1a4xR7q4D_aFrklKQd0QbdAKdn1OpbeR_im8ZmqUhUboc58L17_N0OigXTRIiBbrsKADCD5HGD5GzX8vn7Hhzfm/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+3490.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313133968431462994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRVn_-qNc1RNtbPjtGHrthyphenhyphen68ds7Fy9ib5J_2VBHSGxSydGZey5TRx1a4xR7q4D_aFrklKQd0QbdAKdn1OpbeR_im8ZmqUhUboc58L17_N0OigXTRIiBbrsKADCD5HGD5GzX8vn7Hhzfm/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+3490.jpg" border="0" /></a> A hefty crowd for a Junior game. My guess is between 1000 & 1200.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-67130612706291536772009-03-09T16:11:00.003-08:002009-03-09T17:14:23.175-08:00Not Dead, Just Resting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuBWMA4PTtXG8DwL2x8EoCoqTd5NtjB56XJd3YpoZfX5r89P9fsVWVlpoQF8BK_2X4SIANUkS0VlNAMP4XhuOZVnP_XfyJAwxueXDSUqQSJitmErbwoCKxxtCYDqVOTiH5yglVDC5RDvZ/s1600-h/Campbell+GTF!!!+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311359609669095138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuBWMA4PTtXG8DwL2x8EoCoqTd5NtjB56XJd3YpoZfX5r89P9fsVWVlpoQF8BK_2X4SIANUkS0VlNAMP4XhuOZVnP_XfyJAwxueXDSUqQSJitmErbwoCKxxtCYDqVOTiH5yglVDC5RDvZ/s400/Campbell+GTF!!!+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> <strong>View of the city from the Jackie Husband stand at Firhill, across the now demolished terracing where I stood as a nipper (cue the Hovis music). Ibrox can be seen in the distance.</strong></span><br /><br /><div>Greetings from the Ground-hopper equivalent of Brigadoon. Just a short post to let anyone sticking their head in the door know that this blog will be back on the go within the next week or so, with a report from Glenafton vs Neilston (weather permitting).</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>A big thanks to the blogs and websites who have linked to this blog in the past year, despite the fact I seem to have forgotten it exists. You've been linked, and I shall be looking in to check my tracker and add any more new sites to the list.</div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-22883811159067066682008-05-31T16:29:00.005-08:002008-05-31T16:44:30.971-08:00Barrfields Park, Largs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdIuXDrfRdL2T7QerSKuG0-QGcMkItROpX8J7MwUtGUmDyI-lwNFrkQ2PbLdYT9NFhptyHfE-kf5d1YDSHR6j3FqsNHLPkeVWUVh6k1Z432BlOUCvCodyWdOKPZCY6qnsdxiBvZk22k_v/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1403.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206704233151189954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdIuXDrfRdL2T7QerSKuG0-QGcMkItROpX8J7MwUtGUmDyI-lwNFrkQ2PbLdYT9NFhptyHfE-kf5d1YDSHR6j3FqsNHLPkeVWUVh6k1Z432BlOUCvCodyWdOKPZCY6qnsdxiBvZk22k_v/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1403.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br />Home of Largs Thistle and a ground I first visited as a nine year old. It was a week long summer holiday in Largs and my family were living in rented accomodation along at the other end of Brisbane Road. My brother and I had discovered the ground in our wanderings and decided it was the perfect backdrop for acting out our footballer fantasies. Access to the ground was fairly easy, I don't think there were any fences stoopping you getting in as there are now. Even at the time, I was quite impressed with it, the bowl shape terrace, the big enclosure with benches...........<br /><br /><br />I returned there today, with weather that wouldn't have looked out of place back in that scorching June week in 1985. I had actually intended to go and watch Ardrossan Winton Rovers, but I was a bit late out of the old wanking chariot and would have missed half the game. Instead I headed to the end of the line and spent the day in Largs. The weather had brought out the masses and it was nice to hit the peaceful backstreets and rediscover this rather excellent ground. In shape and size, it's not unlike Adamslie Park, with curved terrace and a perimiter track. On closer inspection, the corrugated iron shed has obviously seen better days, but it's barrel roof form and red and white pain job looked brilliant against the deep blue sky and made for some cracking photos. As I mentioned, the gates were locked, so once again I had to content myself with shots into a ground through a fence. I'm hoping to make a game here next season and I'll get some decent shots of the ground.<br /><br />In fact, I'm hoping to make a fair few Junior games next season, and if possible, document the rise of new junior stadia such as Petershill, Rutherglen Glencairn, Rob Roy and a few others, but only if I can get out my scratcher before 11am.................. ;)iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-54978400801903027852008-05-31T16:16:00.005-08:002008-05-31T16:43:43.318-08:00Barrfields Park<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoC4_q25_gnLXIA2lJPdoeywPsvUfqawPwCf4Lsg7WAIVxm2tPhGWpa9v-GD2Z2UWVCLSIj4V8sUev1VxETkIvkOKj-50hhdSU0emfwxOmCkDQogcN7ByVYg5L9sZDM6-UJwiujEu01G_/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1404.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206701797904733074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoC4_q25_gnLXIA2lJPdoeywPsvUfqawPwCf4Lsg7WAIVxm2tPhGWpa9v-GD2Z2UWVCLSIj4V8sUev1VxETkIvkOKj-50hhdSU0emfwxOmCkDQogcN7ByVYg5L9sZDM6-UJwiujEu01G_/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1404.jpg" border="0" /></a>Prescence of flood lights duly noted. Do they get any use?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoHu_qql8Voc_bhchKQEcwb6S0atwAmhuESwphxhfsrndToVitLBKX9DvjZ0WbN-aBL7ewD2XdEzyQeHK50vM99MxjONFu6yGHlcVVmxj9KbE3L1MXOJW4UK7UpEoExK_MR-7qPLFOMA-/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1405.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206701802199700386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoHu_qql8Voc_bhchKQEcwb6S0atwAmhuESwphxhfsrndToVitLBKX9DvjZ0WbN-aBL7ewD2XdEzyQeHK50vM99MxjONFu6yGHlcVVmxj9KbE3L1MXOJW4UK7UpEoExK_MR-7qPLFOMA-/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1405.jpg" border="0" /></a> Shots taken from a pathway that runs behind the enclosure from Brisbane Road down to the leisure centre and the sea-front.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9XSUJe5QsNvvhnG2vdQOqW4aFnacT9MErZxfroWgd3D4N4nDjTXAm-14T1Hp9AIyiClx94tbQvYTAmDRtKLXGMfh3iErRfGDyufAF2l0wf1-w-JUbefk68K8S6EGLP_zxXiHMuIGektV/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1408.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206701802199700402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9XSUJe5QsNvvhnG2vdQOqW4aFnacT9MErZxfroWgd3D4N4nDjTXAm-14T1Hp9AIyiClx94tbQvYTAmDRtKLXGMfh3iErRfGDyufAF2l0wf1-w-JUbefk68K8S6EGLP_zxXiHMuIGektV/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1408.jpg" border="0" /></a> Staircase leading into the ground. Not sure if this entrance is used on match-days or not.<br /><div></div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-91181455298810742462008-05-31T15:17:00.003-08:002008-05-31T16:16:01.736-08:00Barrfields Park<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZmaRQ7WIW3MmIpfZFuXeb8D3L6M8v0Db-oniRTMZ1ZXYRdvP-MeOba8l_8CDW6fcIR3ZSlg1l8kE_pA-m8cYqpe7Fy9ivtMN0y1Ntzbs-9TNY8n4pTj-R4uA6-2jjcUzf51CnE6J8Nye/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1397.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206697880894559042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZmaRQ7WIW3MmIpfZFuXeb8D3L6M8v0Db-oniRTMZ1ZXYRdvP-MeOba8l_8CDW6fcIR3ZSlg1l8kE_pA-m8cYqpe7Fy9ivtMN0y1Ntzbs-9TNY8n4pTj-R4uA6-2jjcUzf51CnE6J8Nye/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1397.jpg" border="0" /></a> View of the pavillion from the corner terrace<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQLBzE9Xp36qHypsG9-HLX2W5a6FQ1voZDA0PApulYF5kN2UDko5C58Hf2Teq0au-gJLkFzMfKIqakbxhvUhyphenhyphenoH5QqpL_MOGfoBlIVuDNSZxyuBT25_ms7X84wMYxZnUNQPLHMkf5yi8h/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1398.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206697889484493650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQLBzE9Xp36qHypsG9-HLX2W5a6FQ1voZDA0PApulYF5kN2UDko5C58Hf2Teq0au-gJLkFzMfKIqakbxhvUhyphenhyphenoH5QqpL_MOGfoBlIVuDNSZxyuBT25_ms7X84wMYxZnUNQPLHMkf5yi8h/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1398.jpg" border="0" /></a> Towards the stand<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBDsBV3dlR4BagBaFtOp9Wr-0Ue1rGNvlob1Bnlr4KUyQqxJe_gyIs-AFHLUqeoCU617oaV5h3zkzDp5YTzl6mwsZBnQypIfXv-x2CioANqmeh1mqoHwSYGhJWFUhgep7X-6fSRmaw4Ct/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1401.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206697893779460962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBDsBV3dlR4BagBaFtOp9Wr-0Ue1rGNvlob1Bnlr4KUyQqxJe_gyIs-AFHLUqeoCU617oaV5h3zkzDp5YTzl6mwsZBnQypIfXv-x2CioANqmeh1mqoHwSYGhJWFUhgep7X-6fSRmaw4Ct/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1401.jpg" border="0" /></a> View from behind the goals towards the dugouts.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8SUNj8VNUwrM2UYoMwPs6XO1F_q_1RWab25TWPKAgh05JycUyn0qsLvnFfLkT88MIwUszvIlhS-DIjGxhyphenhyphenSqQbQPE0r6iJo_Yx35Ktgylil_Ay14L9FMPeiuFlCFaO2DZ1cc8GUopmma/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1400.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206697893779460978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8SUNj8VNUwrM2UYoMwPs6XO1F_q_1RWab25TWPKAgh05JycUyn0qsLvnFfLkT88MIwUszvIlhS-DIjGxhyphenhyphenSqQbQPE0r6iJo_Yx35Ktgylil_Ay14L9FMPeiuFlCFaO2DZ1cc8GUopmma/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1400.jpg" border="0" /></a> The barrel roofed enclosure, with it's bench seating.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw6hUUqOyYvQtW6h8rknr-Gc2yRH7qYNrJ__rcZo7S1Z99rIX_H7TdX3l5TXn1Zzm8ZP3otycLgeSSNW3Aazgxotm1TOdtLE6RAxoO80iLG0Hqf-ueTDy7lO7_6RSY9dtRYANT3aViKCM/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1399.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206697898074428290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw6hUUqOyYvQtW6h8rknr-Gc2yRH7qYNrJ__rcZo7S1Z99rIX_H7TdX3l5TXn1Zzm8ZP3otycLgeSSNW3Aazgxotm1TOdtLE6RAxoO80iLG0Hqf-ueTDy7lO7_6RSY9dtRYANT3aViKCM/s400/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+1399.jpg" border="0" /></a> A closer look at this charming little stand.<br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div></div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-31380502731424523062008-05-02T13:16:00.005-08:002008-05-02T14:46:18.091-08:00Keppoch Park, Glasgow (From A Distance)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAX58hUvadllSJr1LrVmCtyUaodmQx7H3FbnvHFmNtZulqYevFRvKsV-lSikLC-gq09m_pYAmvtFJXO-JauK5qeScN0YUHKTBkbS-OtlaoFCNIrCP9RwUY2W61DY-t0_6zt44vyK-PdnK/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+1093.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195912655389033954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAX58hUvadllSJr1LrVmCtyUaodmQx7H3FbnvHFmNtZulqYevFRvKsV-lSikLC-gq09m_pYAmvtFJXO-JauK5qeScN0YUHKTBkbS-OtlaoFCNIrCP9RwUY2W61DY-t0_6zt44vyK-PdnK/s320/_1A11_a_-1c1+1093.jpg" border="0" /></a> Social club/changing rooms, with enclosure. Blaze car park in foreground. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuIiC0K-07TLHbAtcX4YyDBEAujuNnBkWrBUr5aZ3j1DL4KQjchvAn_3E6R4Y_FfDuypOF3XAMqlDEI3r0-IewklmSEtv8zTOHGcyiQkZh5yUeXeIV4LP_YaMzx3YTYeIfZmdUPHDTP7o/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+1092.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195912659684001266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuIiC0K-07TLHbAtcX4YyDBEAujuNnBkWrBUr5aZ3j1DL4KQjchvAn_3E6R4Y_FfDuypOF3XAMqlDEI3r0-IewklmSEtv8zTOHGcyiQkZh5yUeXeIV4LP_YaMzx3YTYeIfZmdUPHDTP7o/s320/_1A11_a_-1c1+1092.jpg" border="0" /></a> View across to the dugouts and enclosure.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2RYhrWQ-kprZUMAQ-5xUUwZnjxW0z6E88VhKSKe5M8hDs08tO_zJfSyPz2-bF2A47UaZ5KifwFAVbLyLB5aqHk3dqDP_SJihlWHR1_nINbtIbkZJAmntfcpsB7woOVjSJWBNhX5WDZ7q/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+1091.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195912663978968578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2RYhrWQ-kprZUMAQ-5xUUwZnjxW0z6E88VhKSKe5M8hDs08tO_zJfSyPz2-bF2A47UaZ5KifwFAVbLyLB5aqHk3dqDP_SJihlWHR1_nINbtIbkZJAmntfcpsB7woOVjSJWBNhX5WDZ7q/s320/_1A11_a_-1c1+1091.jpg" border="0" /></a> A closer look at the enclosure. Looks like it needs a bit of work done on it.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_Perthshire_F.C.">Home of Glasgow Perthshire FC.</a> Three times Scottish Junior Cup winners apparently.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>To say Keppoch Park is basic would be something of an understatement, though I've only ever seen into the ground from behind a set of padlocked iron gates. Nestled behind a derelict transport depot and some warehouses, it's not unlike Maryhill's Lochburn Park in that if you didn't have to look for it, you'd never know it was there. Here are<a href="http://ashfieldafc.wetpaint.com/page/Glasgow+Perthshire+v+Ashfield+-+Sat+11th+Aug+2007.+Sectional+League+Cup?t=anon"> some pictures</a> from pitch-side from the 2006/07 season, showing it, if nothing else, to be a fairly tidy little pitch. The ground is situated about 200 yards from the much larger Saracen Park, home of Ashfield Juniors, though for many seasons now, both clubs have been playing at much the same low level in the Scottish Junior setup. As of their final game in the 06/07 season, Perthshire were competing in, I believe, the Central League 1st Division*, though where they will start again in 08/09 is a mystery as they seem to have pulled out of this seasons Junior football fixtures just before the season began. Whether or not there are any plans to re-group for next season, I am unsure, but I'm sure some kind soul passing through will have a little info on that front.....</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*as Wikipedia would put it, 'Citation Needed'. If anyone has any info about Perthshire, I'll be only too happy to ammend this post and credit the source. Cheers!</div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-4924206156447305452008-04-15T14:13:00.004-08:002008-04-15T15:23:45.541-08:00A Quick Look<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-UrVEMplv_ycjyEXsztblqM1ySFZHjqB1CvXazjKRSYOKLgvB-Td7PDBMMRwKvo_ppeeXiYdbOvDIYtWZUJ-Yr1ohbvclbOiKT0tzAkYjYtEx4xh74w7Cq38cP0wESd1Xla6F6MgtYUh/s1600-h/Weymes+Bay+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189614746153704706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-UrVEMplv_ycjyEXsztblqM1ySFZHjqB1CvXazjKRSYOKLgvB-Td7PDBMMRwKvo_ppeeXiYdbOvDIYtWZUJ-Yr1ohbvclbOiKT0tzAkYjYtEx4xh74w7Cq38cP0wESd1Xla6F6MgtYUh/s320/Weymes+Bay+017.jpg" border="0" /></a> West of Scotland Cricket Ground, venue for the first ever international football match between Scotland and England, which took place on 30th November 1872.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhweHes1PLEdSSFFp8UuvtxwB34URbua12yga6nnXX3i2W9hXYKsJ7NySMbGBTXPryLXO8FFIbbVoqGlgLibxZlOJdXeGBwgx9piMCBa7T5CGclyUt8vkILhpl9450oHC6x6QO35MoxrjB/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+1065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189606628665515186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhweHes1PLEdSSFFp8UuvtxwB34URbua12yga6nnXX3i2W9hXYKsJ7NySMbGBTXPryLXO8FFIbbVoqGlgLibxZlOJdXeGBwgx9piMCBa7T5CGclyUt8vkILhpl9450oHC6x6QO35MoxrjB/s320/_1A11_a_-1c1+1065.jpg" border="0" /></a> St Mirrens new ground under construction<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthdPUhjpL0kOefup0meqNDx2a1RKc6l_G1R-henJ4-NepsUqmu9D6GFmF6t1Llf417Vyl_jI6y2ea4hB6mrlO-FGmtlaAgTIKbsmaMBWUWc1SPQENipNU4FNtKXJYQSwEVoIWvZy_uIBf/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+1056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189606637255449794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthdPUhjpL0kOefup0meqNDx2a1RKc6l_G1R-henJ4-NepsUqmu9D6GFmF6t1Llf417Vyl_jI6y2ea4hB6mrlO-FGmtlaAgTIKbsmaMBWUWc1SPQENipNU4FNtKXJYQSwEVoIWvZy_uIBf/s320/_1A11_a_-1c1+1056.jpg" border="0" /></a> A view of Shawfield Stadium from the top deck of the no.20 bus. This was once the home of Clyde FC. Now it's used solely for greyhound racing, though it was also home to Glasgow Tigers speedway from 1987 to 1998.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRO2vx11WAm-8rBQFep_rOBIGm76EvckfRw0J8VcwR0ZDjCKjpnf-kGtjymWUd2Dz8yPjMfWb5HDFrfriPeYoIn_XP6L6iaWl4XmBGQjIATxCcJlI8CwUBcZQLH7yaI5yIlGDDSKvYy_R/s1600-h/1+00024+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189606641550417122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRO2vx11WAm-8rBQFep_rOBIGm76EvckfRw0J8VcwR0ZDjCKjpnf-kGtjymWUd2Dz8yPjMfWb5HDFrfriPeYoIn_XP6L6iaWl4XmBGQjIATxCcJlI8CwUBcZQLH7yaI5yIlGDDSKvYy_R/s320/1+00024+007.jpg" border="0" /></a> East End Park, Dunfermline<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QZ7XVN73dPUzpwOUwg5izqINInqmPAEtvaNqz6J9NxeR-rlMpOeP9w8965fih1KT8e00yig5fa18rKbH4aenurIdTAVx8rglPeZbtwBLGa5IUt8jmg1gNDM82xrXEtCx_beNvq3Z0kir/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+959.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189606645845384434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QZ7XVN73dPUzpwOUwg5izqINInqmPAEtvaNqz6J9NxeR-rlMpOeP9w8965fih1KT8e00yig5fa18rKbH4aenurIdTAVx8rglPeZbtwBLGa5IUt8jmg1gNDM82xrXEtCx_beNvq3Z0kir/s320/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c1+959.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ashfield Stadium, home of Ashfield Juniors FC and Glasgow Tigers speedway.<br /><br /><div></div></div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-35344690635173579082008-04-04T13:54:00.005-08:002008-04-04T14:32:28.130-08:00Views From The Interior Of The Death Star<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuto0G4b9m9snzeR9BCuSGgUdU851U1SToEPsOrwgaWmqwDIdM4ucTP8gPTMgML61uY4p15Bl_Fdune0bNbGSmyjmR-RiG1OKeKWvtsyj9IS8fNM-8UNL_ta7xf135uSTQX-zThDozNfl/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+901.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185519776541753826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuto0G4b9m9snzeR9BCuSGgUdU851U1SToEPsOrwgaWmqwDIdM4ucTP8gPTMgML61uY4p15Bl_Fdune0bNbGSmyjmR-RiG1OKeKWvtsyj9IS8fNM-8UNL_ta7xf135uSTQX-zThDozNfl/s320/_1A11_a_-1c1+901.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> A good idea of how low down we were sitting.<br /></em><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiqd6iJ80BudJ4zlSaG642O1-6wFXhltJgcoUQJMl1txoadwtx30rF64eTzgsEcATNSSjl0RJdfQW8alnCytq1Nlt6lR6cJt4XwVUSoq4YKzSSD-Cai2A9POn7l7NTq_4U3IaaqgUzWjG/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+900.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185518715684831634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiqd6iJ80BudJ4zlSaG642O1-6wFXhltJgcoUQJMl1txoadwtx30rF64eTzgsEcATNSSjl0RJdfQW8alnCytq1Nlt6lR6cJt4XwVUSoq4YKzSSD-Cai2A9POn7l7NTq_4U3IaaqgUzWjG/s320/_1A11_a_-1c1+900.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Main Stand at Ibrox. The upper tier was added sometime in the nineties.<br /></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiZk3Fa69JopT1sF36fRBNPeLo5t7C-8FKahzN_AMqgSpWjmCErjgu3r9xrY9uUIpapEvda4C7LF7O4xu6k9K2lshDdzrUzx8CRYLBSj2TF_jXOaEDQBoT95QI6r2vhfSFppxrxIfiC2q/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+903.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185518719979798946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiZk3Fa69JopT1sF36fRBNPeLo5t7C-8FKahzN_AMqgSpWjmCErjgu3r9xrY9uUIpapEvda4C7LF7O4xu6k9K2lshDdzrUzx8CRYLBSj2TF_jXOaEDQBoT95QI6r2vhfSFppxrxIfiC2q/s320/_1A11_a_-1c1+903.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Thistle fans gather in the lower Broomloan</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6d0zqox4bgvFBgBGgJy6bW1RwZ3B0o4wdzPE2tFHbgF6nW-NDZj6v9p3uUkuGowvdhJKjhyphenhyphen1oCcXzsCWKH11_GH7ph9oHTJobROzw0Umig-6Ti4RZZGLRR-j-LcnbiLAaMvOYKMYMG-Z/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+906.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185518745749602770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6d0zqox4bgvFBgBGgJy6bW1RwZ3B0o4wdzPE2tFHbgF6nW-NDZj6v9p3uUkuGowvdhJKjhyphenhyphen1oCcXzsCWKH11_GH7ph9oHTJobROzw0Umig-6Ti4RZZGLRR-j-LcnbiLAaMvOYKMYMG-Z/s320/_1A11_a_-1c1+906.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>The Govan Stand. Taken from the entrance to the seating area.<br /></em><br /><div>Hello! It's been a wee while............</div><br /><div>The last time I was at Ibrox I must have been about ten years old. It was a friendly against Chelsea if my memory serves............I was taken along by friends of the family as a wee break from the trials and tribulations of following Partick Thistle.</div><br /><div>My return, this time to see Thistle in a Scottish Cup Quarter Final tie, saw me ensconsed in the lower level of the Copeland Road stand, in seats that were so low they were almost beneath ground level. Each time the play moved into the other half of the pitch, you lost track of things. Nothing worse than giving it "C'mon, get it in the box!", only to look up at the video screen in the corner and realise that launching the ball into the box from forty yards out isn't a great idea. Unless yr Bobby Law, but that's another story.............</div><br /><div>The frustration at the view was more than made up for by the eerie silence of the home support, the comedy antics of Charlie Adam (apparently he's a footballer!) and a brilliant goal from our loan signing Damon Gray. The joy was to last all of 90 seconds, as Rangers took advantage of one of Thistles few defensive lapses on the night and barged the ball over the line. Reset the scores and all back to Firhill on April 13th. Oh, and it seems someone doesn't like us. We somehow managed to get the shit seats again....................</div><br /><div>With regard to the ground itself, it's extremely impressive, especially at night when it takes on the feel of an indoor arena. If the Rangers fans had made half as much noise as we did, there would have been a really good atmosphere to feast on. Andy Cameron provided half time and pre-match 'entertainment'.' Oh dearie me! They say the guy's an institution. I say he belongs in one. Also a word on the 'Subway Loyal'. They were off their marks quick smart again. Having said that, on leaving the ground, one can maybe see why. Snaking queues for both Ibrox and Cessnock stations and tailbacks along Paisley Road West. needless to say, we just hiked it back into town for a pint before the subway shut.</div></div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-91720005605474783832008-03-08T12:08:00.004-08:002008-04-04T14:39:49.997-08:00The Day We Went To Gretna<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpBUC3uibhyphenhyphenfKb8NRn39RiG0VjKeXeWtQdUItkJkTCJneNqJo4z1BbRyrNm5YExcH2UXABCHyoPM7meZQowsHKnsRGRQAJLC4im0x8wlwmTHwpOQYztscUPIQemYGCNOfGI8PHb7j8Xyu/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1a183072+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175466518096406786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpBUC3uibhyphenhyphenfKb8NRn39RiG0VjKeXeWtQdUItkJkTCJneNqJo4z1BbRyrNm5YExcH2UXABCHyoPM7meZQowsHKnsRGRQAJLC4im0x8wlwmTHwpOQYztscUPIQemYGCNOfGI8PHb7j8Xyu/s320/Copy+of+_1a183072+030.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> The Raydale Rooster works the home support into a tizzy.</span><br /><br /><div>The run down to the south west of Scotland is one of my favourite train journey's ever. The slow wind through the Ayrshire hills, following the Nith to Dumfries and then on to Annan and Gretna providing some breathtaking scenery. The first and last stretches of the journey are nothing special I suppose, but from Kilmarnock to Dumfries is, on a good day at least, something to behold.<br /><br />At the time I made this journey, Partick Thistle were flirting with relegation, had just sacked Dick Campbell and the team were being taken by assistant Jimmy Bone and of all people Terry Butcher. Gretna on the other hand were flying high, and despite a few hiccups along the way looked to be certainties for the title. Their stock couldn't have been higher, certainly not after the previous seasons Scottish Cup heroics. A year later, and Thistle are still in the first division, but have at least got a half decent manager in Ian McCall and something approaching a plan for building to the future. If only such a plan extended to the finances........... :(<br /><br />Jimmy Bone went on to be assistant manager with Bobby Williamson at Chester, before getting the punt some weeks before his manager (strange one that...), Terry Butcher has been mad assistant manager of Scotland (even stranger....) and Gretna...........? Well, I've been over than one before. See the article a few posts below. See also, oh I don't know, any Scottish newspaper you can care to mention............<br /><br />On arriving at Gretna, I seemed to get in tow with a group of lads and their carry-outs. They were a good natured, if noisy bunch and kindly shared their cans. Necking a tin of Carling rat piss with them as we walked across some spare ground towards the town was something of a surreal experience. I suppose it's as close as I'll get to that scene in Trainspotting...... On arrival, I headed to the ground while the rest went on a search for a pub to have a quick round in. I wished them luck, it didn't look like the sort of place that tolerated such things as pubs. The ground itself is remarkable for it's hotch-potch nature. Along one side is a tiny covered terrace, only about three steps deep. At the back of it, you can see out onto the road that runs in front of the stadium.At one end sits a large-ish semi permanant stand, at the other, well, nothing. It looks like this has been cleared to construct something at some point. The other side of the ground consists of a clubhouse, a tiny non-league style stand and finally, a decidedly makeshift looking set of what can only be described as covered bleachers.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUMtZowkIGx3NLfzEjCgZhtBLhDroZ1EL3tVo2R8JSXiUXW3DEoXPaqm0enhE9BUdqFqgL52iBwH9sKwQZZmhJq3TzETjlyS8wcfzOxfqEmxMTv8REHLs4hxIZCMZp5LL1PC0JPfMmuiN/s1600-h/_1a183072+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175466522391374098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUMtZowkIGx3NLfzEjCgZhtBLhDroZ1EL3tVo2R8JSXiUXW3DEoXPaqm0enhE9BUdqFqgL52iBwH9sKwQZZmhJq3TzETjlyS8wcfzOxfqEmxMTv8REHLs4hxIZCMZp5LL1PC0JPfMmuiN/s320/_1a183072+027.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><em> </em></strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The enclosure. Smaller than I thought it was actually......</span><br /><br />I'd say the crowd was about 40% Thistle, though the memory is a little fuzzy after all this time. What I did realise after the game was that Gretna seemed to get their fair share of tourists, with a bunch of loud English lads congregating in the pub afterwards to watch the scores coming in. The weird thing was that they seemed to support a dozen different teams each. I have enough trouble following one...........<br /><br />The game itself was a predictable affair, Gretna showing their class over a deeply lacklustre Thistle team and easing to a comfy 2-0 win. Still, all wasn't lost. It was hard to be in a bad mood considering the lovely Spring weather and the view of the setting sun on the way home. All told, better than sitting in the house all day................iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-26248756853465680742008-03-01T11:29:00.002-08:002008-03-01T11:51:47.679-08:00Raydale Park, Gretna<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCYxgzqtWKuqCEJ7l5E8TExJ-EEen0U8dqBLsvq_MzuBBF5zDPmMVW-dYs-rk7CoxwuV2wsFxTyxpz7ULS3t1sJ5cmuS0JbAc6dOam3dsfA2UY5ecUt5IbTzk3yN1XXdwFR16FnQsUcw2/s1600-h/_1a183072+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172861303948466994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCYxgzqtWKuqCEJ7l5E8TExJ-EEen0U8dqBLsvq_MzuBBF5zDPmMVW-dYs-rk7CoxwuV2wsFxTyxpz7ULS3t1sJ5cmuS0JbAc6dOam3dsfA2UY5ecUt5IbTzk3yN1XXdwFR16FnQsUcw2/s320/_1a183072+017.jpg" border="0" /></a> Terry Butcher puts the Thistle players through their pre-match warm-up<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg037BP3Pt7DWgrXsG182xGi8wBaUoydzMD7N928hkhfLxEyD7ZDpDyTD2HZisNIPypB2lrBUJJVPuHR86MnnSmbDsQZSzGYtzgPWHry-iaLA2uwyrqft7suaFMcLGdWe5VsdvSvXPJTJVB/s1600-h/_1a183072+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172861316833368898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg037BP3Pt7DWgrXsG182xGi8wBaUoydzMD7N928hkhfLxEyD7ZDpDyTD2HZisNIPypB2lrBUJJVPuHR86MnnSmbDsQZSzGYtzgPWHry-iaLA2uwyrqft7suaFMcLGdWe5VsdvSvXPJTJVB/s320/_1a183072+021.jpg" border="0" /></a> View from the enclosure towards the pavillion<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-WCBDDVxSESEXpPiAUvcJcwt68L9K1L3TAHHf86hdm6FDTEMPRswhqtFNAiiUg1CZe3eKYrijObLFjW7BFlLMf6wvk6dk6nFXnQoImKvEK0kQxImpSsBxDMilPUTqC6YYoLE_raYwknl/s1600-h/_1a183072+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172861321128336210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-WCBDDVxSESEXpPiAUvcJcwt68L9K1L3TAHHf86hdm6FDTEMPRswhqtFNAiiUg1CZe3eKYrijObLFjW7BFlLMf6wvk6dk6nFXnQoImKvEK0kQxImpSsBxDMilPUTqC6YYoLE_raYwknl/s320/_1a183072+023.jpg" border="0" /></a> The only structure approaching luxury or modernity at Raydale<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9DoHGv2hWPFFdE9ZS4_oKN34C39EwCkVWkcn9-94BHZVwvSReNiaqOeFr-ei_wZdl-mzuogtG8AqwVa_L_D1yvvCgsWZtDUsWA4lhQwTVK25BboRBcv0_5mXO_wGdQUvBxJr5YloFeCM/s1600-h/_1a183072+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172861329718270818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9DoHGv2hWPFFdE9ZS4_oKN34C39EwCkVWkcn9-94BHZVwvSReNiaqOeFr-ei_wZdl-mzuogtG8AqwVa_L_D1yvvCgsWZtDUsWA4lhQwTVK25BboRBcv0_5mXO_wGdQUvBxJr5YloFeCM/s320/_1a183072+026.jpg" border="0" /></a> The Thistle hordes<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5K38xUpJ7vnabjpfsYuT7hBOAbd87lQYXfrl5RDM9KEcQ3qq30Ev9enxOrPTPc_Mmp6SvYPJ98pM9wtbL8W9lVHkN9Sh6e5AHa8oArbKjMnT0_dkGD2q48KeZYnzLcL63IHdr7DQV7yN/s1600-h/_1a183072+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172861334013238130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5K38xUpJ7vnabjpfsYuT7hBOAbd87lQYXfrl5RDM9KEcQ3qq30Ev9enxOrPTPc_Mmp6SvYPJ98pM9wtbL8W9lVHkN9Sh6e5AHa8oArbKjMnT0_dkGD2q48KeZYnzLcL63IHdr7DQV7yN/s320/_1a183072+033.jpg" border="0" /></a> The ground is basically of non-league standard, though it has a degree of charm that it's hard to find anywhere outside the Juniors.<br /><div></div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-65033853487985259342008-02-22T13:06:00.007-08:002008-05-25T02:15:08.233-08:00Forgive Me If I Sound Bitter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87gSmrXWbt96KPtpu3Z_3vJ1Y5tIrevNCWijZdJ56ThMtXzdpz7J-WWfKQ01nJDxBuw0zmzSh2f5U56H_0SbGfHKm2qk6P_NBUHnqnGNiDueLFcdBy4qf6Fi2u720rxh_dEBgocSzsUA_/s1600-h/_1a183072+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169986592928658498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87gSmrXWbt96KPtpu3Z_3vJ1Y5tIrevNCWijZdJ56ThMtXzdpz7J-WWfKQ01nJDxBuw0zmzSh2f5U56H_0SbGfHKm2qk6P_NBUHnqnGNiDueLFcdBy4qf6Fi2u720rxh_dEBgocSzsUA_/s320/_1a183072+032.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">"It's A Funny Old Game, Saint......."</span></em></strong></div><br /><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong></div><br /><div>It never surprises me the way things come full circle. It does others, for they're eternally credulous, but for me it's the natural order of things. What goes around, comes around, and usually gives you a swift kick in the nuts for good measure. Partick Thistle for instance, a club that has, in the space of 18 years risen and fallen through the Scottish leagues like the proverbial 'Hoors Knickers' (Copyright Dick Campbell). As fairy tales go (and that's all it was), coming from the verge of extinction and relegation to the Third Division, to the SPL in three seasons is pretty special. Two consecutive league titles and a Scottish Cup Semi Final. Not bad all told. </div><div></div><div>Then theres Livingston. A dream of big things in West Lothian, a dream that came slowly true, as the club worked it's way from the Third Division, to the First, then the Premier, new sides built with open chequebooks with each league victory. They went on to finish third in their first season in the SPL. Essentially, the best team in Scotland outwith the Old Firm. A quick foray into Europe, then a few seasons later, they won the League Cup. Where would it end.....................?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Then Gretna, the village team with the millionaire backer. Three, divisions, three years, a Scottish Cup Final, lost only on penalties, then into the SPL............</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Then it comes, for all three, the hangover after the party. For Thistle it was relegation and humiliation, followed by relegation again, only to regain entry to the 1st Division, as if by accident. For Livi, it was Administration, followed by relegation and a chairman who won't turn on the Undersoil Heating in the winter. Gretna make the triumvirate now, as they languish at the bottom of the SPL, their owner in hospital, critically ill, the manager absconding to a team battling relegation in the division below and the realisation that once Brookes Mileson goes to his maker, Gretna may well go back from whence they came at a very rapid pace.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So, am I smug? Am I happy? Nah, not really. Y'see, it's almost happened to my club a few times, oblivion I mean. It's there, waiting in the shadows, ready to finish the job if enough people stop caring and let the dream slide out of sight. The dream hasn't been allowed to die at Firhill, due largely to the fans, but you get the impression it's in the process of being shown the door at Almondvale and it's on it's last legs at Gretna. Thing is, people say, 'Aye, but at least those clubs showed some ambition'. Fair point, but both clubs had owners willing to 'flash the cash' to reach their peaks. Give East Stirlingshire or Airdrie or Cowdenbeath an open cheque book, and they too will ascend until they stall. The point I'm getting at is this. If moderate success can bring about a situation whereby a team as well established as Partick Thistle can crash and burn in this day and age, then the new boys really are living on borrowed time when the bubble bursts and the dream turns to a nightmare, much like yesterdays pristine white snowfall will become todays ugly, muddy slush.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><em>"So iLL Man, you're saying they need to invest in a gritter?"</em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>You know what I mean............. No cheque book stays open forever, not even that of Roman Abramovich. It's not 'Living the Dream' really. It starts that way, but ultimately, it becomes like 'Living The Fairytale', which rapidly turns into a nightmare when reality starts to encroach on the shindig. Fairytales are different from dreams. Dreams are open ended concepts. Dreams can be as grand or as limited as you see fit. You fulfill a dream and then the hard work starts. Dreams are what people cling onto when theres nothing else to hold onto. Fairytales don't allow for failure as they have a finite scope and a limited shelf life, a narrative to conclude. Fairytales involve you getting to or winning cup finals, but preferring not to think about the realities of having no supporters, or travelling up the M74 every fortnight just to see a home game. </div><br /><div></div><div> </div><br /><div></div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-44589658616254232872008-02-11T14:48:00.000-08:002008-02-11T15:41:33.304-08:00Kirkintilloch Rob Roy: Keep On Running<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-tl1HafpDN8GxFi5NjkIOGK58PaZ_2gXBHbtui59jpNWULoFqnv0IC3CcbPOwbRiYIBD8iCLoS20I0xrpVcCjLsXhfxOWczTDksn8p8hz62xOs1kPT1e_tPOgh2RpWobLyWAT7IX1pHf/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c+133.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165871103726023522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-tl1HafpDN8GxFi5NjkIOGK58PaZ_2gXBHbtui59jpNWULoFqnv0IC3CcbPOwbRiYIBD8iCLoS20I0xrpVcCjLsXhfxOWczTDksn8p8hz62xOs1kPT1e_tPOgh2RpWobLyWAT7IX1pHf/s320/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c+133.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong><em> In 'the paddock'. The old lad in the bunnet thought I was taking a photo of my pie. Maybe I should have, they weren't bad. I was just looking at the back display on the camera, but I didn't have the heart to correct him as he was busy telling all and sundry around him about my strange antics.........</em></strong></span><br /><br /><br />Between the ages of four and a half and ten and a half, I went to school in the town of Kirkintilloch, about half an hours drive from Glasgow. My father had a motorcycle dealership there and half my childhood was spent around Eastside and the Cowgate. Every year, the school would hold a sports day at Adamslie Park, and it would be my duty to run like bow legged fool for thirty seconds, before spending the rest of the day sitting in the sun and taking in the bizarre atmosphere.<br /><br /><div></div><div>Back then, there was an old stand on one side of the pitch, up on an embankment. It's away now and the ground looks no worse for it's abscence. The pitch is ringed by a small perimeter track and a shallow, curving terrace, with a few benches dotted about here and there so the older lads can have a seat and enjoy the sunshine. All very nice. Theres an impressive pavillion, with a stretch of open terrace to it's right, and a shed to it's left, both being fairly deep. The size of the place is impressive, a big pitch, loads of room, tidy too. The pies are cheap and tasty, though the bogs are beyond primitive. </div><div> </div><div>Anything else? </div><div> </div><div>Oh, yeah, Rabs are on the move. They have a new modern ground in the pipeline, to be built not far from Adamslie. Very nice. Hopefully a new social club can be built too, the old Adamslie Social was pulled down some years back and Lord alone knows how they got by without it............</div><br /><div></div><div>The game finished as a 3-1 victory for Rob Roy. Maryhill made the worst possible start by getting their keeper sent off in the opening minutes. In spite of this, they scored first and when the inevitable Rob Roy equaliser appeared, it looked like there would be more. In the 2nd half, Rabs turned the screw, but a combination of an in form goalie, solid defending and woeful finishing saw to it that with only 15 minutes left, it was still 1-1. Maryhill lost a defender due to some sort of illness not long into the 2nd half, but the final twist was a 2nd sending off which ensured Rob Roy couldn't help but pick up the points, bagging two in the last ten minutes.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-30155632919117271562008-02-11T14:39:00.000-08:002008-02-11T15:47:41.905-08:00Adamslie Park, Kirkintilloch<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanqLHXX1WTIXoYHB93M2F4nSVYumVb8OZ11wXvKBSrkhcrB0gSps_2QoeDpIBTe4oal1o2m8_PGerG_SNA5mTjC_JvUHjdMbhB9etpyye66YBL0Zay2PRS43agBN__S81Jt2HxGDECEvf/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c+114.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165856509427151618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanqLHXX1WTIXoYHB93M2F4nSVYumVb8OZ11wXvKBSrkhcrB0gSps_2QoeDpIBTe4oal1o2m8_PGerG_SNA5mTjC_JvUHjdMbhB9etpyye66YBL0Zay2PRS43agBN__S81Jt2HxGDECEvf/s320/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c+114.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;"><strong><em>Kick Off. Looking towards the Pavillion and the enclosure, with the Campsie Hills in the background.<br /></em></strong></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVj30Z-V3yQw5k3zADFJvafkKq9ezbiZh0ifiyINIphHiZo2P16DwhhETRNv1oKim7wXGcBTa83ZHqaK7lDjVmrhSJN9xyxrxtlBqsJU0ZIa8-8Kn_2cpB389u6ckNi2spd56ATR0RG-EA/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c+125.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165856522312053538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVj30Z-V3yQw5k3zADFJvafkKq9ezbiZh0ifiyINIphHiZo2P16DwhhETRNv1oKim7wXGcBTa83ZHqaK7lDjVmrhSJN9xyxrxtlBqsJU0ZIa8-8Kn_2cpB389u6ckNi2spd56ATR0RG-EA/s320/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c+125.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:78%;"> Pavillion & Enclosure from the East Terrace.<br /></span></strong></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ese-hci8JiJsYHG095Ta26NG9mO68_cgx7Gh9gTsyS0TeGN_e_bPVeh5LwXKcrO99cEmyLu0Btp8-ZD0zq3BcmOUDUuVyDMqL1XBpHixxIEg4yEvheo0tbv_CtTSKPR35jprS_9ejRz4/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c+127.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165856526607020850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ese-hci8JiJsYHG095Ta26NG9mO68_cgx7Gh9gTsyS0TeGN_e_bPVeh5LwXKcrO99cEmyLu0Btp8-ZD0zq3BcmOUDUuVyDMqL1XBpHixxIEg4yEvheo0tbv_CtTSKPR35jprS_9ejRz4/s320/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c+127.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Looking round to where the old stand used to be. Note benches set back on grass. Nice idea.</span></em></strong><br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjSUvvnMN2po3kEhECWOexpgmUiGTebUO81eHiqLRWwAJlK6xoYyE1jN0FijjuAzNFc4kgoc7AXE_pUnXPsa_5JUTXfQ3IRQiEOjHADC71rVAbKWY4lNxr771vTCgz8ZgaHnO6r7JfN0m/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c+131.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165856990463488850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjSUvvnMN2po3kEhECWOexpgmUiGTebUO81eHiqLRWwAJlK6xoYyE1jN0FijjuAzNFc4kgoc7AXE_pUnXPsa_5JUTXfQ3IRQiEOjHADC71rVAbKWY4lNxr771vTCgz8ZgaHnO6r7JfN0m/s320/Copy+of+_1A11_a_-1c+131.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;"><strong><em>Enclosure from East terrace, looking towards the turnstyles.</em></strong></span></p><p>I'm 100% certain I took more shots of the ground than this, but they don't seem to be where I thought they were on my hard drive. If I find them, I'll post them...........</p>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-91757417663799632702008-02-09T16:49:00.000-08:002008-02-09T19:32:38.925-08:00Scottish Football Grounds At The Turn Of The 1980'sNot sure who to thank for this. God? Buddha? Bill Shankly? Whatever, it would seem that some bright chap wandered the grounds of Scotland in 1980 with his cine-camera and documented the nick of pro football grounds of the day. I reccomend you turn yr sound off to watch these clips, the music added onto them is pointless. They are after all cine-film and will always be better without the added soundtrack.<br /><br />Some observations. I had no idea Ibrox was modernised by 1980. It looks like only the stand opposite the main stand was still to be constructed. Glebe Park looks like a tidy Junior ground, though it now sports a lovely new bucket seat stand behind one of the goals. Stenhousmuir's ground seems to have changed the most. I could be wrong, but it looks like the whole ground has been budged round 180 degrees, with the old pavillion style stand replaced with a lower, sleeker modern piece of equipment. A 'compare & contrast piece would be a good idea I think.<br /><br />Anyway, theres enough in that link to keep even the biggest groundhopper geek going .<br /><br /><a href="http://footballgroundguide.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=13962">British Football Grounds In 1979-80</a><br /><br />Enjoy!iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-46240840418094220412008-02-03T13:24:00.000-08:002008-02-03T14:24:32.975-08:00Livingston:A New Life In A New Town<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy5mvaSWzOgbxVxvXvL7ndVAJSgREu9kgtsVCJjama1xEInsOgGhsaEeTqTRNQLgWXjfCftf6vEfKr4HJusNt_1jQyxsh_m7pmbkI-JupE0h7hu1uT31Bh1FFSXfTDNsZYEHvtr-Ir8tq/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+715.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162878322582410962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy5mvaSWzOgbxVxvXvL7ndVAJSgREu9kgtsVCJjama1xEInsOgGhsaEeTqTRNQLgWXjfCftf6vEfKr4HJusNt_1jQyxsh_m7pmbkI-JupE0h7hu1uT31Bh1FFSXfTDNsZYEHvtr-Ir8tq/s400/_1A11_a_-1c1+715.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">Partick Thistle fans pass the banner round at half time</span></p><p>Livingston is a New Town roughly midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh and it consists, as New Towns often do, of housing estates, roundabouts and shopping centres. Oh, and a football stadium. </p>Livingston FC came into being in <a href="http://www.livingstonfc.co.uk/onelivi.php">1995</a>, rising from the ashes of Meadowbank Thistle, who plied their trade at <a href="http://fitbadaft.blogspot.com/">Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh</a>. Livi went on to rise virtually to the top of the Scottish game, coming up through the divisions in only about five or six seasons, finishing third in the SPL in their first season, attaining a place in the UEFA Cup, and a few years later winning the CIS League Cup. This marked the start of their downfall. They went into administration, due mainly to exorbitant wage bills that even four visits a year from the Old Firm and the nearby Edinburgh teams couldn't balance out. They were relegated a few seasons back, and new owner Pearce Flynn promptly set about trying to engineer a link up with the SPL, as a way of ensuring his cash strapped and poorly supported club could survive without SPL tv money and large travelling supports.<br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLd3_eLeB17RnYdX6GLV-Hv1Z2u23V9q3I1HopECbhRhx9Ig8fpPGYry6tjTJBvgSs_Uz3r5u9r24O1-gV5FAakSYONNrIxGSnXILh7z21lK0dt1uzATdygGbaN4gn2l_YZQS2orFcDsl/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+708.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162878215208228514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLd3_eLeB17RnYdX6GLV-Hv1Z2u23V9q3I1HopECbhRhx9Ig8fpPGYry6tjTJBvgSs_Uz3r5u9r24O1-gV5FAakSYONNrIxGSnXILh7z21lK0dt1uzATdygGbaN4gn2l_YZQS2orFcDsl/s400/_1A11_a_-1c1+708.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">Players warming up.</span></p><p>My journey through on Saturday was to be my third outing to watch football in West Lothian. The first had been during Partick Thistles 1st season in the SPL, back in, I think, 2002. The second visit followed a year later as Thistle battled vainly against relegation, the journey to and from the ground being a saga of epic proportions in itself. All I can say is never get the train to Livingston. You will regret it.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeYrTbStG889ChFyVxLEnP6xOdjPR8LcdXAQLwzfZiFXwpWrNNeVFw8l7IcgCGmD8S_ALZ7K9I5Ebs64hnJfGsx45WcWJkPKLVrf8g6iYLVuZuPCAOF7IyhaVK3szb9_y9XsnkHz9AejE/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+711.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162878262452868786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeYrTbStG889ChFyVxLEnP6xOdjPR8LcdXAQLwzfZiFXwpWrNNeVFw8l7IcgCGmD8S_ALZ7K9I5Ebs64hnJfGsx45WcWJkPKLVrf8g6iYLVuZuPCAOF7IyhaVK3szb9_y9XsnkHz9AejE/s400/_1A11_a_-1c1+711.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">The Livingston support. I think there may have been a few of them sitting to the left of me, beyond the control box, but I think what was in the main stand was pretty much it.</span><br /><br /><br />Yesterdays Scottish Cup 5th round tie was to be the third meeting between the two clubs this season, with Thistle recording 3-0 and 4-0 wins in the prior league matches. I had a feeling it wouldn't be the same story this time and a stodgy 0-0 draw was our reward for making the journey through. The home crowd was thin to say the least. Almost silent, and unless I'm sorely mistaken, couldn't have been any more than about 600 strong. The Jags brought over a thousand through, but sadly couldn't muster too much noise either, due in the main to the deeply un-entertaining fare on show.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEf9x_HVYifaheGsjaJz28G1UyAVsZ82p7sudy5KNGPmXufe3Wfu9cVLiwMD588Qt83MZdSuYtEYG_SN4t92i3_llKCcI51G0FXIHTl0dRk_oZDYrjqQb4z447CZsOQhAwd5B9Drn4Na3J/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+712.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162878266747836098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEf9x_HVYifaheGsjaJz28G1UyAVsZ82p7sudy5KNGPmXufe3Wfu9cVLiwMD588Qt83MZdSuYtEYG_SN4t92i3_llKCcI51G0FXIHTl0dRk_oZDYrjqQb4z447CZsOQhAwd5B9Drn4Na3J/s400/_1A11_a_-1c1+712.jpg" border="0" /></a>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-16401139886122730032008-02-03T12:56:00.000-08:002008-02-03T14:28:45.334-08:00Almondvale Stadium, Livingston<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdxs4KCVhByg7D7Jiwmn0i_8fP_-abxmw2uZ5lS9w0qQU6yaMGCcTSWi6ABF6y3IW-Lve-QBlp-3U4HhxH93-ge2fgfJClN0jKcftQqVF8i2iqHWeBhWG3TGTK8UU68lsUj5h77-i9GqV/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+702.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162865854292350546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdxs4KCVhByg7D7Jiwmn0i_8fP_-abxmw2uZ5lS9w0qQU6yaMGCcTSWi6ABF6y3IW-Lve-QBlp-3U4HhxH93-ge2fgfJClN0jKcftQqVF8i2iqHWeBhWG3TGTK8UU68lsUj5h77-i9GqV/s400/_1A11_a_-1c1+702.jpg" border="0" /></a> Outside the ground. No pubs for miles!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0gEIg1WXlfTgDLpbo6PXAIj7BlY3NzaZsVzfW02M5aj1rhWSmF_lbSxbVuJQAwqGc0K0tsT1PVK4rAluKRtYFypXtfAgSpggv2gS77sRaps-XfDPN9wMPaMKdLbOlwOQSMf4db63hX8t/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+703.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162865867177252450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0gEIg1WXlfTgDLpbo6PXAIj7BlY3NzaZsVzfW02M5aj1rhWSmF_lbSxbVuJQAwqGc0K0tsT1PVK4rAluKRtYFypXtfAgSpggv2gS77sRaps-XfDPN9wMPaMKdLbOlwOQSMf4db63hX8t/s400/_1A11_a_-1c1+703.jpg" border="0" /></a> Inside the ground. All quite neat and tidy, but maybe the angle of the seating is a little shallow. Ok, some modern stands are like the north face of the Eiger, but they do tend to provide a cracking view.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jLPwTIug-SaEjEPJmZvssiCJlsor2em92e-HWWC-Tq6AO6TpxBOfugUYu8uIgNuY-U62FV6EmEjehQc88uRCcbihG4l-qifpG-9Da6zhOn945eRmrk6dMdmLSFvcGOEYwqeT6pRUxxvH/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+705.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162865880062154354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jLPwTIug-SaEjEPJmZvssiCJlsor2em92e-HWWC-Tq6AO6TpxBOfugUYu8uIgNuY-U62FV6EmEjehQc88uRCcbihG4l-qifpG-9Da6zhOn945eRmrk6dMdmLSFvcGOEYwqeT6pRUxxvH/s400/_1A11_a_-1c1+705.jpg" border="0" /></a> That said, the filled in corner sections mean that when the ground is full, or nearly full, it probably generates a fine atmosphere.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPzSxx8Oput_YFncd_Mg41UIobujte645BHcA9uHRDbO2EWKAfvAcSzfm9WNczfk3b3mI6OAdwCST4HG11woHNMR7HyCjuvhdJ8hUHDgD02nqLwGOD7hoW8ZaaxqGl4vIdQcSmfafrHD0/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+706.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162865888652088962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPzSxx8Oput_YFncd_Mg41UIobujte645BHcA9uHRDbO2EWKAfvAcSzfm9WNczfk3b3mI6OAdwCST4HG11woHNMR7HyCjuvhdJ8hUHDgD02nqLwGOD7hoW8ZaaxqGl4vIdQcSmfafrHD0/s400/_1A11_a_-1c1+706.jpg" border="0" /></a> Not quite the San Siro.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23JtkP882n1yNzkfEGMArP5q8gTQUq2hZpqX9HhOA5Vna8tnDMt8-6DNnbNANpBCafVEyGDZIGka3Cc8BCMg-cm7QhhFPsuWqh8aWdWVeWiXr2_PvRUq_KsslrHtw3gUEp_SZif-xG_o6/s1600-h/_1A11_a_-1c1+707.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162865892947056274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23JtkP882n1yNzkfEGMArP5q8gTQUq2hZpqX9HhOA5Vna8tnDMt8-6DNnbNANpBCafVEyGDZIGka3Cc8BCMg-cm7QhhFPsuWqh8aWdWVeWiXr2_PvRUq_KsslrHtw3gUEp_SZif-xG_o6/s400/_1A11_a_-1c1+707.jpg" border="0" /></a> Office space? Many clubs need to resort to this sort of thing as a means of providing revenue. <div></div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-71716922805369989652008-01-11T13:46:00.001-08:002008-05-02T15:09:11.969-08:00Song For The Hi Hi<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglSaV6TMZ4hZv-C0D6Por8z8nGwXYzV62_8z5OqlFtjFD_d1Z9P-rTSrk9KbCp5vVGTWVytGRxjCIRCvTDffrTyowJpcrY4gWV2UtW8om3uCk4m1BaKLw6lM1NWd_LgjkeiltZ8Q70nwz/s1600-h/Copy+(2)+of+_1A11_fn+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154385940863588722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglSaV6TMZ4hZv-C0D6Por8z8nGwXYzV62_8z5OqlFtjFD_d1Z9P-rTSrk9KbCp5vVGTWVytGRxjCIRCvTDffrTyowJpcrY4gWV2UtW8om3uCk4m1BaKLw6lM1NWd_LgjkeiltZ8Q70nwz/s320/Copy+(2)+of+_1A11_fn+035.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">Quote from Hippocrates, engraved in a stone, situated at the back of the centre terrace at Cathkin Park, Glasgow. Now sadly defaced by local sub-human scum. To some, History is indeed bunk........ </span></em><br /><br /><br /><div>The story of Third Lanark should not be left to me to tell, it's too complex and absurd. So it's a relief that there are a few websites that will hlep me do most of the job. They can be found <a href="http://www.thirdlanarkac.co.uk/">here</a>, <a href="http://www.hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk/livingston.htm">here</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Lanark_A.C.">here</a>. Especially the last link, as it gives you the rough current position of Cathkin Park and any continuing Third Lanark concern. What I was surprised to find out was that the ground is used as a gay cruising spot and a shooting gallery for south side junkies. I knew it was a hang out for neds and Buckie slurpers, the smashed bottles on the terraces tell you that much, but it's certainly a dark,dingy and secluded old place, even in broad daylight on a warm summer day. It's not hard to imagine that it might be one of Glasgows less alluring haunts after dark.<br /><br />Cathkin Park shut it's doors to football, professional or otherwise, in 1967. At the time of the club's closure, the ground, at least on the surface of things, looked to be in sound shape. There had been a new 'modern' main stand built some years earlier to replace the old barrel roofed affair, and the rest of the ground was no better or worse than any other middle order Scottish football ground of the time.<br /><br />In 1966, there were five professional football teams in Glasgow, not including Queens Park, who played their football in the senior leagues, despite remaining amateurs. Queens Park resided just over the other side of Mount Florida from Third Lanark, at Hampden Park, though by the 1960's, they had been overtaken by the professional game to such an extent that they were permanant fixtures in the old Scottish 2nd division (there were only two large divisions in Scotland back then). Ironically, while Thirds went on to claim a relatively lofty position in Scottish football between 1900 and 1961, they actually inherited their stadium from Queens Park, a ground that had once been known as 'Hampden Park', a ground that had hosted cup finals and at least one Scotland v England international before being sold and re-christened.<br /><br />The other pro teams in Glasgow were Rangers & Celtic (the ugly sisters), Partick Thistle (Cinderella, of course), Clyde, who resided in Rutherglen, a district that skirted the city boundary in those days and Third Lanark, or 'The Hi Hi' as they were known. It could be argued that they were the Partick Thistle of South Glasgow, and as former player <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5-cwbMseYg">Ally McLeod</a> remembers, they were prone to being the butt the same old jokes from the waggish elements of the Old Firm herd.<br /><br />Throughout the seventies, the ground rotted. It had been sold for housing, but Glasgow City Council denied planning permission. The culprit, the <a href="http://www.netsavvy.co.uk/lobey/cast.htm">'Rank Bajin' </a>of the piece, Bill Hiddleston died not two years after the clubs demise, and while it was obviously a tragedy for his family, it certainly wasn't for the old twister himself or many of the Thirds faithful, as it meant he body-swerved a fair few years in the nick and the truth about the demise of the club and his fiddling never did come under full legal and public scrutiny.<br /><br />The main stand was eventually demolished, as was the terrace enclosure and the area became part of Glasgow's parkland. The pitch still remains, along with a new(ish) set of goalposts, and has been used generally for amateur football over the years. The old terracing is still there in parts. About half of it has had trees planted on it, but the 'amphitheatre' feel of the old stadium still lives on. The first time you see the place, especially if you come in from the <a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl">Prospecthill Road/Florida Avenue side</a>, is like chancing upon a hidden world, in much the same way as one might discover a half hidden archeological wonder. In the last five or six years, the concept of a team bearing the name 'Third Lanark' has come and gone with depressing regularity, but it's only in the past year that the notion of an amateur team playing as Third Lanark at Cathkin Park has taken root.<br /><br />I went to see such an encounter last year and to be frank, it was one of the best games of football I've seen in a good long time. Pro teams moan about the condition of pitches. The Cathkin pitch was a mess, yet both teams served up some good football, played mainly on the ground and to feet. It was a pleasure to watch. The pictures in this post and the one below come from this cracking tie. It was the fortieth anniversary of the demise of Third Lanark, so how did they commemorate it? With a game against their nearest neighbours Queens Park of course. Ok, it was the QP U21 side, but let's face it, though Queens are technically amateurs, they have a youth development scheme that makes most pro teams look ridiculous. Even if most of them only go on to be mediocre talents, filling up places in the Junior ranks and the lower leagues, QP seem to be doing more than most other clubs in Scotland in terms of finding that elusive 'talent' that a country as small as ours needs to even think about competing at a respectable level.<br /><br />The game ended 4-3 to Thirds, and was watched by about 100 people, mainly brought out by the nostalgia, the anniversary, the exhibition in the clubhouse...........It certainly wasn't the weather, which was inclement to say the least. I went back in autumn 07 for an amateur league encounter and as far as I know, I was the only person there watching the game from the terraces. It's hard to shout "C'mon The Hi Hi!!" when you're the only person there. I didn't fancy being stared at by both teams, the manager, the physio and the ref. The current Third Lanark web page can be found <a href="http://thirdlanarkathletic.intheteam.com/modules/page/Page.aspx?pc=home&mid=23282&pmid=0">here</a>, along with their current fixtures.<br /><br />The story goes on. If the Wikipedia entry above is to be believed, then I can only hope that someone comes along and decides to turn the place into a showground or municipal park of some sort. Fell the trees, re-pave the terracing, build a modern 1-2000 seater stand, widen and re-configure the cinder track and use the place for.............well, loads of things. Parades, sports days, speedway demo days, concerts, rallies etc (all daytime obviously, it's a residential area). Think of it as a sort of living museum piece. As I said in a caption below, there are damn few places like Cathkin Park left in Britain, I think it would be great idea to bring the place back to something approaching it's former glory whilst getting as much practical use out of it as possible.<br /><br />Ach! A man can dream, can't he?<br /><br />Oh, and of course, a place for a team called Third Lanark to play football.</div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-16973361229936232652008-01-11T13:40:00.000-08:002008-01-11T16:48:10.034-08:00Cathkin Park, Glasgow<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrShH_5lXahQX_X1uFQwfA8uUk-AtVq50NGnC06n5vjPnEXOwje1iUzo9al-DfUTFTavC9itPDc2sFTQaO8HIffuNBg_WUfRiFbiZQgECQhffQ8N6cHmjmeCshaVVU1h4mVC9KViAOBvP2/s1600-h/_1A11_fn+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154383290868767010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrShH_5lXahQX_X1uFQwfA8uUk-AtVq50NGnC06n5vjPnEXOwje1iUzo9al-DfUTFTavC9itPDc2sFTQaO8HIffuNBg_WUfRiFbiZQgECQhffQ8N6cHmjmeCshaVVU1h4mVC9KViAOBvP2/s320/_1A11_fn+028.jpg" border="0" /></a> View across to Cathcart and the site of the old main stand.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DVdkkam8IzgZ5xhr4ILsr73KuFwiCFt82Sq7rL6Nhbpx-c6gIfPxozi7jhqBkyYVC_I3Y0OluHt6NrR1KH6-1L21PhrsVsM7KsvdR7bMnT85-koC3rR3WTsP6QeLKtItFDfUd_EsisD9/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_fn+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154383290868767026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DVdkkam8IzgZ5xhr4ILsr73KuFwiCFt82Sq7rL6Nhbpx-c6gIfPxozi7jhqBkyYVC_I3Y0OluHt6NrR1KH6-1L21PhrsVsM7KsvdR7bMnT85-koC3rR3WTsP6QeLKtItFDfUd_EsisD9/s320/Copy+of+_1A11_fn+033.jpg" border="0" /></a> The old amphitheatre still lives on<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtsFrGiaBc40NHDcSzhpOTZS3rfXAMn6ot6Lum5pzW8WXDl3ji8156kYSlEmcxDBVP6eEfKoY2BFi_AeDcBIxflhBqC8gFt9X2fa2GgEaaOXngWRS8i2UTNU7oj48ChyX1L0byNinmlRH/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_fn+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154383299458701634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtsFrGiaBc40NHDcSzhpOTZS3rfXAMn6ot6Lum5pzW8WXDl3ji8156kYSlEmcxDBVP6eEfKoY2BFi_AeDcBIxflhBqC8gFt9X2fa2GgEaaOXngWRS8i2UTNU7oj48ChyX1L0byNinmlRH/s320/Copy+of+_1A11_fn+034.jpg" border="0" /></a> Under the canopy of foliage, a football stadium..........<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhne2NrDASwxRZUm4ikZzedMU4GwJ8mDgpS44W6nURjDe4kM4M6doCKIUxGe50pMXR5AIujgPnNsDTExX0hZ6SQNS4aVD5_PojZZ1RErnXe_2aFqL9vfBMU2kWl5y_Jwyx85b8pF0hTSmlh/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_fn+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154383299458701650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhne2NrDASwxRZUm4ikZzedMU4GwJ8mDgpS44W6nURjDe4kM4M6doCKIUxGe50pMXR5AIujgPnNsDTExX0hZ6SQNS4aVD5_PojZZ1RErnXe_2aFqL9vfBMU2kWl5y_Jwyx85b8pF0hTSmlh/s320/Copy+of+_1A11_fn+031.jpg" border="0" /></a> Corner kick to Queens Park<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf80L6aUsYyjGbl8mjBGayufws6I5Nt0mRTqKKqvYPoP8ODJKFhFrPHtFGGWGSB_qV0-SvR43jF_J4h4ftATtaHMpF6uppS6PBg_OUllKZWrb_7igTSEU7lvCGKd0fQx_cezB4bqllqLmi/s1600-h/Copy+(2)+of+_1A11_fn+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154383299458701666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf80L6aUsYyjGbl8mjBGayufws6I5Nt0mRTqKKqvYPoP8ODJKFhFrPHtFGGWGSB_qV0-SvR43jF_J4h4ftATtaHMpF6uppS6PBg_OUllKZWrb_7igTSEU7lvCGKd0fQx_cezB4bqllqLmi/s320/Copy+(2)+of+_1A11_fn+032.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Taking down the nets. Maybe if they got Barry Ferguson and Kris Boyd to do this every week at Ibrox, they might not such a pair of fat bastards.iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-28855119842901077302008-01-11T13:28:00.000-08:002008-01-11T16:48:32.862-08:00Cathkin Park, Glasgow<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NAiwNAlwOcG9laCs2etYxNSM_R1Ptmgz7Osk4AyyYO-J5UHlReBOS9tdoiktJSYA3QNZ45hF0jRjPY8GTS_uTWlpqNDSh6-nItFOTMX7rmEY-8UcvqIRSnK8R7_suZW7uPhC8IohjTRd/s1600-h/Copy+(2)+of+_1A11_fn+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154336458545371346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NAiwNAlwOcG9laCs2etYxNSM_R1Ptmgz7Osk4AyyYO-J5UHlReBOS9tdoiktJSYA3QNZ45hF0jRjPY8GTS_uTWlpqNDSh6-nItFOTMX7rmEY-8UcvqIRSnK8R7_suZW7uPhC8IohjTRd/s320/Copy+(2)+of+_1A11_fn+015.jpg" border="0" /></a> View from end terrace<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwzebVQcsElUPmOYqL8X4gCl1qjf-YORzi5L0h6BWm-LyGd3Izui6mZnP5ZvEd_B6VhfLMZ7EHP89qwrSZACBxOoMThxU9nHrFNWXlFs1hGmBesdg8JaNgLC4qqUTTjx2pkk3-PScuyZb/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_fn+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154336462840338658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwzebVQcsElUPmOYqL8X4gCl1qjf-YORzi5L0h6BWm-LyGd3Izui6mZnP5ZvEd_B6VhfLMZ7EHP89qwrSZACBxOoMThxU9nHrFNWXlFs1hGmBesdg8JaNgLC4qqUTTjx2pkk3-PScuyZb/s320/Copy+of+_1A11_fn+001.jpg" border="0" /></a> This section used to have an enclosure over it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoZ-1vF8qiV7ft_QFpH9vy82VcNZG1jkIv22ePmB7rcrYL2DMunz763yl5o2cjPcWJ_jC2kNBH6C_LY7wFLFugdJ0NftU83Uy0T1RxEkKUNJ4jR7ek410uczaPOUNkJCg9M8q1xg6TPAf/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_fn+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154336462840338674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoZ-1vF8qiV7ft_QFpH9vy82VcNZG1jkIv22ePmB7rcrYL2DMunz763yl5o2cjPcWJ_jC2kNBH6C_LY7wFLFugdJ0NftU83Uy0T1RxEkKUNJ4jR7ek410uczaPOUNkJCg9M8q1xg6TPAf/s320/Copy+of+_1A11_fn+004.jpg" border="0" /></a> Corner terrace looking towards where the main stand and pavillion used to be.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzgCIxyj1dMrYGcqKIKmeckS1yjqiiXj_Yj2DQCxrkv5PtehyLN08mVxa7nj0uNVJtXlK9c4s75eFl3DuDmQTuSSBgzeVF6D62Ju5_LHJSHuVDGXBcd234jShIFMG8OYyLcao66gW36GX/s1600-h/Copy+of+_1A11_fn+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154336467135305986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzgCIxyj1dMrYGcqKIKmeckS1yjqiiXj_Yj2DQCxrkv5PtehyLN08mVxa7nj0uNVJtXlK9c4s75eFl3DuDmQTuSSBgzeVF6D62Ju5_LHJSHuVDGXBcd234jShIFMG8OYyLcao66gW36GX/s320/Copy+of+_1A11_fn+006.jpg" border="0" /></a> The rain piddles down, but the camera man isn't bothered<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoHPUql-e5lMeufIh22iJI7Z5gicb7g5gtuao9Q1wbvSeXMfnV0k8fvHsZNJOLGDJbgMOHI0Wrs3E_A5KwluMyRugmlDjzKpM_EalPBts1HxZVNCJKy3f1xdp9Hlrj3Lq89rnk4_Wp4n2/s1600-h/Copy+(2)+of+_1A11_fn+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154336467135306002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoHPUql-e5lMeufIh22iJI7Z5gicb7g5gtuao9Q1wbvSeXMfnV0k8fvHsZNJOLGDJbgMOHI0Wrs3E_A5KwluMyRugmlDjzKpM_EalPBts1HxZVNCJKy3f1xdp9Hlrj3Lq89rnk4_Wp4n2/s320/Copy+(2)+of+_1A11_fn+017.jpg" border="0" /></a> Goalmouth action. I love this shot for some reason, It reminds me of the 'behind the goals' photos you seefrom the 20's or 30's. You just don't get football grounds like this in Britain anymore.<br /><div></div>iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706753619467887878.post-24521936516507160432008-01-04T13:03:00.001-08:002008-01-11T13:45:26.135-08:00Station Park, Forfar<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kfMB7HnXbYeDBGH42REbFHxXynIKVUwDr0pLwQBdrPFTkpYRMo4YZTjOLSONw8WoFPJvY3kA1ld0ukTB-zrw-OeXoUJdYk1V_GiRYXHkOoEKygTorS7IVf3QTbRQ7CqZMSzUqlo1aOen/s1600-h/Forfar+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151734447098370098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kfMB7HnXbYeDBGH42REbFHxXynIKVUwDr0pLwQBdrPFTkpYRMo4YZTjOLSONw8WoFPJvY3kA1ld0ukTB-zrw-OeXoUJdYk1V_GiRYXHkOoEKygTorS7IVf3QTbRQ7CqZMSzUqlo1aOen/s320/Forfar+031.jpg" border="0" /></a> Main Stand and home terracing<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxdVyOShhfmSXoXjUiFj8xCVXxBdLlUWCujpueqGp_d7fl3CJ6lfLmmohlRYTeO8465T4e4PUJdK3u_X7KxGIlmMRfje5fjSBiGhx156HXOChC8wJNGaHoqlZ_MsTk8V6EkFVeujZgZUt/s1600-h/Forfar+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151734459983272002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxdVyOShhfmSXoXjUiFj8xCVXxBdLlUWCujpueqGp_d7fl3CJ6lfLmmohlRYTeO8465T4e4PUJdK3u_X7KxGIlmMRfje5fjSBiGhx156HXOChC8wJNGaHoqlZ_MsTk8V6EkFVeujZgZUt/s320/Forfar+033.jpg" border="0" /></a> Bridie/Pie stall and away terrace from enclosure<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1v-sHC_tYpwZu5l_IOvLFGX3_sWqAvTg1npJYtzkAzrVrypQIhqd8toZa1CJX01kBJEwcWwGKdmsvzIh3ytQxI2v6NoavrI6n2-kZA8ZPhRMmvVdgTxIifyahszovWhMy7RMQ3rDbIEJl/s1600-h/Forfar+048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151734459983272018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1v-sHC_tYpwZu5l_IOvLFGX3_sWqAvTg1npJYtzkAzrVrypQIhqd8toZa1CJX01kBJEwcWwGKdmsvzIh3ytQxI2v6NoavrI6n2-kZA8ZPhRMmvVdgTxIifyahszovWhMy7RMQ3rDbIEJl/s320/Forfar+048.jpg" border="0" /></a> Enclosure<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wpxZcj4McRD5FpFhizPuMkTBmrSGcXSn2aQwCG8auVJw8lhR00ge9mldQFp6311hXfZO5qg2KZYJ55cBHTdhYM7uL2wDjUk8bamd9McTiccJLsb9HZV4kcRjc2s7M0ftK0lm1T9CMLts/s1600-h/Forfar+051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151734464278239330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wpxZcj4McRD5FpFhizPuMkTBmrSGcXSn2aQwCG8auVJw8lhR00ge9mldQFp6311hXfZO5qg2KZYJ55cBHTdhYM7uL2wDjUk8bamd9McTiccJLsb9HZV4kcRjc2s7M0ftK0lm1T9CMLts/s320/Forfar+051.jpg" border="0" /></a> Main Stand<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0FzOo4O1lBRXiIMhZZOHRm2-7LDnSQs81H-O6luKPTgxbRfSgmmSmfrI7Tu94Iua32YsWnne5a2TMVfGhy-0HIMLbr7bOzFOgGQcj8sM7XjxSCSjWMu8cjmG6MYFljwea67HhEGlFTZn/s1600-h/Forfar+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151734468573206642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0FzOo4O1lBRXiIMhZZOHRm2-7LDnSQs81H-O6luKPTgxbRfSgmmSmfrI7Tu94Iua32YsWnne5a2TMVfGhy-0HIMLbr7bOzFOgGQcj8sM7XjxSCSjWMu8cjmG6MYFljwea67HhEGlFTZn/s320/Forfar+037.jpg" border="0" /></a> Terracing, almost empty.........<br /><br />I took this trip a few years ago, on a whim really, just to do something and get out of the house. Caught the train to Dundee, then a bus to Forfar, took some photos, fumed silently at Partick Thistle's ineptitude as they fumbled their way to a 0-0 draw against a team of part-timers, had a few pints in a local pub then went home. The ground itself is one of my favourites. It sits in lovely Angus countryside, it's smart and tidy, modern even (compared to the shanty-like feel of some places) You can wander where you please, and I wish I had done, I might have got some more varied shots. It's also home to the famous Forfar Bridie. It's likely that you'll have to make do with a pie though, as the Bridies get snapped up in jig time. It's no big deal though, the pies are cracking too.iLL Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08107892879700381858noreply@blogger.com3