Day Nineteen: Albion Rovers (Cliftonhill)

Albion Rovers v Sunnybank

Scottish Cup Round 2

Saturday 23rd October

Another first for our adventure; we're off to witness a match between a professional and a junior side. Today Third Division Albion Rovers play North Junior Super Division side Sunnybank in the second round of the Scottish Cup.

My presence has been requested at my dad's house for 12.45pm, but for the first time this season I'm early. The reason being is that the Aberdeen v Hibs game is on the box. I must thank Emma for getting ready well under her usual time frame to drop me off for the 12 noon kick off.

We leave at half-time and I'm in a great mood as the Dons are already two up. I'm not getting carried away though as we've thrown a lead away more than once this season. It's an easy drive along the M9 to the Coatbridge turn off, made even easier by two further goals for Aberdeen. It's a shame we let them score two goals before the end but seeing as this is our first victory since the 21st August I'm not too bothered.

We drive into Coatbridge about 2pm and park near the ground. Normally we would sit in the car for a while but my stomach's rumbling away and I decide we should go into the ground and seek out some nourishment. Last week when I was short on cash my dad paid for me to get into the Inverness game so it's only right I return the favour this week (and probably the next few weeks too). However, when we enter the turnstile the attendant tells me concession tickets can only be bought at the next gate, I go to give my dad the money and he wanders off telling me to keep my money and buy him a pie instead. Cheers dad but next week I'm paying for us both, okay?!

Walking up the stairs into the ground we can see that Cliftonhill is a proper old-school ground; wasteland behind either goal, deserted, condemned terracing on the far side and a wooden stand that looks like it's seen better days. We ask for directions to the Club Shop and are told to take the stairs down into the innards of the stadium. Once we find it we're disappointed to hear that there are no pin badges on sale and amused when the attendant tells us 'they only got Albion Rovers strips in three weeks ago and you'd have thought the Red Cross had broken through'.

We make our way back up into the sunshine and head towards the Albion Rovers' cafe for some nourishment. Must admit the pie here is up with the best we've had so far and my dad scores it an eight out of ten and I decide to have a second in quick succession.

Standing beside the pie stand we get talking to a bloke, Martin was his name. Turns out Martin's an Edinburgh man, a Hibs fan too and of course I take much pleasure in reminding him of the score from earlier. He, like my dad, is a fountain of football knowledge and we chat to him for a while before the game kicks off and then he sits near us in the stadium. We had to make three attempts to find the correct vantage point. First time we sat in with the away fans, second time my dad couldn't fit his legs into the space available and even the third seat has areas that are blocked by the stanchions.

I'll admit to thinking prior to the game that this could have been the lowest attendance yet but I've underestimated the size of the away support as there are easily two coach loads down to support their team.

The game kicks off and the Sunnybank fans are first to sing us a song but it's Albion who are first on the attack; a great cross from Reid to the front post is caught on the half volley by McLeod and it takes a great save from the Sunnybank keeper Sweeney to turn it round the post.

Sunnybank shock their Senior League opponents with a goal after ten minutes. Albion fail to clear their lines and the loose ball falls to Nicky Gordon who drills it home from eight yards. Two minutes later they almost doubled their lead when from a corner a Fettes volley is cleared off the line. The locals are not happy!

Sunnybank fans are very vocal, although it does seem that they keep singing the same song - we're black, we're white, we're f***ing dynamite, we're Sunnbank, Sunnybank.

The first Albion effort comes after twenty-five minutes when a long free kick into the box is headed goal-wards but the keeper nonchalantly plucks it out the air with one hand. Nothing else really happened in the first half other than the Albion fans giving us a rendition of "They've only got one song" to the Sunnybank fans after another burst of the aforementioned song.

Oh, that and the fact I've nipped down for my third pie of the game only to be told there are none left. Och well a steak bake will have to do ha ha (editors note: he does get fed at home!).

Into the second half and Sunnybank went close after fifty minutes when a bullet header from Fettes was saved well by the Albion keeper Gaston, although if he'd directed it either side of the goalie he would have scored.

As the game progresses Sunnybank sit deeper and deeper in their own half inviting pressure onto them. They resort to kicking their opponents as the game descends into a right old fashioned blood and snotters affair. This is epitomised by Sunnybank's number four Gary Clark, he is, as my dad comments, 'a proper hatchet man'. Bartlett is booked for a wild lunge at the Albion right back.

Karma comes back to bite Clark as he's clattered in a challenge and has to be substituted, which is probably just as well for his assailant as I'm sure revenge would have been swift and deadly.

Albion blew two great chances on the hour mark, Gemmell's low shot is saved by Sweeney and the rebound fell to Hamilton who pinged it past the post. It's all Albion now and Gemmell again finds the side netting, and then he heads past the post. Sunnybank players are cramping up all over the pitch, although this is seen as a deliberate attempt to run down the clock by the home fans.

With ten or so minutes left the home fans cheer loudly when they hear the referee's whistle as they think a penalty has been awarded for their side. He has in fact blown as Canning has tried to do a 'Maradona' and punch the ball into the net. The Sunnybank fans take great delight in laughing at this misunderstanding.

Gemmell really should have equalised with five minutes to go but a fantastic challenge from Donnelly just as he pulled the trigger meant it went out for a corner. Right at the end of the match a corner was again headed by Gemmell but again the keeper was up to the task.

At the final whistle the contrast in the two sets of supporters couldn't have been greater. The boos from the home fans were loud but not as loud as the cheers from the Sunnybank fans who rapturously cheer their team off the pitch.

The result's a fair one though, Sunnybank were the better team in the first half and could have been two or three up and far all the Albion pressure in the second they never really troubled the Sunnybank keeper. So it's the junior side who march into the next round and who knows maybe we'll catch up with them again.

The Statistics

Ticket: Adult £10, Concession £5

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: 357

Pie: £1.50

Pie Marks: 8/10

Man of the Match: Me - Nicky Gordon (Suunybank), Dad - Nicky Gordon

Final Score: Albion Rovers 0 v Sunnybank 1

Mileage: 72 miles

Fascinating Fact of the Day: The lamps in the floodlights at Cliftonhill were bought from Cardiff Arms Park when it was knocked down to build the Millennium Stadium and the seats were bought when Third Lanark went out of business.

Next Game: Dens Park (Dundee)

Day Eighteen: Inverness Caledonian Thistle (Caledonian Stadium)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v St.Johnstone

Scottish Premier League

Saturday 16th October

My presence has been requested at my dad's house for 11am for the drive up north to Inverness. It was supposed to be a family occasion today but both my mum and my girlfriend have decided last minute to stay at home. It's a 3 hour drive to Inverness, so we should arrive around 2pm.

For the first time this season however my dad's desire to leave plenty of time for the journey pays off. We get stuck just this side of the Forth Road Bridge for about 20 minutes in road works and further up the road at the Bridge of Earn in a huge tail back as the main road from Perth to Dundee has been closed due to an accident. What should have taken us fifteen minutes takes us nearer an hour; we're then stuck behind caravans, lorries and 'Sunday drivers'. By the time we drive over the hill and into the town of my birth it's almost 2.30pm.

As such, we don't have time for our pack lunch or even to take in the beautiful scenery around the stadium. For those of you that haven't been Caledonian Stadium can be found on the banks of the Moray Firth adjacent to the Kessock Bridge. The picture above is taken from inside the ground.

It's the end of the month and I'm a little skint so after last night's begging phone call my dad is buying my ticket today. Admission price comes in at £45 for the two of us and he informs me that his has wiped out his funds so it's just as well I brought £15 otherwise I'd be doing this blog without the 'Pie Report' and a programme.

We enter the ground just five minutes before kick off and seeing as we've been unable to tuck into the sandwiches it's straight to the Pie Stand for us. We take our nourishment and find our seats just as the teams run out onto the pitch. The pie on offer is piping hot but suffers from a crumbly bottom and therefore 'points are deducted for its collapse-ability'. I think my dad might just have invented that word but he's the expert so who am I to judge.

It's a nice wee ground they've got at Inverness; with covered seating on three sides of the ground and a small uncovered seated area opposite the main stand. I would, however, recommend that if you do come to watch a game on a sunny afternoon that you bring a cap or sun visor with you as you'll find the afternoon sun shining straight in your face. Another thing I'd like to mention is that in the area we were sitting in there is a staircase leading down to the sign-posted toilets. Don't let this sign fool you though as there are no toilets at the bottom of the stairs, I mentioned this to the steward on my way back to my seat and she told me that 'the toilets don't actually open until the game kicks off'. What kind of a system is that? You have to hold on for the game to start before you can go to the toilet - weird.

It's the Saints who are first on the attack with a header just over the bar in the first two minutes. The already vocal Saints fans are in fine form and they are in fine voice and they have even more to sing about after 9 minutes Alan Maybury's long cross field ball is inexplicably left by the home defence and Colin Samuel runs on to it to stroke the ball into the far corner away from the dive of Esson.

They should have been two up after 20 minutes when Sam Parkin was through on goal only to shoot straight at the keeper. What a let off for Caley!

The away fans taunt their opposite number with a rendition of 'Caley, Caley sing us a song', but they get no response. Their next little ditty is 'going bust, they're going bust Dundee's going bust' which is a reference to the current troubles faced by their local rivals.

Liam Craig is next to try his luck for the away side as he unleashes a thunderbolt with his left foot that must have just scraped past the post.

Inverness are absolutely shocking, they can't string two passes together and show very little in attack. It takes until injury time at the end of the half for them to muster any threat. A Duff corner is knocked back across goal and lands at Rooney's feet but like his more illustrious namesake his form deserts him and he fluffs his sides only chance so far.

Terry Butcher is going to have to give his players the full hair-dryer treatment at half time as they have shown so little in the first half.

At half time we're 'entertained' by some bloke who does keepy-uppies for the full ten minutes. My dad informs me that this same bloke was at the Kilmarnock v Dundee United game last weekend, and the best bit was when he was running along with the ball perfectly balanced on his head one of the Dundee United subs sneaked up behind him and swiped the ball off his forehead. Nae such luck here and I'll be honest I was more than a bit bored watching him perform. As my dad said 'he obviously has no actual skill with the ball as a player just a show man'.

St.Johnstone have a great chance to double their lead a minute into the second half when Jackson beats two defenders and sends a beautiful ball across the six yard box, any touch would have signalled a goal but to the home fans relief no touch is forthcoming.

Inverness seem to pick things up after this and only a crunching challenge from Mackay stops Caley from firing in a shot. The defender gets booked for his troubles and he would have been pleased to see the resulting free kick smashed straight into the wall. Grainger is next to booked for the Saints, although this is a harsh booking as he clearly wins the ball and its only an over the top dive that fools the referee into thinking it's more serious.

Saints sub Haber almost makes the perfect start when his forceful run into the box results in a cut back to Liam Craig who really should have done better that smash the ball high over the bar from ten yards.

The Saints fans have not stopped singing for the entire match and take the awards for the most vocal fans we've heard yet, they even offer to sing a song for the Caley fans.

Adam Rooney should have made them eat there words moments later when a cross ball was headed into his path only yards from the goal but Graeme Smith made a fantastic save to keep the ball out. Moments later however and Inverness did get the equaliser. Captain Richie Foran played a perfect ball into the feet of striker Hayes, he sold the out rushing keeper a wee dummy and stroked it past him into the empty net. The keeper in his attempt to save the ball caught the striker with his out stretched leg and was booked for his troubles. Hayes celebrated his goal lying prone on the six yard box and needed treatment before he could continue.

From being totally outclassed and outplayed in the first fifty minutes, it's Inverness who are now on top and from a Duff corner, Munro went very close with a header to giving them an undeserved lead and moments later Rooney also went close with a header.

The home fans are screaming for blood with about five minutes left when Grainger chopped down an Inverness player who was at warp speed on a run into the Saints half. Grainger definitely took a booking for the good of his side there as the Inverness player was bearing through on goal. A tactical booking no less.

The fourth official signalled three minutes of injury time but there were no more chances at either end and the game finished one each. Derek McInnes, the Saints boss, will surely feel that his side should have made their superiority in the first half count more as Inverness will feel this is a point gained as they really were awful for most of the match.

After the game it takes us a good thirty minutes to get out of the car park and back on the road. We decide on a quick visit to see the house I grew up in which is situated just outside Inverness. It's amazing how much smaller it looked than I remember it but the view over Inverness and the Moray Firth towards the Black Isle is breathtaking and I will be back to visit before too long.

Next week we're off to watch Albion Rovers v Sunnybank in the next round of the Scottish Cup if you're interested.

Finally I'd like to dedicate this blog to my Uncle Walter, who we were going to visit after the match in Inverness. He's in hospital at the moment and I, as well as my dad, wish him a speedy recovery.

The Statistics

Ticket: Adult £25, Concession £20

Programme: £2

Attendance: 4882

Pie: £1.80

Pie Marks: 6.5/10

Man of the Match: Dad - Eric Odhiambo (Inverness Caledonian Thistle) Me - Liam Craig (St.Johnstone)

Final Score: Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 v St.Johnstone 1

Mileage: 312 miles

Fascinating Fact of the Day: Caledonian Stadium has the widest pitch in professional football in Scotland

Next Game: Cliftonhill (Albion Rovers)

Day Seventeen: Montrose (Links Park)

Montrose v Stranraer

Scottish 2nd Division

Saturday 9th October

I'm supposed to meet my dad at his house no later than 11.30am for the next game of our journey, we're off to see Montrose versus Stranraer today. Emma & I went to see The Charlatans last night and a few shandies were involved and I'm a little bit late. I forgot my Uncle Raymond was joining us for the game today and it's a pleasant surprise to see his motor parked in front of my parents' house. It does mean, however, that I'm relegated to the back seat for the journey north.

We make good time as always up the road and even have time to stop in at a bakers in Forfar. Last week when we were in town to see the Forfar v Airdrie United game but unfortunately we missed out on the famous 'Forfar Bridie' as inexplicably they'd run out of them pre-half time; so Dad's here to sample and take some back to Edinburgh. It's a break from tradition to have such a treat before we've even got to the ground, but while in Rome as they say.

We park at the ground about five past two and after I've taken Raymond's picture outside, he and I take a wander into town whilst my dad stays in the car to read the paper. My Uncle regales me with stories about him and dad going to watch football when they were younger. He tells me that when my dad was a student at Glasgow University, they were drawn to play against his beloved Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup and my dad wore his university scarf to the match instead of the his Killie one. I'll have to get this verified when we get back to the car.

Raymond's been involved in football for as long as I can remember. He ran the Ayrshire Boys team for ages, he's been out in Australia coaching, scouted for loads of teams, including Aberdeen, where he got me a signed ball.

After a brief walk, we head back to the car and join my dad. We've already noticed that the turnstiles are back the way we came so I'm surprised when my dad wanders back down towards the players' entrance and disappears up the stairs. I've no idea what he's up to so I stay outside. When he doesn't reappear after five minutes however we join him upstairs. We've walked straight into the inner sanctum of Montrose Football Club and find my dad just as he's being introduced to the Honorary President, John Paton. Turns out he's a friend of Duncan Ferguson from Glenfords Ford Garage in Forfar, you'll remember him as he got us complimentary tickets for last week's game. This time he's gone one better and got us tickets and a place in the Director's Box.

The pre-match entertainment is therefore a wee bit different this week. This time we're in the the Willie Johnston Suite enjoying cups of tea; we're given a free programme and team sheet and part with a few quid to enter the half time draw. We only leave the warmth of the indoors ten minutes before kick off to take our seat in the Director's Box. As most of the other gents are still inside I take the opportunity to nip down to the Club shop to buy a pin badge for my dad (he's got a fair wee collection on the go now) and three pies for us to enjoy.

First impressions are not good as appearance wise it looks pretty shoddy. Never judge a book by it's cover and all that lark however, as the pie turns out to be a beauty. Nice crunchy crust, nae grease and plenty filling, so says my dad.

Before the game starts there is a minute's applause in memory of Norm Chrisite an ex-Montrose player and manager who passed away recently. Here's hoping he gets a winning performance from his old team.

The game kicks off bang on 3pm and it's a bright start from both teams. Looking around the ground we can see that there's a huge fence set up behind one of the goals to stop the ball disappearing into the adjacent gardens. From one of these windows I can see a bloke settling down to watch the game. As entertaining as the Director's Box may be, I'd happily swap the warmth of his home for the freezing cold of a Montrose afternoon.


Stranraer are first to threat with a corner but it's cleared easily. After five minutes the whole of the Montrose side of the Director's Box is up in arms at the near side linesman when he awarded a throw-in to Stranraer instead of the home side. This is not the last time this linesman will feel the venom of the home crowd.

Moments later a long-ball throw is flicked on by the huge Frenchman Armand One into the path of Winter who smashes it home from just inside the box. The whole ground and the home bench are on their feet screaming dogs abuse at the linesman, so much so that the Referee has to come over and speak to one of the Montrose management team stood by the dugout.

Stranraer have got their tails up however and Scott Agnew in the midfield is seeing plenty of the ball. My Uncle tells me the player spent some time at Rangers as a youth but never made it to the first team. He does possess a sweet left foot however, and he goes really close to adding to their lead with a deft lob which the home keeper, Bennett, scrambles to tip over.

Paul Tosh is the first to threaten for the home side; but his half volley on the turn falls the wrong side of the post. What's this, are my ears deceiving me, it's a song from the home fans. Twenty Five minutes in and we're treated to a song. I hadn't heard it before and can't remember it now but it felt good at the time to hear home fans getting involved.

The linesman, by the way, is still getting grief from all sides of the ground.

Armand One has some great footwork skills for his size, he's mostly all muscle but if he slimmed down a bit he'd be a fantastic player. From his hold up play he creates a chance for Craig Malcolm but his volley is punched clear by the keeper. A Connor Thomson free kick goes just wide for Montrose and minutes later the same player should have drawn his side level. A shot is deflected into his path and he's one-on-one with the Stranraer keeper, Mitchell, who does well to save with his feet and the ball's booted clear.

Ten minutes before the break, one of the Montrose centre backs, Sean Crighton, makes a total hash of trying to clear the ball and Craig Malcolm takes advantage to smash it home with his left foot from just outside the box. Calamity defending from Crighton and the home fans are thoroughly unhappy with their team's performance.

Sitting in the Directors Box you are surrounded by men who care passionately about their team, many of these fellas look like they've been coming here for years. The old boy in front of us for example is totally engrossed in the game and I bet here's the only place he'd behave in such a manner.

Montrose are holding on now, one more before half time and this game's surely over as a contest. The half time whistle goes and player manager Steven Tweed is going to have to give the hair dryer treatment to gee his team up to come out fighting in the second half.

Our half time consisted of cups of tea, scotch pies, mini muffins and a warm seat inside listening and talking to some of the characters in the aforementioned suite. My dad notices a strip hanging up in a frame on the wall. Nothing out of the ordinary you may feel in such a place, this one however has a signed pair of red frilly ladies underwear in there too, check the picture above for proof.

I take some time before the second half starts to wander round the ground to take in the view of the stand from the terracing. On the way I notice Lee Wilkie of Dundee and Dundee United fame sat in the front row of the stadium. Must be hard for him to come and watch games seeing as he had to give it up in April as a result of some horrendous injuries over the years.

The game kicks off before I can get back to my seat and Stranraer score their third two minutes after the restart. From my position I don't really see the build up play but my dad tells me its another assist for Armand One as he flicks the ball into the path of Malcolm who is wide open and scores his second of the game. Surely there's no way back for Montrose now. Two minutes later and the impressive Agnew strikes a free kick off the bottom of the post , that was so close to the fourth.

There are calls from within the Director's Box for Tweed to substitute himself. This can't be good when the Director's Box are calling the player manager off the pitch. Two minutes later however the same fans are cheering when Paul Tosh finds himself free and unmarked, probably as he looks offside, and floats a great lob over the Stranraer keeper to pull one back. The keeper is furious and he races over to the far side linesman to voice his opinion. The goal stands and Mitchell gets booked for his outburst.

It's amazing the difference a goal can make to a game and Montrose are pressing forward all the time now. My dad and I have seen Stranraer throw away a lead before and if they concede a second they can easily cave in. Ross McCord, the twin brother of Ryan McCord who we saw play for Airdrie last week, is getting on the ball in the centre of the park and making things happen for Montrose. Both brothers are on loan from Dundee United and they look like they and the 'Arabs' have a bright future ahead.

Paul Tosh goes close to getting his second just before the hour mark, when a cracking shot smashes off the bottom of the post with the keeper well beaten. The second goal arrives five minutes later when McCord smacks home a shot into the top right hand corner, again there are suspicions of offside. This time it's Hegarty who gets booked for screaming at the linesman.

Montrose are then denied a stonewall penalty when one of their players is clearly pushed in the back in the penalty box. The home fans are now the ones screaming at the linesman. None of them get booked though.

Moments later the Montrose right back tries to get Mitchell sent off by falling to the ground after the merest of touches. The referee is spot on when he laughs the claim away much to the annoyance of the crowd who think their player's a saint who would never dive. He's a cheat though and should have been booked.

Fifteen minutes to go and its three each! McNally powers home a header from eight yards which gave the keeper no chance. What a come-back from Montrose, they looked totally out of it after fifty minutes.

Stranraer had a chance with ten minutes left when Winter had his shot saved by the keeper's feet; he really should have scored from there! The man sitting to my left says to his friend 'we are going to lose this from here'. I turn and tell him not to be some pessimistic and he replies with 'ah but you three weren't here for the game we lost 5 - 4 then?'. He's correct, we weren't.

Scott Agnew almost confirms his thoughts in the last minute when his corner is swerving in, only to be tipped over. From his resulting corner, a header is cleared off the line.

The full-time whistle goes. That really was a game of two halves. The first-half was dominated by Stranraer and they will go away knowing they took the foot off the gas at three up. Montrose on the other hand must feel that this is two points gained. They were awful in the first half and brilliant in the second.

We are offered a cup of tea or post match beverage in the bar after the game but we're off down the road and home. Cheers to all the folks at Montrose for the hospitality shown and to Duncan Ferguson and my sister,Isla, for arranging the tickets. And cheers to you Raymond for joining us this time out.

Next week my dad and I are off to watch Inverness Caledonian Thistle if you fancy the trip?

The Statistics

Ticket: Free. Normal prices would have been £10 for adults & £8 Concession.

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: 335

Pie: £1.30

Pie Marks: 7.5/10

Man of the Match: Dad - Scott Agnew (Stranraer) Raymond - Scott Agnew Me - Ross McCord (Montrose)

Final Score: Montrose 3 v Stranraer 3

Mileage: 190 miles
Fascinating Fact of the Day: To date Montrose have had the same number of draws home & away - 252.

Next Game: Caledonian Stadium (Inverness Caledonian Thistle)