Day Five: Annan Athletic (Galabank Stadium)

Annan Athletic v East Stirlingshire

Saturday 7th August (3pm Kick-off)

Fear not followers, the time and distance calculations were out again today. Left Edinburgh at 11.30 this morning and arrived in Annan at 1.45pm. Only 1hr and 15 minutes before kick off, still at least we got a parking space. First game of the new 3rd division season you see, crowd will be heaving.

We sat in the car, eating our tasty pack lunch - cheers Emma - rather than sit in the club's social club and watch the Rangers v Newcastle friendly on the box until it was time to watch the game. We wandered round the stadium, took some pictures and ended up stuck in the away end. A kindly steward let us out and told us about the pitch; it's slope is worse than the old Easter Road pitch. It's so bad that the pitch has to be moved next season to take it out of play. God knows how they're going to do that. Move it 5 metres in the required direction and you'll be standing on the main road into Annan to watch the game.

After the last two games debacle with the lack of half time pie's my dad was taking no chance and headed straight to the pie stand before the game had even kicked off. Thing was, however, the pies hadn't arrived at the ground yet - 15 minutes before kick off and nae pies, you should've seen the look on my dad's face.

All was well, however, when 5 minutes later a white transit van drove straight into the ground and delivered Scotch pie's for the waiting throng. £2.40 and two pies later and we'd agreed on a six out of ten marking for the pie, marked down for their hard crusts. My dad reminds me of the judge on Masterchef - not the bald one that likes his puddings, the other one - with his breakdown of the delicacy on offer.

Annan Athletic ran out to the theme tune from The A-Team but East Stirlingshire started the brighter of the two teams, much to the dismay of the (largely senior citizen) crowd around us.

However, after 16 minutes the home team scored. Then they scored a second after 17 minutes. And then a third after 19. Unbelievable, 3 goals in 4 minutes, the first two within 45 seconds. They were good goals too, especially the first one - a Mick Jack curler from the edge of the box.

The 25 or so away fans looked shell-shocked but it didn't take them long to start singing and smacking the advertising hoardings behind the goals, in fact they didn't stop singing all game. The home fans didn't sing one song all game. Seems to be a bit of a trend down in these lower divisions, hopefully that'll improve.

East Stirlingshire pulled one back from a corner, when a header came back off the post, hit the diving keeper on the back and went in. They then had most of the ball for the rest of the half but didn't make anything of it.

Half time entertainment was provided by an advert on the loud speaker for the Ginger Boot. The rest of Europe has the Golden Boot but the top scorer in the SFL also has the chance to add the Ginger Boot to their collection. If you haven't already guessed; it's sponsored by Irn-Bru.

The second half started and the away team had a lot of possession but, as in the first, they just didn't have a way through Annan. They worked hard and even chucked on three subs at the same time to try and freshen it up. Annan went the closest, however, when Gilfillan tried the David Beckham lob from 45 yards, the keeper did well to back track

Nothing much else happened and it finished 3 - 1 for Annan.

To sum up it was a great first half and a dull second. The away fans enjoyed their trip, singing their hearts out, some of them even baring their torsos to the unexpected Scottish afternoon sun (not for the fainthearted). It'd be good to go back in a year or so to see if they've fixed the slope.

As the teams walked off, the tannoy played 'That's all folks', they must have an album of these tunes here at Galabank - and that's all from me until next week!

The Statistics

Ticket Price: £9 (£5 concession)

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: 539

Pie: £1.20

Pie Marks: 6/10

Man of the Match: Dad - John Neil (East Stirlingshire) Me - Aaron Muirhead (Annan Athletic)

Final Score: Annan Athletic 3 v East Stirlingshire 1

Mileage: 182 miles

Fact of the Day: Until 1977 Annan Athletic played in the English minor league - The Carlise & District League

Next game: East Fife - Bay View Stadium (Tuesday 10th August)

Day Four: Hibernian (Easter Road)

Hibernian v NK Maribor

Thursday 5th August (7.45pm kick off)

Hurray, finally we get our time and distance calculations right and arrive at the ground a mere ten minutes before kick off. Guess it helps when you live within 20 minutes walking distance to the stadium.

Huge home support for Hibs' first home game of the season; which is a surprise as Hibs are sitting 3-0 down from the first leg. I hope they do well as the Scottish clubs haven't given a great account of themselves in Europe so far this season.

Flights must be expensive from Slovenia - I didn't see one away supporter! Quick update on the lack of away fans. The Edinburgh Evening News informed me that the reason behind the lack of fans at the game is because they started fighting amongst themselves(!) on the Royal Mile a couple of hours before the game and 40 of them got locked up over night for their behaviour.

Hibs started nice and brightly and everyone's favourite Edinburgh clubber Derek Riordan should have scored early on, but he shot straight at the keeper from 8 yards. The large home support were loud and in good singing spirits for the first 20 minutes, although lacking the jovial banter of the other games this far, until the Slovenians scored and then it got very quiet.

A sucker punch goal with some sloppy defending at a corner allowed Tavares (Brazillian striker, not the disco funk soul band from America) scored from 5 yards. It was amazing to see the crowd support disappear almost immediately and soon they turned on their own players - Colin Nish receiving most of the vitriol.

Half time came and the rush for the pie stand was fierce. Sorry Callum, no picture of the Haute cuisine this week; I chose the wrong queue, waited for ten minutes, coming away empty handed. Very poor performance from the catering staff, who runs out of pies at the first game!?! Still if I'd been less well fed, I could have got a half time half pizza for £2.70.

Hibs started the second half the brighter but were far too reliant on the long ball over the top. De Graaf was incredibly fortunate to get on the scoresheet for Hibs with a massive deflection from a Stokes shot. Just as the crowd in the South Stand started to believe that it might be possible after all, Kevin McBride chopped down an opponent in the penalty box and the ref pointed to the spot. Even before the penalty hit the back of the net, the clack of the emptying plastic seats was louder than any first half singing, signalling a mass exodus of home fans.

Maribor were a class above and the Hibs crowd showed their appreciation for a brilliantly worked third goal - the second of the game for Tavares - with the emptying of another couple of thousand of seats!

It took a long while for the humour to show through in this game but eventually with 10 minutes to go the home support started ironically cheering every touch and pass from Hibs with an Ole here and an Ole there. Hibs' De Graff managed to salvage a second goal a minute from time. But to be honest this flattered a poor Hibs team and everyone was probably happy to hear the final whistle.

The Statistics
Ticket Price: £15 (£10 concession)
Programme: £3
Attendance: 12,504
Pie: £2.30 - well it would have been if I'd got to buy one!!
Man of the Match: Dad - Armin Bacinovic Me - Dejan Mazga
Final Score: Hibs 2 - 3 NK Maribor
Mileage: 1 mile (walking distance)
Fact of the Day: Hibernian got to the semi-final of the first European Cup in 1955/56

Next Ground: Galabank Stadium - Annan Athletic (7th August)

Day Three: Stranraer (Stair Park)

Stranraer v Greenock Morton

Saturday 31st July (3pm Kick-off)

So I now you're all dying to know if my dad managed to get his time and distance calculation any closer. Simple answer is no. Left Edinburgh at 10.30am and arrived in rainy Stranraer a good 80 minutes before kick off.

Anyway back to the business at hand; It's the first round of the CIS Cup and the second week in a row we get the opportunity to watch 1st division Morton in action. I wonder if we'll see the return of the red boots?

Before the game's even kicked off my old man's desperate to sample the Stranraer Pie and I must admit it's a tale of two pies. Mine was good, nice and warm with a decent crust. My dad's however could've sunk a battleship with it's rock hard crust and, judging by his language, it might have been a touch on the warm side. Still, at only £1.20 it's not a total disaster - funds left for another chance at half time.

Morton are playing in their away strip and the first thing to notice is the fact they've got two different sponsors - Millions (the chewy tiny sweetie) are the sponsors on their home top and Buchanans Toffee sponsor their away top. I reckon they've got a local dentist to sponsor their 3rd strip. The away top's all red so the centre defender's chosen to offset his with white boots today' denying us the chance for a repeat of the legendary 'Dorothy' heckle.

3rd division Stranraer kick things off and even with the annoying hum of the few Vuvuzela's (God I really hope these things don't take off!!) it doesn't take long for Morton to show us they mean business as the left back romps through a static Stranraer defence, cracking a 30 yard drive of the post along the line and out for a by-kick. The deadlock is finally broken in the 27th minute by Stewart Kean. By half time Morton are two up.

The four bus loads of Morton fans are having a great time, especially those dressed in the fake Gazza boobs and cowboy hats; invading the pitch they provided the half time entertainment with their game of imaginary football. Bloody hilarious they were, so it was disappointing when the local bobby came and kicked them off. Must mention the Stranraer catering team underestimating the popularity of their half time refreshments and running out of pies - marks off the overall experience.

Second half kicks off and Morton are four nil up after 54 minutes. Stranraer then have the cheek to score a consolation and Morton go on to take the proverbial and stick another three past them. When the seventh goal went in after 83 minutes a young fella sat near us shouted "okay Stranraer let's just go for the draw", nice to see fans still showing a bit of humour. Unfortunately for him those sort of come backs only take place in Roy of the Rovers....

The Statistics:
Ticket Price: £12 (£6 Concession)
Programme: £2
Attendance: 470
Pie: £1.20
Pie Marks: Me 7/10 - Dad 5/10
Man of the Match: Stewart Kean
Final Score: Stranraer 1 - Greenock Morton 7
Mileage: 260 miles
Fact of the Day: Closet professional ground to Stranraer is Larne FC in Northern Ireland

Next Ground - Easter Road - Hibernian (5th August)

Day two: Dumbarton (Strathclyde Home Stadium)

Dumbarton vs. Greenock Morton
25th July 2010

Alba Challenge Cup First round

No rest for the wicked as we are off to our second game in 24 hours. This time we're off to watch Dumbarton host local rivals Greenock Morton in the South West match of the Alba Challenge Cup First round. We're really going for it this weekend, by the time we get home tonight we'll have clocked up 440 miles. Here's hoping we're treated to another belter of a game like yesterday's goal fest.

It seems as though my dad hasn't learnt any lessons from yesterdays early arrival at Peterhead as I summoned to Cramond at midday for the 64 mile journey to Dumbarton.

Our estimated time of arrival seems to dawn on my dad as he takes his foot of the accelerator just as we approach the Kingston Bridge in Glagow. It makes no difference as we arrive at Dumbarton's ground, the Strathclyde Homes Stadium. What a name for your home ground.

This game was originally scheduled for yesterday but amazingly it was pushed back because it was double booked with a wedding. Times must be hard when you postpone a local derby for a wedding.

With bags of time to spare I take a wee wander around the ground being sure to get a photo with Dumbarton Castle in the background of the ground for the album.

As the coach loads of fans pour in from Greenock we decide to head over to the ground at 2.30pm. As you can see from the photo above there is only the one stand at Dumbarton. The dug outs are on the other side of the pitch all on their own and it's a strange atmosphere inside the stadium as you can't actually see the away fans, you can hear them though.

The game kicks off.

Morton are on the attack straight away and a Stuart Keen header is saved by Stephen Grindlay in the home goal. Keen tries his luck moments later and forces the keeper to dive to his left to and turn the ball round for a corner and then he saves again from an Allan Jenkins effort. All this within the first two minutes. Promising signs for decent game.

Carlo Monti - what a great name - went close on seven minutes with a decent left foot volley from outside the box.

Dumbarton struggled to get into the game and it took them almost twenty minutes before they tested Colin Stewart. Scott Chamblain tried his luck from ten yards out but it was a comfortable save in the end.

Midway through the first half I heard one of the best heckles ever at a football match when a Dumbarton fan called out to one of the Morton defenders who was wearing bright red football boots - You're no in Kansas now Dorothy, this is fu*king Dumbarton. This was greeted with a mass chuckle not only from me and my dad, but by everyone in proximity.

Priceless so it was.

Keen again went close on the half hour mark with a right foot volley level that Grindlay did well to save, he couldn't hold it however and Peter Weatherson somehow managed to put the rebound wide of the post.

Dumbarton, although they now had more of the possession, couldn't find that final pass or bit of space in behind the defenders to test the away side and as the half drew to an end Keen had two or three more half chances to put his side level.

Half time.

Bring on the pie. It can't possibly be as bad as the one on sale at Peterhead. It wasn't, it was in fact 'a good-sized, crunchy-based meaty affair' according to my dad.

The second half went much the same way as the first with Morton having the better of the chances. Grindlay kept his side in the game on fifty minutes when he made a great flying save to tip a Keen header over the bar.

As time wore on it seemed like Dumbarton were the happier of the two sides and a change in formation suggested that the Dumbarton coach was playing for extra time and penalties.

It was on a rare break in to the opposition penalty box for Dumbarton with twenty minutes left and Scott Chaplain really should have scored with his left foot shot from only six yards out.

The Morton manager made a double substitution on with ten minutes left in the pursuit of the winning goal before full time. That's all his subs made now and there is still a potential forty minutes left, hope they don't get any injuries.

In the very last minute of normal time, when a cross was missed by all three Morton players within the six yard box and it drifted out for a goal kick.

Full time.

Both managers issue their instructions and the physios get to work on those players suffering from cramp and then the referee blows his whistle and we're off again.

We get only one shot on target in the first period of extra time and it's that man Keen yet again being denied by Grindlay in goal.

The second period isn't much better although Dumbarton do force Stewart into tipping a looping Paul Maxwell header over the bar.

The final whistle goes and it's the dreaded penalties.

With neither goal set in front of spectators both sets of players are spared any real attempts to put them off on their run up.

Dumbarton get off to the worst start when Ross Campbell smacks his penalty off the bar.

The next seven penalties are scored and it's left to Dumbarton's Ryan McStay to keep his side in it at 4-2 down. Unfortunately for him, his side and the home fans his effort is weak and easily saved by Stewart diving to his left.

The Morton players run to him as if he's saved the decisive kick in the Champions League final. The home players troop off dejected.

Overall, best team won.

The statistics:

Ticket price: £10 (£5 concessions - Dad)
Programme: £2
Attendance: 1301
Pie: £1.35
Pie marks: 7/10
Man of the match: Stephen Grindlay
Final score: 0-0 after extra time, Morton won 4-3 on penalties
Mileage: 128 miles
Fact of the day: Closest stadium to a castle (Dumbarton Castle)

Next ground: Stair Park - Stranraer (31st July)

Day one: Peterhead (Balmoor Stadium)

Petehead vs Montrose

24th July 2010

Alba Challenge Cup 1st Round

Well here we go, off on a journey that will see us travel the length and breadth of Scotland, hell we'll even nip south of the border at some point to see Berwick Rangers.

When I mentioned to my dad a few months back that it would be great one day to visit all the grounds in Scottish football I never thought he would see this as a challenge and go away and work out all the logistics and then two weeks ago present me with a schedule. I'm amazed he thinks he can fit it all in around using his season ticket for Kilmarnock as well.

He's worked it out so that we can get to those grounds furthest away during the light summer months and kept us close to home during the winter.

It's with this in mind that we're off to Peterhead today to watch them play against Montrose in an Alba Challenge Cup 1st round tie. My dad reckons it'll take us a good four hours to get up to Peterhead but that we should leave at 10am in case we come across any problems. I think he's being a little bit cautious but as he's going to be doing the driving for most of these games I'm happy to follow his estimation.

Last night I sat myself down in front of the computer and put together a couple of cd's for us to listen to. It's hard gauging something we'll both be happy to listen to but I've stuck in the usual suspects, The Beach Boys, Stones, Beatles and a few more obscure numbers. Anyway I hope he likes it.

It's an early Saturday morning start for me, earlier than I've had in a while and I'm now thinking I should have headed home from the pub long before closing time. By the time I pull up at Cramond, shortly after 10am, my dad is already sat in his motor. He's a bit eager to get started it seems.

The journey up to Peterhead was lovely. The weather was beautiful, traffic light and he liked the cd. It seemed like it took us no time at all to cover the 161 miles and I have to inform you that my dads time and distance calculation was out by a good ninety minutes - here's hoping he takes this on board for future games.

Driving into the town we pass a small scaled fairground and try as I might my dads not up for a shot on the Waltzers to kill some time. We make our way along to Balmoor Stadium and find that we can park right beside the ground. We've got loads of time to spare so we sit back, tune the radio in for Off the Ball on Radio Scotland, tuck in to the pack lunch my girlfriend, Emma, has made for us and read the papers.

At 2.30pm we head over to the ground, being sure to get a photo outside the ground to prove we were here. Whilst I 'm buying a programme for the match my dad nips in to the Club Shop to purchase what will no doubt be the first of many Club pin badges.

We make our way in to the ground and straight away are faced with a dilemma - shall we sit in the old stand or the new one? We decide we'll head to where the most fans are sitting in the hope that we'll soak up the atmosphere.

The game kicks off bang on 3pm and it's Peterhead who make all the early running and it's their veteran striker Dennis Wyness who opens the scoring seven minutes in with a delightful lob over the keeper from the edge of the area.

Just before half time Montrose's Daryl Nicol had the chance to draw the sides level when he found himself on the end of a cross in to the six yard box but somehow he managed to head past the post.

Half time.

Both of us have followed a fair bit of football over the years and I can safely say that neither of us have gone down the cup of Bovril at half time, that stuff is nasty. It has always been the scotch pie for us and with another forty one grounds to go and no doubt there's a fair bit of expectation as we head off in search of them.

At £1.50 a pop they're not going to sell too many of these over the season at Peterhead. It's got a right soggy pastry bottom and its tiny. Here's hoping that we don't find too many of these over our travels.

We make our way back to our seats and settle in for the second half.

Peterhead started the second half with a flourish and Neil McVitie went close with a dipping effort that hit the top of the crossbar. It didn't take too much longer for the second goal to arrive however as a Callum McDonald header was unluckily deflected by Montrose defender Allan Campbell past his own keeper.

Just before the hour mark Peterhead scored a third and the game was effectively over. Wyness scored his second goal when he got on the end of a cut back into the box.

With ten minutes left we were treated to an absolute pearler of a goal from Peterhead midfielder Paul Emslie. He picked the ball up on the half way line and took a few steps forward, looking up he must have noticed keeper Bennett off his line and he unleashed a shot from all of forty five yards that went straight in to the top corner.

Finally with this goal we got a song or two of the home supporters. A tough act to please obviously.

Dennis Wyness went close to a first day hat-trick but the woodwork denied him. Peterhead weren't to be denied a fifth however when fifteen minutes before time Martin Bavidge fired in from a tight angle.

At full time I turned to my dad and thanked him for choosing this as the first game. I only hope we're as lucky for the remaining forty one games.

The statistics:

Ticket price: £12 (£6 concessions - Dad)

Programme: £2

Attendance: 357 (12 Montrose fans, at the most)

Pie: £1.50

Pie marks: 4.5/10

Man of the match: Me - Callum Macdonald (Peterhead) / Dad - Graeme Sharp (Peterhead)

Final score: 5-0

Mileage: 322 miles

Fact of the day: Balmoor is the furthest league ground in Scotland from a railway station, Aberdeen being the closest.

Next ground: Strathclyde Home Stadium - Dumbarton (25th July)