Day Thirty Nine: Cowdenbeath (Central Park)

Cowdenbeath v Greenock Morton
Tuesday 22nd March
Scottish Division 1

You wait all season for a Cowdenbeath game and then two come along at once.

It's the last of our mid week adventures tonight and the last of the grounds to visit in the First Division. Only three more home teams to see Brechin City, Ayr United and Arbroath.

Instead of my dad driving across Edinburgh to pick me up after work I've decided to bring my car to work so I can drive over to Cramond myself. I need to head home first to check on the state of play at my flat. We've had a minor disaster this week with a boiler leak and slight flooding of the flat below. I'm delighted then when I get home to find the gas man has been round, fixed the leaky pipe and stopped the bleeding so to say.

It's just after 6pm when I get to my folks house and I've got just enough time to say hello to my mum before jumping in my dad's car for the short trip over the bridge to Cowdenbeath. Again it's an early start but after thirty eight games I've got used to the fact that he wants to make sure we get parked near the ground.

We turn off the M90 at Hill of the Beath, head towards Central Park and park up at the ground with ninety minutes to spare. I'm absolutely starving and I'm sure I'm saw a Fish n' Chips place on the way in to town. I ask my dad if he fancies a poke of chips but he tells me he'll wait and get a pie in the ground.

On the way up to buy them a wee voice in my head reminds me that I entered in to an agreement with the missus to make this week 'Healthy Eating Week' and the guilt drives me towards Morrison's for a self-service pasta salad and a carton of milk - Emma would be proud ha ha.

I take it back to the car and settle in for half an hour or so of the football on Radio Scotland before we make our way in to the ground.

We decide to make our move when the coach load of Morton fans turn up, got to make sure we get a seat eh. Pre-match photo taken we pay and head past a burger van on our way to the Club Shop which is located in a portacabin.

As I'm buying a programme my dad is off asking a steward if there is a pie stand open in the ground. A Club official pipes up that 'it depends on the number of folks in through the gate, if we get enough punters we'll open up. In the meantime you can get something from the van'.

Our last pie from a van was way back in September with at Berwick Rangers and if memory serves me right it was pretty minging. Here's hoping we'll do better here.

You can not imagine the horror my dad's face when we read what is available - Cheese Burger or a Bacon Burger. Nae pies. No points and a very disgruntled punter. I'm just glad I've had my pasta salad earlier. After he's calmed down my dad asks for a burger bacon roll. As we make our way to the stand he points out that this is the first burger bacon roll he's had with nae burger in it.

Now I'm not the brightest but surely it makes more business sense to buy in a load of pies, heat them up and sell them on at a profit than it is to take £100 rent off an outside catering company and let them sell products at a profit on your property?

You'd also not have let my old man down. Shame on you Cowdenbeath, (insert sad face here).

Making my way into the stand first thing I notice is that there is a dirt track around the side of the pitch. My dad tells me that if I wanted I could bring my car along here and enter it in a Stock Car race.

It's a strange set up this side of the pitch too with not one but two separate stands to choose from on this side or an open terracing on the far side. We decide on a seat in the more modern looking of the two stands but have to position ourselves in between the many stanchions for the floodlights.

My dad points out a flag hung up at the bottom of the stairs, it reads Dublin Branch of the Cowdenbeath Supporters Club and right on queue five middle aged and looking slightly inebriated men come into view, three of them are carrying those traditional Irish drums. I hope the decide on a seat away from us, I'm not a fan of the drumming at matches.

Out of the tunnel in front of us comes the home mascot Bluebell the Cow and she trots on to the pitch to get a pre-match photo with the mascots. More of the mascot to follow.

The game kicks off.

Three minutes later and we witness the softest penalty award of the season. Iain Brines, tonight's referee awards a penalty after a long Carlo Monti thrown in to the box bounces towards the by line and up on to a Cowdenbeath defender Mark Baxter's hand. Never a penalty. The boy could have done nothing about it and it wasn't as though he had deflected it from a path towards an attacker. A poor decision.

Up stepped Monti himself to fire the ball in to the bottom left corner as the 'beath keeper, David Hay, went the other way.

Cowdenbeath went in search of a equaliser and Mark Ramsay had a shot deflected wide, and then a Craig Winter missed from five yards with a free header from the resulting corner.

Morton responded in similar fashion when Derek Lyle saw his shot saved by the feet of Hay. From their corner Peter Weatherspoon was unlucky not to add a second with a brilliant back header from the edge of the six yard box.

The aforementioned Monti has a throw in style like Stoke player Rory Delap and from another of his huge efforts Brian Graham had a header that flashed just wide.

There are so few people at tonight's game that there is no segregation with home and away fans sat together. I'm sure when the local rivals Dumfermline and Raith Rovers are in town things with be different but tonight it's fairly jovial so far.

The home side are forced into an early substitution when striker Archie Campbell limps off with what looks like a hamstring injury,on comes Mark McKenzie in his place. The substitute should have done better with ten minutes to go until half time but chose to shot when the square ball inside was the better option.

Sat a few rows behind us in the stand are five Morton players in their Club tracksuits. They are just young boys, probably part of the youth set up and they seem to be minding their own business watching the game or playing on their phones. We're all then a little surprised to see a steward walk in to the stand and demand that two off them come down the front for a chat. They're taken off almost out of sight but you can still tell from the gesticulating from the group that there is a disagreement taking place. A Cowdenbeath official then approaches the group to say his piece. With this change in proceedings a Morton official makes his way from the Stand to the group. Further words are exchanged and then the two boys are banished from the ground.

It's all very strange. It has however taken all my attention away from what has been a fairly poor forty five minutes of football.

Half time and I inform my dad I'm off to the van for a cup of tea and I ask if I can pick anything up for him. He asks for a bacon burger and tells me to make sure there is a burger in it this time.

On my way out I ask one of the remaining Morton boys for an update but he informs me he hasn't got a clue, he set they were all sat there just watching the game.

At the van I notice that the Burger Bacon sign has been replaced with a Bacon Roll one. Still I chance my arm and ask the lassie for a Burger n' Bacon roll. She's not sure now, almost as if I've asked for the impossible. In the end she agrees but only if I promise not to let everyone see and she then charges my £4.50 for it.

Back in the stand and Bluebell appears with a box of Cadbury's Celebrations and proceeds to offer one to every person in the stand. Now you don't get that at every game. Doesn't make up for nae pies though.

The second half kicks off.

The level of football continues in to the same vain as the first and both teams struggle to string any real period of possession in the first ten minutes.

Greg Stewart nearly brings Cowdenbeath back to life with a great header from a corner that needs a brilliant Cuthbert save to tip it over the bar.

The second Morton goal on the hour mark sums up this game, sloppy. David Hay came racing out of his goal to clear a back pass and he smashed the ball against the Morton attacker Allan Jenkins and could only watch as it flew back past him and rolled into the empty net.

Fouad Bachirou becomes the first player in to the book when he picks up a yellow card for chopping down a 'beath player as he strode past him in to an attacking position.

Stewart went close again with fifteen minutes left but his shot was blocked by a combination of keeper and centre back.

Jimmy Nicholl throws on Stevie Crawford with ten minutes left to try and pull the home side back into the game.

In the final minutes Jon Robertson went close to a consolation goal with a free kick that curled up and over the wall but the wrong side of the post.

The final whistle goes and brings to an end what my dad and I both describe as the worst game yet.

Making our way back to the car I ask one of the track suited Morton boys for a further update and apparently the two lads were chucked out for shouting abuse at a ball boy. I was sitting much closer to the fella than the steward who came and chucked him out and I'm more than certain you could ask anyone else in the stand and they wouldn't have been able to relay what was supposedly said either.

Still it brought some needed excitement to proceedings.

The Statistics

Ticket: Adult £18, Concession £10
Programme: £2
Attendance: 359
Pie: N/A
Pie Marks: N/A
Mileage: 32 miles
Final Score: Cowdenbeath 0 v Greenock Morton 2
Man of the Match: Dad - Brian Graham (Greenock Morton), Me - Brian Graham (Greenock Morton)
Fascinating Fact of the Day: Central Park is the only ground in the United Kingdom with a Stock Car track running around the edge of the pitch.

Next Game: Glebe Park (Brechin City)

SPL Highlights

Our visit to Celtic Park on the 5th March was the final installment of our journey around all the SPL grounds and as such I thought I'd share with you a few highlights from the twelve grounds.

Things started off on the 5th August with a visit to Easter Road for the Hibs v NK Maribor Europa League qualifier. The home team got royally pumped that night and it seemed to set the tone for Hibs for months to come.

Money spent on Tickets: Adult: £272 - Must point out that this is for all twelve games. Two games were free for me. My sister bought us tickets for the Rangers v Man United and I was given a free ticket from a bloke just outside the turnstile at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock

Concession: £186 - As above this is the price for all grounds and doesn't take into account the generous offer from my sister. My dad also has a season ticket for Kilmarnock so we used the price it would have been for a concession ticket.

Money spent on Programme: £33

Attendance: 172, 738

Money spent on Pie's: £41.40

Goals scored: 28

Total Mileage: 1,324 miles

Top Three Pie's: Aberdeen 8 / 10, Dundee United 7.5 / 10 & Motherwell 7.5 / 10

My dad will feel betrayed that I haven't included his beloved Killie Pie in this countdown but if you've read the Kilmarnock report you'll remember we disagreed on the day too regarding the score to award.

Top Three Goals:
Dad -
1. Kris Commons 1st goal against Hamilton. A half volley from the edge of the area,
2. Jamie Hamill's injury time winner for Kilmarnock versus Aberdeen.
3. Craig Conway for Dundee United. A defence splitting pass, lead to a long chase before Conway leathered it past the keeper.

Me: -
1. Kris Commons - As above.
2. Liam Miller for Hibs. Hibs completed a great come back against Motherwell when a quick ball out of defence after clearing a corner, Riordhan played a great ball to Miller who raced clear and shot between the keepers legs.
3. Marco Taveres. Brilliant team work from NK Maribor to score their third against Hibs.

Most witnessed side: Hibs x 5, Kilmarnock x 3, St.Mirren x 2, St.Johnstone x 2, Hamilton x 2,

Best Atmosphere: Hearts v Hibs New Years Day Derby.

Day Thirty Eight: Raith Rovers (Starks Park)

Raith Rovers v Cowdenbeath

Tuesday 15th March

Scottish Division 1

Thirty seven games in and tonight we're off to see two new sides tonight, Raith Rovers & Cowdenbeath. A local derby between two sides at different ends of Division 1. Raith are currently top whilst Cowdenbeath are second bottom.

We've been watching the BBC football page on the net to see if the game is going to survive the torrential downpour of the last day or so. The 3.30pm pitch inspection passes the test so it's a straight from work effort tonight and my dad picks me up at 5.45pm for the journey over the bridge to Kirkcaldy. As ever the traffic across Edinburgh is brutal but we make time up on the rest of the journey. Listening to Sportsound on Radio Scotland, the commentator at the Raith game reckons Raith will shoot towards the shallow end in the first half. We make it to Kirkcaldy and park up not far from the ground by 6.45pm. We've got an hour before the game and decide to sit in the car for a while before braving the cold.

We make our way over to Stark's Park about 7.20pm to give ourselves time for the pre match photo and Club shop visit.

The stadium is hemmed in on either side, the far side has a derelict stand pushed up against the main East Coast railway line. The near side has a L shaped stand which runs half the length of the pitch and round a corner flag and behind the goals there are two large stands.

A visit to the Club shop later and we've picked up a programme but unfortunately, for my dad, they've run out of pin badges. A quick look at the programme and I'm slightly confused by the Merry Christmas banner and Christmas cartoon on the cover. On closer inspection I can see that this is the programme for the original game that was called off from the 18th December.

We decide on the L shaped stand for a better view of the game than behind the goals. Walking out into the stand we come face to face with the 'Tango Man' - Jimmy Calderwood. I over my hand and inform him of the fact I'm an Aberdeen fan and that I think they way he was treated by the Aberdeen Board was unjust and I wish him well at Ross County. He seems genuinely grateful for the comments. I'm already on my way to find a seat when my dad tells Jimmy that he's a Kilmarnock fan and I'm too far away to hear the rest.

Looking at the seating options available I'm dismayed to find that none of the seats have backs to them. All you get is a molded piece of plastic stuck to the concrete row. You also have to position yourself between the stanchions so you can see both goals. Still we chose to sit here as you get a better of the game side on.

Seat chosen and I'm off to buy dinner for us both, 2 Scotch pie's please.

Now then we could have a contender for Pie of the Season here. An eight out of ten, maybe even an eight and a half. According to my dad it's got a nice crust, tasty filling, it's not to hard and it's a perfect temperature. The fact that he's starving helps to. The pie is so good we have a second before kick off.

Cowdenbeath fans have turned up in their tens. A poor away support especially as Cowdenbeath is only seven miles away. The home fans have also noticed the poor away support 'What a shitty away support' they sing. Still there are probably more of them than there were Hamilton fans at Celtic.

Just before kick off the various board members from either team come out to sit in the Directors Box and low and behold, Donald Finlay QC strides out in a blue Cowdenbeath jacket. I never knew he was the on the board. My dad tells me he's the Chairman in fact.

Raith run out to there on theme song. It's full of accordions and sounds very much like the Hearts song so it does.

The game kicks off.

We get another look at Stevie Crawford tonight. Jimmy Nicholl, the Beath manager, signed him from East Fife where he was player manager earlier in the season.

John Baird, Raith's number nine, has the first chance when he takes the ball past two defenders and heads goal wards. His final touch lets him down though and the defender clears.

'Beath left back Kenneth Adamson tries his luck from fully thirty five yards out but his left foot shot almost goes out for a throw in it's that wild.

Simmons turns well on the edge of the box and curls an effort goal wards but its an easy save for David Hay in the away goal. Thirteen minutes in and a Craig Wilson shot goes just the wrong side of the post for Raith. Baird wastes a great chance five minutes later when he intercepted a poor pass, beat the last defender and then hoofed it miles over the bar.

Archie Campbell could have made Rovers pay for missing these chances when he sprinted clear of a static defence and found himself two on one against the last man. Rather than play the easy ball to his team mate he shot straight at the keeper.

Allan Walker of Raith then had a shot on the turn saved comfortably by the keeper. Minutes later a fantastic ball down the wing by Davidson was played right across the six yard box where Walker got a touch to it. He must have thought he's opened the scoring but a flying David Hay made a brilliant save.

On rare break into the Rovers half, Greig Stewart through on goal, took too many touches, narrowed his own angle and shot straight at McNeil. Davidson almost gifted Beath the lead when he was woefully short with a back pass and Campbell was only denied putting the league leaders behind by a brilliant McNeil save.

The home fans try and rouse their team with a burst of song and cheering.

It seems to do the job as right on the stroke of half time Mark Ferry floats a ball over the away defence and Gregory Tade smashes it in to the top corner.

Half time.

The stadium announcer informs us that second placed Dunfermline are being held one each at half time by bottom placed Stirling Albion. He deflates the hope of the crowd some what by telling us that Stirling are down to ten men however.

The second half kicks off and two minutes in Tade almost makes it two nil. Running at the keeper from the corner of the box, only the keepers legs keep the ball out.

Against the run of play, Cowdenbeath grab an equaliser. A Scott Linton cross is met by the diving head of Greig Stewart and the ball nestles in the bottom corner.

Rovers went up the other end of the park, Simmons headed the ball in to the path of Baird and his shot hit the post and rebounded to safety.

The away fans are singing it's all gone quiet over there!

Ferry then plays a shocking ball across the back four without looking and Ramsay picked it off. He has so much time to pick his spot and perhaps it's too much time as he shot tamely at the keeper.

The home fans are getting restless, they reckon their team have run out of ideas and there are many shouts from the crowd for the manager to change things round.

Ten minutes to go and a Ferry shot goes just past the left hand post.

My dad reckons the Cowdenbeath number eight looks like he has been kicking around the lower divisions of the Scottish leagues all his career. He is then somewhat embarrassed when the player is substituted and we find out it's Colin Cameron, ex Hearts, Wolves and Scotland.

Stevie Crawford shows his skills by taking the ball down expertly on the edge of the box and firing a half volley on the turn which scrapes the top of the bar.

Two minutes later and Baird fires the home side in front again. Walker breaks free on the right wing and plays a delicious ball across the face of the goal and Baird rises high to head it back the way it came and into the bottom corner.

The home fans celebrate with a burst of we're going to win the league.

With two minutes to go the last chance of the game fell to Crawford but his snap shot goes wide.

Full time.

On the basis of play tonight Raith have deserved their victory, they had most of the possession and way more chances than their opponents.

The home side are boosted when the news that comes through Dumfermline have been held to a draw as this puts them four points clear with nine games to go. If Raith do win the league and come up this year I feel they'll need to strengthen their back line if they hope to compete. I wish them well though as we don't want to see Falkirk and their annoying manager, Steven Pressley, to get promotion and as an Aberdeen fan I've witnessed Dunfermline beat us on too many occassions also.

Plus the fact they've got one of the best pies in the country.

The Statistics

Ticket: Adult £18, Concession £8

Programme: £2.00

Attendance: 1,495

Pie: £1.40

Pie Marks: 8 / 10

Mileage: 80 miles

Final Score: Raith Rovers 2 v Cowdenbeath 1

Man of the Match: Dad - John Baird (Raith Rovers) Me - John Baird (Raith Rovers)

Fascinating Fact of the Day: Once upon a time my late Uncle, Kelly, worked for Martin Plant Hire. On one occassion Martin Plant Hire were sponsoring the Man of the Match award and the prize was a giant bottle of Whisky. Kelly and his colleagues were enjoying the hospitality so much that before they knew it they had drunk most of the bottle and they had nothing to give to the winner. Kelly, who was always sharp on his feet, jumped in a taxi and headed to his work. He reappeared before the final whistle with a deluxe Chainsaw for the man of the match. Thanks go to my dad for providing this story.

Next Game: Central Park (Cowdenbeath)

Day Thirty Seven: Celtic (Celtic Park)

Celtic v Hamilton Academicals

Saturday 5th March

Scottish Premier League

We're off to Celtic Park today, the last of the grounds to visit in the SPL. I've never been before and I'm looking forward to seeing what the fuss is about. I'm disappointed that I won't get to witness Neil Lennon perform his touchline antics as he starts another stint in the stand.

My dad insists I arrive at his house no later than 12pm for the drive over to Glasgow, we've got to get into the car park at the ground you see. I make sure I leave the house with about forty minutes to spare and yet I'm still having to text him when I'm stuck at red light after red light. He's not to happy then when I rock up at 12.15pm and not even the bottle of HP Guiness sauce I present him with manages to put me back in the good books. There are only five games to go, I really should try and be on time for at least one of them.

We're entertained as usual by Tam & Stuart on BBC Radio. There guests this week are Justin Currie from Del Amitri and Richard Gough and amongst the topics on discussion are the mid-week old firm game and Del Amitri's World Cup song, Don't come home to soon. Tam wonders if this will be the last World Cup song we'll get to listen to, which is a cheery thought.

We arrive at the ground and I'm fortunate that there are still spaces in the parking area beside the stadium. Having never seen the stadium in the flesh I must admit it's a fair size. Today Celtic are unveiling a statue in honour of the late great Jock Stein and there are loads of people mulling around the ground already and it's only 1.20pm.

It's my turn for the pre match photo and we decide to go for it now and then come back to the car to wait till nearer kick off. Making our way over, my dad points out the new National Velodrome that is being built right opposite the ground in preparation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Photo taken we take a wee wander in the hunt for a shop so I can buy a paper but all we find a boarded up shops, pubs with bouncers on the door plenty of burger fans and numerous sellers of scarves, flags and the like. One or two of them are selling flags with the Pope on them and the words 'Our God Reigns'. Why you'd want to buy a flag like that to take to watch a SPL match I'll never know.

We also come across a fella selling various programmes from years gone by and whilst most of them feature Celtic, he does have some others including a Third Lanark programme which will cost you £40. I'm sure my dad has a suitcase full of old programmes stored in the attic. I must have to investigate further. In the meantime I buy a programme for today's game and am surprised that it's only £2.50, most of the other programmes for the big sides have been £3 a pop.

We head back to the motor for a while before heading over to the ground about a half hour before kick off. Checking our tickets we see were in the East Stand's lower section behind one of the goals. Dad had tried to get tickets on the sidelines but was told that those seats are for season ticket holders.

Inside the ground we're greeted by mini Celtic shops and massive food stands. Not just your average scotch or steak pie's on offer here, you can chips n' curry sauce, a chicken burger, a normal burger and many other healthy options. I don't want any of that nonsense though, the good old Scotch pie will do us.

The pie still costs a whopping £2 however and it's no that gid. It's burnt. It's stuck to the container. It's a six maximum and lucky to get that according to the pie guru.

The pre match entertainment is much better. Not content with a few songs over the tannoy, cheerleaders or boys doing keepie-uppies at Parkhead. No here they wheel out The Beatles to perform a few numbers. Wait, it wasn't The Beatles, it was Them Beatles, a tribute band who happend to be playing in Glasgow at the weekend. They were pretty good, although Paul didn't look like Paul.

Sat not to far away from us are what I'm led to believe are 'the Green Brigade'. This section of fans came to prominence last year when they unfurled banners against the placing of Poppies on all football sides strips around Armistice Day. Today the banners are in support of Club manager Neil Lennon and state 'Lennon will never walk alone'. They also have two burly blokes beating on their bass drums.

The game kicks off with the ground almost full. Well apart from the away end and in fact there are so few away fans we can count them - 95 fans in total. 95! What a terrible away support - see the photo above for evidence of the meagre Hamilton following. Fair enough the seats for away fans are pretty poor and there must be seats where you can't actually see the whole pitch.

Celtic could have taken the lead in the first minute. A cross into the Hamilton box is sliced wildly on to his own post by Simon Mensing and out for a corner. The corner comes to nothing.

The brigade beside us start with a burst of 'There's only one Neil Lennon' before breaking into 'Stand up if you hate Rangers' - thousands stand for this.

For all the talent on the park for Celtic and all their possession they don't really have any cutting edge up front as Stokes has to come deep to collect the ball and Samaras offering little.

It's twenty minutes before we see further action. A Carrington drive went just wide with Forster beaten. Elebert then headed a Paixao corner just over.

You'd thing the home fans would become restless and perhaps they were but all we could hear was the constant banging off the drums and singing from brigade to our right. Honestly they just don't stop singing.

Celtic forced their passing play back into the game and the left back Izaguirre was finding loads of space to bomb up and down the wing. One of the many balls he played into the box was only narrowly missed by Samaras and another was only partially cleared and Mulgrew chipped it to the back post where Stokes tried a volley from an impossible angle that went well wide.

Off the ball Samaras and Elebert have a wee handbags moment between themselves which is quickly broken up by referee Steve O'Reily.

It must be pointed out that in the programme Celtic officials have stated that all fans must sit down during the game at all times. It's strange then that not once has a steward approached the mass of fans to our right to ask them to sit. They should hire the stewards from Motherwell, they'd get stuck in straight away.

Ki Sung Yueng should have done better than shot wide when Stokes found him with a brilliant through ball.

It's a full forty two minutes before Celtic manage a shot on target but my god it was worth waiting for. A Celtic corner right in front of us broke to Scott Brown on the edge of the box and he took a touch or two before teeing up Kris Commons. From the moment it left his foot it was swerving away from the keeper and it nestled in the top corner.

For me that is one of the best goals I've seen this season, almost as good as Jamie Stevenson's for East Stirling v Elgin way back in August last year.

The Celtic fans celebrate with their own version of Depeche Mode's 'Just can't get enough'. The words change slighty to 'When I'm with you Celtic, I got out my head, I just can't get enough, just can't get enough'.

Hamilton almost find themselves two down moments before the end of the first half when Cerny makes a great save from a Samaras header.

Half time.

Out of nowhere about a dozen blokes descend on the pitch with pitchforks to replace the divots and tend to the pitch. Nowhere on our travels have we seen such dedication to the playing surface, it's just a shame the players on show haven't down it justice so far.

Five minutes into the break I decide to nip down for a quick pee. In the Gents every third person is smoking and you have to fight your way through the smog to find the way out.

I'm tempted to go buy us both another pie in the off chance the first efforts were just a bad pair but the size of the queue puts my off and I put my crampons on before tackling the descent back to my seat.

Both sides made substitutions at the start of the second half. Rogne replaces Majstrorovic for Celtic whilst Hopkirk replaces Hasselbaink for Hamilton.

Celtic midfielder went close a few minutes after the break but his fierce shot was straight at the keeper. Commons was denied his second goal by a brilliant sliding tackle just as he went to shot.

Commons did get his goal seven minutes in to the second half and it was a gift from Hamilton. Elebert played a shocking ball across his own goal and Commons ran on to it to curl the ball in to the corner and out of the reach of the keeper. He took the goal well but he should never have been given the opportunity in the first place.

Hamilton have showed very little going forward and will have to pull something spectacular out the bag to turn this around.

Either way I'm hoping this second goal will bring the tempo of the game up and we get some more excitement.

All we got was a spat between Kayal and McDonald but even that failed to materilise beyond a push or two.

I was disappointed when with ten minutes to go hoards of home fans started to leave the ground and by the time the full whistle went about a third of the fifty odd thousand at the game had left.

I was disappointed by the game, I expected more from Celtic, more flair, more action and more goals. Having seen Hamilton before I wasn't expecting much from them and as harsh as it may sound I think the SPL is too much for them.

By the time we make it back to the car the traffic is already grid locked in the car park and the fact it takes almost forty minutes to get back on to the M8 I can see why so many fans left early.

Well that's all the SPL grounds down and a stough as it is for me to say it the Old Firm stadium are by far the most impressive but then I guess they should be given the size of the fan base and the amount of money they both scam of the rest of us. For me though the best game was the New Years Day derby between Hearts and Hibernian. I'll check with my dad and give you a run down of his favourites shortly.

The Statistics

Ticket: Adult: £25. Concession £16

Programme: £2.50

Attendance: 51,811

Pie: £2

Pie Marks: 6/10

Mileage: 83 miles

Final Score: Celtic 2 v Hamilton Academicals 0

Man of the Match: Dad - Kris Commons (Celtic), Me - Ki Sung-Yeung (Celtic)

Fascinating Fact of the Day: First British side to win the European Cup.

Next Game: Central Park (Cowdenbeath)

Dat Thirty Six: Kilmarnock (Rugby Park)

Kilmarnock v St.Mirren

Saturday 26th February

Scottish Premier League

Saturday morning yet again comes around too quickly.

My friend Steve, him of the Falkirk blog, flew into town last night. He's here to watch the egg chucking at Murrayfield on Sunday when Scotland take on Ireland. I offered him the chance to come with us to Kilmarnock today but he's going to meet up with friends to watch the England v France game in a pub. We sat up till the early hours and it's fair to say that neither of us were feeling our sharpest this morning.

I've got to be at my dads for 12.15pm. I drop Steve off at the end of Rose Street at mid-day and wish him luck for the day ahead. For the second week in a row I surprise my parents by turning up ahead of schedule.

Although the Aberdeen / Hearts commentary is on the radio I decide that it shall be Tam & Stuart who entertain us on the journey through to Kimarnock.

My sister, Isla, used to be a Kilmarnock season ticket holder and she's decided that today will be the day she makes her mark on this adventure. She's driven down from Stirling and parks up behind my dad's car a few streets from the ground.

We walk over to the ground just before 2.30pm to make sure we've time to find seats for the three of us. My dad has a Season ticket and as such has his own designated seat; but today he's moving so he can sit with his children, but only if we can find three unreserved seats at the end of a row as the seating is tight to say the least at Rugby Park.

I insist Isla joins our dad for the pre-match photo and she reluctantly agrees. We then make our way to the turnstiles and for the second time this season I'm handed a free ticket. A teenage boy asks me just as I get my wallet out if I need a ticket for today's game. Yes, I reply. He then sticks a ticket in my hand and explains that he's got a spare ticket going in his book and better it gets used than not. I ask if he wants some money, but with a shake of the head he dismisses this idea.

My dad and sister can't believe that yet again I've managed to get to the football free of charge. I offer Isla a tenner so we can at least go halves but even she won't take my money.

Now that we've found seats I'm off to get the pies in. Isla refuses to let me buy her a pie, apparently they give her 'the boak'.

I've heard all season long about the Killie Pie; the prizes it's won, who makes them, blah blah blah. It's disappointing to find out that the Killie Pie is in fact a steak pie and therefore ineligible in our competition.

It's even more disappointing for me when the pie I get doesn't live up to the hype. Mine has a soggy bottom. I turn to my dad and tell him this is a seven tops. Rubbish, he cries this is easily an eight, it's not quite an Albion Rovers effort but it's no far off. Apparently, his pie has the perfect crust.

The game kicks off.

Kilmarnock are the first on the attack and both Bryson and Eremenko have their shots blocked by Paisley sides defence.

Off the ball Pascali and Higdon have a wee spat that ends up with them both getting a lecture from the referee.

McGregor picks the ball up on the edge of his own box and runs up field. He gets all the way to the edge of the Kilmarnock box before he's closed down and he sends a shot just wide. My dad is raging at the time and space given to the player.

Twelve minutes in and Kilmarnock go one up. Eremenko plays a great ball down the left to let William Gros run on to. Gros takes one touch and smashes it in off the near side post and beyond the dive of Paul Gallacher in goal. My dad is on his feet whooping and cheering before the ball hits the back of the net.

Hugh Murray is the first player in to the book when he gets a deserved yellow for a swipe at Eremenko.

Kilmarnock are well on top of this game and they play some great passing football. Every time the keeper has the ball it's played out to a defender, and they very rarely play the long ball tactics.

Half an hour gone and it's two nil to the home side. Gros turns provider for Eremenko with a ball to the midfielder on the right hand edge of the box. Eremenko caught the ball on the half volley and his shot nestled in the bottom corner shortly after. The away fans will probably feel that Gallacher should have saved it.

Two goals in front and still hardly a peep from the home fans. Apart from the five or six lads near us, there doesn't seem to be too much singing going on at the game today.

It's all Kilmarnock so far, the away side are yet to have a shot on target.

Nothing much else happens until the end of the half. Taouil manages to infuriate my father by taking one touch too many before releasing the ball.

Wright and Pascali become the second and third names in to the referees book.

Half time comes and my dad nips off for another pie, I'm still feeling the effects of last night so decide against a second.

At Kilmarnock they have a novel way of rewarding the winner of the half time draw. Not only do they win a £200 cash prize but they also get to come on to the pitch and try the crossbar challenge, if I'd known that I'd have bought a few tickets. Today's winner decided to let one of the Kilmarnock youth team take the shot for him, a decision he soon regrets as the young fella manages only to send a daisy cutter goal wards.

My dad is then surprised to hear the stadium announcer say 'We at Kilmarnock would like to wish a Happy 70th Birthday to David Pattison'. His response? You're only three weeks late. Typical father eh, never happy. Only joking dad.

The second half starts and first thing my dad notices is that Eremenko has changed his boots from orange to white.

St. Mirren replaced Goodwin with McLean at half time and the substitute nearly got his team back on lebel terms with a long range effort that came back off the post with Anssi Jaakola in goal well beaten. Unfortunately for Saints the linesman flagged Craig Bryson offside as he went to tap in the rebound.

St. Mirren are giving it a good go at the start of the half.

Higdon finds himself a little unlucky when near the hour mark he becomes the next player in to the book. I didn't see much in the challenge and the Saints fans give the ref a quick burst of You don't know what you're doing!!

Moments later and the impressive Eremenko had the chance to kill the game off but instead of attacking a Hay cross in to the box he waited for the ball to land and Travner was able to nick the ball off his toes and boot it clear.

Up the other end of the park and a Travner corner was met by the head of McGregor and if not for a goaline clearance by Craig Bryson, St. Mirren would have drawn level.

Eremenko then somehow escaped a red card and unbelievably he didn't even get a yellow for a terrible two footed lunge on Murray. It was a terrible challenge that had the whole of the away bench on their feet and Isla had to remind me that I was sitting in the home end as I was almost on my feet too.

Gros left the park to loud applause with five minutes to go and the home fans must be thinking that this eighteen year, a graduate of Didier Agathe's Football Academy, can fill some of the void left by Conor Sammon's departure.

The final whistle goes.

Kilmarnock deserve the three points but the second forty five minutes have been torturous. A fact agreed by both father and sister.

Next week we're off to see if Neil Lennon can behave himself for a full ninety minutes.

The Statistics

Ticket: Adult: £20 Concession £ 14. My dad has a Season ticket and that cost him £165

Programme: £2.50

Attendance: 5,243

Pie: £1.60

Pie Marks: A disputed 8 / 10

Mileage: 141 miles

Final Score: Kilmarnock 2 v St. Mirren 0

Man of the Match: Dad - Mohamadou Sissoko (Kilmarnock), Isla - William Gros (Kilmarnock), Me - Mohamadou Sissoko (Kilmarnock)

Fascinating Fact of the Day: Kilmarnock are the only British side to overcome a four goal deficit to win a European tie. On September 22nd 1964 they played Eintracht Frankfurt in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup and found themselves three goals down from the first leg. The German side scored two minutes into the second leg to go four up. Goals from Hamilton, Mcllroy, McFadzean & McInally brought it back to four each. With seconds to go Ronnie Hamilton scored his second & Kilmarnocks fifth. This come back is even more impressive when you find out that this was the very first tie Kilmarnock played in Europe. My dad was at the game. (Editor's note: I think that your uncle Raymond was at the game too...also, worth noting that Eintracht Frankfurt had been European Cup finalists three years earlier!)

Next Game: Parkhead (Celtic)

Stirling Albion - Photo's from the game

Day Thirty Five: Stirling Albion (Doubletree Dunblane Stadium)

Stirling Albion v Dundee

Saturday 19th February
Scottish Division 1


Settle in, this is almost novel length.

The alarm goes off far too early.


It was a late night. Emma & I invited our friend Paul over for his dinner and before we knew it it was 2.15am and I had to be up for 8am as we had to be in Stirling for 10.30am.

You'll have seen it was my old man's birthday earlier this month and one of his presents was a family photography session. Strange the things you ask for as you get older.

I was a wee bit dusty this morning and my decision to forgo breakfast for an extra twenty minutes or so in bed was a mistake as I took me even longer than normal to feel awake. Emma & I took only an hour or so to get from flat to photo studio and unbelievably we weren't the last to arrive. My sister was already there with her husband, Alan and their two boys, Boyd and Max.

When the rest of the clan arrived we headed into the studio for our time in front of the camera. I'm hoping the photographer has a good knowledge of photo shop that's all I'm saying.

After the photo session we've got just enough time to nip back to my sister's house in Stirling for a quick clothes change before heading off to the Doubletree Dunblane Stadium. Today my dad and I are being taken for the full hospitality treatment at the Stirling Albion v Dundee game by my brother-in-law Alan.

Alan works for Prudential and they sponsor the home side; as such they have access to three tickets for each home game. He won't let on how much he's paid for today or accept any money from us as payment. He's a good lad Alan, so much so I've managed to get beyond the fact he's a Rangers fan. My dad and I have done well from this year from Alan and Isla. Isla bought us the tickets for the Rangers v Manchester United Champions League game earlier this season. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank them for their generosity.

We're dropped off at the ground by my sister and Alan shows us the pitches were Boyd trains every Tuesday with the Young Reds.

Disappointingly we couldn't find a sign showing that this was Stirling Albion's home ground and were therefore unable to take the usual photo. Hopefully we'll get something later on.

Alan then led us into the reception area where we are greeted by Steven Leiper, one of the Club Executives, who used to be Alan's boss at The Prudential. Steven directs us up the stairs towards the Board Room. The Board Room at Stirling is no bigger than your average lounge but it's walls are covered in memorabilia, photo's of Stirling teams from the past thirty or so years adorn most of the space but there is a small section given over to pendants from various clubs to have played at Stirling over the years. In the corner of the room beside the drinks trolley is a small trophy case. It's mostly full of glasses but on the top the trophies picked up over the years.

We're met in the room by David McFarlane, another member of the Club Executive Team, who asks us if we would like a drink, Alan and I plump for a Budweiser whilst my dad settles for a diet coke. David then asks us if we'd like to buy a book of half time draw tickets. A book, not a ticket. Still for a fiver I'll take the opportunity, my numbers might come up as it should be a big crowd today.

Since going into administration in October, Dundee are unbeaten and if they hadn't been deducted 25 points they would be top of the table and they'll no doubt bring a big crowd with them today. David tells us that they've been informed by Dundee that they should be bringing 1000 fans with them today. He goes on to inform us that it's been 37 years since Stirling last beat Dundee.

It's not to long before we're taken along to our suite for the afternoon and asked if any further drinks are required. Alan and I take another Bud, well you might as well make the most of these things eh? As we take our seats we're each handed a free programme and team sheet for the match. The programme was in fact a double issue as it covered Tuesday's game with Morton as well. A quick look at the programme informs me that Brian Winter is the referee today. There goes any chance of a decent game.

Next in to speak to us is Paul Goodwin and he gives a potted history of Stirling Albion. For many years the finance of a major shareholder supported Stirling Albion. Back in May 2009 a group of supporters got together to form the group 'Buy Stirling Albion' with the aim of raising enough money in the local community to buy out the single shareholder. The campaign lasted over a year and they got some high profile support from the likes of Andy Murray and Ronaldo but the real success came from the sale of £40 shares in the club. One person could only buy one share and this meant that not one person could be in the majority.

In July 2010 it was announced that they had raised the required sum and the Stirling Albion Supporters Trust bought the club. Each member of the Trust is eligible to become a member of the board and influence decisions. Stirling Albion became the first side in Scotland to be owned 100% by its supporters.

Immediate decisions had to be made by the Trust to keep the club afloat in these hard financial times and the decision was made to cut £100,000 from the operating budget for this season.

In our suite there are several others and a couple of them are from Dundee FC. The banter flows quickly after Alan points out the odyssey my dad and I are on. The boys from Dundee want to know how we rated them and their pie.

Lunch is then served and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't lovely. Lentil Soup to start, followed by a huge portion of steak pie with all the trimmings and chocolate gateaux with cream to finish.

Stirling Albion manager Jocky Scott is introduced to the room and he gives us a brief talk on his thoughts on today's game, his plans are for the side and how he's worked his players hard all week in the run up to the game but once his players stepped over the line there was little other than a wee bit tinkering he could do for them. He talks about the great run Dundee are on and how he'd love it if his side brought that run to an end. Jocky was sacked by Dundee last season whilst the Tayside club were top of Division One.

We've just got time before kick off to visit the Club shop so my dad can buy a pin badge for his bonnet. I'm not sure what the figure is up to now but he must have bought at least twenty or so.

Making our way back upstairs we're ushered outside to our seat just in time to hear the stadium announcer say 'Welcome to Alan Ferrol from Prudential and his guests Arnold & David Pattison. Arnold and David are visiting every home ground in Scotland this season and are even writing a blog about it. See what they have to say about today's game at Aroundthegroudsin42days.blogspot.com'. Nae pressure there then.

As we make our way into our seats we notice they're padded and have arm rests. I'm delighted as I've had a sore back since the Dundee United game three weeks ago. Looking across to the far side of the ground we can see that Dundee have filled the opposite stand and the small terracing area behind the goal. They're a right nosy bunch too.

Stirling had the first chance when from a corner Gordon Smith flicked a header towards the back post but Nicky Riley had plenty of time to clear it off the line. Ten minutes in, Greg McDonald crumbles to the ground with no-one near him. His pain is obvious to all and after a few minutes he's stretchered off and straight down the tunnel. Jocky Scott sent on substitute Sean Walsh and changed the formation to a 4-4-2.

It was all of sixteen minutes before Brian Winter gave his first card of the day, a yellow, for Dundee's Craig McKeown. The ref is having one another of his stop start type of games, blowing his whistle for the slightest of touches.

Dundee took the lead ten minutes before the end of the half. Forsyth played a great first time ball down the wing to Lockwood, who used his pace to get to the byline and send over a great cross. Sean Higgins was all alone to power a header past Scott Chritie in goal.

Those of a Stirling persuasion in the Directors box curse the fact that the keeper didn't come out and claim the ball before the striker. The Dundee contingent can't believe that Higgins, the smallest man on the park has scored with a header.

Straight from the kick off Dundee went on the attack again and Christie does well to stop O'Neil's rocket from 25 yards. The away fans, who to be honest have not stopped singing since before kick-off are having a great time behind the goal and there is a small section who seem to have been doing 'the bouncy' for about the last half hour.

Five minutes before the break, Borris is chopped down on the edge of the box by Weston. The foul is awarded and Weston booked. Chris Aitken hits a great free kick around the wall and it looks set for the corner until Rab Douglas makes a brilliant one handed save to deny him the equaliser.

The half time whistle goes and we're whisked back inside out of the cold.

Earlier in the week when my dad phoned to tell me that we were getting the hospitality treatment at Stirling one of the first things I ask is - what about the half time pie?. My dad laughs as he tells me he asked Alan exactly the same question. Alan assured him that we would be allowed to nip out and get one. Plenty of time though I'm taking the opportunity of a warm cup of tea in a hot room with the half time scores on the box.

In the room we're pleasantly surprised to see that there are scotch pies on offer anyway. Soon as my dad takes a bite of his the room ask what the thinks of it. Even though we're guests of the club it's good to hear my dad tell it like is - the crust is too dry but it has a good filling though. It's a seven out of ten he announces. This leads to questions over where has been the worst, best etc. Few are surprised to hear that the Rangers pie scored poorly, Aberdeen so highly and especially that there near neighbours Dundee United are, along with Livingston, the most expensive.

Looking up at the half time scores I notice Aberdeen are beating Kilmarnock two nil. My dad comes out with his usual excuse that the referee must be cheating his side.

We wait as long as possible in the warmth before venturing back outside for the second half.

Stirling start the second half brightly and a cross into the Dundee box is flicked on towards the back post but unfortunately its just beyond the attacker at the back post. Moments later a lovely free kick is floated into the box by Borris, all it needed was a faint touch to deflect it past the keeper but no one took the chance to get on the end of it.

Dundee fought back and an O'Donnell corner was met by Forsyth and his header was just the wrong side of the post.

Stirling went close again on the hour mark when Smith played a great reverse ball to the feet of Mullan who cut back on to his left and took a shot, which went just over. Sean Welsh is next to try his luck with a shot that had Douglas scrambling to tip it round for a corner.

With twenty five minutes to go Dundee's right back Gary Irvine made a crude two footed challenge on the Stirling captain Ross Forysth. It was a poor tackle and referee Winter made the correct decision reaching for the red card.

There's another flash point ten minutes later when Rab Douglas totally over reacted to a sliding challenge from Doyle and it looks like things could boil over. Doyle had every right to go for the ball and from where we were sitting it looked like he tried to pull out of the challenge when he realised the keeper would get to it first. The referee books them both and Weston for getting involved.

Stephen Stirling then has an effort which Douglas does well to save. That's four or five great saves from the Dundee keeper and he's kept his side in this.

Stirlings Scott Buist becomes the seventh player booked ten minutes before full time with a professional foul on Riley as he aimed to race clear.

Three minutes before the final whistle Borris almost even things up but his header from twelve yards went agonisingly wide.

At the final whistle the Dundee fans were jubilant, they'd rode their luck after the sending off and had Douglas to thank for some wonderful saves but they were leaving with the unbeaten run intact and with an amazing 31 out of 33 possible points.

For the record Brian Winter booked seven and sent off one.

Normally that would be us off to the car for the drive home but not today; today we're heading back to the suite for a beverage, Final Score and a chat with the fellas. The Stirling boys are downbeat and resigned to the fact that they are calling out for a goal scorer. For all their possession in the last twenty minutes they lacked that final pass or creative decision. They talk about how their a better side under Jocky Scott and how they hope for more luck and points from the remaining games. The Dundee boys are thankful for the three points and look forward to the trip to Raith on Tuesday although they are critical of the Irvine challenge.

Watching the scores come through on the box I'm delighted to point out the final score at Pittodrie to my dad. Five nil to Aberdeen. First time we've won by five goals in eighteen years. He reckons the ref must have sent off the whole Kilmarnock team.

It's at this point a young fella in a Stirling Albion tracksuit comes in asking if there is an Alan Ferrol in the room. He introduces himself, Jason, and asks if we want to go down on to the pitch to get our photos taken. He's been informed about our blog and wants to offer us the opportunity for some pitch-side photos. We walk past the Sky TV reporter and camera man as well as a hoard of journalists waiting to interview the two managers. Jason bundles folks out the way to get a photo of us in the tunnel, he then walks us onto the pitch for pictures in the goal mouth and with the stand behind us. We're then taken inside towards the dressing rooms for further photos before being taken back upstairs. I made the mistake of letting Jason take all the photos on our little camera and am now informed that I must be sure to forward on the best ones for the next home programme with a section of the blog to go with it.

As days out go this has got to be one of the best of the trip so far. The facilities have been top class, we've been looked after from start to finish, the food was great, the game enjoyable and the staff have been attentive and entertaining.

Alan, thanks again for taking care of us today and anytime the tickets are available and you fancy coming again I'll be up for it.

We took so many photos today that I'll stick them up on a separate post.

The Statistics

Ticket: For my dad and I it was free today. Thanks again to Alan. Normal price - Adult £16 Concession £11
Programme: Free. Normal price £2.50
Attendance: 1,990
Pie: Free. Normal price £1.95
Pie Marks: 7 / 10
Mileage: 64 miles
Final Score: Stirling Albion 0 v Dundee 1
Man of the Match: Dad - Sean Higgins (Dundee), Alan - Stephen O'Donnell (Dundee), Me - Craig Forsyth (Dundee)
Fascinating Fact of the Day: Stirling Albion were the first British team to play in Japan. In 1966 they played the national side in a friendly and won 3 - 1.

Next game: Rugby Park (Kilmarnock)