When the final whistle went for the conclusion of St Mirren v Mechelen in the Second Round of the Cup Winners Cup back in November 1987, no one present would have known it was to be the last ever European match played at Love Street. They would also have struggled to comprehend that the Paisley … Continue reading The Darling Buds …….. →

The 2024 Scottish Groundhop came rumbling into view in mid-March as ever. This time honoured slot has seen those wishing to knock off a good number Scottish non-league venues from any given list that opportunity for some years now. It hopefully also allows for the enjoyment of some cracking games as well as fine local … Continue reading il Groundhop Scozzese →

Scottish football is much maligned around the world for being desperately predictable these days. That is certainly something that can be rightfully sighted against the top flight, but the cup competitions and the lower leagues are far from such tedium. The Scottish Cup in particular can sometimes throw up lesser names progressing far, or even … Continue reading Swifts and hard to swallows →

Just sixty nine days after watching my boys Inverness Caledonian Thistle put on a brave show in the 2023 Scottish Cup Final, the next edition of the competition was off and running. As the number of licensed clubs grows, those who have won certain leagues and cups, even if non-licensed, can enter. The need for … Continue reading North Caledonian Away →

Just three days after the last ball of 2022/23 was kicked in anger (almost literally, over the bar by Kvaradona) at soggy Hampden amid a tropical storm and a rain delayed fiasco, I found myself heading across the River Forth en route to an opening joust of the new season! Okay it was just a … Continue reading Summer Par-ty →

I have been asked to contribute to the Wick Academy match programme versus Lochee United soon, and this is the first of two tales regarding my Wickense viewings over the years in the famous old Scottish Cup. The second might have to wait until next season, depending on how they get on, but hopefully they'll … Continue reading Reflections of a Southern Scorrie →

In these uncertain times, the curiosity of a second Scottish Groundhop for 2021/22 was a very welcome addition to the football calendar, particularly as for once the weather Gods were shining upon us. The earlier edition in October had been postponed from March 2020, with the same six home teams hosting games some 18 months … Continue reading Five Go Football Mad in Fife →

If you support a club through thick and thin, home and away, I am sure you occasionally come across anomalies where certain clubs seem somewhat lacking from your viewing roster. That aspect can be even more exacerbated in the relatively small world of Scottish football, where if you land in the same league as other … Continue reading The Links of Montrose →

Every country still has a few football stadiums that get the punters of a certain vintage misty eyed for the nostalgia of when the game seemed a whole lot less commercially packaged. Sadly, with the vast majority of top sides everywhere these days having shiny, modern venues, you need to trickle down a tier or … Continue reading Ton Up – In Praise of Cappielow →

I guess hitting 2,000 games in just under 50 years doesn’t constitute a terribly fast pace to the landmark, and you’d be right. Since my first game in late October 1972 the early years weren’t exactly chokeful of going to games. Indeed, 1972 to 1980 only saw sporadic games, and perhaps some are missing from … Continue reading 2,000 and counting →