Saturday 30 October 2010

Prestonfield Park (Linlithgow Rose v Clydebank)

Today I went to Linlithgow in West Lothian, which is 30 minutes on the train from Glasgow Queen Street. The occasion was the Scottish Junior Cup second round tie between holders Linlithgow Rose and Clydebank at Prestonfield Park. I arrived in Linlithgow about an hour before kick-off so there was enough time for a couple of pints in one of the many pubs on the town's High Street. I picked Platform 3, which is an excellent small pub just outside the train station.

After two pints of Deuchars I made my way to Prestonfield, which is a ten-minute walk from the station. Lithgae's ground is a great-looking junior ground with a covered enclosure on one side and a modern-looking main stand, the Davie Roy Stand, on the other side. There is a high grass bank behind one of the goals. Behind the other goal there is room for standing and access to the social club. After the torrential rain of the past few days I had feared a waterlogged pitch but fortunately it was dry and sunny today. About 900 Lithgae and Bankies fans were in attendance.

The home team, 2010 Junior Cup winners and current East Region Superleague leaders, were the obvious favourites to progress to the third round of the biggest competition in Scottish junior football. Clydebank, who knocked out cup holders Auchinleck Talbot last season, were close to opening the score when a Ross McPherson header hit the crossbar. However Dario Quinn's header gave the Rose a deserved lead at half-time. After the interval Bankies seemed the keener side but they had trouble creating clear-cut chances and 1-0 was the final score.

After the game I had one more quick pint in the Old Post Office on the High Street before I took the 4:33pm train back to Glasgow.


First a couple of pints in Platform 3, a pub just outside the train station.


Entering Prestonfield.


The covered terrace was packed today.


The Davie Roy Stand.


A closer look at the Davie Roy Stand.


Looking towards the northern end of the park.


The grass bank in the southern end of the ground.


After the poor weather of the last few days some welcome rays of sunshine at Prestonfield.


The Bankies were unable to find the net today.


The Davie Roy Stand after the game.


The Black Bitch pub near Prestonfield is named after Linlithgow's coat of arms which shows a black dog chained to an oak tree.


Saturday 30th October 2010
Emirates Scottish Junior Cup Round 2
Linlithgow Rose 1 Clydebank 0
Goal: Quinn 34.
Att: 900

Sunday 24 October 2010

Tour of Estadio La Rosaleda (Málaga CF)

I did not get to see a game this weekend which meant I finally I had some time to post the pictures I took during the stadium tour at Esatadio La Rosaleda, home of Málaga Club de Fútbol. On Monday 6th September 2010 my wife and I took the train from Benalmádena, the resort we were staying in, to Málaga. I do not think there is a direct bus link from Maria Zambrano, the main train station in Málaga, to La Rosaleda so we embarked on a 30-minute walk to the stadium. The alternative would have been a taxi but it is an easy walk, no steep hills or anything like that and basically one straight road.

The stadium was opened in 1941 and there have been several renovations in recent years. The current capacity is 28,963. La Rosaleda also hosted three World Cup first round group matches in 1982, including Scotland v New Zealand (5-2) and Scotland v Soviet Union (2-2). The other game was the mouthwatering clash between the Soviet Union and New Zealand (3-0). The stadium is not owned by the football club, its ownership is shared between the municipality of Málaga, the Málaga Provincial Council and the autonomous Government of Andalusia.

Before we left for Spain I had already seen there was the possibility of a stadium tour on the club's official website. Luckily we were able to get tickets for the home game against Valencia on 28th August but I thought it would be nice to see other parts of the grounds as well. Normally the tour, which includes a visit to the museum, costs €10, however there was a reduced fee of €5 in place now because the stadium was once more being renovated and we were not able to see some parts of the stadium that are normally part of the tour. That meant we did not get to see the press room, home team dressing room or the hall of fame. My wife and I were the only visitors when we arrived at the museum at 10:30 and we were given a private tour by Rocío. She spoke a little English but it would probably help if you understand Spanish (which I do not) because we were not given a lot of additional information by the guide and all plaques etc. in the museum were in Spanish only. Luckily the short film that was shown in the museum had Spanish subtitles.

All in all an interesting visit especially if you are not able to see any games at the ground.


Approaching the ground.


The ticket windows.


I assume this picture was taken after Malaga CD had beaten Real Madrid 6-2 in the 1983/84 season.


Executive seats in the Tribuna.


The Fondo stand.


The Preferencia stand.


The Gol stand.


The away dressing room had just been painted.


And again the away dressing room.


Also a new lick of paint in the massage room.


The home dugout.


The new seats for the fourth official.


The away dugout.


The Tribuna seen from pitch-level.


The Fondo end seen from the pitch.


The Gol end seen from the pitch.


Málaga won the Intertoto Cup in 2002 which meant qualification for the 2002/03 UEFA Cup. They exceeded everyone's expectations and reached the quarter finals in which they lost on penalties to Portuguese outfit Boavista.


Last season's strip I believe.


Good to see that dodgy football songs are not only recorded in Britain and Holland.


Plenty to see in the museum but some knowledge of the Spanish language would definitely be helpful.

Monday 18 October 2010

Showpark (East Kilbride Thistle v Clydebank)

Last Saturday I went to East Kilbride to see East Kilbride Thistle take on Clydebank at Showpark in the Scottish Juniors West Region Super League First Division. It takes about 30 minutes on the train from Glasgow Central to East Kilbride, the largest town in Scotland. The Jags were only founded in 1968 (East Kilbride is one of the Scottish 'new towns') and their biggest achievement has been winning the Scottish Junior Cup in 1983. Since their promotion in 2006 Thistle have been playing in the second tier of the West Region junior set-up.

After I got off the train I still had 40 minutes to kill before the 2pm kick-off. Showpark (one word and not 'Show Park') is only a five-minute walk from the train station so I had a quick pre-match pint in the Montgomery Arms. I then made my way to the ground. Showpark looks a bit run-down like so many of the junior grounds. There is a covered terrace which is so far from the pitch that you would struggle to see any of the action on it. A crowd of about 250 was in attendance, many of them Clydebank fans.

The Jags had an excellent first half helped by a sloppy Bankies defence. Anton Heffron put Thistle 1-0 ahead after 28 minutes. It became even more difficult for Clydebank when Darian McKinnon received a straight red card for a foul on Colin Sweeney. I had missed the incident but it was a controversial decision judging by the reaction from the Clydebank players and supporters.

Surprisingly Clydebank looked the stronger team after the interval and it was not obvious that Thistle were only playing against ten men. Halfway through the second half Barry Crawford equalised after an initial effort hit the post. Then an eventful few minutes saw East Kilbride bag all three points after all, courtesy of a Jordan Murch goal five minutes before time or, as the Clydebank Twitter feed put it: "85 mins EK 5 yc for what looked like a punch at Dymock. Then Ek score then EK 9 yc for a get it up you to fans then Ek 3 rc for a foul".

Both teams will meet again three weeks from now as EK Thistle will visit Holm Park in the first round of the West of Scotland Cup and it promises to be a juicy tie.


The entrance to Show Park.


Today's team sheet.


The snack bar and a covered enclosure which seems a bit far from the pitch.


A closer look at the enclosure and snack bar.


On the left the dressing rooms.


Both sets of players leaving the dressing rooms for the first half.


A pleasant autumn afternoon at Showpark.


A crowd of about 250 turned up today.


Number 6 Anton Heffron scored East Kilbride's first goal.


Darian McKinnon was sent off at the end of the first half.


Despite being reduced to ten men the Bankies searched frantically for the equaliser.


Clydebank were 1-0 down at the interval.


A spirited second-half display led to a deserved equaliser for the Bankies after this header hit the post.


Saturday 16th October 2010
West Region Super League First Division
East Kilbride Thistle 2 Clydebank 1
EK Thistle: Heffron 28, Murch 86.
Clydebank: Crawford 74.
Att: 250 (est.)

Sunday 10 October 2010

Fullarton Park (Vale of Clyde v Clydebank)

Yesterday I took in another junior game, this time it was Vale of Clyde v Clydebank at Fullarton Park in Tollcross, Glasgow. Despite the relatively short distance from my home in Paisley to the East End of Glasgow I somehow managed to get inside the ground 17 minutes late. I had taken a number 9 First bus to Glasgow City Centre where I hopped onto the number 61 First bus to Shettleston but I never thought the three-mile journey would take as long as it did. There seemed to be a bus stop every 50 metres with people getting on and off at every stop. It was however only a very short walk from my eventual stop on Tollcross Road to Fullarton Park.

Unfortunately I still had to pay the full five quid to get in, I had hoped there would not be anyone at the gate anymore, but I could not complain of course. Fortunately I had not missed any goals. The ground is not the most impressive of the junior grounds I have been to but it seemed very well looked after. There is terracing along one side and a roof over a grass bank on the other side. There is also a welcoming social club and I had an excellent bridie (£1) and a bottle of Miller (£1.50).

The two teams played with passion and referee Steven Reid handed out eight yellow cards. Both sets of supporters were not happy with the referee's performance and the level of abuse hurled at the poor guy makes you wonder why anyone still wants to be a referee at this level. Stevie Dallas opened the score for the Bankies just before the interval. Robert Coulter scored the deserved equaliser ten minutes before time.


The entrance to Fullarton Park.


Terracing and the club buildings.


Clydebank are getting ready to take a free kick.


Vale goalie Brian Hamilton saved this Clydebank effort.


The grass bank on one side is partially covered.


There is terracing on the other side however. The dressing rooms (left) and social club (right) are behind the terraces.


Clydebank started the second half leading 1-0.


However the game ended in a 1-1 draw.


Saturday 9th October 2010
West Region Super League First Division
Vale of Clyde 1 Clydebank 1
Vale of Clyde: Coulter 81.
Clydebank: Dallas 43.
Att: 250 (est.)

Stair Park (Stranraer v East Stirlingshire)

I have to admit, I have not been at that many football games lately. One of the reasons is that last season I started following new ice hoc...