Groundhopping was a completely new concept to me at the start of the season. I hadn’t been to a game in the best part of 18 months through COVID and my appetite for live football was hungrier than ever.
I had read about how the Scottish football pyramid was changing and how the Junior football glass ceiling was being removed and this opened up new worlds to me.
The fact that a small ex junior club can rise through the ranks and make the SPFL was possible (if improbable) excited me and I soon made it my mission to go and see every single club in Scotland play at home.
I’ve no idea how long that’ll take. I’ve been lucky to do 50 this season, next campaign will probably be a little less but it’ll be my focus until it’s done. This wee piece is all about the ‘best of’ these personal experiences.
One thing I can say is that in the 50 clubs visited I’ve never had a negative experience. Some good weather, some awful. Some great games and some drab affairs but each ground, each club and each town has a unique selling point and I think I do a pretty decent job of finding it.
I believe Scottish football is in a good place at the moment and whilst the pyramid is far from perfect it’s a much healthier addition to the game in general than an ‘apply only when there’s a space’ SPFL and separate entity leagues below.
So whether you’ve been here from the start or whether you’ve found this blog on the way, cheers! I hadn’t intended on this blog’s contents ever being read on a large scale. It was more of a personal diary but the feedback has been wholly positive and most of the clubs are happy to engage and seem to appreciate a neutrals perspective and honestly, that’s all there is to it.
The awards are based only on the 50 clubs I visited at home on the blog and their opponents. The team of the year is based only on the games I watched these players play – often only once throughout the season. Without further ado, here’s the best of.
Club of the Year: East Craigie
I have no idea on the parameters for this award but I knew when it’d been won. I usually ‘announce’ on Twitter my game plans a few days before. I’m not looking for freebies or the red carpet to be rolled out but quite often peoples will give you nuggets of information and advice – it sparks a conversation.
When East Craigie found out I was visiting they fell over themselves to make sure I was welcomed. I paid in as normal and was greeted by Ged/Jed who gave up all his time to talk to me about East Craigie. The history, the players, the plans for the future – he laid it all on me. I turned down the offer of a free drink but I will admit to taking a lovely steak pie.
The co-managers took time out of their warm up to come and have a five minute talk with me too.
East Craigie won 8-0 on a warm day and after the match I was invited into the managers room for a 20 minute ramble about the performance, football in general and me with all the staff before being given a lift back to the city centre afterwards.
Let’s be honest. Who am I? I’m a regular punter who doesn’t need or expect any fanfare but East Craigie saw me as a guest of the club and left an impression. I now always look out for their results now and despite falling just short of the title they’ve had a great season overall.
Honourable Mention: Nairn County
Ground of the Year: Somerset Park
The ground of Ayr United is like a time capsule back 50 years – but that’s not a bad thing. This ground has identity and character. I visited on a warm evening and despite a poor Ayr performance and result on the day I took a moment to gaze in awe and fully appreciate where I was. The stand is old school, there’s only a few of these left in Scotland but I was in here sitting just a few seats along from Gary Holt, Jack Ross & Peter Grant who had all come out to watch. As I looked across the beautiful surface I can only see blue skies above a sea of black & white hooped shirts filling the terraces.
Old grounds get a bit of stick but I can guarantee that groundhoppers alike will absolutely love Somerset Park – and Ayr is a great place to visit too.
Honourable mention: Carmuirs Park – Camelon
Scran of the Year: Buffs Pie – Kilwinning Rangers
Pies are the staple scran of Scottish football. There are some very VERY good options out there. The further down the pyramid you go the more you’ll find pies that are not mass produced but instead straight out the local butcher.
I will not explain a Buffs Pie – it simply has to be experienced. The entire Kilwinning kitchen’s menu is more like a proper sandwich shop rather than a pie stall. Burgers, chips, whatever you fancy they’ll make it.
Even better yet, pick up a Buffs Special: Sausage & Haggis toasties with chips and peppercorn sauce. The bar has been well and truly set.
Honourable Mention: ‘The Bonny Bistro’ – Shotts Bon Accord
Atmosphere of the Year: Fraserburgh FC
In terms of volume it’s impossible to look past Hibs v Hearts which I was lucky enough to take in but the occasion, the noise, the colour and the anticipation all mixed together at Fraserburgh’s Bellslea Park was a joy to behold. I visited on a huge day for the club. A win would see them lift the Highland League title for the first time in 20 years and kick off had to be delayed as fans queued round the corner (the queues still looked like this come 3pm!) The wind was unforgettable too and had an effect on the quality of the game but after a nervy first half the Broch put on a show and ran out 5-0 winners. The highlight of this being a 35 yard thunderous looping half volley which was worth the admission alone. The streets were awash with black & white striped shirts, there were good luck messages in shop windows and the club had done it.
The pride of a town captured beautifully in one day. How lucky I was to be part of it.
Honourable Mention: Haddington Athletic
Team of the Year: Banks O’Dee
I saw them play twice on official groundhopping duty. The first was the Prelim round of the Scottish Cup. It was a good tie at Prestonfield between Linlithgow Rose & Banks who won with a late goal. I remember being blown away with this team from Aberdeen who I’d known little about.
In the next round I visited Nairn County and was suitably impressed with them so when Banks O’Dee had smashed them 5-0 in the second round Spain Park went right to the top of my list.
They were drawn against SPFL League One’s East Fife. The Fifers were languishing at the bottom of the table and had just sacked their manager. I made my way up to Aberdeen in the cold and the snow with a tenner on the home side to win – and they did.
They went a goal down but were magnificent and had really showed East Fife how to play football in spells. This result was seen through Scottish football as a shock but I didn’t think so.
Banks O’Dee won promotion to the Highland League and ended the season with 5 often defeating teams of Higher ranking in the pyramid to attain them.
They’ll add a lot of quality to the Highland League and can upset the big boys next season. What a side.
Honourable Mention: Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
Game of the Season: Tynecastle 3-3 Dundonald Bluebell
It was a dark, cold midweek fixture in Edinburgh and I’d heard good things about Tynecastle FC. Their ground is exceptional for the level they play at but they had the first half of nightmares on this occasion.
This was billed as a game that could go either way but at half time they found themselves 3 down and reduced to 10 men.
During the break I pondered as to how I would be able to write something positive about what I’d seen from the players as this game was dead and buried.
Was it though? An incredible second half fightback saw Tynecastle batter Dundonald and they had the score back at 2-3 and had missed some decent chances for the equaliser. In the most poetic fashion, Tynecastle equalised with the very last kick of the ball leading to pandemonium from the stand and even me, a neutral with no horse in the race was jumping about celebrating. I paid £7 to be more entertained than games I’ve paid 8 times that amount to watch.
Honourable Mention: Maryhill 4-2 Maybole
Most read articles on the blog:
1. Hibernian
2. Dundee St James
3. Sunnybank
4. East Craigie
5. Oakley United
I’ve found that football lower down the divisions tend to have more goals, more controversy, MUCH better value for money and better entertainment as a whole. I don’t expect anyone to turn their back on their own club’s games (I certainly don’t) but if your time allows I urge you to get down to your local non league side and you’ll have a whale of a time.
Better yet, pick a random match anywhere in the country and go groundhopping.
Team of the Season (Players):
This is purely from the games I’ve blogged and the players on the day that had a big impact on the game.
GK – Craig Gordon (Rossvale)
For two of the best saves I’ve seen all season in the one game v Kilbirnie back in August
RWB – Ross Aitken (Deveronvale)
Technical, fit and didn’t deserve to be on the losing side. Top end HL clubs must be looking at him.
CB – Ryan Porteous (Hibernian)
Ran the derby. Hearts win at a canter if he didn’t play.
CB – Ryan Docherty (Benburb)
Has never lost a ball in the air. Commanding, reads the game well and can sweep up in behind too.
CB – Craig McCracken (Auchinleck Talbot)
Wins games. A good defender, but equally effective going forward. Saw him play twice on official groundhopping duty – scored in both.
LWB – Jamie Walker (Caledonian Braves)
Mr Underappreciated. His technical ability and athleticism stood out both times I watched Caley Braves play. Don’t let him hit one from distance – it’ll cause problems.
CM – Jason Holt (Livingston)
Watched him at Tannadice v Dundee United and he ran the show. United’s midfield couldn’t get a break from the guy who won the ball back relentlessly and stopped the bulk of United’s promising attacks.
CM – Ryan Paterson (Tayport)
The lad can play. Scored a great goal away to Lochee United and stood out on the day as the player with the most ability. A likeness to Stuart Armstrong in style.
ST – Lewis Morrison (Hurlford United)
Absolutely ragdolled the eventual champions Darvel on their own patch. Overshadowed by his strike partner scoring a hat trick on the day but Darvel’s defence couldn’t get near him. Darvel must’ve agreed as they have since signed him up!
ST – Lewis Moore (Bellshill Athletic)
A goalscorer. Simple as that. He was a cut above playing for Bellshill, left and joined Pollok. Things didn’t quite work out and despite only signing for Cumnock later in the season he finished the campaign as their top scorer!
ST – Grady McGrath (East Craigie)
Scored a hat trick v Downfield but two of his three goals were half chances at best. An emphatic striker and a thorn in the side. He scored SEVENTY TWO, Yes 72 goals for East Craigie this season. Brechin City DOF Craig Levein was watching that day and must’ve been impressed as he’s signed him for next campaign.
GroundhopScot 