Club 72/283 – Brechin City

Match: Brechin City v Strathspey Thistle
Date: 18/01/2023
Venue: Glebe Park, Brechin
Competition: Highland League
Entry Fee: £10
Travel: £11.20
Miles completed today: 224
Total miles remaining: 33792

How many grounds have truly iconic features? Whether it’s marvelling at the remaining Archibald Leitch designs standing the test of time or the jovial picture of the pillar that obscures away fans view at Celtic Park, there are things you absolutely must see up and down Scottish football but whilst some grounds are lucky enough to have one iconic feature, Glebe Park has two!
My reasoning for choosing Brechin, and my game selection in general is rather simplistic. I’ve a free Saturday, I’ve rarely ventured into Angus so far and in case you ever wondered – this is the size of my extensive thought process.
In all seriousness, Glebe Park is somewhere I’ve wanted to come for a long time. Everyone who’s been loves it and for many years it was a right of passage on the way to complete the 42 league clubs.
As is popular with Scottish clubs, disaster is never too far away and it’s fair to see Brechin and their fans have suffered over the last few years. Once a Championship side punching admittedly a little over their weight, consecutive relegations saw Brechin tumble from tier 2 in the pyramid to tier 5 and into the regional leagues. Since relegation from the SPFL was introduced in 2013/14, no relegated club has muscled their way back and I visit Brechin at a time of rebuild and optimism as they look to be the frontrunner in the quest back to the big time.
I’m not a Brechin supporter so I can never fully understand the pain of recent seasons but is it all bad? Personally, I adore the Highland League. The towns, clubs, grounds and people are wonderful and I can’t help but feel that it must be some consolidation that Brechin fans have got to experience this first hand. It’s given the club the chance to hit the reset button whilst remaining competitive and as a consequence are now in a good place.
They challenged for the Highland League title last season but I (and other’s I’m sure) saw it as either Fraserburgh or Buckie’s year – the former emerged victorious. This year Brechin have gone from possible contenders to outright favourites and I really have to praise their recruitment.
At a glance there’s a whole host of recognisable names. Kevin McHattie & Anthony McDonald probably the pick of the bunch on account of their top flight experience with Hearts but it’s another two that are standing out to me. Last season I visited East Craigie and watched them run riot. Also observing was Craig Levein who has since taken Fraser MacLeod and one of my favourite players I’ve encountered so far – Grady McGrath. I’m not shocked in the slightest to here these have thrived in one of the best sides of the division above. To me this looks a club who have their house in order and things are looking rosy.

Preview

Strathspey Thistle set a record of becoming the first club to feature on the blog 3 times but most would predict a difficult day in store. In the Highland League there’s a considerable gap between the top teams and the bottom teams meaning scored of 5 or more aren’t too uncommon. I last saw the Strathy Jags play Buckie Thistle back in August with the Moray men running out 8-0 winners and to be honest, I predict similar here.

McBookie weren’t messing around with the odds either pricing Brechin at 1/50 for the win! I don’t like to see teams get a doing but I’m merely a spectator and I do like goals so whatever happens, give me plenty of them. If results go their way, Brechin could end the day top of the table with games in hand but that would depend on Huntly taking something off Buckie Thistle (Spoiler, they do).

The Ground

I tell ye, no wonder it’s a favourite of many. I always say that in non league Scottish football you never have to look far to find a community spirit and on approach to the ground I saw a table full of shopping bags ready to be donated to the local food bank. It’s a shambles that in one of the richest countries in the world this is necessary but football clubs ARE the heart of communities and I love that they’re making a difference.
Upon entry to the ground you’re greeted with the first of Glebe Park’s iconic features – William Wallace. I always do a little research but most of what I write is off the cuff. Would it be possible and more professional to read into why this statue is inside a football ground? Absolutely, but do you know what? It’s more fun not to know! The colossal stone figure of one of Scotland’s most important people stands tall whilst I look back bamboozled. (See pic at bottom).
The statue went viral when it was first installed here and I remember the comments at the time saying he looks like he’s just stepped on a piece of lego and once you see it you can’t unsee it. Scottish football is incredible and nobody will tell me otherwise.
Now for Brechin’s other iconic and most recognisable feature – The Hedge! Most football grounds are enclosed by towering stands or walls but here at Glebe Park you’ll find the tallest hedge you’re ever likely to see enclosing the ground. I admire Brechin’s acceptance that the hedge will be almost as well known as the team. In the club shop badges are for sale with the Brechin crest sitting upon a hedge whilst one of their most popular sayings is ‘mon the hedge’ in encouragement to the team.
There are three stands here. The first one encounter is the most modern. Toilets and a supporters bar where all are welcome are underneath whilst a fair sized all seater stand sits on top. You know the one, you may not have been here but you’ve sat in many just like it. Terracing behind the goal is popular with the younger and more vocal of the support whilst their main stand which sits around the halfway line was inherited from an agriculture show many moons ago.
How lucky Brechin supporters are that they get to call this beautiful ground home.

The Game

I wandered past a group of youngsters arguing over which way the France national flag should be draped in honour of Aburel Koutsimouka and into position on the terracing behind the goal. I thought Brechin would be runaway winners but even I didn’t see the deadlock being broken in just the first minute. Kieran Inglis was slipped through and his finish emphatic – a nightmare start for the visitors. To Strathspeys’ credit they did very well in response to the early setback. Brechin still dominating as you’d expect but the odd slack pass was giving their opponents plenty of encouragement and whilst they didn’t trouble the keeper too much they certainly put Brechin’s back line under a little pressure.
Most of Brechin’s success was coming down the left hand side as they took full advantage of Jordan Northcott’s blistering pace on the wing who made numerous dangerous crosses.
Brechin’s second goal can be described only as a stramash which Marc Scott was all to happy to get the final touch. 2-0 at half time was fair. Brechin comfortable enough but Strathspey Thistle holding their own.
Just like the first half, we had a goal in the first minute of the second. This one is rather unlucky to be fair, Anthony McDonald shot from the edge of the box and a wicked deflection wrongfooted the keeper who could only watch the ball trickle into the opposite corner.
The fourth came from a corner and my favourite Grady McGrath, who despite not being the tallest flicked the ball goalwards at the front post to put Brechin on easy street.
The fifth goal was probably the most aesthetic of the lot. A cross from the right was picked out of the sky but Marc Scott who’s first touch was delightful and his second was to blast the ball home.
Strathspey Thistle continued to battle but the periods of success they had in the first half were long gone. For a five minute spell Brechin’s centre halfs were playing around 25 yards from the opposition goal – they simply couldn’t get out.
Botti Biabi had worked hard to little reward so it was only fitting that the last touch of the ball would be a simple finish to make it 6.

Full time: Brechin City 6-0 Strathspey Thistle

MOTM

Jordan Northcott got the official award and I enjoyed his performance but I can’t look past two goals from Marc Scott. His first decimated the belief that Thistle had gained from a decent period in the first half an his second a thing of beauty.
I was also impressed by his use of the ball but most so his runs in behind. There was one in particular that came to nothing where Thistle’s defence all had a go at the linesman for not flagging but in truth he had the full back blindsided and timed his run to perfection. Well deserved!

Summary

Glebe Park was everything I hoped it would be and more. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t the easiest of places to get to from Glasgow and the travelling which I usually enjoy, took a lot out of me but this was a great choice.
I want to reiterate what a good place Brechin City are in at the moment. Top of the Highland League with the very real possibility of being the first ex-SPFL club to win back their place – they’d be a welcomed addition back into the fold.
One thing that struck me was the bond between players and supporters – particularly the youngsters. The kids here treated the players with almost celebrity status whilst the subs took a moment from their warm ups to dish out the high 5’s and take pictures. One got a high 5 off Kevin McHattie and turned to his wee pal all buzzing – That’s what it’s about.
The Highland League continues to impress. I’ve developed a real liking for Nairn County, saw Banks O’Dee knock SPFL opposition out the Scottish Cup. I’ve saw Buckie Thistle at their best and watched Fraserburgh lift the league title, each I look back on fondly and this trip is another worthy of its place amongst the best.
The more I learn about the term ‘groundhopper’ the more I dislike it but I wonder if the club know that Glebe Park is/would be a massive hit with these types – maybe a market to tap into.
A large flag at the game read “We fall together, we rise together” and I’d say that sums up where Brechin are at the moment.
I got out of bed at 06:15 to take in this one and I’m finally finishing writing at 20 to 2 the next morning, the things you do for football eh?

Club 71/283 – St Anthony’s

Match: St Anthony’s v Renfrew
Date: 14/01/2023
Venue: McKenna Park, Glasgow
Competition: WOS Division 2
Entry Fee: £6
Travel: £0
Miles completed today: 2
Total miles remaining: 34016

I’ve spent the last 18 months or so travelling the length of Scotland visiting new grounds but of all 283 clubs in our country’s pyramid, McKenna Park is the closest to my home.
In the local area there are 3 clubs – the Ants, Benburb and Rangers. With Rangers support obviously dominating the surroundings for about 150 years I’ve always admired the audacity of wearing green and white hoops that close to Ibrox an at one point their home ground was virtually next door to the place!
Pre war, St Anthony’s were one of the most formidable in junior football challenging regularly for leagues and cups alike and they reckon at least 60 of their former players went on to sign for Celtic with Bobby Evans being the standout name.

I always look for quirks when visiting clubs and St Anthony’s probably have the greatest one yet. On non league day in 2018 AS Roma (yes, that Roma) threw their colossal weight behind the club which sent their social media numbers through the roof and incredibly, have had fans from Rome come and visit the club. The best part is, there’s no rhyme or reason for this – a completely random act of support from one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Before I go on to the ground and the game I want to give the club some huge kudos. When I first moved into the area I took a stroll round to McKenna Park to watch a team, league and level I knew very little about. At this time, the Ants were bottom of the bottom tier in their region.
Fast forward just a few years, the Ants have left junior football and joined the pyramid, gained what was essentially a promotion last term and are challenging for the title again in a higher division – it’s an incredible rise. This is further emphasised when I’ve heard multiple times that the Ants have a miniscule playing budget in relation to clubs in the division below, let alone the league they’re in now so I was making it my mission to learn just how the club are so successful at the moment. Regardless, it seems they’re in a fantastic place.

Preview

This was a game I simply couldn’t miss. Renfrew are top of the table and from my knowledge of the division I expected them to challenge for the title before a ball was kicked anyway. The Ants are performing way above expectations and find themselves in second place. I’d love to say This is also a local derby with just a couple of miles separating the two grounds and I dare say the fixture has ever had more riding on it than it does on this occasion.

McBookie Odds:
St Anthony’s 2/1
Draw 21/5
Renfrew 4/6

I think the odds are bang on. Renfrew are the team to beat and favourites but only write the Ants off at your peril. After the last two games I blogged ending 0-0 PLEASE just give me some goals.

The Ground

McKenna Park is nicely hidden away inside the larger Cardonald Park in the south west of Glasgow. The surrounding trees provide the perfect camouflage and I bet many have walked through the park without realising the ground was even there. There’s a small terraced area along the near side where the majority of the 100 or so spectators would gather.
The real bonus ball of McKenna Park is the pitch which no matter the weather is always in excellent condition. Honestly, there are astro pitches that’ll have games called off for being waterlogged before this does. Still, the conditions would prove to be challenging with some heavy rain over the last few weeks and of course, on the day.
The club would also show off their new home kit for the first time but I doubt many would still look green and white come full time.
There are many grounds I’ve visited that look just like this but the Ants are one of these clubs everyone just sort of ‘likes’ and with a decent turnout in rotten weather (and Benburb also playing at home) it’s clear that the local community get behind them and I didn’t have to look very far on social media for many examples of the club giving back.

The Game

Just like their green and white city counterparts, the Ants joined up for a pre match huddle whilst the young team behind the goal lit their flares. Renfrew dominated the first half and probably could’ve/should’ve killed the game. They make the most wide men and full backs who put countless balls into the Ant’s box with varying degrees of success. Their opener came this way as a cross from the left was headed clear only as far as Cameron Kerr who volleyed into the net with power from the edge of the box.
Things would go from bad to worse when Adam Gibbons was sent off around the 30 minute mark. With Renfrew in behind with a clear goalscoring opportunity he was cynically tripped by Gibbons and the ref had no choice. A good call by the man in the middle and there was very little complaint from the home contingent. From here it looked as though the visitors might run riot but I admired the grit and determination of the Ants and out of nowhere they had an equaliser. I wish I could describe this goal better but I was at the other end. It looked as though a cross was missed by everyone (their might’ve been a touch) and the ball came back off the post to Martin Mullaney who tapped home from close range for one each.
The course of the second half changed completely. Further emphasising the Ants work ethic, it didn’t look as though one team had 10 men and was a much more even game than the first half had been. Still, Renfrew restored their lead as Dominic Innes strike from the edge of the box was deflected in by Jamie Benton. The deflection rooted Ant’s keeper Bailey McGuire to the spot and if St Anthony’s wanted anything from the game they’d have to do it the hard way.
They were given a golden opportunity when the ref awarded them a penalty for handball. Again, my view here wasn’t great but as the ref blew to let Warin Omar know he was good to go, Omar stood over the ball for what seemed like an eternity before sliding the ball into the corner with composure for 2 each.
From here, both teams pushed for a winner and looked equally vulnerable to a counter attack when the other won the ball back. Sadly, there would be no more goals but this was a highly entertaining match and guys, it’s only 6 quid for the privilege!

Full time: St Anthony’s 2-2 Renfrew

Summary

This game had a bit of everything. Plenty of goals, a red card and trying to predict any sort of outcome as the game was unfolding seemed an impossibility with the exception of a period of the first half with Renfrew’s dominance.
The Ants will be the happier of the two teams. Being down to 10 men for over an hour and having to come back from behind twice against the league leaders and walking away with a point of not to be sniffed at.
As frustrated as I’m sure Renfrew are, a point isn’t a bad thing in the grand scheme. They have maintained their three point advantage at the top and I’d guess promotion was on the cards at the very least.
The biggest compliment I can pay to St Anthony’s is that they’ve won me over completely. I have always said that I have no affinity in the non league tiers of the Scottish pyramid and I prefer it that way. However, I felt some real joy when the Ants scored their goals so the fact they’re my local team must really mean something to me. I’ve always looked out for their results but until I turned up for this game, I didn’t realise that I had such a strong will for them to win.


Forza Ants!

Club 70/283 – Vale of Leven

Match: Vale of Leven v Lugar Boswell Thistle
Date: 31/12/2022
Venue: Millburn Park, Alexandria (Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium)
Competition: WOS Division 3
Entry Fee: £6
Travel: £6.40
Miles completed today: 34
Total miles remaining: 34018

Only seven football clubs have their name on the face of the oldest association football trophy in the world: Queen’s Park, Hearts, Hibernian, Third Lanark, Celtic, Renton and Vale of Leven. These teams were the early winners of the Scottish Cup and any winner since has been engraved not to the trophy but to the ever expanding base. The Vale are founding members of league football in Scotland and the only winners of the cup playing outside of the SPFL that still exist today.
They may not have been a club in the continuous sense as the club was disbanded in 1929 and reformed again in 1939. They have managed to lift the holy grail of Junior football too winning the cup in 1953 meaning they’re the only club to win both the senior and Junior Scottish Cup – a record they’ll likely hold forever.
Picking this date to visit for the first time is not by accident. In 2022, Vale of Leven celebrate their 150th anniversary and if I wanted to visit the club during the celebrations I couldn’t possibly leave it any later than the last day of the year – what a stroke of luck they happened to be at home!

Groundhopping in Scotland during the winter is a nightmare. Days of rain and flooding means postponements are likely and it’s another stroke of luck that I’d picked a game that beat the weather (and the train cancellations). This match was always my first choice but I woke knowing that a last minute change of plans was a real possibility. I’m not sure how I feel about Scotland moving to summer football but it’d be a whole lot easier for me, that’s for sure.

Alexandria, Bonhill and Vale of Leven are all areas I stepped into and they’re so close together and interwoven I couldn’t actually tell you which is which. but there’s a couple of famous faces in the footballing world from here. Ex Scotland manager Ian McColl actually played for Vale of Leven as a youth and buried at Bonhill Parish Church is Neil McCallum, the scorer of Celtic’s first ever goal (and a world champion with Renton, but that’s another story). Sticking with the Celtic connection, only one picture of Celtic in their original white kit exists and it was snapped at Millburn Park – to this day the home of Vale of Leven football club.

The Ground

Home since 1888 and I sincerely wonder how much it’s actually changed over the years. I know a lot of groundhopper types read these and I’m telling you all now you’ll actually love it here. The majority of spectators stand on a mound just past the entry to the ground but below this are the moss covered terraces of old that arc around 3 sides of the ground. Just to stand on these and imagine the people that’d cheered, jeered and laughed on these terraces was a surreal moment. On the far side is a covered stand that must be as old as the terracing itself. I stood under this for cover from the rain most of the second half but as I felt myself still getting wet I looked up to find holes in the roof. Although this is certainly a fair age the terracing at this side along with the barriers that have been put in look fairly new. In all honesty there was no need for a game to be played to make my trip as I’d have spent an ungodly amount of time soaking it all in.
Entry is the standard £6 and I didn’t win the half time draw but did get the last steak pie – I’m certainly not sorry for that.

The Match

It’s been a couple of years since Vale met Lugar, twice pre covid and the score was 3-1 to today’s home side each time. Same again? Both sit just below mid table and there’s only 4 points between them. I’ve seen both play before but on each occasion they were up against a stronger side and were duly defeated – I was unsure on how this one would go.
There were between 90-100 in the crowd to take this game in and I’m sure they’ll all agree that this won’t go down as a classic. Now I normally stick up for referees and in particular, those without linesman but much of his calls this time baffled me. Vale started with an extremely high line and have the ref to thank that he blew for the offside each and every time. He’ll get some right and some wrong, just like I do but there’s one in particular that was miles onside and there’s no way Vale could play like this for 90 minutes.
They did come into the game though and had a few opportunities themselves. For all the times they had the ball in a 1v1 out wide or put in a ball that bounced in front of goal there was very little clear cut chances, a lot of ‘nearly’ moments we’ll say.
Lugar’s 6 went on a mazy and cut back to 7 but blasted the ball over the bar. Vale were fuming that there was a foul in the build up when Lugar initially gained possession and they were absolutely right – another one I can’t believe the ref didn’t give.
For balance, I feel like Vale of Leven were extremely lucky to still have 11 on the park when Joe May flew in to a less than pretty challenge that led to a lengthy delay in the game and the lad had to come off. I don’t know if there was a bit of bad blood between the two beforehand but May wasn’t must’ve known he wasn’t getting anywhere near the ball, we don’t like to see that.
Lewis King timed a run to perfection and was clean through after an Andy Campbell quarterback like pass but with the keeper rushing towards him he had to shoot early and the ball bounced just wide of the goal. The ref took pelters from the Lugar end for judging King to be onside but this is one of the few decisions I feel he got correct!
So at half time I felt a draw was fair with the Vale having the momentum but that changed in the second half. Lugar were stronger and as the game went on they found themselves getting to every 50/50 first and winning their challenges.
The highlight of the game was another mazy run by Lugar’s 6 and his effort was a good one but matched by Kyle Baird in the Vale goal and tipped the ball over the bar.
In all honesty, a goalless draw here is probably fair.

Vale of Leven 0-0 Lugar Boswell Thistle

Summary

For the history, the aesthetics (and of course a great pie) – come and visit. Vale of Leven are such an important club in the early days of Scottish football and as we’ve lost so many names just like them, it’s great to see them still kicking a ball in our pyramid.
The game on this occasion was a bit stale but I don’t think that’s disrespectful, it happens at all levels of football and I’m sure most of the spectators and coaching teams would probably agree with that synopsis. Seeing as it’s a fairly easy train ride from Glasgow this is a ground I’ll probably frequent, but I have a date with over 200 other clubs first.

A massive congratulations is in order on their anniversary, and here’s to the next 150.