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Author Topic: Caledonia you're calling me  (Read 8464 times)

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nemesis

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #15 on: Wed 10 Apr 2019 12:07 »
You will probably therefore have a higher opinion of such grounds than they deserve. Newtongrange has one of the best I have been to there - far better than many of the crumbling ruins in the West.

I  cannot answer the Dave  Mackay question, having bypassed the clubhouse and headed straight up the steps to the pitch.

Thank you. Although, for me, a disappointing response.

Something didn't quite ring true with your commendation so a little research was done. My visit pre-dated (just) the building of their new ground. The old one is now a housing estate after a brief period of hosting speedway and stock car racing. So, sadly, there is not a single non-league ground in Scotland that I can claim to have visited.

Whistleblower

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #16 on: Fri 12 Apr 2019 18:51 »
Match you and raise you one m'learned friend as there is not a single Scottish ground, either league or non-league, extant or extinct that I have ever visited.

I have often thought I should have this Caledonian experience but not much takes me north of the Border apart from weddings and a single visit to Murrayfield.

I wonder which club I should visit? A dear late friend's late father used to play for Kilmarnock before the war and so perhaps that should be my choice.

Microscopist

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #17 on: Sat 20 Apr 2019 18:55 »
Match you and raise you one m'learned friend as there is not a single Scottish ground, either league or non-league, extant or extinct that I have ever visited.

I have often thought I should have this Caledonian experience but not much takes me north of the Border apart from weddings and a single visit to Murrayfield.

I wonder which club I should visit? A dear late friend's late father used to play for Kilmarnock before the war and so perhaps that should be my choice.
Had you chosen to go today it could have been an interesting report - 3 Kilmarnock players dismissed and the Kilmarnock manager calling it the worst refereeing performance he had ever seen in his career.

You might also want to avoid planning a Kilmarnock - Rangers fixture if a recent headline in "The Scotsman" is to be believed; "‘Rangers might say they won’t play at Kilmarnock any more’ - Ex-SFA chief says Gers could boycott Rugby Park".

https://www.scotsman.com/rangers-2-17785/in-full/rangers-might-say-they-won-t-play-at-kilmarnock-any-more-ex-sfa-chief-says-gers-could-boycott-rugby-park-1-4908865

Other than that Rugby Park is not a bad ground, I'd guess about 25-30 years old.  The Park Conference Centre and Hotel in the car park of the ground is quite reasonable with good food in the "Blues" restaurant.  Kilmarnock town centre has, like Ayr, not a great deal to commend it - though there are good places to visit in Ayrshire - Prince Charles favourite Dumfries House near Cumnock (You could also try out your Parliamo Auchinleck at Beechwood Park), Culzean Castle (a favourite of President Eisenhower) and Burns Cottage and the Auld Kirk Alloway of Tam O Shanter fame are all worth visiting.

Whistleblower

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #18 on: Sat 20 Apr 2019 19:01 »
Thank you microscopist. Yes today would have been an eventful day to visit Rugby Park. I am grateful for the suggestions of places to see should I plan a trip. I have a vague notion of visiting Culzean Castle as a young boy on holiday with my parents. Not quite during the Presidency of Ike but not that much later !

Tweed

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #19 on: Mon 22 Apr 2019 12:32 »
The Kilmarnock v Aberdeen game will be getting talked about for weeks.  Steven McLean, who I generally rate, did not have his finest day.  The first red card was incredibly harsh, the Kilmarnock player had to challenge the 'keeper, it was a 40/60 and it was neither excessive in force or overly high.  A yellow card would have been an OK decision but I think a foul would have been suffice.  The two yellows for Findlay wasn't great either, I think the second one was a good tackle and i don't think it came through the man or was overly hard to merit a yellow or a foul being conceded despite the ball being played first.  And the final one was a little petulant kick out but based on what has been deemed as violent throughout the season in Scotland, it was clearly in the yellow category.  To be fair to Steven McLean, he wasn't looking at this one and acted on advice from a colleague, whether it was assistant or fourth official it remains unclear.

In amongst all this both Sam Cosgrove of Aberdeen and Kris Boyd were fortunate not to receive a second yellow and Aberdeen's Devlin was fortunate to receive a yellow for a late tackle that was on the cusp of DOGSO, however on balance whilst I think red could be argued, yellow was not wrong but on another day he could have walked too. 

As my good friends previously alluded, Kilmarnock is a bit of a toilet in itself though has a couple of excellent boozers between station and ground in Fanny by Gaslight and The Horse and Granite.  Many a pint been had in there whilst heading to Rugby Park over the years.  Rugby Park is one of a few grounds in Scotland that was built in the early to mid 1990s which is far too big for the club who is in there meaning it remains more than 60% empty at most games but if they could fill it would be a damn fine ground and it offers a great view down on the pitch in the away end.  Certainly in the top half of favoured away grounds in the current top flight for this travelling 'Well fan.

Due to other commitments I've not commented on here so much lately but Don Robertson was superb in our game on Saturday.

JCFC

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #20 on: Tue 23 Apr 2019 09:55 »

Due to other commitments I've not commented on here so much lately ...

Be assured that your contributions have been greatly missed!

Some sixty years ago, when I spent all my school holidays there, Kilmarnock was a bustling place, somewhere to be proud of. A combination of particularly crass sixties "development" and the loss of major employers - Massey-Harris (Ferguson), BMK carpets, Saxone shoes, Andrew Barclay locomotives (though it survives in a lesser form), Shanks sanitary ware and finally Johnnie Walker, Kilmarnock's own whisky blend - have created a depressed and depressing town centre, with little to show but the odd grotesque statue. At least when walking back from Rugby Park, the station's floral clock is still visible all the way along John Finnie Street. That apart, well, there's always the Dick Institute! A few years ago it was classed as the worst place to live in Scotland, though on the most recent visit, I noticed signs proclaiming it "Scotland's most improved town." It has a way to go yet - Microscopist should consider himself fortunate to have Ayr as his local town centre.

Returning to Whistleblower's question - which I suspect was hypothetical - Rugby Park is a decent enough ground, though without particular character - and it is the home of the Killie Pie. Depending on preferences, my suggestions would be:

A pleasant old-fashioned small ground in an agreeable park setting: Dalbeattie Star.
For lovers of sea air (and breezes!): Arbroath
For an interesting, if partly run-down, example of how to squeeze a ground into an unsuitable site: Raith Rovers
For midge enthusiasts: Darvel
For connoisseurs of primitive toilet arrangements: Cambuslang Rangers - and a few others in the West!

In fact, almost anywhere might have something to offer, but with apologies to Tweed and Steelman, Motherwell is best avoided by anyone over 5 ft 6.
« Last Edit: Tue 23 Apr 2019 09:59 by JCFC »

nemesis

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #21 on: Tue 23 Apr 2019 11:10 »


For lovers of sea air (and breezes!): Arbroath


I think they can be forgiven the odd bit of sea air and the occasional breeze given that they are the closest "senior" club to the sea in Europe !


Whistleblower

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #22 on: Tue 23 Apr 2019 14:34 »
Thank you JCFC   For some time now Mrs W and I have been saying that we ought to take a trip to the Western Isles by way of Glasgow; that  great city with some marvellous architecture and for some time I have wanted to visit the Burrell Collection. I think this might have to be a post retirement jaunt ( not too long to go now DV ) and so perhaps I might be able to take in a match somewhere while Mrs W hits the emporia.

Many years ago now I saw a feature on Football Focus about Clydebank FC and was impressed by its homely, family atmoshere so I always looked out for their results. That Clydebank no longer exists I believe but there is a Clydebank Football club in the West Super League Premier Division so perhaps I should hike there.

I have often wondered what it must be like to be at a match at either Celtic or Rangers but it's probably no place for a soft Southerner.

 Dalbeattie Star sounds pleasant in Dumfries and Galloway ( shades of Five Red Herrings ). So many choices.

JCFC

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #23 on: Tue 23 Apr 2019 14:55 »
Good to have your Wimseycal comment - for the full Red Herring (as opposed to your previous Rederring) experience, you would have to try St Cuthbert's Wanderers in the South of Scotland league, though with an advertised capacity of 848, their ground must be pretty basic.

I share your enthusiasm for the architecture of Glasgow, a city that does not always receive the credit it deserves, though I have never visited the Burrell collection - the Riverside Museum, the People's Palace and Kelvingrove being as near as I come to culture.

Clydebank, which suffered from a terrible attack during the Blitz, was without an SFL CLub until East Stirlingshire were moved there by their owners as ES Clydebank. They returned to the Falkirk area and a Clydebank club joined the league. They "folded" to allow a reformed Airdrie club to return to the league after financial problems.

The Junior club then assumed the mantle, but, without a ground of their own, shared at Yoker, and this season at Maryhill. They hope to return to Clydebank eventually - though possibly not before you retire!

Keep working on the Western Isles - it sounds a terrific idea.
« Last Edit: Tue 23 Apr 2019 16:13 by JCFC »

Whistleblower

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #24 on: Tue 23 Apr 2019 17:17 »
JCFC your knowledge of Scottish sporting geography and indeed history is truly impressive and no-one should heed your advice in vane. Perhaps there was a little unpleasantness at the Clydebank Football Club, no doubt the documents of the case might reveal some suspicious characters in bringing about its unnatural death but I'm sure it is now the perfect place to go and spend a gaudy night.

JCFC

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #25 on: Tue 23 Apr 2019 17:44 »
Well, my recent (abandoned) match at Harriet Road was certainly in Vane. (As well as in Kilmarnock!)
« Last Edit: Tue 23 Apr 2019 18:06 by JCFC »

Steelman

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #26 on: Wed 24 Apr 2019 19:45 »

Due to other commitments I've not commented on here so much lately ...

Be assured that your contributions have been greatly missed!

Some sixty years ago, when I spent all my school holidays there, Kilmarnock was a bustling place, somewhere to be proud of. A combination of particularly crass sixties "development" and the loss of major employers - Massey-Harris (Ferguson), BMK carpets, Saxone shoes, Andrew Barclay locomotives (though it survives in a lesser form), Shanks sanitary ware and finally Johnnie Walker, Kilmarnock's own whisky blend - have created a depressed and depressing town centre, with little to show but the odd grotesque statue. At least when walking back from Rugby Park, the station's floral clock is still visible all the way along John Finnie Street. That apart, well, there's always the Dick Institute! A few years ago it was classed as the worst place to live in Scotland, though on the most recent visit, I noticed signs proclaiming it "Scotland's most improved town." It has a way to go yet - Microscopist should consider himself fortunate to have Ayr as his local town centre.

Returning to Whistleblower's question - which I suspect was hypothetical - Rugby Park is a decent enough ground, though without particular character - and it is the home of the Killie Pie. Depending on preferences, my suggestions would be:

A pleasant old-fashioned small ground in an agreeable park setting: Dalbeattie Star.
For lovers of sea air (and breezes!): Arbroath
For an interesting, if partly run-down, example of how to squeeze a ground into an unsuitable site: Raith Rovers
For midge enthusiasts: Darvel
For connoisseurs of primitive toilet arrangements: Cambuslang Rangers - and a few others in the West!

In fact, almost anywhere might have something to offer, but with apologies to Tweed and Steelman, Motherwell is best avoided by anyone over 5 ft 6.

The Islecroft Stadium in Dalbeattie is delightful, as is the whole town with its fabulous granite buildings. Used to go my summer holidays to Dalbeattie back in the 1970's to stay with family. Feeling old now!!
Send Lawyers Guns and Money

Warren Zevon 1947-2003

Microscopist

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #27 on: Sat 27 Apr 2019 17:06 »
Quote
Thank you JCFC   For some time now Mrs W and I have been saying that we ought to take a trip to the Western Isles by way of Glasgow; that  great city with some marvellous architecture and for some time I have wanted to visit the Burrell Collection. I think this might have to be a post retirement jaunt ( not too long to go now DV ) and so perhaps I might be able to take in a match somewhere while Mrs W hits the emporia.

Unfortunately the Burrel Collection is closed until sometime in 2020 (https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/the-burrell-collection), it has been quite a long renovation.  In Glasgow to appreciate the architecture look upwards, there are not the cityscapes of Edinburgh but some fine buildings if you look above street level.  Mrs W would no doubt enjoy the recently painstakingly restored "Willow Tearooms" on the corner of Bath St & Hope St.

Whilst I couldn't wax lyrical about Kilmarnock or Ayr I could do so about the Scottish Islands - both Western and Northern.  For the last 20 years or so my Bonnie Lass frae Girvan and I have spent most of our holidays touring the islands (along with the Isle of Man and an excursion to the islands off the West coast of Ireland).  Each island has its own character and even two islands separated by no more than 1/2 mile of water, like Coll and Tiree are completely different.  Some Islands have given us such magical memories - Fair Isle and partricularly the "sail" on the Good Shepherd the 4th (don't think too much about the fate of the other 3!) but with the sad fire at the bird observatory accomodation is now rather scarce;  St Kilda where the history is almost tangible; Papa Stronsay with the monks and the strange dog - Mot and most recently Mingulay (of Roberton's Mingulay Boat Song fame). These islands we fear to go back to in case the magic of the memories is lost on a second visit.  Other islands we enjoy returning to - Barra, where we recently took a "day trip" with Loganair and landed on the beach, Mull, both for itself and for access to Iona, Staffa and Ulva; and of course the most beautiful Harris with its gorgeous beaches on one side and its "moonscape" on the other.  Arran and Skye are popular but at times with rather too many visitors for the amenities.  So wherever you choose in the islands I'm sure you find it interesting and restfuil (uinless of course you get stranded in Stromness during a wet Saturday whist the St Magnus festival is on and the weather has delayed your ferry so that you miss the last ferry to Hoy).  It helps if the weather is dry and statistically April/May is driest and before the midges of the Western Isles have fully woken up!
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Tweed

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #28 on: Sat 27 Apr 2019 23:37 »
Back to the fitba, been a long time since I've seen a game like the one we had at Fir Park this afternoon.

After a fairly flat opening ten minutes Gboly Aribyi got into a hell of a fankle as Dundee broke and he tried to haul someone down as they tore into our box and as he fell he grabbed the ball with his hand, not sure if Kevin Clancy gave the penalty for the foul or the handball but either way, it seemed like a good call.  It was slotted home for 0-1.

Motherwell stormed back and teenage sensation David Turnbull lashed a long range shot towards the Dundee goal and with a hefty deflection it ended up in the top corner for 1-1, Dundee's lead had lasted just over a minute.

Garbage defending from Motherwell allowed Robson to curl a delicious shot in off the post passed Mark Gillespie.  1-2.

But from kick off Motherwell won a corner and from that Dundee's defending would not have been out of place in a school playground to allow James Scott to prod it home and 22 minutes in it was 2-2.

Shortly afterwards Alex Gorrin was booked for a late tackle, Clancy had allowed him a couple earlier in the game but his patience snapped on the half hour.  Relph of Dundee followed him into the book for a cynical chop on Aribyi.

Second half and Gillespie tipped one onto the post before Motherwell hit the front as a couple of efforts were blocked and landed at Aribyi's foot who curled in a nice goal. 3-2.

But Motherwell were as inadequate at holding a lead as their guests as Relph headed in from a corner to make it 3-3 just a minute later.  52 minutes in, 3-3 and for 48 of the minutes it had been level.

Parity on the scoreboard remained but not of players as Gorrin foolishly and needlessly replicated his yellow card tackle just before the hour, Clancy replicated the punishment and Gorrin was in the shower.

McHugh was booked for leading with the arm when trying to win a header to set up a winner then Clancy's bizarre moment came.  A low Motherwell cross was cut out by a Dundee hand on the deck and Clancy, from three yards away, without hesitation pointed to the spot.  Turnbull's eyes were lit up but Jordan Stokoe (assistant), from 35-40 yards away overruled Clancy and we restarted with a goal kick.  I was down the other end but it didn't look even close to crossing the line - a replay will hopefully clear it up.

Turnbull was booked for a petulant foul just afterwards and amazingly in a game Dundee needed to win, they had someone booked for timewasting when they were level against ten men. 

Three minutes into injury time and Motherwell made an absolute mess of a straightforward pass and Dundee were in but Miller's pass was behind his strike partner and from there the unthinkable happened, Motherwell charged down the other end.  The ball ended up with Turnbull who crashed his drive off the bar but it came right back to his other foot and he lashed the winner high into the net and Motherwell had won 4-3.

As if that wasn't bad enough for Dundee, their two rivals in the relegation dogfight both equalised in injury time so instead of gaining a point on both they lost one on each of them, surely condemning the dark blues to a season down a level next season.

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Whistleblower

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Re: Caledonia you're calling me
« Reply #29 on: Sun 28 Apr 2019 08:51 »
Thank you Microscopist for this very helpful overview of the Islands. I have for a long time wanted to visit Iona particularly and so that would be a must. You mention the midges. A previous trip to Scotland, many,many years ago now was very much marred by these little blighters. I seemed to have an especially severe reaction to them so it almost got to the stage where I didn't want to go out. All preparations promising some degree of repellent and protection seemed useless. So early Spring may be the time to go and chance the weather. This year it would have been quite glorious on occasions.