First match at home this Saturday. Got all excited when I saw the ground for the first time from the train to Golspie.

Can anyone give me directions from the train station and how long does it take by foot?

I am presuming that the best place to go is the Social Club before the match?

If you turn right when you come out of the stations main doors and walk to the bottom of that (Academy) street. Its the second left on the roundabout at the bottom (going over the wee road bridge). If you go over that and carry on straight you cant miss it (the enterance round to the right). Its only a 5 min walk. Not sure how good the social club is as usually go for a cheap one in witherspoons before the games.

Perfect! I had an hour to kill yesterday in Inverness, so thought, I'd try and find it, but no luck.

I was speaking to a Clach fan in Golspie and told him I'd be interested in doing a wee programme for them this season, if I wasn't going to be stepping on any toes. He didn't think that that would be a problem, so I think I'll go to the social club at least this time to see if I can chat to someone about this.

You going on Saturday, RC?

The Social Club is your best bet for a pint in that neighbourhood. Keep away from the Nip Inn.

A map for reference:





The red dot at the station is the front entrance onto Academy Street.

Looks like I'd be quicker nipping onto the Wick Express (toot toot!) and pulling the emergency stop cord outside the ground?

Jimmy, the Nip Inn sounds magic? After two trips abroad, I have compiled a lowest priced can of Bru table for all those who enjoy their Highland League sober.

Bellslea Bar, Fraserburgh £1.30
Golf View Hotel, Golspie £1.50

I honestly never thought in a gazillion years that the Broch would be outdone, until my overdraft busting hour spent in the Golspie bar...

I sure am Jonathan. Started going to the Home games last season and they are always entertaining (on and off the pitch) and suprisingly i found myself genuinly supporting Clach. Will need to go to the social club myself some time soon as want to pick up a Clach scarf for this season (cause no sport shop in Inverness carries any clach merchandise - I blame JJB for killing Sport stores), suppose i should have my pre-game pint there also, I assume they still need all the money they can get.

Did not see any sort of programme last year so i reckon you would not upset anyone if you wanted to do it.

I've never been in the Golf View since the new owners took over, changed the name and generally made it known that locals weren't welcome.

You'd have been better going along to the Stag after the game, that's where the Golspie and Clach players and officials were, you'd have got soup and sandwiches and I'm sure a can of Irn Bru would have been at least slightly cheaper

The Stag ranks highly in the Official Lossiemouth FC Away Day Supporters Pub Of The Year Award. The Golf View does not.

The Galleon in Fraserburgh did, but was docked all its points for serving me an Irn Bru with a glass not big enough to get a whole cans worth into. You fucking clowns.

You petty, petty man Jimmy. Is it that much of an inconvenience to have to top the glass up?

Yes, for several reasons.

1 - whats left in the tin goes warm
2 - the barmaid picks up the tin and walks off thinking its done
3 - if she doesn't do 2, she'll pick up the tin, shake it to see if its empty and make whats left go flat
4 - it can cause confusion should more than one person be drinking Irn-Bru.

The general idea that I'm not given a glass big enough to hold all the drink is just stupid anyway. This is a popular complaint in the Hump forum on the Lossie messageboard. I am not alone in my attitude to this.

Fill your glass, drink whats left in the can.... unless your drinking with the smurfs there shouldnt be that much left!

Who the hell asked for your opinion.

Probably the same person that asked yours?

Raybees more or less asked for mine in a post in this thread. I see no request for yours. Have you not a big screen you could be throwing cans at just now.

You posted in this thread before Raybees. Nice try though.

What are you? Mental?




He asks, I answer. Can you look at the times? Thats if you can you actually read.

Nice try tho. Now away back to throwing rocks at the tv.

I was referring to 3rd post in the thread. Which if your going to be so pedantic about no-one asking my opinion. I cant see anyone asking yours.

Mental - No
Right - Yes.

If you can't see it, I'm going to have to assume you to be completely stupid.

The very first post in the thread, you buttock.



Nice try tho.

Oh f**k it, last post. It doesnt define whos opinion its asking for. Therefore if your entitled to comment on that post, then im entitled to post on yours. Unless you wish to finish every post by telling me not!

One does hope so.



It is clearly asking for the opinions of people who know a wander round the pubs of Inverness. I do, particularly in relation to a trip to Clach, thus my opinion is justified. You clearly live in some kind of asylum, and have no knowledge of the outside world. Should you actually have a knowledge of said area, why don't you contribute instead of cluttering up the place.



I am entitled to respond because I seem to know what I'm talking about, and have something to add, unlike the keech we're getting from you. Reply to mine by all means in future if you must.

RayBees, as an Irn Bru afficionado, Jimmy has a point.

I would add that if a pub doesn't sell Irn Bru cold enough to not require ice it should be banned from any vote.

If it's not a perfect tilt, the ice can severely de fizz the Bru, leaving a disappointing feeling for the rest of the day.

RayBees, are you going to be at the match on Saturday? If so we can discuss this more in the Social Club before the match. First Bru is on me.

I take your point about the ice Jonathan. If i was to get a can of Irn Bru (cold from the fridge) in a small glass I wouldn't hold it against the establishment in question. Irn Bru fanatics like yourself and Jimmy may disagree.

Certainly myself and Ravens Claw are planning the game on Saturday. See you there.

I've had a long and hard think about this... You know, if you were a hardcore Bru drinker, then you would fill the glass to the top, weigh out how much Bru is left in the can, drink the correct amount of Bru in the glass (no more than two gulps is acceptable), empty the remainder of the can into the space now allocated at the top of the glass.

Jimmy, any thoughts?

Everybody knows to ask for a pint of juice when ordering from a pub anyway.

My first game of the season this one. Last season's encounter was a 5-2 away win for Vale most notable for some Merkinch neds running amok during the game. After Dalneigh was compared with Soweto in today's Courier what does that make Merkinch? The disputed Georgian area of South Ossetia?

Running amok? Does this mean we're going to get a wee bit of bother on Saturday, or do the Banff people not travel?

I have so much to learn...

We rarely get Irn-Bru on draught this far north, so you can't get a pint of it everywhere.

Small glass with a can, my hoop.

As County are away this weekend I'll probably be at this game myself, surely making this the most anticipated Clach game in P&B history with 4 prospective attendees!

Oh, and I agree with Jimmy.

And I'm away to read about this Soweto comparison now. It does indeed beg the question about Merkinch.

Is everyone coming back for Clach v Lossie on August 30th? Clach could do with the money.

I'll be there. Hoping to share a Bru with the Lossie posse (that rhymes) from the messageboard?

I'll be beyond Irn-Bru by the time I get to the game as its a Football Special from Aberdeen that day

I'll be there for the forres Game on Sept 13th

Ahhhh... The Clachnacuddin - Forres match on the 13th.

This is my first test as it's up against the first Raith - East F*fe derby in 20 years.

It's the only match in Aug/Sep that I haven't booked an advance rail ticket for. Decisions decisions.

A shocker of a game today. Apologies to Jonathan for not meeting up as we went to Blackfriars for a pint before the match. Will definitely hook up for the Lossie game. Clach will do well to get another point this season - only goalkeeper Neil Hastie came out with plus points.

A big shout out to the respective 'crews' of both clubs. You kept us all mildly diverted from the drivel on the pitch.

Any capers at this game? We overheard some members of the Valley Crew talking shop on the way through from Aberdeen. A certain Mr Sutherland was mentioned several times.

Yeah there was a bit of taunting back and forth before the Clachers followed the Vale lot out of the ground closely followed by a couple of extremely bored looking copppers. Would that be the Gavin Sutherland who's 'new to this forum'?

Apparently he's not involved in any of this capering either. Although the stories his louder than necessary mates on the train were telling would indicate otherwise.

How big a crowd at Grant Street?

About 200 I'd say PRS. 4-0 to Vale by the way, could've been more.

No bad considering there was the "top of the premier league clash" down at the dump!

First taste of football at Clach...

First off, the glass I was given was for my Irn Bru was the Coke hour glass number. The entire content fitted comfortably into said glass.

Second off, walked into the Social Club to a sea of fans in red and white strips. Never seeing Deveronvale I was hugely impressed with their large away support, until I looked at one of the badges... Ahhhh... That will be an Hamilton Accies suppoters bus in then? Twanger.

Third off, quite a vocal home support, although I was informed that some of them were only here to taunt the away fans. Quite good singing going backwards and forwards. Amazed when both set of fans appeared to leave the ground at half time. Nuts.

I don't want to appear to be laughing at a guy in a wheelchair, but there was a young guy who appeared on an electric one to be with the Clach fans and each time he left he had to do it in reverse as he didn't have enough room to turn it? All you heard was the beep beep... Och, I'm not doing it justice, but it was a surreal moment for me?

RayBees, I recognised you, but I am crazy shy when first meeting people, so I could have easily said hello, but didn't. I will do. I was introduced to a few Clach fans, so that was good and got myself booked on the bus to Brora on Saturday.

Deveonvale were just far too good for Clach. Some nice moves from who I am assuming was Robbie Duncanson. In my expert opinion after three matches, they looked very good!

Had a great day though.

First half was good Raybees from a Vale fans point of view. The second half was dull i left at 3-0 for a few pints before getting the train home. We are looking good just now i just hope we can keep it up. From a Clach fans point of view i think it's going to be a hard season for them it's probably the poorest Clach side i've seen in years. One other thing Magoo should be banned from taking penaltys for us, it was a terrible pen, he took a same kind of penalty on wed night against Cove and some how the ball sneaked under the keepers body. Thats the only thing we need to change just now apart from that things are looking good.

Smashing wee social club Clach have. Incase you think we were intruding the Clach social club contacted Accies before the game to tell the supporters buses that they were welcome to go to the Social club.

I like that. Thats a good inititive from Clach. If there are going to be anti ICT fans in there before games i may start going there from now on - although Blackfriars offer of pint (nice selection) and pie for £3.50 may prove too tempting.

As for the game - Clach were terrible, easily the worst i have seen them. So weak up front and never had anyone in the box when crosses/long passes were being made. The big centerback for Vale must have felt like he was unbeatible against the pipsqueek front line of Clach

Jonathan - i would doubt that you will see off-field antics like that again. The only time we saw it before was the corrisponding fixture last year (there were actual punches thrown that time). You still thinking about doing a programme?

I've offered to do one, so I will wait and see. The Trust seemed keen. Just waiting for the green light. I would maybe to an unofficial one anyway, but would rather not. How else would I get my exclusive interviews?

There will be bother when my East F*fe pals come up for a Huntly match and cheer the team in black & gold by mistake.

im assuming everyone wasjust going to the social club at HT,i know i was;or maybe there were,in the ridiculous words of a previous poster,"capers" afoot

Whats wrong with capers?

Are we leaving at half time for our Bru off?

Depends how much Lossie are winning by.