Le Tout P'ti FC

On our travels around the beaches of the top end of Lewis, we happened upon another ground at Ness FC. So we popped in, of course we did! Seen this one loads of times, it has been on here often enough, but nice to finally get there myself. (Next step: get to one of these Lewis grounds for a game, but not so easy!)

No games this weekend. I’m overseas (Lewis), and on the sabbath there is sod all else to do here other than come and swoon at this utterly magnificent wee stadium. What's the point? Point FC! Two stands with 150 shiny seats yet to be buffeted by the Minch gales. Hard standing being laid around three sides. Pop a set of floodlights up, post a licence to them from SFA towers, and stick them into the 2024/25 Scottish Cup please.

Bottom photo taken from the summit of Tinto?

I think the stadia options in Edinburgh have indeed almost been exhausted here. But I can think of one other option: ORIAM INDOOR Pros: capacity 500 seated. Looks like a spaceship. Excellent access to the queues on the City Bypass. You can glimpse games of Handball in the hall next door whilst idling before kick off. Cons: colder than Broadwood. Extreme risk of bumping into a rugby player or student, or worse still, a rugby playing student. No food on sale (but very close to a significant number of Currie houses).

At Nithside Park, Kirkconnel, for the eagerly anticipated Kello Rovers v Irvine Vics league game. This park is magnificent. Perfect non league ground. I would come back here every single week, if only for the elephant foot sized sausage rolls. Irvine Vics have taken an early two goal lead, their second goal was a belter. Snuck into the Crawick Multiverse before the game, but don’t tell anyone because it’s closed for the season. Especially don’t tell the Duke of Buccleuch that I didn’t pay my fiver to walk over his daft/glorious coal bing sculpture park.

To answer my own question, in case anybody has the remotest amount of interest: the Mackintosh Church is a free for all! Sit where you like. Black Isle beers on tap. Been to worse!

Dalkeith Thistle, Whitehill Welfare, Nitten Star and Arniston?

At New Moor Road to see Linton Hotspur v Storm Isha. Frantic start to the game, Isha went off like a rocket, but is running out of puff now. Loads of storm damage here, pretty blowy last Sunday night in these parts. Fence behind goal torn out of the ground, floodlight on training pitch blown over and a couple of sheds and trees down in the field next door. Wild! Isha have now subbed on the full Fulshie XI who have promptly taken a 1-0 HT lead. Game is “ok”, Hotspur are more competitive than last time I saw them. EDIT - finished 4-0 to Stoneyburn. On the upside I got home at 4:05pm and I now don’t quite know what to do with all of this time I have on my hands now! Usually I’d count 7pm as a win of a Saturday!

Not surprised Linton Hotspur suffered some damage. This tree came down at the entrance to the ground, bringing down some phone lines with it. Lampost down in my street, just along the road. A lampost!

I was wrong about Eindhoven. For the plane has just entered Germany! Think it’s turning towards Dusselfdorf but I think the pilot is lost. EDIT - it just landed in Cologne. A 5:40 Ryanair epic.

Our intrepid Tenerife to Edinburgh flight which aborted landing at Edinburgh seems to be on final approach to… Eindhoven!

Where is this headed?

I had a steak pie. It was good, very good in fact, but I would suggest none so fine as a Dalkeith Thistle pie!

Why the long face Falkirk? Didn’t see that coming today, after the recent abysmal league form. But a massive well done to all of the players. Having missed today, I’ll also be absent for the next round, unless the tie gets switched to Stornoway. Should Bonnyrigg draw a home tie, the highly rated and much respected NDP pitch will have to endure three games in a week. Could prove to be a great leveller! I also see Bonnyrigg have now condemned themselves to a midweek trip to Peterhead, as that league game will now be displaced. That’s my kind of trip! Exactly what was talked about back in the Juniors days - gold plated toilets and midweek trips to Elgin or Peterhead!

Dunbar United 0 Cumbernauld Colts 1 HT. South Challenge Cup Fourth Round. In an attempt to avoid frozen pitches, waterlogged pitches, plastic pitches and caravan pitches I ended up here in the ever sunny Dunbar. The most interesting thing that’s happened so far was in the pub before the game. There was a guy talking about “taking on a whole village (Crieff) in 1992, 1993 or 1994” for which he ended up with a criminal record but apparently grew up really quickly thereafter. I was rapt. I’ve not lived a quiet life, but even I would shy away from taking on all of Crieff at once. Look forward to reading his memoir. Anyway, game here is rather pedestrian. Cumbernauld scored from a counter attack off a Dunbar corner, and that’s about all that has happened of note. Trains spotted: CrossCountry x2 Scotrail Lumo LNER x3 TGV

Does anybody happen to know if the Celtic Connections shows at Mackintosh Church are allocated seating? My ticket has a seat number in row X which sounds like a rubbishy view near the bins.

That’s a travesty about the Traquair being shut. I often walk along the Tweed from Peebles and back, with a wee pitstop in there for lunch (pie of the day is always a hit!). Were I to set off only to get there to find it shut, I’m not sure I would take it without a toddler-grade tantrum ensuing! That said, I’ve heard good things about the new(ish) pub just down the road from the Traquiar: the Durty Brewing tap room. (Terrible name.)

Whitehill Welfare 5 Arniston Rangers 1. One way traffic at Ferguson Park, following the traffic jam outside caused by the ultras marching along to the game. Speaking of traffic, a plane flew overhead during the game and I’m reliably informed (by Flightradar) that the plane was flying from Tokyo to Paris. What a treat for those passengers to see a snatch of Ferguson Park, which must have enlivened their journey between those two little known provincial towns.

All this Musselburgh chat had reminded me that the urban myth was that Justin Edinburgh used to be nicknamed “Musselburgh” (because that was just in…). Which always used to annoy me as the joke would have worked better if he was called Joppa. Anyway, I checked it just there, and Gary Lineker (who ought to know) says he was nicknamed Dalmahoy.

Of course I did! First visit there too. Might have been my first time stopping off in Prestonpans itself come to think of it. There was some sort of crisis taking place in the Goth as somebody had chucked too much coal or peat onto the fire, and the whole dining room was smoked out. Loads of folk decamping from there into the bar when I arrived. Anyway, crisis was eventually averted without calling for the fire brigade. Game finished 2-1 to St Andrews United. Was a good day all round, rounded off with a wee wander around Musselburgh Harbour at dusk.

Preston Athletic 1 St Andrews United 1 HT. Surprisingly my first trip here. I only grew up about seven miles away, but clearly never fancied it until today. Really smart stadium, it’s got everything you need apart from a MUTE button for the drummer. My favourite moment thus far has been the linesman flagging for a throw in as St Andrews were poised to break upfield. You could have driven a small family car in between the ball and the touchline. Good game this.

Greenock Morton 3 Ayr United 0. My first visit to Cappielow since 1996. Had a wee trip over to Rothesay beforehand, all of which made for a significantly better Tuesday than was enjoyed by my colleagues in our English offices who returned to work yesterday.

New Year’s Day: back along the Tweed from Peebles past Neidpath Castle. This time crossing by the old railway bridge and back through the scary Neidpath Tunnel where it is said that the King’s train from Balmoral to London took refuge during the War when a German bombing raid was spotted in the vicinity. Railway closed 1954, and future monarchs are going to have to shelter their trains elsewhere in times of war! Spotted two herons on the Tweed.

Hogmanay. East Neuk of Fife. Crail to St Monan’s on the King Creosote pilgrimage trail. Stopped for chips in Anstruther, of course we did. Weather was glorious but still managed to get soaked through thanks to a rogue wave at Anstruther Harbour!

27th: Glasgow Mural Trail. Basically following the route set out here: https://www.citycentremuraltrail.co.uk. Adding a few stops for food and a bit of shopping. Really enjoyable trip around the City. Would recommend.