GroundhopScot

Hi everyone. I really enjoy promoting non league football on social media, so I thought I'd post a preview of my picks on the weekend's games. I'm planning a weekly post (and a bit earlier than Friday afternoon) but I hope it's a welcomed post nonetheless. With Scotland playing on Sunday and lots of SPFL fans twiddling their thumbs on Saturday, see if any of these take your fancy. Feedback welcome. Nairn County v Forres Mechanics Station Park, Nairn 3pm - Highland League Derby day in the Highlands as Nairn look to continue their great form. Currently 6 unbeaten and with the North of Scotland Cup a new addition to the trophy cabinet, they'll be pretty confident. Nairn have also beaten Forres 5-0 the last time the teams met but it's worth mentioning that last season, that scoreline was reversed. I've visited over 100 clubs in Scotland, Nairn are in my top 5 - certainly worth a visit. McBookie: Nairn County 4/9 Draw 9/2 Forres Mechanics 3/1 Previous meeting: Forres Mechanics 0-5 Nairn County 13/9/2023 Banks O'Dee v Formartine United Spain Park, Aberdeen 3pm - Highland League I'd back Banks O'Dee to beat anyone at home, but Formartine are top of the table. Okay, there are games in hand all over the place, but at present 6 teams can realistically win the league from here - about 3 more than usual. Banks O'Dee smashed Formartine 5-0 in the cup just a few weeks back, but Formartine beat them home and away in the HL last season. McBookie actually have Formartine down as favourites, I'm not so sure. McBookie: Banks O'Dee 13/8 Draw 4/1 Formartine United 5/6 Previous meeting: Formartine United 0-5 Banks O'Dee 18/10/2023 Broxburn Athletic v Auchinleck Talbot Albyn Park, Broxburn 2.30pm - South Challenge Cup Broxburn flying in the east and Talbot toiling in the west - although signs of recovery are there for Talbot. This should be close, but realistically Broxburn won't get a better chance to turn Talbot over. They met in this cup last season, Talbot won 7-0... time for revenge? McBookie: Broxburn Athletic 13/10 Draw 18/5 Auchinleck Talbot 11/10 Previous meeting: Auchinleck Talbot 7-0 Broxburn Athletic 04/02/2023 Pollok v Linlithgow Rose Newlandsfield, Glasgow 1:30pm - South Challenge Cup Two clubs I regard as similar in terms of stature, I don't fancy calling this one. Linlithgow a division above and rightly favourites, but Pollok have become famous in the last few seasons for taking big scalps at home and have already defeated LL opposition at home is season. McBookie: Pollok 4/7 Draw 21/5 Linlithgow Rose: 12/5 St Cadoc's v East Kilbride New Tinto Park, Glasgow 1.30pm - South Challenge Cup If you look at the two squads, many of the players have played for the other team in the last few years! EK are seen as the big guns of non league football at the minute, but St Cadoc's are a force to be reckoned with and have a realistic shot at going through. If you want to see two teams play a high level of football, this is the one for you. McBookie: St Cadoc's 3/1 Draw 9/2 East Kilbride 4/9 Gartcairn v Clydebank MTC Park, Airdrie 1.30pm - WOS Premier League Clydebank top and one of the front runners but need to win to keep pressure on Beith who have games in hand. Gartcairn have assembled a side littered with SPFL talent and will be a tough nut for anyone to crack. Could go either way. McBookie: Gartcairn 13/5 Draw 9/2 Clydebank 1/2 Previous meeting: Clydebank 5-0 Gartciarn 31/03/2018 St Roch's v Kilbirnie Ladeside James McGrory Park, Glasgow 1.30pm - WOS First Division There's a bit of needle in this game after some trouble at a friendly a year or two back. A win for either would go a long way in steering them clear of the relegation places. Expect a feisty game with a lot at stake. McBookie: St Roch's 21/20 Draw 4/1 Kilbirnie Ladeside 13/10 Previous meeting: St Roch's 0-1 Kilbirnie Ladeside 14/01/2023 Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Dundonald Bluebell Keirs Park, Hill of Beath 2.30pm - EOS Premier League Not just a Fife derby, there's only about a mile between the two. These fixtures tend to be unpredictable but Dundonald took 6 off HoB last season and they'll be after revenge. McBookie: Hill of Beath 12/5 Draw 9/2 Dundonald Bluebell 8/15 Previous meeting: Hill of Beath Hawthorn 1-6 Dundonald Bluebell 11/02/2023 Bo'ness Athletic v Whitburn Newtown Park, Bo'ness 2.30pm - King Cup 1st in Division 2 v 1st in Division one and I reckon both teams could comfortably cope in the Premier League. Between them, they've scored 142 goals this season. Expect it to be close, but expect it to be high-scoring. McBookie: Bo'ness Athletic 4/6 Draw 9/2 Whitburn 19/10 Wigtown & Bladnoch v St Cuthbert Wanderers Trammondford Park, Wigtown 2pm - South of Scotland League Neither team pick up many points due to the strength of other teams in the area so this is a real opportunity of either. They played each other last week and St Cuthbert Wanderers picked up their first 3 points of the season so Wigtown will be keen to stop that from happening again. Huge game for the morale of both. McBookie: No odds available Previous meeting: St Cuthbert Wanderers 1-0 Wigtown & Bladnoch 11/11/2023 Downfield v Kirriemuir Thistle Station Park, Forfar 2.30pm - Midlands League 4th v 5th in the league. Unlikely either will win it but a win is required either way to keep up with the chasing pack. Downfield favourites but Kirrie won this fixture home and away last season. McBookie: Downfield 4/11 Draw 11/2 Kirriemuir Thistle 16/5 Previous meeting: Kirriemuir Thistle 1-0 Downfield 13/05/2023 Sunnybank v Culter Heathryfold Park, Aberdeen 1.30pm - North Junior Premier League Culter undoubtedly the best team in the area and it's hard to see anyone getting close to them - but there's a chance! Sunnybank are unlikely title contenders and can keep the pressure on with a win. Culter are down in 9th but cup commitments mean they have many games in hand yet need max points to keep pace with those at the top. If Sunnybank can take something from this game it'll blow the league wide open. McBookie: Sunnybank 19/5 Draw 6/1 Culter 7/25 Previous meeting: Culter 7-1 Sunnybank 02/08/2022 Invergordon v Fort William Recreation Park, Invergordon 1pm - North Caledonian League Both teams still have a realistic shot at winning the title this season. Invergordon expected to be challenging, Fort less so. Fort William absolutely need to win to stay in with a shout and Loch Ness & Halkirk will be hoping they do to keep Invergordon below. The title can't be decided here, but ambitions can be seriously dented - and it's free to watch! McBookie: No odds available Previous meeting: Fort William 3-4 Invergordon 16/09/2023 Just for fun, here's my predictions: Nairn County 4-2 Forres Mechanics Banks O'Dee 1-0 Formartine United Broxburn Athletic 1-2 Auchinleck Talbot Pollok 2-1 Linlithgow Rose St Cadoc's 2-3 East Kilbride Gartcairn 2-2 Clydebank St Roch's 1-1 Kilbirnie Ladeside Hill of Beath Hawthorn 1-3 Dundonald Bluebell Bo'ness Athletic 5-3 Whitburn Wigtown & Bladnoch 1-0 St Cuthbert Wanderers Downfield 3-0 Kirriemuir Thistle Sunnybank 2-3 Culter Invergordon 4-1 Fort William Hope you enjoyed

Arbroath 3-0 Montrose One of the best grounds in Scotland, a local derby and a warm day in one of the notorious coldest ground, what's not to like? Give the write up a wee read, and enjoy the pics in it too! https://wordpress.com/post/groundhopscot.wordpress.com/1626

Queen's Park 5-0 Elgin City Usual write-up below, I enjoyed the game and I'm sure the ground will be great when it's finished! seriously though, work to be done but it was fine for this fixture. https://groundhopscot.wordpress.com/2023/07/26/club-89-286-queens-park/

Alloa 1-2 Stirling 88 clubs down, a whole bunch to go. Blessed to see another derby on my travels! Write up is below if you fancy a wee read https://groundhopscot.wordpress.com/2023/07/19/club-88-286-alloa-athletic/

Hi guys, I started a project to see every team in the Scottish pyramid play at home. Anyway, last night was Alloa's turn. I know the result wasn't what you wanted, but I enjoyed my night. I'm sure the derby is a welcome addition to your calendar this season. Give the blog link below a read if you can, hope it did the club/ground some justice. Good luck with the season https://groundhopscot.wordpress.com/2023/07/19/club-88-286-alloa-athletic/

Hello. Going to head down to Lockerbie tomorrow to go and watch the Mids. Have never been before, looking for a wee cafe for lunch, anyone in the know? Also, I know it's not a geographical derby, but do Mid Annandale and Upper Annandale have any history against each other eg is this a 'big game'? Definitely showing my lack of knowledge in the south but that's why I'm here! cheers.

Alright guys, I'm looking to take my first trip to Fir Park on Thursday. Usually do a little writing about each club too (right down to the bottom of the pyramid in the old juniors) so currently doing as much reading as I can on Motherwell. Couple questions; The best place to sit for a combination of view/atmosphere? Somewhere quick for scran before the game? Any good photo opportunities around the ground (Murals, statues, old infrastructure etc)? Best of luck!

I took a trip to Huntershill to watch two games. Rossvale Academy 1-4 St Roch's Rossvale had the better of the early chances and led 1-0 in the first half. St Roch's showed their class in the end and there could've been more goals for both sides if they were a wee bit sharper. The Academy were better than I expected them to be. They'll do well this season. West Park United 0-2 Glenafton Athletic Another of Division 4's new boys were beaten by Premier League opposition but played very well themselves and they'll be happy with that. Again, both had chances that could've/should've been converted but like Rossvale, I'd predict West Park to do well if they battle like they did today. Got to see Northern Ireland international Paul Paton play too, he kept things simple but had a good game. Division 4 is looking tasty!

Great news!

Ha, this is exactly my feelings! I was hoping for midweek fixtures purely for selfish reasons but there's a few midweek cards for August in Division 3. That'll do for starters. I do hope they keep the Friday night slot where possible for big games as the higher crowd numbers showed there's an appetite for it and they turned out to be real showpiece occasions for the WOSFL

Have seen them a few times last season. Providing there's no massive changes in squads I reckon they'll be up there for sure.

A great decision, you'll love it. I've found that some clubs I expected to have a brilliant time at were 'alright' whilst some I didn't hold out hope for blew me away. I haven't done too many in the west but Pollok, Benburb, Maryhill and Kilwinning Rangers were all brilliant places to visit from my experience. My advice would be to pick and choose your games and see as much of the west as possible. If you're looking for big games that will definitely feature next season; Auchinleck Talbot v Cumnock Arthurlie v Pollok Darvel v Hurlford Just to name a couple. Best of luck, maybe we'll end up at a few of the same games next season.

Cheers for the feedback! My only thinking behind a bigger league in the SPFL was to push through 3 relegation spots rather than the 0.5 we have now. There was no way that'd work with a 10 team league. is it likely to happen? Definitely not. In the current setup (assuming we had a 3rd league at tier 5) I wonder if they'd agree to having 1 down automatically and one in the play off with the 3 champions. A round robin where the top 2 are promoted? I'm not sure, just thinking out loud.

That's a great point for starters I'll get that changed. I know there's a gap between some of the midland/south in proportion to similar level teams in the east/west but I felt like I had to give them their place considering where they currently stand.

League reconstruction has been done to death but whilst Scottish football adjusts to a lower league pyramid there are still the usual bickers and debates. I've devised one just for fun. I planned to maybe recreate it on football manager but the more I looked at it, from MY view it looks like it makes perfect sense and could be realistic rather than a fantasy league. I made a wee presentation on it here. The main points are amalgamating League 1 & 2 in the SPFL, a third league at tier 5 and a national non league cup to replace the Junior Cup. I'm after feedback. I don't expect it'll ever happen but in my view it's the best proposal I've seen so far (bias eh?). Feel free to tell me it's mental, anything else is a bonus! Would you like to see it? Would you like to see some of it? Is it fair on the club you support? Let me know. https://my.visme.co/view/q689xj8e-6ep5dwp1we172dz3

Quite the mix! Scandinavia would be some experience. For personal reasons I'd like to get down to Basingstoke & South Shields but I'll need the dates to be kind. How many to complete the EPL?

Hope you guys don't mind a pretty personal post. I've spent the season groundhopping through all levels of our football pyramid. I've visited 50 clubs and covered every single division and I thought I'd share my 'best of' https://groundhopscot.wordpress.com/2022/06/06/21-22-end-of-season-review/ If you're not interested that's cool. If you can give it a read that'd also be great. If anyone has done similar - even just a few grounds it'd be great to hear what your favourites are and how your experiences went. In scotland we love to beat each other up but there's a lot to be cherished and I feel like I've captured that this season. I picked a club of the season, team of the season, best food, best ground, best game and best atmosphere along with a best 11 based on the one or two games I saw the guys play. What did you get up to this season?

Congratulations Auchinleck Talbot. I found this to be a good day out. I'll admit I didn't hold much hope for Yoker but they matched Talbot for the best part of the game. I thought the Yoker offside decision in the first half was a shocking decision. I was in line with the linesman and I'm positive he was on and the game might've panned out differently. Talbot won with two good goals and they deserved it. A record 14 cup wins must surely be respected. 100 games I've done this season now, 96 in Scotland. If that's the last one what a season it's been

I'm going to head along. I'm happy whoever wins but since you need to pick an end to sit in think I'll be with the Yoker fans. Can't see beyond Talbot but they've won the cup so often. For Yoker, not since 1933. Wouldn't it be great to see Yoker beat the odds (again) and lift the cup? I do feel the Junior cup in its current format is on borrowed time but I believe there's plans in place for a 'non league cup' to eventually be implemented. There are still stories to be written before that...

https://groundhopscot.wordpress.com/2022/05/15/lowland-league-cup-final-21-22/ East Kilbride 4-2 Bo'ness United (Ainslie Park) EK the cup final winners and each of their goals fantastic. Bo'ness are a good side and shouldn't be too disheartened by the way they played - they simply ran into a better side on the day. Give the report a wee read!

Fair play, this is an outstanding reply

https://groundhopscot.wordpress.com/2022/03/16/club-43-279-blackburn-united/ Blackburn United 1-5 Linlithgow Rose A game won by the better side. First time at Blackburn and they have a fantastic setup but in the few times I've seen Linlithgow Rose that's the best I've seen them play. Write up is attached, give it a whirl

https://groundhopscot.wordpress.com/2022/03/12/club-42-279-shotts-bon-accord/ Shotts Bon Accord 1-2 Auchinleck Talbot Brilliant occasion in the Junior Cup Quarters. £1.50 steak pie klaxon too! Give the blog a read if ye can.

https://groundhopscot.wordpress.com/2022/03/06/club-41-279-threave-rovers/ Threave Rovers 3-1 Abbey Vale. What a lovely ground and town this is. A closer game than the scoreline suggests but goals win games. The blog is attached at the top of the post, give it a read if you can!

https://groundhopscot.wordpress.com/2022/02/27/club-40-279-formartine-united/ Formartine United 5-2 Lossiemouth Only my second match in a Highland League ground and it was good to spot Russell Anderson in the dugout. Formartine deserved the win based on the chances they created but Lossiemouth did well to make a game of it. Also picked up a Formartine shirt for £15. Bargain! Write up attached, give it a wee read if you can!