Monday 27 October 2008

Your European Football Weekends

SCOTLAND
Alloa to you. 1,057 packed into the Recreation Park in Alloa to witness the home side go down 2-3 to Stirling Albion (07:03:09). One of these was our mate Andy who sent in this photo from his mobile phone.

This is exciting! Inverurie Loco Works 0-3 Motherwell (02:02:09). The match had been postponed four (four!) times previously and when it finally got underway, we had our man Andy on the case. Snow had left the pitch completlely white with lines having to be brushed clear and painted orange (orange!) in order to be visible. As we are finding out at EFW HQ visits to non-league grounds are the way forwards. Andy said "Inverurie was probably the best laugh I have had at a game for a while, the journey, banter with players and home fans and also a huge snowball fight between both sets of suppporters. Great Monday night out". Who are we to argue!?

Graeme Holmes (Everton fan) and his mates travelled up from England to see St Mirrens first game at their new St Mirren Park ground (31:01:09) against Kilmarnock.

Sadly the new stadium is non too exciting and I have to say nor is the name 'New St Mirren Park'!? How long did that take to dream up lads!?

The match finished 1-1. What else did Greame + pals get up to on that day I hear you ask!?

Well beforehand, they got into St Mirren's soon to be demolished Love Street ground - and in true EFW fashion - made their way onto the pitch....

....and afterwards they nipped over to Newlandsfield Park in the southside of Glasgow to see Pollok FC take on the delightfully named Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. Graeme said the ground, atmosphere and the football was better than at St Mirren. Another feather in the cap for non-league football, a craze that is sweeping the nation. Make sure you check out Pollok FC. We will certainly be paying them a visit in the near future.

Andy has sent these in from Tannadice. He is watching Dundee Utd v Motherwell. I can't tell you the score because the game is still going on now (18:01:09). He's sent them in via his mobile phone. God bless the internet.

I know what you are thinking "nice floodlights".

Martin Hart went to Stark's Park (17:01:09) to see Raith Rovers beat Stranraer 2-1.

He said it was "absolutely freezing".

Stranraer's travelling support totalled 9 (nine). Well played lads.

This is a nice old stand eh!?

And the nice floodlights haven't escaped our attention either!

Take a good look at this one because you won't be seeing it again. Our pal Andy sent it in from the last ever match at Love Street. St Mirren drew 0-0 with Motherwell. As per usual everybody was up for a party and the match was the worst thing about the day. The actual football usually gets in the way of a good day out eh!?

Joris from Holland sent these in from the 2008 Edinburgh derby between Hibs & Hearts.

Either a minutes silence or their version of the New Zealand Haka.

I once walked up to the top of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh and rather splendidly you can see this ground from the top.

The Hibees fans.

Here's our man Joris with Nessie the Inverness CT mascot (nb Nessie is the green chap with the blue shirt).

Inverness CT v Celtic.

Caledonian Stadium. Which has a capacity of *pushes glasses up nose* 5,580.

The Celtic fans.

The following five photos were sent in by Andy via his mobile phone. To me this is nothing short of a miracle of technology. First up is the wonderful Palmerston Park, home to Queen of the South. It's in Dumfries in case you want to go. I certainly do.

Andy often meets up with mates from several countries on his trips. This is Hampden Park prior to the Scotland v Norway World Cup qualifier. A match that finished 0-0 but will be fondly remembered by some cruel folk as the match in which Chris Iwelumo did this.

Oddly enough, our first offering of Ibrox and Glasgow Rangers.

From Rangers to their bezzy mates Celtic. Andy took these at the Champions League match v Man Utd.

Parkhead on a Champions League night has to be seen to be believed. Turn up at a routine SPL match however and you'll wonder what all the fuss is about.

This is Nick Waterhouse (Brighton fan) at Tynecastle for the Hearts v Rangers clash. As you can see from the following few photo's, Nick is keen as mustard when it comes to EFW's.

What do you do before you go to Hearts!? Go to Hibs of course. It's not rocket science is it!?

Joris (Willem II fan) from Holland went to the Old Firm game (Aug 08). Just the six goals, two sendings off and just shy of 60,000 fans.

Celtic Park, the calm before the storm.

The day before Celtic v Rangers, Joris took in Ayr United v Queens Park. Here is Somerset Park in all its glory. My sort of football ground if you are asking.

Ayr beat Queens Park to go top of the table. Hence the wild celebrations seen here on the terracing.

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