Ground 6: Broadwood

Broadwood: (artificial) field of dreams

Game: Clyde 2 v 2 Elgin City

Date: Wednesday 17^th October 2012

Competition: Scottish Football League Division 3

Attendance: 458

Admission: £10

Programme: £2.50

I arrived at Broadwood bang on kick-off. I’d have been there a lot earlier had I not taken an earlier exit on the way to Cumbernauld. And then when I arrived at Broadwood, I mistakenly followed the signs for ‘home crowd’ only to be turned away by a friendly steward who told me that there was parking at the away car park – only three roundabouts and less than five minutes away. Not the most auspicious of starts.

I’d only been to Broadwood once before – four years ago when Clyde played Airdrie in the SFL playoffs. I attended the game with an Airdrie fan and another friend from university in what was a thrilling game that saw Clyde cling onto their First Division status and deny Airdrie promotion.

Only four short years later, Clyde now found themselves as a struggling side in the Third Division, although there are signs of the green shots of recovery. Firstly, Clyde have a great deal of involvement from a committed, if not large section of fans. This combined with an innovative season ticket promotion (cheap and lots of discounts to local businesses, such a good idea that it’s unlikely to catch on in Scottish football). Secondly, in recent weeks, Clyde have agreed to return to Rutherglen, their former home adjacent to Glasgow.

Clyde are Scotland’s most nomadic club. They previously played in Rutherglen at Shawfield Stadium which they shared with greyhound racing (although not at the same time obviously). Then they were kicked out of their ground and played firstly at Firhill (home to their rivals Partick Thistle) and then at Douglas Park, former home of Hamilton Academicals. The club were then enticed to the new town of Cumbernauld in the early 90s were they had a ready-made home at Broadwood built for them. Sadly, that move has proven to be unsuccessful. Broadwood itself is in the middle of nowhere and those that have moved to the new town of Cumbernauld brought their own footballing allegiance with them. It was therefore not surprising to find that the club had taken steps to return to their ‘home’ westwards. This was a shining example of the falsehood of the maxim, “if you build it, they will come” - actually what you need is a stadium that’s integrated to transport and the local community.

For further information on both Clyde and Cumbernauld, I’d recommend Daniel Gray’s superb, Stramash (more of which in another post at a later date).

I must mention that last Wednesday it was absolutely tipping it down – the rain on the drive to Cumbernauld was bad and it barely late up for the rest of the night. Although I sat in a covered stand my heart went out to the players as they faced almost 90 minutes of torrential downpours. I was therefore surprised by the numbers who turned out for tonight’s game.

As I arrived just in time for kick-off, paying a reduced admission of £10 (and no parking charge either) and made my way through the concourse – where a stall had been set up to sell merchandise and another for Rangers visit to Broadwood in a few weeks. I picked up a dinner of a pie and coke and made my way up the stairs and into the main stand containing all the supporters for the game. Broadwood is made up of three complete stands with one end behind the goal being left exposed for many a year. It’s now been turned into a futuristic looking leisure centre, with another benefit that it stops the fierce winds coming into Broadwood.

Elgin took the lead early on from a corner they shouldn’t have given away and Clyde should have defended the corner better. Stuart Leslie put the ball in the net after he found himself alone after the ball had been knocked back into the middle of the box.

Elgin had the opportunity to go top of the league with a win and they continued to press home their advantage. Even on an artificial surface the ball was being held up in the rain which was Elgin’s advantage as they were able to move the ball and control it better. This led to Clyde’s manager Jim Duffy cutting a frustrated figure on the touchline. Duffy has an impressive list of clubs on his CV but in my opinion, he doesn’t have a particular great record (he was a terrifically poor Hibs manager in the late 90s). But you can’t doubt his enthusiasm and commitment for football as demonstrated by his place in the Clyde dugout.

The only brightspot in the opening section of the game for Clyde was their forward wearing no. 10 Stef McCluskey. I’d see him play once last season in the televised Juniors Cup Final playing for Shotts, but he looked impressive at this level. Aside from McCluskey at this point, it was easy to see why this Clyde side had recently been dumped out of the Scottish Cup at an early stage by Highland League Nairn County.

Elgin took a 2-0 lead when captain Niven scored a header that beat the Clyde goalkeeper at the near post. Everyone is the crowd saw the goal but no one can scarcely believe that such a weaker header has actually beaten the keeper and gone in.

At this stage it’s just too easy for Elgin, they have so much space on the ball and I share the sentiment of the old boy behind me who says “it’s a question of how many.” However, a vicious cross from Clyde’s right back, is met by Clyde’s no. 11, Stuart McColm who fires it home with a good finish just on the cusp of half time.

During the interval I managed to track down a programme seller and purchased a copy of Clyde View, a brilliant matchday programme it must be said – full of interesting features as well as a certain degree of realism about the club. If only all clubs took the same approach.

The second half begins and at this stage it is really peeing it down. Weather like this really isn’t conducive to good quality football, although this game wasn’t terrible perhaps in part to the artificial surface. I’m sure at a later point I’ll address the idea of summer football, but it certainly felt like a good idea at this point! I’m sure those doing a zumba class overlooking the ground must have looked down on us in the stand in bewilderment that this was how we were choosing our Wednesday evening.

In a lull in play I sit and look at this ground and wonder what will become of it in the future? Hopefully it will find a purpose, although I’m not sure what that will be.

Elgin didn’t start the second half, and so it proved when they conceded a penalty, which couldn’t be argued with. The penalty was to be taken by John Sweeney, who was much maligned by the Clyde fans during the first half.

Elgin responded with Craig Gunn hitting the bar with a shot from the outside of the box. It was to be a long day for Gunn, who plays for Elgin but lives in Wick. He wouldn’t be home until 4.30am and still had work to go to in a few short hours. The life of a footballer in the Third Division certainly isn’t a glamorous affair.

Having gone from nowhere in the game, Clyde suddenly find themselves in the ascendency, they even have the ball in the net again but it was ruled out (correctly) for offside.

In the last 20 minutes both sides go for a winner – with Elgin having most of the pressure, however Kevin Watt blows a glorious chance for Clyde right at the end when his shot is tipped round the post. But sides lacked that little bit of composure in the final third of the pitch to secure the three points.

Clyde will see the match as a point gained, whilst Elgin will be frustrated at blowing a 2-2 lead. It’s fair to say that this season will see Rangers (despite their poor start) finish champions which means that competition for the three playoffs will be even more competitive. Elgin will need to convert opportunities like these if they wish to be playing Second Division football next season.