Ground 27: Global Energy Stadium

The sign above the Global Energy Stadium main stand

Game: Ross County 3 v 0 Motherwell

Date: Saturday 23^rd February

Competition: Scottish Premier League

Attendance: 3,797

Admission: £20

Programme: £2

Another trip to the Highlands (two in a row!) and another entertaining match to add to this season’s feast of football.

First, I’m afraid, a little rant. To get to Saturday’s game involved a fair bit of travel. I always knew Dingwall was a trek from Edinburgh (168 miles to be precise) but there’s a big problem in Scotland with its infrastructure, especially rail. I was out my flat at 8.30am to make the 9.35am train that took me to Perth. Then I had a 25 minute layover in the city of my birth. There’s not a great deal to see at Perth Station I can assure you. From there, I had the journey north through picturesque scenery, but the fact it was just shy of four hours to get me between the country’s capital and fifth city is nothing short of a disgrace. (While I’m on one, here’s an interesting fact about rail in Scotland – a train journey to Dundee from Edinburgh is now slower than it was 100 years ago).

Delighted to arrive safely in Inverness, I was aware that I wouldn’t be able to get a return train to Dingwall that would get me back in time to Inverness to make my connection home (this is something that definitely needs rectified to encourage more away fans to games in the Highlands and to encourage them to take public transport instead of burning petrol on the A9). However, instead of getting a return bus ticket, I threw caution to the wind and jumped on the next train to depart Inverness, heading to the Kyle of Lochalsh which would stop at Dingwall. You get great views on this train of both the Kessock Bridge, the locks at the end of the Caledonian Canal as well as Grant Street Park, home of the famous Clachnacuddin.

The train arrived in Dingwall around twenty minutes after departure from the ‘Ness and what greeted travellers on their arrival was a fantastic looking pub, right on the platform. Unfortunately I didn’t have time for a drink but there were plenty of fans from both teams enjoying themselves, which was great to see.

From my reading beforehand, I knew that the ground was close to the station, but I didn’t quite realise how close – I was on the bridge over the railway line and could already see the ground. I don’t imagine there’s a more convenient station for fans in the country.

It became noticeable that whilst the sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky that it was actually very cold, so after my ticket was purchased from the cabin facing the main stand, I headed into the ground to get my seat and something warm to eat.

My ticket was for the Jailend, which is the south stand at the Global Energy Stadium. The ground was formerly called Victoria Park, but due to the financial climate most clubs are living in, Ross County have sold the naming rights to their stadium. Whilst these deals can sit easy with many fans, I’m afraid that I’m more relaxed about it than I once was – they can provide a steady revenue stream for a club and to most fans they’ll call the ground what they’ve always called it. Global Energy Stadium may not roll of the tongue but if it allows County to add one or two more players to their squad then who I am to quibble? Obviously, it can go too far (Phoenix’s Jobing.com arena anyone? Or more recently, a Florida University whose stadium will be soon named after a firm who provide private prisons…) but if a club can find a sustainable and appropriate partnership then I can live with it.

I also chose to sit in the Jailend because I’ve heard of its reputation of being rather rowdy (although that was more in County’s pre-SPL days when the Jailend was a terrace) and also because a seat in the stand behind the goals were £4 cheaper than the side-lines. As much as I love Scottish football, it becomes hard to justify when it is charging £24 for Ross County-Motherwell.

It must also be said that everyone at Ross County, from the ticket office lady to the stewards to the caterers to the turnstile operators to the fans were all really friendly and jovial. That’s certainly not been my experience of many SPL grounds this season! Let’s hope County retain that warm-welcome throughout their stay in the top flight (and let’s hope it’s a prolonged one).

My lunch, courtesy of the caterers at GES was an intriguing haggis pie. Not something you see on the (mostly limited) menu of food at Scottish grounds. Topped with neeps and tatties (see above). I can assure you it was very good. More brownie points for Ross County.

The Jailend is only eight rows deep, and well sheltered which keeps the noise in. I was seated in the front row, which meant I was very, very close to the action but unfortunately wasn’t great for legroom. The rest of GES is very compact too – certainly a ground that looks bigger on television than it does in person. There’s a strange little stand opposite the main stand too, which almost looks like a temporary stand (see above), it’s odd but it added to GES’ character. The pitch wasn’t in the finest of conditions and at the opposite end of the ground, the visiting Motherwell fans were doing their best to generate some atmosphere with drums, a number of banners and then some smoke bombs. There was plenty of singing and dancing too, which suggested a number of them may have been on the ale.

I was surrounded by very knowledgeable fans of all ages, and they had a general enthusiasm for the game which is nothing short of infectious. As the game kicked off, I had a feeling this was going to be a match that I would really enjoy.

As so it proved to be. I can only describe Ross County’s display as a complete team performance. They were outstanding, working hard for each other, passing neatly, making dangerous runs. Central midfielder and County captain Richard Brittain was outstanding and an asset every fan would love to have at their club (St Johnstone fans are bound to be delighted to have signed him to a pre-contract agreement for next season). County started the game looking the more likely to score. Their fullbacks, Kovacevic and Ikonomou always looked to overlap and deliver the ball into the box.

Ross County eventually broke the deadlock when a defensive slip from Motherwell allow Ivan Sproule to take full advantage and leather the ball back Darren Randolph in goal. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Ivan after scoring a hat-trick at Ibrox for Hibs as a substitute. Sadly, his second spell at Easter Road didn’t work out, but since his move to County in January he appears rejuvenated, as he notched his fifth goal in as many games.

From then on, County exerted total dominance over Motherwell, who frankly didn’t look as hungry as the Dingwall side. Even the introduction of Motherwell’s prodigal son, James McFadden couldn’t help them. McFadden looked sluggish and unfit and County doubled their lead shortly afterwards with a superb goal from Richard Brittain. Fast becoming my favourite SPL player, Brittain displayed a level of composure rarely seen in this league as he pulled the ball back and curled the ball into the net rather than smash it first time.

County compounded Motherwell’s misery with a third goal in the dying minutes, with an Iain Vigurs volley from six yards out. It was no more than County and Vigurs in particular deserved.

As I departed the ground and made my way to the bus stop to get back to Inverness I reflected that this was exactly the sort of day I had envisaged 42 Grounds being all about. A fantastic game in the winter’s sun, with plenty of excitement and goals. My visit to Ross County is up there with the best of the season so far. It was my first visit to Dingwall but after Saturday I’m going to make certain it’s not my last.

Ground 26: Tulloch Caledonian Stadium

The Main Stand at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium

Game: Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 v 3 Celtic

Date: Saturday 9^th February

Competition: Scottish Premier League

Admission: £25

Programme: £3

After the issue of getting the tickets sorted, I was really looking forward to the clash between the teams placed 1^st and 2^nd in the SPL. I was also grateful that this game was going to be warmer than my last visit to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. That game was on Boxing Day 2009, where Caley Thistle entertained Dundee in another top of the table clash (this time in the SFL1) which finished 1-1. An unmemorable game, but the temperatures in which it took place, -8°C was enough to leave an imprint on my mind.

No such fears on this day as the only weather conditions to be concerned with was the overcast grey skies that looked like fog.

The Tulloch Caledonian Stadium sits right next to the Kessock Bridge on the Moray Firth and has been home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle since 1996. The club itself only formed in 1994 when Inverness Thistle and Caledonian merged to create the Caledonian Thistle FC when applying for Scottish Football League membership. Both clubs had been playing in the Highland League, where city rivals, Clachnacuddin still play. A condition of part public funding for the new Caledonian Stadium was for the club to include Inverness in the club name, hence the arrival at Inverness Caledonian Thistle or the Caley Jags for short.

We were all here for a top of the table clash, with ICT having their best ever season against Celtic, firm favourites for the SPL title. Celtic were a few days away from their Champions League match against Juventus and saw them ring the changes, with Neil Lennon changing 9 of the 11 players in the starting line-up.

We arrived with fifteen minutes to spare, which gave me the opportunity to grab a programme. ICT have an innovative idea: they have a monthly magazine (which is excellent, image driven and fan focused, one of the best I’ve seen this season) with an insert for individual games. The magazine costs £3 and includes the insert and subsequent inserts are 50p each. This is something I’ve seen in America for basketball and baseball and I think it works very well.

Something that doesn’t work very well is 12pm kick-offs. I’ve never been a fan of them, and so it proved on this occasion. An early kick-off combined with traffic works on the Kessock Bridge meant that many fans hadn’t made it into the ground by the first whistle. It also had an impact on the atmosphere which was a little subdued as we kicked off.

The atmosphere picked up quickly when ICT raced to a 1-0 lead with Nick Ross firing a shot from just inside the box that trundled into the net. There was a touch of fortune to the goal and the highly-rated Fraser Forster could have done better in his first game back from injury. In all honesty, I wasn’t particularly impressed by Forster, who looked sluggish and was not the commanding presence we in the SPL have been accustomed to.

“Champions League, you’re having a laugh” was the song ringing out from the ICT stands. Alongside “Juve! Juve!” it proved that the ICT fans were having a good time. Their mirth was short-lived as good work from Tom Rogic, the Australian international who was making his debut, found space in the box passed to Kris Commons who blasted the ball past Ryan Esson in the ICT goal. As you can see from the footage, he struck it fantastically well.

Celtic turned on the pressure with both Paddy McCourt and Dylan McGeouch both looking impressive, but neither side did enough to earn another goal in the first half. The only observation from the half that I had was that Craig Thomson continued in his quest to endear himself to nobody in Scottish football with a pernickety performance. If I were an ICT fan I’d be aggrieved that none of the 50/50 decisions seemed to go their way.

Celtic took the lead early in the second half with a header from Rami Gershon in the 48^th minute. ICT were guilty of poor defending as Gershon leaped above the centre halves to head past Esson, who like his counterpart in the Celtic goal looked underwhelming.

It was then the momentum swung to ICT who had a number of chances to equalise. They piled pressure on the makeshift Celtic defence, but almost inevitably broke away in the 82^nd minute to put the game beyond doubt. It was unfair as ICT deserved a goal.

Slightly before the third goal, an interesting event occurred in the North Stand were we were sitting. Goal scorer Nick Ross was taken off and replaced by Philip Roberts, whose arrival was greeted mainly with cheers but a minority of boos. What was interesting that it was fellow fans that took the booers to task. It demonstrates that self-policing sometimes works in football!

What I found most interesting in the following days was how the match was reported: that the rotation of the Celtic squad was a masterstroke and how it demonstrated the strength of depth in Neil Lennon’s team. Undoubtedly these players did well, but what if ICT had got that equaliser they deserved in the second half? It’s very interesting to see how that narrative developed in hindsight after the game. There’s no doubting Celtic’s quality and I suppose this game is demonstrative of the ‘winning mentality’ that players and pundits are always talking about.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle may not be in a rich vein of form at the moment, but I was delighted to see this game and personally, I’m hopeful that Inverness go from strength to strength. It’s imperative for this new dawn in Scottish football that we have different power bases, and Inverness certainly have the potential to be one of Scotland’s leading clubs. More power to them.

A celebration of Inverness Caledonian Thistle

This is an update to my last post.

When I blogged on Tuesday, it was a piece of writing that I didn't expect to go anywhere, I thought I would put it out into the ether of the internet and no more. I was wishful of something positive coming from it, but I thought it to be extremely unlikely.

So imagine my surprise when I logged into my account yesterday to find an e-mail from Kenny Cameron, the chairman of Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Dear Duncan

 I have been passed a copy of your blog regarding the failure of our box office staff to return your voice message of last Thursday, regarding tickets for this Saturdays game.

 I have since checked with the staff and whilst they assure me they clear down the voice mails daily and they have no record of your call I do feel there may potentially have been an oversight at our end and your call may well have been deleted accidently.

 Going back to your blog you are correct in what you state regarding purchasing tickets online in our home stands for games given your status as a “new” customer but we operate this system for all games and not just because Celtic are at the stadium. We have a segregation policy that the staff try as far as possible to adhere to, to ensure the safety of all fans whilst attending Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.

 Given that you are travelling round 42 clubs in Scotland it goes without saying that I would not like to think you have been unable to attend a game at our ground due to any failing of ours, especially in these trying times for Scottish football and our need to entice fans back to the game not alienate them, as this is something I would be extremely disappointed in.

 If you have not yet purchased your tickets for Elgin City you can call the ticket office tomorrow after 10-30am 01463227451 (I have covered them in on this note and instructed them to provide you with two complimentary tickets for Saturday for the North Stand) and I am positive they will be only to glad to assist you and ensure you can make it along to our game on Saturday.

 I apologise for this unfortunate incident and can assure you it is not the norm for our club as we do pride ourselves in being a fan focused club and I look forward to you joining us on Saturday.

 Kind regards

 Kenny Cameron

Chairman

ICTFC

As far as I'm concerned that's a very impressive response from Mr Cameron and I'm very grateful for his intervention which will allow me, my brother and Dad to attend Saturday's game between Inverness and Celtic (I was able to purchase an additional ticket on the phone this morning).

I'm bowled over by the fact he would take the time to personally respond to me and it's pleasing to see that some clubs are prepared to take the time to explain their position and take a pride in what is being said about their club. In an interconnected world, it is imperative for businesses (and football clubs are businesses after all) to engage with their customers and I applaud Mr Cameron for doing so.

I'll be back in the next few days with a report of visit to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium in the lovely city of Inverness. It's a ground and a game I'm very much looking forward to.

A moan about Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Scottish football isn’t helping itself.

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know I’ve been almost constantly positive about Scottish football. There hasn’t been one of my 25 visits so far where I’ve had a bad time.

However, in the past week I’ve been very frustrated.

I’m up north this weekend to visit my grandmother with the rest of my family. As ever, I quickly checked the fixture list and was delighted to see Inverness Caledonian Thistle are at home to Celtic. That’s a fixture that should be entertaining, especially given their respective league positions.

About a month ago, I logged onto ICT’s website for find details for the game and how to purchase tickets for the match. There were no details online until last week. So I logged on, registered to purchase tickets for me, my Dad and my brother (who is just back from Australia). Three neutral spectators in search of some quality football. I added three tickets for the North Stand and proceeded to the checkout where I was informed “Unfortunately, one or more items in your basket is assigned to a newly registered client, which is not allowed.” I believe this may be to do with the fact that ICT are at home to Celtic, and like many clubs are concerned with Celtic fans obtaining tickets for the home end. This is just a hunch, as there’s nothing on the website to state this is the case, nor is there an opportunity to ask for help.

Unperturbed, I decided to call the ticket office to see if I could get this resolved, perhaps explain the 42 Grounds adventure and secure seats for the game. There was no answer at the box office, so I left a voicemail on Thursday lunchtime. As I write, it’s the following Tuesday and I’ve not yet received a call back and the three seats I’d wanted are still showing as available online.

This is systematic of how many fans are treated in Scottish football. Strange rules governing who can buy tickets (for example, during the world’s biggest arts festival in August, tourists were unable to get tickets for the Edinburgh derby at Easter Road), and the customer service really lets the clubs down.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle look like they are about to do themselves out of £75 worth of ticket money (plus programmes, parking and food).

Thankfully there’s a game on at Boroughbriggs which we’ll take in instead, but the next time I hear Inverness chairman Kenny Cameron make comments about attracting people to games, I’ll remember this moment.

At a time when most SPL clubs are urging their fans to buy season tickets, replica kits, hospitality, bricks in walls, why would they make it so difficult for fans and neutrals alike to attend games?

Ground 25: Gayfield

Gayfield

Game: Arbroath 3 v 1 Forfar Athletic

Date: Saturday 26^th January

Competition: Scottish Football League Division 2

Attendance: 843

Admission: £12

Programme: £2

I’ll visit more salubrious grounds this season, but I think I’m going to be hard pushed to find a visit I’ll enjoy more.

With snow bombarding great swathes of Scotland I was concerned my visit to Arbroath was going to fall victim to the weather like many a fixture in the Scottish Football League. Fortunately my fears were unconfined as my Dad and I set off up the road to the Angus coastal town of Arbroath.

By the time we arrived in Arbroath and grabbed a bit to eat at the marina the sun was even shining. It wasn’t warm but it was certainly nowhere near as bad as I’d anticipated.

We had a short walk from the harbour, past the Signal Tower Museum (which looks great) and through Inchcape Park to find Gayfield Park, home of Arbroath for the past 93 years. I’ve read much about how close Gayfield is to the North Sea (5m during high tide) and I think the photos show the proximity between ground and water. I’m just thankful that the weather wasn’t too bad, in fact I’d describe the conditions as benign for this time of year.

Arbroath are famous of course for holding the world record for the biggest win in senior football, when they defeated Bon Accord 36-0 in the Scottish Cup in September 1885. Coincidentally, on the same day, Dundee Harp beat Aberdeen Rovers 35-0. Not a good day for teams from Aberdeen that day! Those halcyon days have rarely been repeated with Arbroath being one of a number of yo-yo clubs that flit between the First, Second and Third Divisions.

This season they find themselves in mid-table territory alongside their opponents today, Forfar Athletic. The clubs are only fifteen miles apart and before today’s game were only separated by three points with Arbroath in 5^th and Forfar holding onto the final playoff place in 4^th. By 4.50pm, however, Arbroath had leapfrogged their rivals in a convincing manner.

We had a walk around the ground before settling in the front row of North Sea-side stand. Thankfully the wall at the back of the stand protected us from what little wind there was. At 2.50pm, we thought the ground was sparsely populated but suddenly, just before 3pm it filled up a bit more, clearly the locals timed their arrivals to perfection.

In another first for the season, two sides were led out onto the pitch by a piper. It certainly added to the occasion and it’s the sort of thing that I enjoy seeing, making the match special, a spectacle. There was a few nice touches – a West Country tannoy announcer while the mascots had their photos taken with the captains and their mum came out onto the pitch to take a picture. You don’t get that in the SPL.

Arbroath were in their maroon shirts with Forfar wearing a change strip of neon orange. Quite why they couldn’t play in their traditional sky blue shirts I’m not sure but it hardly detracted from the game. After the coin toss, the sides swapped ends and suddenly we were inundated with Arbroath fans around us who obviously fancied their chances of goals in the first half.

And goals they got. Within seven minutes, Arbroath opened the scoring. Forfar didn’t deal well with a corner which was knocked down in the box for Lee Sibanda to rifle into the roof of the net.

It was shaping up to be a good game, with both sets of fans ‘noising’ up the goalkeepers when they were taking goal kicks. It reminded me of my first games at Easter Road when the entire family stand would try to put the keeper off. Brilliant stuff. Also, standing so close to the pitch we also got to observe Arbroath player manager Paul Sheerin on the left wing. It was fascinating to watch him coach, cajole and shout at his team, whilst playing a part in the win too.

Arbroath made it 2-0 less than ten minutes after their first with a well-worked goal. Arbroath’s crisp passing was too much for the Forfar defence who put in a series of wild lunges that were nowhere near the ball or player, which made it easy for Graham Bayne to slot home.

Despite their sometimes agricultural tackling, Forfar did try to play some passing football on a difficult pitch. The programme had noted their thanks to volunteers who had come down to Gayfield on Tuesday night to cover the pitch, allowing the game to go ahead.

Arbroath 3rd Division Champions flag

 Before half-time we had another little walk around the ground to allow my Dad to get a pie and tea and I took in the scene. Frankly, I’d fallen for Gayfield. There was something wild yet welcoming about it as a place to watch football. And then I saw Forfar fans call Arbroath keeper Tony Bullock a “wanker” which ruined the scene.

The second half was another full of drama – Arbroath put the game beyond doubt with a great team goal started in their own half with a fantastic dummy by Ross Chisholm. They worked the ball up the field before a stramash in the six yard box saw the ball break to Graham Bayne who slammed the ball home for his second of the match. His strike partner Steven Doris may have been on trial recently at Birmingham City but it was Bayne who was grabbing the headlines with a robust performance.

We were surrounded by a passionate home support, who despite being three goals to the good, were hypercritical of the referee, David Somers, who I felt had a good game. I’ve been very impressed with Somers in the few matches I’ve seen him in this season. Admittedly, he got a few decisions wrong, but in a full-blooded derby I felt he handled both sets of players very well, despite the protestations of the Red Lichties’ support.

Somers was forced to award Forfar a penalty twenty minutes from time, which from our end looked justified. Iain Campbell dispatched the ball from the twelve yard spot with aplomb. But any chance of an unlikely Forfar comeback was thwarted when they were reduced to 10 men after a dreadful challenge from Willie Robertson. It was unnecessary challenge and Somers was quite right to give him his marching orders.

The game petered out over the remaining ten minutes with Arbroath fans enjoying the chance to laud their team, greeting each touch with an “ole” and booing each Forfar touch.

After two goalless draws, I was delighted to get back to seeing a game with goals, as well as one that was as competitive and enthralling as this one. Alongside with Tannadice, I’d safely put Gayfield in my top three of the season so far. As ridiculous and cliché as it may sound, it was one of those days that made me realise why I’m doing this adventure and why I love football