The road to Wembley from Scotland

My next blog is the Road to Wembley from Scotland ... coming soon .... very soon !

Journey complete as Celtic beat Hibs in the final

So after nearly 2000 miles and 18 matches the road to Hampden from Penicuik came to an end and the journey was complete

The day of the final (May 26th) was a lovely sunny day and both sets of fans were in good spirits and good voice.

The 'battle of the greens' was a fairly predicatble affair in terms of the outcome and Hibs have now lost 10 Cup Finals in a row since they last won the Big Cup in 1902.

The journey has been interesting for me - but not life changing or anything of that nature. I had some aspirations in terms of my 'football education' before I set off on the 'road'. I had hoped that at the end the journey I would know more about the mentality of Junior football and why those involved have not merged with the 'Seniors' (I am non the wiser !). I hoped I would find out a bit about Highland football and what makes that tick - I never got further north than Montrose. I hoped that I would hook up with one of the Old Firm earlier and learn a bit more about the bigotry that drives these horriblle organisations. The big education for me was to hook up with Hibs, sit with their fans - and realise that they are nice people ! In future when the chant goes up at Tynecastle 'stand up if you hate Hibees' I will remain seated. The support that the Leithers gave their team at this final tie was fantastic.

For the final (as with the semi final) I travelled through with Brian and Joe my two brothers who are both avid Hibs fans. As with the semi the pre match libation was at the Pool Rooms in Cathcart Road - handy ! The pic opposite shows the lads enjoying a pint and a whisky. My big pal from the Braids United Golf Club (Les Cranston) was also there and is on the right of the picture. All three looking quietly confident at this stage.

The massed ranks of the Hibs fans - all full of optimism before the kick off

This big fella looks happy to be there.

Action photo taken from my seat behind the goal. The match was a total damp squib for the Hibs fans as they lost 3-0 without putting up a fight. Celtic captain Scott Brown strolled around unflustered in midfield looking like someone who had played a proper game in the morning and was just having a relaxing kick around with his mates in the afternoon.

The Hibs players applaud their long suffering fans. Leither Leigh Griffiths leads the hand clapping.

Oh brother ! Hibs back from the dead to fend off Falkirk

So finally on the 13th April 2013 the road to Hampden ends up at Hampden. As previously repoted two of my brothers are big Hibbees - my affections are with the Big team in the west of the city. However, I can't stop now - so it was off to Hampden with my brothers Joe and Brian for the semi final between Hibs and Falkirk

The driving was done by Brian and we arrived for this lunchtime kick off in time for a quick pint and a wee whisky

My brothers were anxious before the game !

The Hibs fans were there in big numbers

Hibs even had the luxury of missing a penalty - in the pic below Griffiths spot kick is well saved by the Falkirk goalie

and at the end my bros were well happy

although when Brian chooses to smile he needs to take an anaesthetic first.

It's thumbs up for Leigh as Griffiths Hat Trick Kills off Killie

When I set off on the road to Hampden I did not think that I would be following Hibs to Hampden !

As a Hearts supporter I was hoping that by the QF stage of the competition I would be joing my beloved Jambos on a victorious crusade to win the 'Big Cup' again. Following Hibs emphatic at Rugby Park I am now committed to watching Hibs again in April in the semi-final at Hampden against Falkirk and possibly returning to Hamden in May to see them lift the trophy for the first time since 1902. The 'road' has become a bit bumpy.

Two of my brothers are big Hibs fans - Joe was on holiday on the 3rd March but Brian was 'up for it' and I travelled through with 'The Dook' and after a couple of scoops in the Park Hotel I took my place in the away end with my brother.

Hibs won well and in Leigh 'face-like-a-thumb' Griffiths had the most accomplished player on the pitch. The maverick Leither scored a fine hat trick and was on the move and on fire all afternoon. I still find it hard to congratulate Hibs so I will leave that to a poster from the Killie Kickback forum. 'Goodfella' wrote: "Well done to Hibs and I am as pissed of as any Killie fans today at our cup exit. Hibs team looked like they wanted to win more than ours and they were cheered on by a great support and deserved to win on the day. Shame we cannot say the same and no idea what has happened to our support in recent years. Well done to the Killie fans that did tuun out and try and get behind the team as for the one's that did not hang your heads in shame."

Here are some pics from what (I have to confess) was an enjoyable day out.

Hibs fans pack the away end

The Dook looking on with interest and anticipation.

These three guys were only too happy to pose for a photo at half time. They certainly added a some colour to the occasion

Also at half time the Killie teenage dancing girls strutted their stuff

Hibs on the attack in the second half

The men in green wearing yellow salute their travelling fans at full time

Highlanders Humped by Heffernan

Kilmarnock beat ICT on the 2nd Feb and your intrepid reporter was there. Heffernan scored two goals as Shiels men reached the quarter final

Another journey to Ayrshire on the road. With Killie subsequently being drawn at home in the QF (against Hib) - this means that I will have spent a long time on the 'road' in Ayrshire. Four times at Auchinleck last season and three times at Kilmarock this season.














It always seems weird and a wee bit innapropriate when adolescent dancing girls strut their stuff at a Scottish football match !

Here they are welcoming the teams onto the pitch










The match was played in front of a really low crowd of just over 3000

 The Killie Football Club anticipated the low crowd and closed both behind-the-goal stands. Eerie !









The dancing girls made another appearance at half time

After taking this pic I was off for my Killie Pie ... always a great highlight of a visit to Rugby Park









Inverness were the better team and won a few corners in the second half ... as shown below

Against the run of play Killie scored a couple of goals. The prolific Heffrenan who had come on as a sub for the injured Sheridan in the first half did the damage ....




... and then it was all over !

and so (as I am writing this up in a very tardy fashio) I am back off to Rugby Park this afternoon to see the Killie v Hibs QF ... and ... I am in the Hibs end ! ?!

Queens ten can't quite match Killie's eleven

A fine winter's day on the first weekend of December saw Killie hobble into the last sixteen of the Scottish Cup as Queen's campaign came to an end. In truth the match was probably decided by an over-zealous refereeing decision when the whistler sent off Queens' midfielder McKenna for an enthusiastic challenge in the second minute of the match.

In the picture on the left (courtesy of the excellent QoS web site) the referee Mike Tumilty can be seen brandishing the card with some swagger - clearly enjoying his moment in the winter sunshine. A shame that some refs seem to forget that the event is about players, managers and fans and not about them. In my opinion the challenge by McKenna was worthy of at most a booking - mistimed and the result of a Scottish Cup tie adrenalin rush. A yellow card and a quiet word would have been the best course of action.

Soon after Cilian Sheridan (should that be Killian Sheridan) scored from close range. The bearded Irish striker chose not to celebrate for reasons I did not understand and I headed to the kiosk for a Killie pie ! The most celebrated match day snack in Scottish football.

This was truly £2.20 worth of heaven. A steak pie rather than a scotch pie but more meat and gravy than you might expect. The Killie pie has now overtaken the Steak Bridie served at Glenrothes Juniors as the best pastry on the Road to Hampden - so far ! The Killie Pie even has it's own web site and football fans will be salivating if they visit www.killiepie.com

Despite being one goal down The Doonhamers took the game to their more illustrious oponents and were unlucky to be trailing at half time. A quick stretch of the legs round the back of the visitors stand and I discovered that the Killie Stewards have a generous interpretation of the 'no smoking in the stadium' rule

Queens continued to press in the second half .......

but Killie scored a second with a breakaway. Late on Sandy Clark's boy scored for Queens and the scoreline of 1-2 was probably about fair although Killie were hanging on at the end. Arriving bang on 3.00 pm I did not get a programme until after the match - so a quick detour to the club shop to pick up the matchday mag.

The Queens fans can be proud of themselves. At both Meadowbank Stadium and Rugby Park they turned up in big numbers and cheered on their team in a good old-fashioned sporting way

I did not get the chance to see them in their home town of Dumfries, but with good fan backing and good footballers they will do well this season and will definitely get promoted from Div 2.

And so back to Kilmarnock in early Februuary for their match in the round of the last 16 at home to ICT.

Queens are Kings in the Capital

I can't believe a whole month has gone by since I attended this one-sided cup tie at the famous Meadowbank Stadium. I have been neglecting my blogging duties and a sudden realisation that I am going to a round 4 tie tomorrow has 'encouraged' me to write about my round three match

The match attracted the biggest crowd of the round with over 1000 at the Commonwealth Stadium as the home team sought to continue their giant killing antics. However, the Doonhamers are certainly not Montrose and a well organised and skillfull Dumfries outfit won comfortably by two goals to nil with a goal either side of half time. Clark and Reilly were the goalscorers but the best player on show was the diminutive Danny Carmichael who (in this match anyway) was operating as an old fashioned Scottish winger. The visitors also had the much travelled Ryan McGuffie once of Newcastle Reserves and Gretna in their line up.

The crowd was made up mainly of visiting Queens supporters but there were a number of Edinburgh City afficionados who I presume were mostly friends and family. They did sing though and their rendition  of "Ruaridh Scott - he shags who he wants" to the inevitbale tune of Sloop John B was met by a Doonhamers chorus of "who the fuck is Ruaridh Scott ?"

Some pictures from the match

Above - the crowd settle in for their afternoon's entertainment

Above ... some first half action close to the hammer cage

The first half was played out under glorious cold Autumn sunshine

A second half corner that led to the killer second goal for Queens ...

And so ... tomorrow it is off to Kilmarnock for Killie v Queen of the South in round 4 ... a Killie Pie will definitely be on the agenda !