The Scottish Football Adventure

Background This weekend’s football quest takes me back to West Lothian, a county plonked right in the middle of Scotland’s two biggest cities. It is a hard-working and industrious part of the nation, filled with humble towns and villages who look after their own. I always enjoy visiting the smaller places Scotland’s football leagues has…

Background In the modern world, quite rightly, football is a game for all. Gone are the days of male exclusivity, bans on female participation and discriminatory laws. In Scotland, no matter your background, sexuality, age, race or ableness, there are opportunites to play and spectate the beautiful game. However, just as in most countries around…

Background Growing up, Ayr sounded like a magical faraway land I had only heard about in stories. Like most primary schools in Scotland, we had looked at and studied the poems of one of our country’s most famous sons; the Ayr born Rabbie Burns. His poems described his surroundings as whimsical, beautiful and in the…

Background It’s been a wee while since my last venture to a Scottish club other than Hibs. A mixture of season-ticket duty, a winter break to South Africa and increasing postgrad workloads have left my adventures a bit sparse of late. For the handful of you who read these on the regular, I can only…

Background This winter, I’ve been taking in a very different festive season. Instead of the usual miserable weather, slippy pavements and copious de-icing sessions, I’ve found myself in a genuine summer paradise. I’m very fortunate to be spending the Christmas period travelling around South Africa; my first time even stepping on the African continent. In…

Background I’ve travelled to East Lothian a few times now during my Scottish football quest. While I grew up a short distance away in Dalkeith, I have only begun to appreciate the wonderful landscapes, towns and people the county contains. If my visits to Tranent Juniors, Musselburgh Athletic, Preston Athletic and Haddington Athletic have taught…

Background The Scottish Premiership is on a break to make room for a weird winter edition of the World Cup.  There are plenty of benefits to a top-tier rest (one of which means I don’t have to suffer through another Hibs masterclass). Another is that it gives plenty of opportunities to find a lower-league gem.…

Background I’ve unbelievably never been to Linlithgow before this afternoon’s fitba adventure. The ancient old town plays an important role in Scotland’s historical landscape. A natural stop-off between Edinburgh and Stirling, Linlithgow has housed many a Scottish royal in the stunningly picturesque Linlithgow Palace. The palace was even the birthplace of James V and Mary…

Background It’s been a couple of weeks since my last venture to an unfamiliar ground. A mixture of season ticket duties, social visits and university placements has meant it has been difficult to organise a visit anywhere other than Easter Road. However, on a strangely mild November afternoon, normal service resumed. Today’s trip takes me…

Background Before today, I’d never been anywhere near Inverness. The furthest north I’d ever stretched to was Aberdeen; Pittodrie being the venue for a couple of Hibs away days. The north of Scotland has been consistently romanticised for its beauty and legendary myths. The chance to travel up had always evaded me, but thanks to…