“My love for football grew when I realised it was more than just 90 minutes”
Dons Fan on Hiatus-Ground Botherer-Lower League Enthusiast-Bookworm
2021/22 – Lochee Harp 1 v 3 Forfar West End
New Beechwood Park, East Region SJFA Midland League, 4/8/21 Entrance – £6 Attendance – 93 Pie – Closed Pint – N/A Lochee Harp Football Club Formed – 1904 Nickname – The Harp Honours – Tayside Premier League – 1983/84, 1984/85, 1985/86, Dundee Junior League – 1904/05, 1906/07, 1910/11, 1922/23, 1923/24, 1926/27, 1928/29, 1929/30, 1930/31, 1931/32, …
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2021/22 – Stoneywood Parkvale 2 v 1 Sunnybank
Arjowiggins Stoneywood Park, North Region SJFA, First Division, 3/8/21 Entrance – £5 me £0 Wee Man Attendance – 48(twice counted) Pie – Didn’t bother(rare) Pint – N/A Stoneywood Parkvale Football Club Founded – 2016 Nickname – The Vale Honours – None Random Fact – The club impressively reached the last 16 of the 2019/20 Scottish …
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2021/22 -Rothie Rovers 6 v 0 New Elgin
Rothienorman Football Ground, SJFA North Region Division 2, 28/7/21 Entrance – £5 me, £0 Wee Man Attendance– 38 (minus committees) Pie – Closed Pint – N/A Rothie Rovers Junior Football Club Founded – 1983 Nickname – Rovers Honours – None since making the step up to Juniors Random Fact – Major upgrade works were carried …
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2021/22-Formartine United 1 v 3 Fraserburgh
Harlaw Park(Inverurie Loco Works), Aberdeenshire Cup Final 2020/21, 28/7/21 Entrance – £10 for me, £0 for Wee Man Attendance – 600 (reportedly) Pie – Hotdog, coffee and Diet Coke , £7.50 Pint – Birra Moretti, £4.90, Banks of Ury Founded -1887 Random Fact – It is claimed the trophy is the second oldest fitba trophy …
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2021/22 – Lochore Welfare 3 v 1 Oakley United
Central Park, East of Scotland First Division Conference B, 27/7/21 Entrance – £6 for me, £0 for Wee Man Attendance – 98 (rough count) Pie – £2.50 for a sausage roll, pie and coffee Pint – £2 in the Social Club Lochore Welfare Football Club Founded – 1934 (Various mergers and name changes since resorting …
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Fitbawbaggery in Numbers #8 – Scottish Clubs in Europe. Who, How Many, and Where?
Call it geekiness, or call it too much time on my hands or maybe you could just put it down to a bit of both. I have just trawled through every Scottish fitba clubs European records over a day and a half. A pretty time consuming nonesense, but worthwhile. The reason? A few days ago …
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A Fitbawbag’s 2020/21 End of Season Review
Well can that be classed as a season? Corona tried to say no. Not many games were viewed, thats a fact. But Wee Man and myself had our eyes opened to new Leagues, this leading me to believe that it was a success despite only seeing 1170 minutes of fitba in the flesh. Would we …
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2020/21 – Cuminestown United 5 v 5 Macduff
Tenant Park, North East Scotland League 2, 8/6/21 Entrance -N/A Attendance -38 Pie -N/A Pint -N/A Cuminestown United Football Club Founded – 1923 Nickname – N/A Honours – I am not even going to pretend I know Random Fact – More ground related than club. Cuminestown once had a Junior team. The reason they don’t …
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2020/21 New Pitsligo 6 v 3 New Deer
New Pitsligo Playing Field, North East Scotland League 1, 4/6/21 Entrance – N/A Attendance – 38 (Biggest Count) Pie – N/A but the steak pie supper from near by Gold-N-Crispy was beautiful Pint – N/A New Pitsligo Football Club Founded – Unsure Nickname – Cyaak Honours – Unsure but the league, League Cup, Brucklay Cup, …
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2020/21 – St. Duthus 2 v 0 Invergordon
Grant Park, North Caledonian League 1, 29/05/21 Entrance – Free Attendance – 57 when counted (hard to put a figure to, this due to comings and goings) Pie – N/A Pint – N/A St Duthus Football Club Founded – 1885 Nicknames – The Saints, The Tain Saints Honours – North Caledonian Cup- 1924/24, 1978/79, 19/83/84, …
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2020/21 – Lesmahagow 0 v 1 Royal Albert
Craighead Park, Friendly, 28/5/21 Entrance – Good will donation bucket (tenner for the two of us). Attendance – 171 when counted just before half time. Pie, Burger and Coffee – £5.20 Pint – N/A Lesmahagow Junior Football Club Founded – 1885 Nickname – The Gow Random Fact – The club started off as Nethanvale Swifts from1885-1906 …
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2020/21 -Forfar United 3 v 1 Forfar Albion 19’s
Guthrie Park, Friendly, 22/5/21 Entrance- N/A (Club unsure of rules in regards to admittance) Attendance – 34 committee, parents and sneaky tree dodgers like me (unofficially) Pie – N/A Pint – £3.60 (Heverlee, The Stag, close to Guthrie Park) Forfar United Junior Football Club Founded – 2020 Nickname – N/A Honours – None Random Fact …
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Fitbawbaggery in Numbers #7 – 10 Things I Have Missed About The Fitba
Over 100 days and more without a game have been bestowed on me for the the second occasion in recent times(first time led to just over 200 in the end). It creates a hole in life when your social life has two things in it and one is taken away entirely. That one is more …
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Inane Ramblings of a Fitbawbag # 15-Lecce, taking Darwin a bit too literally.
Originally written for The Red Final issue 141 (February 2021) Tuesday 19th of January, I found myself partaking in a common custom, watching Italian fitba. This time a clash between Roma v Spezia in the Coppa Italia. Armed with the usual beer in hand and cat on my lap ,I watched the underdogs clinch a …
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The Dons Two Years On – What Have I Missed?
The 3rd of March marks the second anniversary of the infuriating sounds of the equally infuriating song echoing around me. “Oh Derek McInnes” was ringing out up Merkland Road East. This coming after drawing in the Scottish Cup with the new kids on the block. Yes, that is right, drawing with The r*****s was worthy …
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Fitbawbaggery in Numbers # 6 – Top 5 Non-Dons Games
This year marks my 30th anniversary of heading to watch fitba in the flesh. It is thirty years since the aroma of cigars and Bovril first skelped my nostrils as I walked up the stairs at the rear of the Merkland Road End. Three decades since I first experienced the collective outburst of elation of …
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Inane Ramblings of a Fitbawbag #14 – Campionato……..Di Calcio…….. Italiano – (Secondo Atto)
April 30th, 2017, Vialle delle Olipiade, Rome. My pal (The Beats) and I find ourselves in a cafe (Bar della Musica) for a few breakfast beers ahead of the main event that weekend………the Derby de la Capitale. Or in simpler terms, Roma v Lazio, our first venture to Serie A. The elation was at a …
2020/21 – Alness United 2 v 1 Inverness Athletic
Dalmore Park, Ness Cup League 2, 19/12/20 Entry – N/A despite being Tier 1 Attendance – Unofficially 42 Pie – N/A Pint – N/A Alness United Football Club Founded – 1890 (Approx). Nickname – None Honours –North Caledonian League 1972-73, 1973-74, 2000-01, 2004-05. North of Scotland /North Caledonian Cup -1973-74, 1999-00, 2013-14 Random Fact – …
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2020/21-Deveronvale 1 v 4 Camelon
Princess Royal Park, Scottish Cup Second Preliminary Round,12/12/20 Entry– Not when Jason Leitch is involved Attendance – See Above Pie – See above Pint– See Above Deveronvale Football Club Founded – 1938 Nickname – Vale Honours – Highland Football League – 2002/03, 2005/06, Aberdeenshire Cup –1947–48, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1961–62, 1965–66, 2000–01, 2006–07, 2011–12. Aberdeenshire Shield– …
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Inane Ramblings of A Fitbawbag # 13 – The Five Year (Mis)Adventure
5th of December 2015. Quite the insignificant date for the outsider. The fifth of December in general, has had very little of note happen throughout history. In 1848 the US saw the start of the California gold rush and in 1945 the Bermuda Triangle caused one of aviation greatest mysteries when “Flight 19”, a group …
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Inane Ramblings of A Fitbawbag # 12 – Campionato…….. Di Calcio…….. Italiano (Primo atto)
Just mention two words to me and they will never fail in making me instantaneously beam and conjure up flashbacks of childhood. Two simple but incredibly efficacious words, “Football Italia”. From 1992 – 2002 Channel 4 had the greatest show on earth (joint with Eurogoals). Sundays had taken on a whole new dimension. You can …
Inane Ramblings of A Fitbawbag # 11 – Do I Really Have To Support Scotland?
The national team, do I as a Scot have to support them? Given the conversations I have been involved with recently, you would think it my obligation as a Scottish born citizen to don a Scotland shirt, kilt and Timberland boots everytime a game comes up. In reality though I am as far from that …
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Inane Ramblings of A Fitbawbag #10 – This is England ’20
Originally written for The Red Final Issue 140, October 2020 16th of February, Gelredome, Arnhem. Storm Dennis is seriously blowing a fucking hoolie, I had just viewed a cracking ninety minutes of fitba where the hosts Vitesse put Heerenveen to the sword 4-2. This rounding off a quadruple header of Dutchball, following visits to De …
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2020/21 – Esh Winning 2 v 4 Chester-le-Street
West Terrace, Northern League Division 2, 8/10/20, 22/10/20 Entry – Both Free Attendance – 121 Hot Dog, Diet Coke, Lemonade, Coffee – £5 Pint and Orange Juice – £4 Esh Winning Football Club Founded – 1967 Nickname – The Stags Honours – Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup 2007–08 Random Fact – The club were formed as Esh …
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2020/21 Ryton and Crawcrook Albion 2 v 5 Crook Town
Kingsley Park, Northern League Division 2, 14/10/20 Entrance – £5 and free Attendance – 119 Chips, Coffee, Juice, Crisps – £4.20 Pint – £2.20 Ryton and Crawcrook Albion Football Club Founded – 1970 Nickname – RACA Honours – Northern Alliance Division One – 1996/97 Random Fact – The club are more than just a Northern …
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2020/21 Consett 5 v 1 Bishop Auckland
Belle View, Northern League Division 1, 13/10/20 Entrance – £5 and £2 Attendance – 150 Diet Coke and Dairy Milk– On the house Pint – Too short notice to manage one pre-game Consett Association Football Club Founded – 1899 Nickname – The Steelmen Honours – Northern League Division Two – 1988–89, 2005–06. Durham Challenge Cup …
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2020/21 Tow Law Town 1 v 0 Willington
Ironworks Park, Northern League Division 2, 10/10/20 Entry -£4 & £2 Attendance – 80 Sausage and chips/coffee/Diet Coke – £5.20 Pint and Diet Coke – £3 Tow Law Town Association Football Club Founded – 1890 Nickname – The Lawyers Honours – Northern League Division One – 1923–24, 1924–25, 1994–95. Northern League Cup – 1973–74 Random Fact …
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2020/21 Carlisle City 3 v 0 Birtley Town
Gillford Park, Northern League Division 2 , 3/10/20 Entry – £4 and £2 Attendance – 78 Match Ball Sponsor – £25 Coffee and crisps – £2 Pint and a coke – £3.30 Carlisle City Football Club Founded – 1975 Nickname – The Sky Blues Honours – Division One 1991–92 Random Fact – Formed in 1975 by …
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2020/21 – Easington Colliery 4 v 1 Redcar Athletic
The Welfare Ground, Northern League Division 2, 1/10/20 Attendance – 105 Entry – £5 Coffee and Chips and Gravy – £2.80 Pint – £2.80 Easington Colliery Association Football Club Founded – 1913 Nickname – The Colliers, Green Army Honours- Wearside League -1929–30, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1947–48, 1948–49, Wearside League Cup 1932–33, 1945–46, 1961–62, 2009–10 Random Fact …
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A Fitbawbags Guide to Fitba Literature # 7 – The Fifty Book Challenge- The Supplementary Cast
Now that I am home the challenge is over. Set the bar a bit too low at fifty as I manged over another half as many on top . Then again I was away for longer than I expected. I definitely excelled myself though. No doubt about it. Seventy six fitba books read in one …
Inane Ramblings of a Fitbawbag # 9 – 200 Days and The Corona Effect
You will have to excuse the obscenities, but two hundred days without a game is fucking ridiculous. Since 1991 when my fitba viewing career started this is easily the longest period without a game by a long shot. Even during my playing days there were Dons games in the mix and sometimes watching my pals …
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The Inane Ramblings of a Fitbawbag # 8 – Voetball, van der Ark and Vitesse.
Part 1 The Netherlands, not Holland as the common misconception goes. A tremendous and a somewhat underrated country. Many people choose to take their jollies in hotter climes. I however cant really be bothered with the sun these days. This maybe down to me being spoiled throughout my working career what with currently being stationed down in …
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A Fitbawbags Fitba Bucket List
Everyone has a to do list of sorts, not a paint the garden gate or dump shite at the skip type. Countries or cities that tickle their fancy, bands they would like to see, retire early, skydive, have kids, run a marathon or whatever. The content can be a complete miscellany of things. Whether it …
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A Fitbawbags Guide to Fitba Literature # 6 – The Fifty Book Challenge Part 2
Part deux. Offshore for these so the rate of churning out book after book slowed somewhat. Averaging more or less five a week, the target was still more than achieveable. More of the real books I had humphed to Africa were on the cards as the kindle is out of action when out in the …
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The Fitbawbag Seen In The Flesh Dons Greatest XI
I have always wondered what my Dons best XI would be like but I have never really put a conscious effort into jotting it down. I have always had favourites that would habitually make the final cut, but never a full eleven. For the time being I have no random fitba to write about so …
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A Fitbawbags Guide to Fitba Literature # 5 – The Fifty Book Challenge Part 1
With heading away to Angola and being stuck there for the foreseeable I decided to set myself a fifty fitba book challenge. After realising I read forty-one books(all subjects) while in lockdown at home between March 20th and June 8th, I decided to set this target. I do love fitba and reading after all. With …
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The Inane Ramblings of a Fitbawbag # 7 – Covid, Conceit, Contradictions, Contempt and the Colts
So here we are, Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer look to have been relegated after this sorry and embarrassing saga has seemingly come to an end. Has it ended with this as a conclusion. I think we already know the answer to this. We are only half way. Now for the legal wranglings. With Hearts and …
Fitbawbaggery From The Vaults From The Vaults # 14- Speaking Double Dutch, Feyenoord and Willem II
In the past I have declared my love for watching Dutch fitba. Out with Scotland it is by far my favourite place to get my kicks. However, I wont lie, my admiration is not strictly down to the game itself, it is also powered by the fantastic country, welcoming people and lovely beers but I …
Fitbawbaggery in Numbers # 5 – The 12 Best Scottish Grounds To Date
Recently I have found myself poring over my old photos from the fitba. Mostly because Wee Man has been constantly telling me he has been missing it, so it was a bit of reminiscing with him. To add to this I have also been reading a lot of old Scottish fitba books which have shown …
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The Fitbawbag Seen In The Flesh Greatest XI
An XI picked from players seen in the flesh throughout the years of heading through turnstiles across Europe As I write I have not thought about this previously. It is totally off the cuff. There are obvious choices that will slip right in but the others will take some serious time and thought. The method …
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Fitbawbaggery in Numbers # 4 -100 Long Gameless Days
Exactly what it says on the tin. Today marks one hundred days since I had the pleasure of a game. That game was a final 90 minutes of a four game Dutch tour, Vitesse 4 v 2 Heerenveen on February 16th. The following Wednesday I went offshore for twenty eight days and came back to …
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Fitbawbaggery From The Vaults # 13 – 24 Hours, 2 Countries, 565 miles, 1 Lock-in and 3 games of fitba later…..
Easter weekend, hundreds of games across the UK from Friday to Monday and home from work. What a great combination. I was to take full advantage. I was also to tick off three teams on my list for the season. Starting over the border I was potentially going to see EFL League Two won by …
A Fitbawbags Guide To Fitba Literature #4 – The Scottish Fitba Edition
I have done the general worldwide fitba literature twice and the Dons special so I felt it would be rude to not do a Scottish fitba version(minus anything Aberdeen related). As well as collecting Aberdeen books I do the same with Scottish books. This became apparent when one day realised I had over one hundred …
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Fitbawbaggery from the Vaults # 12-Shotts Bon Accord 3-4 Blantyre Victoria
Hannah Park, West Region League One. 11/5/19 Shotts Bon Accord Football Club Founded – 1950 Nicknames – The Bonny, The BA Honours – Scottish Junior Cup 1957-58 and 2011/12, West of Scotland Cup – 1963/64 Current Division – West of Scotland Football League Conference A Random Fact – In 1995 Shotts were suspended from the …
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A Fitbawbags Guide To Fitba Literature #3 – The Dons Edition
Football and reading, two of my favourite things. Combining them together makes me a contented fellow. Then when I add the team I support into the equation its this super amalgamation pastime. I have read over sixty Dons related books in my life. Still have them all too, all sitting proudly in a bookshelf in …
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Fitbawbaggery From the Vaults #11 – The Millennium Dumb- Aberdeen 0 v 4 R*****s
Hampden Park, Scottish Cup Final, 27th May 2000 Originally Written For The Red Final 111 (Cup Final Edition 2014) .The issue was made up of peoples memories of cup finals and this was my first ever submission for the most underrated fitba institution in Scottish Fitba 2000. The year I had to start being a …
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Fitbawbaggery in Numbers #3 – The Filthy 50
Accrington Stanley to Željezničar This may just be a pipe dream given what is going on in the world just now. Call it a bit ambitious. Call it delusional. I call it a ground bothering a fitba fan being bored and thinking creating a list was a productive thing to do. I also call it …
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Fitbawbaggery from the Vaults #10 – Four Four in Forfar-Forfar West End 4 v 4 Tayport.
Strathmore Park, East Region Consolation Cup,1/5/19 Forfar West End Football Club Founded – 1892 Nickname – West End Honours – Tayside Junior Football League 1990/91 Current Division – East Region Superleague North Random Fact – Exactly a week after this I headed to Blairgowrie for another Consolation Cup tie including West End. It finished 4-3 …
Fitbawbaggery From The Vaults #9 – It’s Friggin Friendly in Oslo
When I was a kid my old boy was forever in Norway. As a teacher at Peterhead Academy he was part of the Peterhead/Ålesund school exchange for near thirty years. The dining room at my folks was a homage to the country with trolls, pictures and other things picked up on his sojourns. To add …
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Fitbawbags Interviews # 1 -Wee Man- Aiming for the Century (Or Five)
Mans best friend is a dog so they say. Well I’ll disagree. The first reason being cats are better, the second being the more important of the two reasons, the person who came up with that line surely didn’t have a fitba mad five year old to accompany them to random towns all over Scotland …
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Fitbawbaggery in Numbers #2 – 181 Grounds (2019/20 End of Season Count, 32 added)
With the season not going quite to plan I failed to reach the milestone set of two hundred by the end of the season. This challenge was on course to be carried out as there were seventeen new grounds knocked on the head due to the bat pandemic which would have taken me to one …
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The Inane Ramblings of a Fitbawbag #6- It’s More Than Just A Game. Much More
Originally Written for The Red Final 139 1/2 Bill Shanklys quote has been getting some amount of airplay in the last few weeks due to the bat flu induced postponements. “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that” said the man from Glenbuck(Supposedly). …
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A Fitbawbags 2019/20 End of Season Review
With the recent conclusions of the Highland League, Lowland League and East and West Region Juniors I suppose I will terminate my first non Dons season at this point also. I did hold out hope of the leagues recommencing but unfortunately I can’t see this coming to fruition. Yes the SPFL hasn’t been shut down …
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The Inane Ramblings of a Fitabwbag # 5 – A Spherical Hole In Life
Here I sit in my living room, Tartan Special in hand, empty sharing size packet of peanuts discarded next to me. Grace Kelly is strutting her stuff on the box in one of her Alfred Hitchcock film appearances. As always, my big sook of a cat is sleeping on my lap. As nights go it …
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A Fitbawbags Guide To Fitba Literature Second Edition
A second 15 crackers from my collection. May come in handy for some during the days stuck in doors avoiding bat flu. As I have said before. I love fitba and a close second favourite hobby is reading. When I can combine the two I am in my element. The hybrid hobby. Ill read anything …
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The Inane Ramblings of a Fitbawbag # 4 -Boats, Thistles and One Set of Goals.
Originally written for The Red Final 139 The badge. A symbol of pride. Its stands for honour and territory. It is the reason some people get out of bed. They are the reason behind a million arguments. Some people like them old school, some prefer them modern. Some people favour them easy to draw so …
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Fitbawbaggery From the Vaults #8 – That Day in the Moray Drizzle; Keith 2 v 6 Brora R*****s
Looking at it from 2020 I suppose I was always a subconscious ground botherer. Watching Aberdeen, I managed to nail twenty-seven grounds. I used to love the away days to random places like Station Park in Forfar, Dumbartons Boghead, Alloas Recreation Park and such like. The Highland League brought me five or six from days …
The Dons a Year On- 56 games, 55 grounds, 199 Goals and a Turd in a Urinal Later
I have mentioned elsewhere that I had become seriously disengaged with watching Aberdeen. The football was as poor as I had seen for many a year, we were struggling for wins at home and it just was not fun. The r*****s in the Scottish Cup, 3rd of March 2019. The final whistle blew and the …
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2019/20-Vitesse 4 v 2 Heerenveen
Gelredome, Eredivisie, 16/2/20 Stichting Betaald Voetbal Vitesse Founded – 1892 Nicknames – Vitas, Airborne Football Club Honours – KNVB Cup 2016/17 Random Fact– The clubs record European win is 4-0 against Dundee United in the UEFA Cup in 1990. (They won the tie 5-0 on agg) Saved the best for last this trip. To start with, …
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2019/20-Fortuna Sittard 0 v 0 Emmen
Fortuna Sittard Stadion, Eredivisie, 15/2/20 Fortuna Sittard Founded – 1968 Nickname – Fortunezen Honours – KNVB Cup 1957, 1964 Current Division – Eredivisie Random Fact – The stand where the ultras congregate was renamed in honour of late ex player Fernando Ricksen. I obviously got my ticket elsewhere The night started off in nightmare circumstances. …
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2019/20-DHSC 1 v 2 Rijnvogels
Sportpark Wesley Sneijder, Hoofdeklasse, 15/2/20 DOS Holland Stichtse Boys Combinatie Founded – 2007 Nicknames – None Honours – None Current Division – Hoofdeklasse Random Fact – Being a native of the city, Wesley Sneijder helps fund the club. The ground has been renamed Sport Park Wesley Sneijder in tribute. Fifth tier Dutch fitba, don’t mind …
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2019/20-De Graafschap 2 v 0 Roda JC
De Vijverberg, Eereste Divisie, 14/2/20 Vereniging Betaald VoetbalDe Graafschap Founded – 1954 Nickname – Superboeren (Super Farmers) Honours – Eerste Divisie 1991, 2007, 2010 Current Division – Eerste Divisie Random Fact – Ex Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwoods last job in fitba was as manager of the club in 2014. He left after one month in charge …
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A Wee Mans Half Century, Eleven Thousand Mile Fitba Odyssey
Fitba has been a constant in my life, and throughout my thirty-five years on earth. I have gone through stages with the game. There was a time where I was playing only, this was a short one-year period. This then turned into playing and watching Aberdeen at Pittodrie which gradually turned into a season ticket. …
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2019/20-BSC Glasgow 1 v 4 Hibernian
Recreation Park, Scottish Cup 5th Round, 9/2/20 Broomhill Sports Club Glasgow Football Club Founded – 2014 Nickname – None Honours – Lowland League Cup 2018/19 Current Division – Lowland Football League Random Fact – The club have been in the LFL for five full seasons and improved every year, 10th(30 points) , 7th (41 points), …
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2019/20-Sauchie 4 v 1 Newtongrange Star
Beechwood Park, East of Scotland Premier Division, 8/2/20 Sauchie Juniors Football Club Founded – 1960 Nicknames– The Reds Honours – East Region Premier League – 2011–12, 2016–17 Random Fact – Ex Dundee United and St Johnstone and multiple Trinidad and Tobago cap Colin Samuel spent a season at the club prior to getting into coaching …
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2019/20-Cumbernauld Colts 0 v 1 Spartans
Broadwood, Lowland League, 7/2/20 Cumbernauld Colts Football Club Founded – 1969 Nicknames – Colts Honours – Lowland League Cup 2017/18 Current Division – Lowland Football League Random Fact – Jackie McNamara spent his youth career at the club. This meaning the club are partly to blame for one of the worst performances i have EVER …
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2019/20-Rothes 3 v 1 Keith
Highland League Cup 1/4 final, MacKessack Park, 5/2/20 Rothes Football Club Founded – 1938 Nickname – The Speysiders Honours – Highland League – 1958/59, North of Scotland Cup 1958/59 and 1978/79 Current Division – Highland League Random Fact – The club play in tangerine due to buying floodlights from Tannadice Park. The colours of Dundee …
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2019/20-Clachnacuddin 2 v 3 Forres Mechanics
Highland League, Canal Park, 31/1/20 Clachnacuddin Football Club Founded – 1885 Nicknames – The Lillywhites, Clach Honours – Highland League-1894–95, 1896–97, 1897–98, 1900–01, 1902–03, 1903–04, 1904–05, 1905–06, 1907–08, 1911–12, 1920–21, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1923–24, 1938–39, 1947–48, 1974–75, 2003–04, Highland League Cup-1947–48, 1950–51, 1981–82, 2003–04, 2013–14, North of Scotland Cup-1894–95, 1895–96, 1897–98, 1899–1900, 1902–03, 1903–04, 1905–06, 1906–07, 1919–20, …
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2019/20-Falkirk 2 v 0 Arbroath
Scottish Cup 4th Round Replay, The Falkirk Stadium, 28/1/20 Falkirk Football and Athletic Club Founded – 1876 Nickname – The Bairns Honours – Scottish Cup 1913 and 1957 Current Division – SPFL League 1 Random Fact- The club are part of one of the biggest urban myths in Scottish fitba. In 99/00 Falkirks old home …
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2019/20-Mid Annandale 0 v 7 Musselburgh Athletic
South and East Shield Final, New Murrayfield Park(Blackburn United), 26/1/20 The chance of a third cup final of the season was too much to resist. It was either that or witness St Mirren v Aberdeen, which lets face it, just oozes shite. So West Lothian it was. But a day out with Wee Man in …
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2019/20-Kirrie Thistle 0 v 2 Lochee United
Westview Park, East Region Super League North, 25/1/20 Kirriemuir Thistle Junior Football Club Founded – 1921 Nickname – Thistle Honours – None Current Division – East Region Super League North Random Fact – Ex Aberdeen and Scotland Cap Kevin McNaughton is on the books and is also a coach at the Angus club A belated …
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The Inane Ramblings of a Fitbawbag #3 -Thirty-five Bloody Years! I Could Get Less Time For Murder
Originally written for The Red Final. Four Years Ago. Re-hashed to Suit the Same Current Climate. 1985, MCMLXXXV, the 985th year of the second millennium and the year the top division last found its way to the Pittodrie trophy cabinet which in turn is the last time the trophy has found a home for itself …
Fitbawbaggery From The Vaults # 7- Hopp Suisse, The Fitbawbag Awakens
One of the most pivotal points in my life was when I decided to head to Switzerland for my first ever solo recreational fitba break. It is up there with one of the best decisions my brain has ever spewed out. As my home life was crashing down around me, I wanted to get away …
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The Inane Ramblings of a Fitbawbag #2 Destroyers, Pirates, Spartacus and eh………… Santa Claus
Originally written for The Red Final 129 April 2017 I recently treated myself to a tour of Switzerland. Not for skiing as everyone I told seemed to automatically assume, but to cram in as much football and as many different beers as possible (there are over seven hundred and fifty breweries in that wee country). …
A Fitbawbags 2019/20 Mid Season Review
Games – 30 Goals – 100 Tournaments – 20 Friendly(3), Europa League (2), Highland League, North of Scotland Cup, Lowland League (2), East of Scotland Premier Division, South of Scotland League, Scottish Junior Cup (2), North Region Super League, North Region Second Division (2), West Region Super League (3), West Regional Sectional Cup (2), East Region, …
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A Wee Fellow and His Size Three Yellow
Originally written for The Red Final Issue 138 The Hampden Museum or Scottish Football Museum as it is it is also known is a great time filler and well worth a visit. Despite being owned by a bunch of clueless arseholes, it is a treasure trove and has some excellent pieces of memorabilia there is …
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2019/20-Cumnock 1 v 2 Glenafton Athletic
West Region Superleague, Townhead Park, 21/12/19 Cumnock Juniors Football Club Founded – 1912 Nickname – The Nock Honours – Scottish Junior Cup 1978/79 and 1988/89 Current Division – West Region Super League Random Fact – A fact I learned today, Townhead Park wasn’t always a football ground. It was once upon a time used as …
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2019/20-Banks o Dee 2 v 0 East End
North Region Superleague, Spain Park, 18/12/19 Banks o’ Dee Junior Football Club Founded – 1902 Nicknames – The Rechabites, The Dee Honours – Scottish Junior Cup-1957, North Region Superleague – 2007/08, 2008/09, 2015/16, 2015/16, 2017/18 and 2018/19 Current Division – North Region Superleague Random Fact – The club failed to gain entry into the Highland …
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2019/20-Arbroath Victoria 3 v 0 Dundee Violet
East Region Premier League North, Ogilvie Park, 14/12/19 Arbroath Victoria Football Club Founded – 1872 Nickname- The Vics Honours – Angus Junior League 1928/29, 1936/37/ 1953/54 , 1954/55 and 1956/57 Random Fact – George Best turned out in a friendly v Arbroath FC in 1982. This was to mark the clubs centenary. The Irishman netted …
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2019/20-Wolverhampton Wanderers 4 v 0 Besiktas
Europa League Group K, Molineux, 12/12/19 Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club Founded – 1877 (As St Lukes Football Club) Nickname – Wolves Honours – First Division 1953/54, 1957/58 and 1958/59. FA Cup- 1892/93, 1907/08, 1948/49 and 1959/60. League Cup- 1973/74 and 1979/80 Current Division – Premiership Random Fact – In May Peter Davies (71) claimed he …
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2019/20-Hill of Beath Hawthorn 1 A-A 0 Tranent
Keirs Park, East of Scotland Premier Division, 7/12/19 Hill of Beath Hawthorn Football Club Founded – 1975 Nickname – Haws Honours – Scottish Junior Cup 1989/90 Current Division – East of Scotland Premier Division Random Fact – The Haws first manager Jock Finlayson managed the club from 1975 to 2015. This being the longest reign …
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2019/20-Colwyn Bay 1 aet 0 Airbus UK
Llanelian Road, Welsh Cup, 6/12/19 Colwyn Bay Football Club Founded-1881 Nickname – The Seagulls Honours – None Current Division – Cymru North Random Fact — The club played in the English League for many years and in the 1991–92 season, a dispute with the Football Association of Wales led to Colwyn Bay being ordered to join the …
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2019/20-Amiens P v P Stade de Reims
Stade de la Licornes, Ligue 1, 4/12/19 Amiens Sport Club Founded – 1901 Nickname – Les Licornes (the Unicorns) Honours – None Current Division – Ligue 1 Random Fact – The club won its first ever game 13-0 against San Quentin After battling traffic in a taxi I finally made it to the Stade de …
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2019/20-Le Havre 2 v 0 Le Mans
Stade Oceane, Ligue 2, 3/12/19 Le Havre Athletic Club Founded – 1872 Nickname – Les Ciel et Marine (the navy and blue) Honours – Coupe de France – 1959 Current Division – Ligue 2 Random Fact – Le Havre are the oldest team in French football Fantastic stadium. Thats is good place to start. The …
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2019/20-Largs Thistle 1 v 2 Kilwinning R*****s
Barrfields, West of Scotland Superleague, 30/11/19 Largs Thistle Football Club Founded – 1889 Nickname – Theesel Honours – Scottish Junior Cup 1993/94 Current Divison – West of Scotland Superleague Random fact –The clubs top scorer over a single season was back in 1957/58. David Cook managed the impressive haul of 87(eighty seven). Not bad at …
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Fitbawbaggery From The Vaults #6: 100 Grounds
Written circa March 2018 for The Red Final A Lock In, A Riot, A March, A Programme, A Headlbutt, A Turd and A Duncan Shearer Overhead Kick. People refer to football teams’ homes different things, grounds, stadiums or shitehole in the case of Dundee United. I personally prefer the term “ground” but it’s all about …
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Fitbawbaggery From The Vaults #5: From Dudgeon To Dortmund via The Dam
Sutherland to North Holland to North Rhine-Westphalia doesn’t come across as a typical football tour but I’ve been known to do things a bit differently in the past. The plan, three games played in three countries over four days. What brought this on? It wasn’t deliberate; it was part being in the right place at …
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Fitbawbaggery From The Vaults#4: Rot-Weiss Barmy Army- Rot-Weiss Oberhausen 1 v 1 Rot-Weiss Essen
Niederrheinstadion, Regionalliga West, 4/5/19 Sport-Club Rot-Weiß Oberhausen e.V. Founded: 1904 Nickname: Die Kleeblätter (The Clovers) Honours: Regionalliga West 1969, Regionalliga West/Südwest 1996/97 Current Division: Regionalliga West Random Fact: Between seasons 2004/05 and 2008/09 RWO managed a bizarre and rare sequence of a double relegation followed by a double promotion meaning they dropped from 2.Bundesliga to …
2019/20-Linlithgow Rose CFC 0 v 2 Pollok
Scottish Junior Cup Third Round, Prestonfield, 26/10/19 Linlithgow Rose Community Football Club Founded – 2019 Nickname – The Rosey Honours – None Current Division – East Region Premier League South Random Fact – The are not affiliated with senior Linlithgow Rose and do not usually play at Prestonfield (Hence why the badge is of the …
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2019/20-The Spartans 1 v 3 East Stirlingshire
Lowland League, Ainslie Park, 25/10/19 The Spartans Football Club Founded – 1951 Nickname – N/A Honours– Lowland League – 2013/14, 2017/18, East of Scotland League-1971–72, 1983–84, 1996–97, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2008-09, 2009–10, 2010–11 Current Division – Lowland League Random Fact – The club were originally formed as a graduates of Edinburgh University club. This practice …
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2019/20-St Cuthbert Wanderers 3 v 3 Heston Rovers
South of Scotland League, St Marys Park, 23/10/19 Saint Cuthbert Wanderers Football Club Founded-1879 Nickname – The Saints Honours – South of Scotland League – 1927–28, 1928–29, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1970–71, 1973–74, 1980–81, 1995–96, 2015-16. South of Scotland Qualifying Cup– 1971-72 Random Fact – The club are named after Saint Cuthbert of …
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2019/20-Sunderland 5 v 0 Tranmere Rovers
Stadium of Light, League 1, 22/10/19 Sunderland Association Football Club Founded-1879(as Sunderland and District Teachers) Nickname – The Black Cats Honours – First Division/Premier League – 1891/92, 1892/93, 1894/95,1901/02, 1912/13, 1935/36. FA Cup– 1936/37, 1972/73 Current Division– English League 1 Random Fact – Legendary Aberdeen manager Dave Halliday is Sunderlands third top scorer ever and scored …
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2019/20-Hurlford United 1-0 Pollok
West Region Premiership, Blair Park, 19/10/19 Hurlford United Football Club Founded – 1912 Nickname – The Ford Honours – Scottish Junior Cup – 2013/14. West Region Superleague – 2012/13. West of Scotland Cup – 2017/18 Current Division – West Region Premiership Random Fact – In the same season that the Ford won the Scottish Junior …
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2019/20-Auchinleck Talbot 6 – 1 Lanark United
Sectional Cup Final, Beechwood Park, 13/10/19 Auchinleck Talbot Football Club Founded – 1909 Nickname – The Bot Honours – Scottish Junior Cup – 1949, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015,2018, 2019. West of Scotland Superleague/Premier League– 2005–06, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2018-19. Ayrshire First Division -1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, …
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2019/20-Newmachar United 3 v 2 Glentanar
Charlie Gordon Park, North Region Second Division, 12/10/19 Newmachar United Junior Football Club Founded-1987 Nickname – United Honours – None Current Division – North Region Second Division Random Fact– I played my first ever away game of football at Charlie Gordon Park circa thirty years ago Plan A of Kilwinning R*****s v Troon was knocked …
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2019/20-Scotland U21s 0 v 0 Lithuania U21s
Under 21s European Championship Qualifier, Tynecastle, 10/10/19 Worst game of the season so far. It’s not only the senior team that are shite. Ninety minutes with not one thing of note, two teams devoid of any ideas and not one performance worthy of comment. Will take some doing to see a worse serving of fitba …
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2019/20-Huntly 0 v 0 Formartine United
Highland League, Christie Park, 9/10/19 Huntly Football Club Founded – 1928 Nickname – The Black and Golds Honours – Highland League – 1929–30, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 2004-05. Highland League Cup – 1948–49, 1951–52, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96. Aberdeenshire Cup – 1960–61, 1985–86, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1999–00. Qualifying Cup – 1992–93, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1999–00 …
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2019/20-Brora R*****s 3 v 2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle
North of Scotland Cup Final, Mosset Park, Forres, 6/10/19 Game of the season so far. Excellent viewing from start to finish.Very much needed after the blank draw the previous day. I have always been meaning to go to a HFL related final. I managed to fulfil that today with Wee Man in tow. The car …
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2019/20-Deveronside 0 v 0 Benburb
Scottish Junior Cup Second Round, Macduff Sports Centre, 5/10/19 Deveronside Junior Football Club Founded – 1977 Nickname -The Side Honours – North Region (North ) League Winners -1983-84, 1985-86, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1999-00 and 2000-01 Current Division – North Region Superleague Random Fact – I managed to tick off their old ground …
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Fitbawbaggery in Numbers #1 – 250 Clubs and Counting
After visiting Macduff for the Scottish cup tie between Deveronside and Benburb I noticed when adding Benburb to my list of teams seen in the flesh they were the two hundred and fiftieth team I have seen. The list is as follows………… AUSTRIA AUSTRIA VIENNA MATTERSBURG RAPID VIENNA CROATIA HNK RIJEKA CZECH REPUBLIC BANIK OSTRAVA …
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Inane Ramblings of a Fitbawbag #1 -Are you going to the Dicks Arena on Saturday?
Bellfield, that’s where Aberdeen were going to be moving to from Pittodrie. This was the start of the clubs chairman Stewart Milnes crusade to move Aberdeen away from the spiritual home of Pittodrie. It didn’t happen. Then December 14th, 2015, the 112th AGM, Pittodrie the venue, the soon to be ex home or so we …
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Fibawbaggery from the Vaults #3: Three’s the Magic Number in Prague
Prague is usually linked with stag and hen dos and general British drunken arseholeness due to the cheapness of a trip there. What people forget is it’s a great place to visit for the fitba ground collector due to there being four top flight teams in the city. Then on top of that, it is …
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Fitbawbaggery From The Vaults #2: A 2000 Mile Highland Fling 2015/16 and 2016/17
Originally written for the Red Final circa December 2017 (edited to suit) As I walked out of Dudgeon Park a real sense of disappointment hit me hard. A feeling I hadn’t felt since John Robertson bagged that late winner at Hampden in 1996. The reason, I had completed my Highland League mission. Eleven months over …
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2019/20-Bathgate Thistle 1 v 7 Armadale Thistle
East Of Scotland Cup, Creamery Park, 31/8/19 Bathgate Thistle Community Football Club Founded: 1937 (Became a community club in 2013) Nickname: Thistle Honours: Scottish Junior Cup 2007/08 Current Division: East of Scotland Superleague South Random Fact: One of the club sponsors is advertised on entrance to Creamery Park. “The Bathgate Union Jack Rangers Supporters Club” …
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A Fitbawbags Guide To Fitba Literature
Along with watching fitba, another hobby I am very fond of is reading. Its something I do every day. When offshore I get through up to fifteen books at twenty eight day trip on average. But Non-fiction only. So when I get to combine fitba and a book it creates a hybrid hobby. I have …
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2019/20-Kelty Hearts 5-0 Spartans
Lowland League, New Central Park, 27/8/19 Kelty Hearts Football Club Founded; 1975 Nickname; The Hearts, The Maroon Machine Honours; East of Scotland Football League-2017/18, East of Scotland Superleague-2014/15 and 2016/17 Current Division; Lowland League Random Fact; The highest win for the club is 14-0 and has been achieved three times v Burghead Thistle, Lochore Welfare …
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2019/20-Islavale 7 –0 Whitehills
Simpson Park, North Region Second Division, 25/8/19 Islavale Football Club Founded – 1949 Nickname – The Vale Honours – North Region League winners: 1970–71, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99 Current Division– North Region Second Division Random fact – Colin Hendry of being a hun, a stalker and a general lowlife fame played for Islavale previous to starting …
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2019/20-Dungannon Swifts 3 – 1 Glentoran
NIFL Premiership, Stangmore Park, 17/8/19 Dungannon Swifts Football Club Founded: 1949 Nicknames: The Swifts Honours : Irish League Cup 2017/18 Current Division: NIFL Premiership Random Fact: Aberdeens Niall McGinn started his career at the club and hails from Dungannon (Any Dons connection is good for me) The final day of the holiday and the final …
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2019/20-Dundalk 5-0 Finn Harps
League of Ireland Premier Division, Oriel Park, 16/8/19 Dundalk Football Club Founded; 1903 Nicknames; The Town, The Lillywhites Honours; League of Ireland 1932–33, 1962–63, 1966–67, 1975–76, 1978–79,1981–82, 1987–88, 1990–91, 1994–95, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018. FAI Cup-1941–42, 1948–49, 1951–52, 1957–58, 1976–77,1978–79, 1980–81, 1987–88, 2001–02, 2015, 2018. League Cup-1977–78, 1980–81, 1986–87, 1989–90, 2014, 2017 Random Fact ; …
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2019/20-Beith 4 v 2 Largs Thistle
Bellsdale Park, West of Scotland League Cup, 12/8/19 Beith Junior Football Club Founded; 1938 Nickname; The Cabes Honours; West of Scotland Premier Division –2009–10, 2017–18. Scottish Junior Cup 2015–16, West of Scotland Cup -1965–66, 1966–67, 2008–09, 2018-19 Current Division; SJFA West Premiership Random Fact; The Club are a phoenix club of Beith FC who were members …
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Fitbawbaggery from the Vaults #1 – Go Ahead Eagles 2 v 1 Almere City 18/1/19
Go Ahead Eagles Founded; 1902 Stadium – De Adelaarshorst, Deventer Nickname; The Pride of the IJssel Honours; Eredivisie-1916–17, 1921–22, 1929–30, 1932–33 Current Division; Eerste Divisie Random Fact; Originally named Be Quick which is an even more bizarre name than Go Ahead they were forced to change their name as unbelievably some other Dutch mob had …
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2019/20-Cliftonville 4 v 0 Barry Town United
Solitude, Europa League Preliminary Qualifier Leg 2, 4/7/19 Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club Founded; 1879 and the oldest in Ireland Nickname; The Reds Honours Irish League; 1905–06 (shared), 1909–10, 1997–98, 2012–13, 2013–14 Irish Cup; 1882–83, 1887–88, 1896–97, 1899–00, 1900–01, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1978–79 Irish League Cup; 2003–04, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16 Current Division; NIFL Premiership Random …
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2019/20-Peterhead 0 v 2 Aberdeen
Balmoor Stadium, Friendly, 3/7/19 Peterhead FC Founded;1891 Nickname; The Blue Toon Honours; League Two – 2013–14, 2018–19 Highland League, 1946–47, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1988–89, 1998–99 Highland League Cup, 1962–63, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1980–81, 1988–89 Scottish Qualifying Cup Winners, 1946–47, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1997–98 Current Division; SPFL League One Random Fact; The Blue Toons highest defeat of …
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2019/20-Blyth Spartans 3 v 1 Stranraer
Croft Park, Friendly, 29/6/19 Blyth Spartans Association Football Club Founded; 1889 Nickname; The Spartans or Green Army Honours; None Current Division; National League North Random Fact; Ali Dia or “George Weahs cousin” that hoodwinked Graeme Souness into signing him for Southampton played for Blyth before his infamous fifty-three minutes for the Saints Once upon a …
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2019/20-Dunipace 0 v 1 Edinburgh United
Westfield Park, Friendly, 22/6/19 Dunipace FC Founded; 1888 Nickname; The Pace Honours; Scottish Junior Cup 1905/06 Current Division; East of Scotland League First Division Conference A Random Fact; Westfield Park is not found in Dunipace but in neighbouring Denny Due to the proximity to Bannockburn the pre-game plan was to head there and see the …
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Change 3 – April-May 19
Watching neutral football opened a can of worms. There was obviously the collection of grounds, but I started to enjoy fitba a lot more when I didn’t give a shite about the outcome. The final change and the final nail in the season tickets coffin. This ending all doubts I had about not renewing. During …
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Change 2- Fatherhood
The most important change bar none. On the 20th of September 2014 my life took on a whole new dimension, I became a proud father. I still remember it like it was only a couple of weeks ago. I received a shout from the (now ex) wife that “eh I think the babies coming” around …
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Change 1 – Neutral Fitba (aka Groundhopping)
“Groundhopper”is not a term I am not very enamoured with, but it seems to be the most common for what I have gradually become. I prefer to just say I am a football fan. It’s a simple as that. I like to watch football wherever I can. Yes, I have a list of grounds I …
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The Dons
Being born at the tail end of ’84 I unfortunately missed the halcyon days of Alex Ferguson and the great Aberdeen Football Club. Being born the year after the historic victory over Real Madrid at a sodden Ullevi in Gothenburg scuppered my chances of attending the most famous night in the club’s history. What also …
