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 in Scottish Football ever
After around a three hundred miles trail up the road from north Wales we, Kieren and myself were greeted in Fife for this latest instalment of my Scottish Cup winners of my lifetime trail with torrential rain. After a quick worry the game may be off all fears were expunged as the Tranent team turned up just as we were parking up. It was going to be a wet one that was never in doubt. But the outcome of the match wasn’t expected pre game.
As there was ample time, a pint at the ex servicemans club was had. En route we bumped into the Jim Baxter statue which errected next to the club. Baxter isnt the only famous Hill of Beath footballing son with Scott Brown(celtic/Hibs) and Willie Cunningham (Dunfermline, Airdrie and Preston North End) also hailing from the town. All three have a matchworn framed Scotland top on the wall in the club.
When we arrived at Keirs Park we were given free entry as we were “guests” due to a twitter conversation during the week. Once I had met Scott my contact he informed us that we were to be fed and watered at half time in the hospitality. A fine gesture telling us that we had found ourselves at a decent club.
Before the teams had even came out for kick off, I had guessed the game wouldnt go the distance due to rain and the already cut up pitch was clearly visible. The warm up then proceeded to destroy large parts of the turf.
As it turned out I had taken a leaf out of Nostradamus’ book and was correct with my prophecy. Half an hour was all there was. During this both teams rattled the woodwork and Haws took the lead through a scrappy goal mouth scramble. As time went on the surface water was clearly increasing with surfing being possible at clubhouse end corner. On half an hour the ball held in this corner. The ref blew his whistle and at this point I knew we would be home for Noels House Party or whatever the modern day Saturday night telly is these days. He picked up the ball and did the old bounce test which failed miserably. The final whistle was blown. This causing an outrage in that stands with punters screaming bloody murder. Not due to the abandonment, but due to the raffle not being drawn. I still dont know if I won or not.
Hill of Beath were just not meant to be for me. In the past when pencilled in, I have had two postponements and I have also set off and had to turn back just south of Stonehaven due to four sets of traffic lights between Meldrum and Stoney holding me up. This meaning I would have missed around at least twenty-five minutes of the game if I had plowed on. Now when I finally made it, an abandonment. Hill of Beath Hawthorn and I together are cursed.
Unfortumate circumstances, but it could have been worse. I could have witnessed the ninety minutes at Easter Road watching Aberdeen
Me 170, Kieren unknown
FITBAWBAG 