2022/23 – East End 3 v 1 Newmachar United

New Advocates Park, North Regional Cup 1/4 Final, 25/2/23

Me still 266, Wee Man 137

East End Football Club

Founded – 1887

Nickname – The End

Honours – North East Premier Division – 1977/78. North Regional Cup 1977/78.Aberdeen & District Junior League– 1926/27 and 1933/34. North Division One – 2006–07. North East First Division – 1984/85, 1986/87 and 1992/93. North Regional Cup- 2016/17 and 2017/18 Archibald Cup -1927/28, 1929/30, 1933/34, 1976/77, 1977/78, 1978/79, 1993/94, and 2016–17. McLeman Cup – 1926/27, 1929/30, 1954/55 and 1965/66. Duthie (Acorn Heating) Cup– 1904/05, 1906/07, 1922/23, 1927/28, 1929/30, 1931/32 and 1966/67 .North East League Cup – 1989/90

Random Fact – New Advocates Park is the venue of my last ever eleven-a-side game of fitba. (MS United v Ellon Thistle). Injury curtailing the career of the North East’s Franco Baresi in his late 20s.

We had planned on heading here early in the season for a Grill Cup game against Bridge of Don Thistle. However late in the day I noticed this was actually to be played at the currently in abeyance Hall Russell’s Denmore Park. This due to the New Advocates surface being ruined by a contractor using the incorrect chemical to stop a dandelion issue. Instead of killing of the weeds he stripped large sections of the surface. Finally, almost 7 months later the Wee Man NRJFA quest rolled on to take his tally down to three. But also to take his Scottish ground count to 125

After a morning of delivering books and chatting with friends and family throughout, we hit New Advocates Park with time for a pint added in while Wee Man watched Coventry beat Sunderland. This as the place filled up with Aberdeen fans whetting their whistles prior to the game down the street against Livingston. Did it feel weird to be in such proximity of my actual team but watching another. Not at all. It is the closest I have been to a Dons game without being there since chucking my season ticket.

But somewhere like New Advocates I would rather be these days. I always think it has an aura of a proper old school Junior ground. Maybe its the social club or maybe it’s the wee bit of tender loving care it needs or maybe it is that I always find the crowd there to be a bit rowdier than most Junior teams up here. Or is it the surroundings of it with the iconic highrisers looming over it? I am not too sure. What I do know is I think its a great wee place and I used to enjoy playing it. Inclusive of my last ever game of eleven-a-sides. Going into this I had a feeling that it would be an easy enough path to the semis for the home side. It was but not without being aided by Newmachar and what seemed to be a clear offside. The game was quite stuffy in the opening minutes with both sides having their fair share of the ball but nothing being created and the play being broken up and turned over a lot. But the deadlock was broken when the pre mentioned offside came when a cross was swung into the box by Stewart. The initial shot was blocked but from here Kerr looked suspiciously offside. His shot was blocked leaving number 9 Mackie to slot home the rebound. There were mass claims from the boys in blue and white along with the sideline we were on which was the visiting side but it was to no avail. Then it was two not long after. A high ball was played to the edge of the box where skipper Keller was on hand to nod the ball into the box when an onrushing Manson was on hand in acres of room to thump home into the bottom corner. A poor goal to give away from the visitors point of view. It really should have been three after this when a terribly short header back to his keeper from the Newmachar defender was met by Youngson who lifted the ball over the keeper Mitchell only to see the effort strike the far post. The action died off a bit and East End tried to keep the ball due to their lead. One point worth mentioning though. If there was never any doubt of hockey players being bellends there is none now. A ball was cleared and landed on the adjacent hockey pitch. Instead of returning the ball one of the stick wielding mutants booted the ball out the cage in the direction of Pittodrie. Fud number one. Then similar happened soon after when another ball landed in the hockey. Instead of the guy on the sideline returning he kicked it up to the far end of the astro turf. Fud number 2 (There is no access from New Advocates). What do they expect when the build an astro next to a football ground. A ground that predates the plastic thing by many many years. Back on the grass East End killed the game as a contest late on in the half when full back Masson was left entirely unmarked to run in and head home a freekick from the edge of the box.

HT 3 v 0

To be fair to Newmachar they were a different team in the second half and had spells where they were the better side. Wood had a good chance early from the edge of the box but he lashed at it and watched on as the ball rocketed off the social club roof. In terms of goal mouth action there was not too much. East End seemed to have a plethora of corners but they came to nothing. Newmachar were given a life line when they were given a penalty. We were just returning from the toilet as the Newmachar man went down. I am not too sure the foul was in the box. But the spot kick was given. Whelan stepped up and slotted home calmly. But not much more happened in the half. Some more ignorant arseholery from the stick caressing gimps next door but nothing of note in the fitba until five minutes to go when Corthals got a header back to his keeper Ellis all wrong leaving Whelan to nip in only to see his effort cleared off the line. That would have put the cat amongst the pigeons if it had found its way in leaving a tense last five minutes but it wasn’t to be and the Premier League team went through and we left to head home to get some beef olives and Serie A. The simple things in life are really are great. With only three to go in Wee Man’s challenge we will have to try and ensure they are done this season. But it will have to wait as Denmark beckons again.

***To be noted I have gone on previous team lines to fill this in. Excuse any errors***