What emerged as a way around Covid rules, morphed into a summer ritual.
The days of Covid 19, Omicron, Coronavirus, pangolin flu, or whatever it the latest “strain” was called. Looking back these were peculiar times. That strange period in life where it was alpha, beta, delta and scaremongering. A time where the governments north and south of the border were guilty of elephantine measures of irrationality for a perpetual list of reasons, completing the said idiocy with preposterous rules they did not adhere to themselves. These ‘guidelines’ being shouted at us via adverts, daily briefings and more infuriatingly BBC Scotland’s Off the Ball rendering it unlistenable given the airtime a certain fitba hating government mouthpiece and glorified dentist was granted. It was also a time where grassing on your neighbours was asked of you , blue masks were the most common article of litter on the street and it was an age where people were forced into injecting their body with potentially deadly shite. Some people drove to castles to test their eyesight, arguments were made over whether Scotch eggs were a substantial meal or not. People screeched at you for heading the wrong way on a one-way aisle in your local Tesco all because you forgot to pick up a packet of rowies, all this while banging pots and pans in the street was seen to be perfectly normal human behaviour. Then on top of everything, the Scottish supreme leader picked on the North East not hiding her well known disdain for it. The list of daft shite is probably a piece to write in itself. How we will look back and think “what the bloody hell was that about?”.
But on the other hand, it was not all bad as it made for plenty time with loved ones, it kept me home for around 16 weeks from work which allowed the time with the most special people in life. Despite blootering my bank account this part of it all was magic. The best thing about the nonsense for sure. There was also a shining light in fitba terms to come out of the whole imbroglio too, one which was unbeknown when announced would change summers for Wee Man and I for what looks to be for good. The governments goat rope gave us limited or no crowds at football matches. Sounds utterly shit I know. Due to this, to get a football fix, we were travelling hundreds of miles to the northeast of England to watch the Northern League until, unfortunately it also faced the kybosh like pretty much every league in the UK. This ultimately leading to a stint of no games. To get a game later on was no easy feat, with pro football punterless and the Highland League shutting down after three games in 2020/21, the summer of 2021 opened our eyes to something that in the past I would not have given a second thought. Something that what I can only call football snobbery kept me away from.
The North East of Scotland Football Association, or the ‘Summer League’ as it is also known as it is the ‘Buchan League’. A fitba set up where my experience was limited to playing against sides throughout my Juvenile and Amateur playing days, teams such as the Legion, the Station or the Merc from Ellon and a few from further afield such as Hatton, Cruden Bay or Ardallie that I can remember. I would never have imagined I would be watching the league regularly in later life. But I suppose I could say that for the Juniors and Highland League too. But things change and things can change through no fault of your own. Even if it meant dropping the aforementioned football snobbery, something that I will pat myself on the back for as it transformed local fitba and invigorated it even more. This while adding much fuel to the fire of one of my long standing beliefs on football, the myth that you need multimillion pound players to create the most entertaining football.
With no games, my attention was drawn to the ‘Summer League’ in our north east corner. A quick squint of the internet showed there were numerous games being played. Also apparent was the set-up had changed massively compared to my pre-existing exposure. For example, only one of the teams mentioned above were still in existence, however there were still some recognizable names and to one we decided to head on a pleasantly warm Friday night in June 2021. The Cyaak or New Pitsligo to give it its real name, a town of around 1000 inhabitants, or Cyaakers as they are known. It sits 21 miles north of our house, and was to be our township of choice to supply us with a fitba fix complete with the added bonus a chipper on the touchline. Chicken nuggets for Junior and Steak pie supper for yours truly, well it was the fitba after all. What a choice of venue it was too. To start, the rural locality complete with wafts of the summer country air, the rumble of tractors in the nearby fields while the sometimes foul mouthed locals who had turned up at some armed with a Friday night carry outs turning the air blue made it different to what we were accustomed to. Decent numbers were in attendance, 40 which equated to 4% of the town population. Wee Man was also chuffed as it was kitted out with ample grass for a kick about. Once the game was up and running some things were very evident. Amateur and Welfare fitba has stereotypes and I am not going to lie, this match had a few of these, the “big” keeper (New Deer). Then there was the older, wearing, larger lad who doesn’t cover much grass who in fact turned out to be a very clever and astute player with a magic range of passing (New Pitsligo’s midfield man Ferguson, a very tidy player). The overtly profane manager (New Deer), which was most probably brought on by the suspect defending on show (bit of both sides) but it all made for ace viewing. I could never have foreseen the entertainment that was awaiting us as we made our way up. A goal laden 6 v 4 it ended with some excellent finishes and some calamitous errors leading to goals. All of which lead to excitement and theatre that makes fitba the game we love. Despite racing into a 3 v 0 lead New Deer were the proverbial turd that wouldn’t flush and kept at the task getting back to 3 v 2 then again 6 v 4 when where at both score lines dominated proceedings for large spells causing uncomfortable moments for the hosts particularly with gargantuan long throws. But their defending had cost them dearly. The NESFA bug was caught after our inaugural 90 minutes, and was as prominent as the bugs that sooked our blood at Pitsligo, and those pesky little midge bastards also witnessed the proof that highly entertaining fitba doesn’t have to be created in the top leagues or even by professionals for that matter
Four days later we were at it once more, and it was just the ten goals again. A five a piece fiesta and right up there with the best games I have been fortunate to attend. To James Tennant Park in Cuminestown we set off for. My only dealings with the town go back to childhood when my old boy used to buy pies in bulk from the butcher there and we used to get trailed up in the car with him. A quirk thrown up here is that JTP used to be a Junior ground once upon a time. The reason it is not now is because the club cut back the trees surrounding the Tennant Park pitch as they could interfere with match goings on, this in the 1994/95 season. The act pissed off locals and authorities resulting in the club’s eviction from the ground with the knock-on outcome of the club having to relinquishing their Junior status. 24 and a half years later it was to our benefit because as stated above this was one of the greatest games we had ever witnessed. 10 goals, a world class finish, a valiant comeback, a malicious quarter of an hour, a ridiculously chopped off goal and me arguing with the ref like I would have in my playing days. 0 v 1, 1 v 1, 1 v 2 then a flurry of goals in three minutes from Cuminestown to head into the break 4 v 2 up. What a half of football complete with an infuriating ref. The second half was even better and it opened with what you would have assumed was the killer goal when Cuminestown scored off a header from a corner. Even Wee Man at the time said “game over”. But we were well off the mark. The game turned into a bit of a conflict with rough tackles being handed out as frequent as penalties to rangers. This made for tasty viewing too. In amongst this I did something I try not to in front of Wee Man, got involved with a ref, but I did because I had clearly had enough of his ship wreck of a game. This coming when under a nothing challenge right in front of us a home man went down like he had be smashed in the face with a wrecking ball. The tackle was wholly fair. The exaggeration and over dramatization was time wasting with a spattering of dickheadedness chucked in, and in the throw in was rightly given. Then unbelievably the referee said to the Macduff supposed assailant, “you won’t get any more of them mate”. I asked the referee (politely of course) “what does that mean min, it wasn’t even near a foul”. The referee then puffed out his chest and explained “I didn’t give a foul, he went in over hard that’s why” which made me ask (again politely as always). “So how can you threatening the player if you have deemed him to win the ball, it is a foul or it is not a foul, it’s that simple. Referee 101”. To which he retorted “I will remove you from this park” and ever the one to get the last word I asked him “go on then” which he did not, so unlike the Juniors years before I stayed put in JTP. Writing it now, it still baffles how you can speak to a player for being too hard but not give a foul. With 15 minutes to go Macduff nicked one back via an unmarked tap in but this didn’t stir any “surely not” thoughts. If their third didn’t then there fourth did. This was a fantastically worked multi-pass team goal was finished off with a fine header. The with a minute to go, Incredibly the comeback happened and I cannot give this goal enough credit as it was truly a worldie. It was so good I can’t even remember how the move started and I don’t know the scorers name but it ended with the Macduff 16 letting fly from 40 yards leaving the whole of Tennant Park’s punters jaws dropped. A spectacular hit that wasn’t lobbed it was a bona-fide thunderbastard that looked like a blur as it travelled giving the keeper no chance. Up there with the most special I have seen. As perfect a scud of a fitba if ever I have seen one. Then immediately Macduff recovered the ball from centre broke and won it with another well worked team goal. An unforgettable comeback…….step forward that referee again who called for offside which it really wasn’t, we were in line and the striker clearly had three defenders between him and goal and his pace beat them all. But the ref had to ruin it with a fucking absurd decision. 20 goals in two NESFA games (should have been 21), incredible stuff and a superb introduction to our local summer gem.
After Cuminestown I was off to work for a month and in truth what I thought would have been the conclusion of the Summer League jollies for us for us as it was a port in a pandemic ridden storm originally, but no. Although on my return we had donned our Junior caps grabbing a couple matches in that grade as the draconian rules had been relaxed further. We even squeezed in an Aberdeenshire Cup final between Formartine United and Banks o’ Dee with the Aberdeen side triumphant, the NESFA was not far away though. So it shouldn’t have been after our initial two goal laden matches. It was around this time it became obvous the NESFA was there to stay in our viewing habits as another three ‘Summer League” games in the next two weeks before I left for Angola once more proved, inclusive of two in two nights. Without boring people with endless match facts, highlighting the all-round greatness of the league set up would be a better way to go about it. The sights, the people, the players, the grounds, the quirks and our next stop is a great place to start. The most local team to our Oldmeldrum abode, Methlick. After shunning cooking for the night and opting for pint and a feed instead, this at the Ythanview a few yards across the road. A country boozer on the doorstep, what’s not to like about that. But as we meandered across to the match I couldn’t help but notice we were faced with a carpet of a pitch at King George V Park. As good as any Juniors or HFL. A superb surface which undoubtedly had a lot of love and care put into it. A pitch that is flanked with a mini version with goals. Pre-match entertainment sorted and an elated Wee Man as I fired shots at him. The setting is especially bonnie on the eye too with a ruined kirk and graveyard behind one the goals and the town being situated on the banks of the river Ythan, the river that flowed past my childhood home in Ellon with the pitch siting right on the banks of it. Across the river there are fields where the grazing bovine dwellers come to the fence and observe proceedings. It’s a proper country experience that’s for sure. The game was not bad either with Methlick winning 5 v 2 against Peterhead United. A score line which on another day could have been 10 all given the chances squandered by both sides. Full bellies and a decent kick about in the sun. A solid nights work at the local fitba.
If I thought Methlick was a country encounter, then Ardallie would have to be classed as ultra-country because their quaint Halfway House ground is plonked in the middle of nowhere, I am pretty sure it’s not even in Ardallie for that matter. By far the most isolated of the 16 in the league. Surrounded by nothing but fields as far as the eye can see and sheep, with a bit more sheep added, it’s a wondrous hidden beauty. It is easily one of my favourites in the set up. With the pitch boxed in with trees on three sides with a stray shot fence at the changing room ends protecting the car park I really like the place. To add to its charms, it also has its great wee quirks. For one, it sits a mere couple of meters from the A952 (the main road toward Mintlaw/Fraserburgh from the south). It’s close enough for a ball to leave the park and twat an oncoming vehicle. Which over the years surely has happened on numerous occasions as it’s an especially active road. Then there are the picnic benches with games built into them, such as chess and snakes and ladders. Is this in case the fitba turns out to be shite? It’s an eccentric wee place and a cracker if you ask me. We were blessed by the fitba gods as this turned into a decent battle with the hosts down 1 v 3 to Macduff at half time, to be noted the Ardallie equaliser to make it 1 v 1 was exceptional. The scorer ‘Tiago” (not a very north-eastern name) and the use of neck his muscles was incredible this added the distance, the power and the precision all made for an aesthetically perfect headed goal. Superb stuff. Second half, Ardallie got it to 2 v 3 but just could get an equaliser no matter what they threw at Macduff leaving the three points to head to the seaside and us to escape the biblical plague of midges. Utter bastards of things.
The next night we headed to what was the poorest game we were to witness in the NESFA.* Another local excursion found us at New Deer at their eponymous pitch watching bottom v second bottom of the second tier in New Deer v Station Bar(Peterhead). Going into this I expected goals as New Deer had conceded 107 in 17 matches prior. Three it was all going the way of the visitors. The place its self is not a bad set up, flat pitch, tidy pavilion complete with club mural on the wall and a nice welcome as you head for a piss. There is also a seven a side astro installed too. The neighbouring fields produced a drone all night long as the combines chopped the place to bits, while tractors shadowed them. Tractors and New Deer go hand in hand if you didn’t know. Not the best of games, but lovely weather, country air and a fifth club under our belts to round off our maiden NESFA season.
Fast forward to summer of 2022, unbeknown at the time the first of three trips to Fraserburgh at this level as we voyaged our way through the league which at the time wasn’t what was a proper collection as of yet. This trip throwing up the one and only Saturday fixture we were to watch (they are pretty rare on the whole). The hosts for this scorching hot June afternoon, Elizabethan Link Up, a pub hosting Haven of St Fergus, also a pub. This played at NESCOL Park, adjacent the North East College or Banff and Buchan College as it was when I was there while serving my time circa 25 years ago, which funnily enough included heading to the Elizabethan for sneaky lunch time pints. We were in fact lucky to attend this 12 goal epic as the plan that day was to head to the Scottish Junior Cup final between Auchinleck Talbot and Yoker Athletic, but sitting in the car in the baking temperatures all the way to Rugby Park was just madness and the idea jettisoned early in the morning (20 degrees at 10am). This was surely one of the hottest days of the year. 35 minutes to the Broch was far more tempting. The pitch made for humorous viewing with all the grass cuttings strewn everywhere in mounds, the slain cuttings had clearly been a lying there a while and were scorched every so often getting caught in the much needed sea breeze. As it did resembled tumbleweeds in an old western movie. The sun had brought the natives out complete with tops off, carry outs and deck chairs as we sat broiling on the side line after not even bothering with much of a kick about pre-game. Haven were clearly the better team and played some decent fitba at this point they were the tidiest footballing team we had watched to date in the league. This game burst into life from the first whistle and didn’t cease. There were chances galore, three goals chopped off and seven that counted including a rabona finish from Haven’s PA Bruce. How Haven were not winning at the break was a mystery. The second half saw the Lizzie tire and Haven stomp a mud hole in them with Danton and Bruce picking up hat tricks along the way to an 8 v 4 Haven win. End to end and goal ridden. A great advert for the league. Even if my face had that been out in the sun too long tightness for the rest of the day as we watched the Junior Cup on the telly.
There were only two ‘Summer League’ games in 2022 and the second and final featured Haven again and once more seeing the St Fergus side on their travels, this time in Strichen to face Mormond Thistle at the fantastically named Bert Fowlie Arena. Like Methlick the pitch here was in superb condition. It was bowling green like and perfect for a game under a summer evening sun. Also like Methlick there was a mini-pitch with a goal neighbouring the main pitch. Also like Methlick there were animal spectators as a horse looked on from the field next to where we stood. Another point of interest here is the quality laser cut stainless steel club sign at the entry for the car park a fine welcome to the BFA. The locals turned up in the droves some with their Friday night bags of cans unlike Haven who seemed to have forgot to turn up for the first half and were lucky to be down by just the one at the half time. Mormond blew a host of decent chances. Half time saw Wee Man invent a new game. His idea was to hang off the bar of the nearby mini goals and I ping the ball at him trying to knock him off. Fair enough, I sent him flying three times, this including taking out his hand with pin point Toni Kroos like accuracy. Haven were better in the second half despite the referee being infuriatingly inconsistent, giving fouls to Mormond for absolutely nothing while letting them away with shirt pulling and a couple of tackles from behind, but handed out three yellows to Haven for very little. He definitely didn’t have the booking of Mormond in his top pocket. This seemed to grate Haven who became more determined and they equalised. Mormond rapidly retook the lead. Haven then lost a man for a tackle from behind and everyone thought it was tatties for the visitors but no, in the 90th minute they grabbed an equaliser. I genuinely believe they had two chances and took them both, this causing clearly audible groans throughout the opposite touchline where the locals were sited. A decent Friday nights fitballing for us once again.
Summer 2023 also saw just the two games. The first being a smack bang in the middle of Peterhead in what is classed as a derby as Glenugie United were the hosts and Haven the visitors. This at Barclay Park which is situated next to my old stomping ground of Raemoss, home of Buchanhaven Hearts JFC. The game was tough tackling and included a lengthy match delaying injury. The home side ran out 2 v 1 winners on the night with two goals from Gasson. The second of which into the dying embers of the game which sent the Ugie bench onto the park celebrating giving it a huge “get it right up ye” to the opposite side of the park. The most notable thing about this game was the amount of folk watching. There were over 110 when I did a rough head count. That’s incredible stuff for a Welfare league game. This is clearly aided by the positioning of Barclay Park where many dog walkers and people in general stop to watch. Another point of note also, I couldn’t help but think both these teams could easily play up the ladder a bit and hold their own as I looked on. The second game of 2023 came up in the north eastern extremities of Aberdeenshire where we headed to Invercairn United versus Fraserburgh side Faithlie United. The Belgars pitch has the quirk of be sat adjacent to the now disused WWII air base RAF Fraserburgh. Also and a bit off topic, down at the harbour sits the wreck of the Sovereign fishing boat. Whoop-dee-do I hear you say. There is a bit of interest in it as it is a celebrity as it was used in the promo stuff for the Oscar winning film the Life of Pi. You have most likely seen it on a billboard and a bus or two in the past. Back at the Belgar Playing Field it was clear there was a gap in quality between these teams. Invercairn played some real bonnie fitba and seemed to be another team with players who could play up a level. But to be fair to Faithlie they wouldn’t accept defeat and stayed within range until late on when Belgar knocked in a fifth and sixth in the final quarter of the game to kill it. Another nine goals added to the NESFA collection where the North Sea air filled our nostrils with that near the water seaweedy aroma. We were half way around the set up without any effort put into it.
Then came the 2024 season, where we did put our efforts into completing the league, this due to Wee Man’s new love of carrying out such tasks after nailing the Highland League and the North Region Juniors in their entirety the (winter) season before. Eight clubs were left and I was more than game for it. First up was the most viewed team to date, Haven. St Fergus being complete with a new chipper was an ideal Friday night escapade and Auld Park was installed as my favourite place for a game in the NESFA. Out the back of St Fergus the ground sits dug down from the road but it gives it a feel of in the middle nowhere as you cannot see much of civilization from pitch side given the elevation of the turf. As the police patrol car from the nearby gas terminal crept past once and a while slowing down to have a gander and as steak pie supper with jumbo sausage chaser went down well we watched Invercairn dismantle Haven 5 v 0. A fine performance to match the quality surface it was played on watched by a healthy number of punters. Something I have noticed about the set-up is locals get right behind it. Another selling point of Auld Park is it is a magic place for taking your kid due to the amount of mini goals dotted around for a kick about. Longside Thistle were next and it was Haven once again. I have always said my two favourite Junior set ups in the north are Westburn Park, Dufftown and Davidson Park, Longside. The latter being where the welfare branch of Longside play. With the ground being at the town boundary complete with a social club and the main Junior and tree lined lesser pitches with the latter back pitch complete with plywood dug outs which add an extra element of charm to the place it’s just a wonderful fitba ground. There is also ample capacity and mini goals for a kick about with the Wee Man’s yellow ball. It really is a magic place to spend a summer evening. It wasn’t our first time at Davidson Park, it won’t be our last but it was the maiden viewing of Thistle. Behind one goal there was even a wee band of young Longside fans with homemade flags, drums and tooters which will never be a bad thing to me, fitba is an outdoor viewing sport. Start them young and all that. A tense game was to be battled out with a 1-0 win for the home side. Next visit on the subject of quality set ups, Faithlie United play at the Nomy Reid Football Ground. Another top facility. It finds itself situated on the what seems the Broch sports corridor of MacConnachie Road which has Kessock Park, James Ramsay Park, the cricket club, swimming pool, bowling club and more just off it in a small square of space. It also sits in the shadow of Highland League Bellslea Park, home of the Fraserburgh FC. With a division between the yesteryear named home side (Faithlie being Fraserburgh’s old name) and the team who were on a quest to be the best Welfare side in the country Mormond Thistle, the outcome of this was an inevitability with a 5 v 1 score going in favour of the Strichen men in red. But the events off the pitch were something to behold. June the 4th this match was played and it was bloody Baltic, it felt like December. The Broch is not the warmest place at the best of times but this was taking the piss. Rained on with icy cold drops to start, soaking us through, this soon followed by a full on assault by a hail storm which fired gobstopper sized bullets down at us with machine gun like ferocity, this with nowhere to shelter from the barrage. Then followed by the sun appearing and a bit of warmth and what would have to be called a ‘hailbow’ which was as bold as you are likely to see. Very photogenic and a tidy ground with a considerably good team in Mormond. The next match again had us in the shadow of a Highland League stadium. This being Canal Park (or “anal Park” as the sign told us). The ex junior ground which was once home to Deveronside shares a perimeter fence with Deveronvale’s Princess Royal Park. The hulking grandstand next door seems to loom over the fence keeping an eye on proceedings in the Welfare. Macduff call it home these days and were facing off in the cup against Elizabethan Link Up. A 1 v 1 draw sent the match to the first penalty shoot-out we had witnessed at this level as this was the Bruce Lawson memorial Trophy. Link Ups penalty abilities were poor to say the least, leading to Macduff progressing. The highlight of the game was when the full time whistle in extra time went, this leading to everyone heading to the pavilion end for the spot kicks, this leading to the ref sending the players to the opposite end for the shootout. To this day I think it was deliberate shithousery from the man in the middle. I hope so anyway. Amusing stuff. The following club to be visited came a couple of weeks later and it was Macduff playing again but they were the visitors on this occasion against St Combs who play in Fraserburgh at Kessock Park. Somewhere it turns out, you are not allowed in to spectate as we found out once there. This to preserve the fake surface. We had to view through the fence with our arses parked on a boulder. Macduff took a well-deserved and welcome 3 points in their battle against the drop. Disappointed it was viewed from outside but to be a completest, needs must.
A new job came for me and a return to Angola was once again calling for me, this meaning a month break came from the NESFA but on the return the fixture gods threw us a bone and moved about games meaning the two outstanding clubs were now doable. I had envisaged one team would have to wait until 2025 but we were quids in. First up was a return to Peterhead to watch Peterhead United at Ugie Park somewhere that when you enter throws up great views. As the park is on the Ugie estuary you get views right up the coast where you can see Rattray Head Lighthouse and St Fergus Gas Terminal in the distance. This while the supply vessels sail past heading to the towns harbour. Arguably the best views in the whole North East Scotland FA league and another with the tang of seaweed flavouring the air. Visiting Cumminestown United put Peterhead to the sword with a convincing 5 v 2 victory, as they chased the second tier title. It was a night where an ex-team mate in Billy Daily was playing for Peterhead United leading to a bit of craic between us. 40 like me and still attempting to be a fitba player. To round off the conquest it was to see Peterhead United again, this time at near neighbours Boddam United. Another side with excellent views view but not for the scenic reasons of Ugie Park, more because towering over the park is Peterhead Power Station (somewhere in the past I almost came a cropper while carrying out a job there). But before we were to see the industrial views and the plumes we were to see the Boddam United badge in real life. This being the Buchan Ness Lighthouse and from here it was to get yet another NESFA chipper to take in proceedings. We had the chips but the common theme of Friday night bags of cans were the choice of others. A steak pie with a jumbo sausage chaser and a jumbo sausage for Wee Man were made quick work of before taking in this goal fest. One which including a 55 yarder from Peterhead fullback Ethan Stephen who let’s face it, overcooked a clearance. But it looked amazing none the less. Some of the finishing on show here was superb especially Boddam man Kieran Cameron as he lashed in a 25 yarder across the goal into the top corner early in the game. His team mate Alfie Mossop then out did him and cracked a thirty-five-yard effort past Leys in the Peterhead goal. The points went back to Ugie Park after a 5 v 3 win for the visitors and underneath the power station on what used to be RAF grounds we had done it. A superb place to finish off, rounding things off at such a photographical park seemed fitting. On the last day of the League 2 season of the 2024, Wee Man had his third league set up completed in its entirety. A league that 3 years prior we had never even thought about and one Junior never knew existed.
Cheers Covid, you opened our eyes to an underrated local league. That covers more than the fitba being played, but that’s not to say it’s not pleasing to watch, it’s absolutely entertaining, that’s a fact. Firstly, fitba is about goals, that’s putting it simply. The only stat in football that matters is the score at the point the referee blows for full time. Call me old fashioned but that’s it and that all I care about and ever have, anything else is irrelevant. Football is about enjoyment and goals go a long way toward that. Over the 16 clubs we witnessed 94 goals, this averaging at 5.9 goals a game. Almost six goals a game cannot be sniffed at. Watching the ‘Summer League’ showed that the discredit that people throw at it still to this day are nothing but slurs. Half time tinnies and keepers sneaking fags may have happened in the past but not these days. As stated earlier, some of these teams and players could step up quite easily and hold their own that’s for sure. The standard is a lot higher than many believe. Take Mormond Thistle in 2024 for example. The year of the five for them. Five trophies including being crowned the best team in Scotland when they won the Scottish Cup (Donald McNair Trophy) at Alloa Athletic’s Recreation Park. The best side we saw bar none. No offence to any of the other teams but they were unstoppable. Invercairn United were a tidy side, Haven in the first two seasons knew how to play. Glenugie were no mugs either. All of whom could easily have fit in the Junior ranks in the area. But there is more to it. There are the grounds described above and the quirks scenery they throw up. There is the fact you can still watch fitba when most leagues are shut down over the summer months. But the league is also full of fine folk, you want a blether, nae hassle everyone speaks. You want a swatch at the team lines gaffers will help with that. Want a good chipper I know of three. But the people involved are on the whole sound. Graham the manager of Peterhead United is a top boy. The father son combo of the Formans of Glenugie are always good for a news and seen milling about at games other than their own. Adam is also good for a team line. Others worth a mention, Scotty Wisely at Mormond, an old work colleague and sound dude, Gary at Invercairn and Aiden at Haven also fit the bill of fine folk. In short the NESFA became a revelation in our football viewing habits. Now that it is complete it doesn’t mean it’s over. Roll on April for the return of the ‘Buchan League’, hopefully with a couple of new names involved.
*This article only includes first visits there have been multi-visits to clubs. But that said this was still the poorest game to date.
FITBAWBAG 