2024/25 – Kinnoull 4 v 3 Kirkcaldy and Dysart

Tulloch Park, EOSFL First Division, 22/2/25

Me 333, Wee Man 200

Kinnoull Football Club

Founded – 1943

Nickname – The Noull

Honours –East Region Tayside Premier – 2005/06. East Region Central Division – 2012/13. Tayside Premier Division – 1982/83 and 1983/84. Tayside Division One – 1980/81 and 1988/89. Currie Cup – 1928/29, 1969/70 and 1984/85. Division One Cup -2001/02. Division One (Downfield SC Cup) -1988/89. Tayside Drybrough Cup – 1984/85. Tayside Regional Cup– 1984/85. Perthshire Junior Consolation Cup– 1965/66. Craig Stephen Cup – 1983/84.

Random Fact – A fact that will forever be etched in his life. Kinnoull are the 200th club visited by the Wee Man.

Back in 2018 fitba changed for me drastically. I had a wingman. Okay at the time I thought we would end up with season tickets at Pittodrie if truth be told but life throws you curve balls. The one that came my way came with a fair amount of velocity. Instead of the season tickets at Pittodrie I was informed that the “little games” were more fun. By this he meant the Highland League and Junior games we had attended when the Dons were away from home. I also signed the death warrant of watching Aberdeen by taking him to an away game at Kilmarnock where the raucous crowd was a bit intimidating for him. The season ticket went that summer and the non-league games replaced a walk down Merkland Road East and I tell you what, we are better for it*

To say he was mad for the lower levels of the Scottish game would be an understatement, for example he chose Pollok for his 100th club to visit, he chose Annan Athletic for one of his birthday day outs and for this latest milestone he chose Kinnoull. There is an explanation for the latter. With all of our jaunts beyond Perth we have driven under the Kinnoull Tower, Wee Man has always said he wanted to head up there. I suggested when we did we would tie it in with a Kinnoull game in a Kinnoull Hill, Kinnoull Tower, Kinnoull FC day out and that is how this trip to Perth came about.

In terms of pre-match shenanigans the tower has to be up there with my favourites. Whats a fantastic spot it is. Views for miles, the hills, the Tay meandering its way between Perth and Dundee. Stunning views complete the peace of being up there away from civilization even with the wind that was blowing across the cliff face. My old boy said to me he loved what Wee Man and I were doing with our travels to football as “it’s a fantastic way to see our great country”. This was a prime example of these very words. I was glad we had finally done this walk as it was more than worth it and as magical as I expected it to be. Although it took a lot less time than I imagined it would. 20 minutes from car to tower. From here it was away for lunch at the Maltings which seemed to be the closest place for a feed to Tulloch Park. Not bad and did the job despite an wifey on the next table deciding speaking or more shouting on her mobile on speaker phone was the done thing.

Then to the main event. Kinnoull Football Club. A warm welcome was waiting for us on arrival (I decided to sponsor the match ball so they knew we were coming). After yaps with committee members C’Jai, Mitchell and Martin and groundsman Kev, and it was clear this was one of these clubs that seemed like a big family. I was liking it already without a ball being kicked. Wee Man was loving it as it had goals to melt his yellow ball into. Always a perk of a ground for him. The architecture and set up is never an issue. A good ground to him is where he gets a good kick about. That he did in Perth, this with other kids who were milling about. One an Arab, one a Dee and Wee Man being a Dandy Don, all rivalries put aside to kick a ball about together. Magic stuff despite his mud splattered trousers(we were heading to the Aberdeen Lynx game after and he was muckit). Tulloch Park was heavy after the last few days rain. I was astonished it was on in truth. Testament to the groundsman to get it on. As I looked about the ground I couldn’t help but wonder what used to be in the adjacent red brick building on the northern wing. Now full of small garages this fair sized building which I imagine would have been bustling when in its proper original works use. This got me thinking I know very little about Perth and it’s history. What industries have been in the city for example? To be honest the only thing I ever remember looking up is why Kinnoull’s badge gives me Eintracht Frankfurt vibes. The reason being there is a double headed eagle on the coat of arms of the city which can be seen on Kinnoull and St Johnstone’s badges. Also, Eintracht’s eagle is only one headed but my feelings remain valid.

To the game, did I expect a seven goal thriller? No I did not. I thought it would be tight and a draw. But this turned into a cracker of a match. Great for a neutral, but I have to say I wasn’t a neutral I wanted a home win after speaking to the folk involved with the club. Wee Man did too, but it think that’s because he had a new hat. A home win is what we got. The Noull were the better team early doors and maybe should have taken the lead when Jack Cowan struck an effort that was well saved by Dion Gear in the Kirkcaldy and Dysart goal. It was maybe a bit close to him. Then came both goal frames being rattled. The first was the Kinnoull goal which saw it’s bar struck in a totally non-threatening manner. A miss hit effort was left by the home keeper Townsley who was confident of it going over for the keeper to turn in horror as the ball started to drop only to hit the bar and go over to safety. I was behind the goal at this point and to see look of panic in the split second where the keeper though he had made an error was a picture. Less than a minute later the opposite bar was well and truly thundered when Kinnoull defender Mackie bent a free kick with ferocity which clearly had the beating of Gear but it cannoned of the woodwork and away. A couple of inches away from a worldie from 30 yards. The ball finally made its way into a net on 20 minutes when a catastrophe at between K&D’s keeper and defence let in Scott Chalmers who when one on one rounded Gear and sent the ball into the empty net. 1 v 0 and deserved. It really should have been two when immediately from centre Kinnoull recovered breaking at goal again Thomas with only the keeper to beat, but this time dragged his effort wide from a handful of yards. It really had to go in. But it was still 1 v 0. Another big chance fell the way of Kinnoull when captain Ben Regan got his bonce to a cross with a lesser spotted diving header effort but the touch was too glanced. Were Kinnoull going to rue these opportunities? Yes as far as the first half went as Kirkcaldy equalised when a Townsley clearance was charged down leaving Darren Ormiston to knock the ball into an empty net. This on 40 minutes. This saw a change in intensity from the Fife side who came right at Kinnoull. Inevitably, a second K&D goal came in the last minute of the half when after guessing a decision, the referee awarded a free kick to the visitors. Although the correct decision he had his back to it so could never have known for sure. Proof that you should claim for everything in fitba. The ball was played into the box finding the head of Ryan McGowan who was piled by his team mates in celebration seconds before the half time whistle went. This coming at the perfect time for Kinnoull who were clearly rocked by the equaliser.

HT 1 v 2

We were told the home side were significantly bollocked at half time and it showed as they were a team transformed. Giving more ammo to the thought the break came at the perfect time for them. They were level again within a couple of minutes of the restart. It was that man Chalmers again who in one of those “go on hit it min” scenarios fired an effort into Gear’s bottom right corner from around 20 yards. A quality finish through a pile of bodies. Kinnoull carried on their energetic start to the half in search of the lead and they got it. The Noull were given what was a stonewall penalty which was then missed but Chalmers made up for it blasting home the rebound off the Gear save notching his hat trick in the process. Three was soon four when Jon Clark was on hand to slot home a cross from the right. This was an impressive half from the hosts. Unfortunately there was a blemish on it when captain Regan was subbed off with a suspected concussion. He didn’t look too good when he passed me into the changing rooms prior to a trip to A&E. His performance was excellent throughout. Heart of a lion captain stuff taking some rough abuse in amongst it, from the first whistle to his early departure I though he led his team brilliantly. A shame to see him come off goosed. A bit of amusement came in the shape of the referee who dished out a yellow followed by a red towards K&D defender Fraser Armstrong for dissent. However the big stopper had not been booked previously, this being pointed out leaving the referee red faced. Kirkcaldy were offering little to this game an a home win was an inevitability but there was a scare late on when the visitors in a rare move up the park were awarded a penalty. Scott Dunn despatched into the top corner. A fine strike. But Kinnoull held out for the last couple of minutes giving Kirkcaldy and Dysart their first league defeat since September. This made all the more impressive as Kinnoull had nine players out including their two top scorers. A point of note, the missing players showed when you looked at the subs warming up, a spattering of kids who were lucky if they were shaving yet. A very decent three points for Perth men.

On the day as a whole, seeing our wonderful country, meeting really fine folk at what is clearly a sound club. Seven goals including a hat trick. A happy but filthy loon. As a fitba day, it went brilliantly. One of my favourites to date. The dreaded term “groundhoppers” gets thrown in our direction. I can assure you that’s not what we are. Fitba fans taking in what our country has to offer making memories along the way more like.

“What will my 300th be?” Wee Man asked in the car when we were passing through Coupar Angus on the way back up the road. “Coldstream” I replied. But lets see. I wonder how many he would have visited if I didn’t work away………..

*Plenty of time to watch Aberdeen once Wee Man is too cool to hang out with his Dad

Entrance – Sponsored the match ball, £50

Attendance – 69

Pie – £3.50, Pie and Oreos

Pint – £5.14, Tennent’s, The Maltings

Score Prediction – Me 2 v 2, Wee Man 2 v 0

Season Score Prediction Totals – Me 2 v 1 Wee Man