Harlaw Park, Aberdeenshire Cup 1/4 Final, 12/11/25
Me still 359
Inverurie Loco Works Football Club
Founded – 1902
Nickname – Locos, The Railwaymen
Senior Honours – Highland League Cup – 2007/08 and 2008/09. Aberdeenshire Cup – 2023/24 Aberdeenshire Shield – 2003/04, 2013/14 and 2016/17. Scottish Qualifying Cup (North) – 2004/05 and 2005/06.
The bonniest shield in world fitba is up for grabs for the 35th time in its current guise as the Aberdeenshire Shield. The trophy was known as the Flemming Charity Shield from 1899 until 1929 until it was subsequently misplaced. (Dundee United the last winners).Eventually decades later it was found in a loft and rebranded by its ‘shire monicker that it is nowadays known, this since 1990. These two sides have had their hands on the trophy over the years with the hosts twice(13/14 and 16/17) and the Maroons with five wins including a three in a row between 04/05 and 06/07. Could this season be a success for either, I wouldn’t bet on it , but tonight was a fine chance for either team to get to the last four and who knows what might happen after.
With the combination of having to dump my car at the garage in Inverurie for its MOT first thing and not having a pint in a month, this game was a fine chance of a few birthday jars between the garage and Harlaw Park followed by a soggy night under the lights. Or under the shelter as I have never stood in my many visits to Harlaw Park as I did tonight. Edwards, The Butchers, The Gordon Highlander, The Black Bull, The Commercial and the Locos was the road map and it got me thinking, if you were to draw the Railwaymen in the Scottish Cup you have a plum draw. It’s not something that I have thought about before as its the norm and the Locos are on my doorstep, but if you want a scoop, the Garioch capital is the place to be.
Then the game came. As far as a cup tie goes this was a cracker. A game of two halves . The first period saw the Maroons (in light blue) by far the better team. They looked dangerous when attacking much to the chargrin of the locals around me. Put it this way there was an abundance of “fuck sake” and “this is shite” in my vicinity. Keith deservedly took the lead through a brilliant move. From their own 18 yard line they worked the ball up the park at pace leaving Nathan McKeown to tap in a defence splitting ball. A fantastic goal on the eye with numerous one touch passes. If that was not enough to impress, McKeown was to top his first with a brilliant lobbed effort to double the lead. Again Keith with some excellent flowing fitba tore the Locos to bits and McKeown in acres of space on the left struck over Ellis in the Locos goal. Cheeky and just bloody brilliant .Not one to celebrate a goal as a neutral , I had to applaud this beauty .A wonderful finish. My pre-game correct scores were both in Keith’s favour, maybe the 4 v 5 and 2 v 5 were not likely and a waste of a pound but a Keith win was on the cards. Keith were well worthy of their lead. Especially with the Locos and their desperation to walk the ball into the box instead of shooting. An annoying trait to watch.
HT 0 v 2
Dean Donaldson had clearly given the Locos a bollocking at half time as his side were totally different second half. They were much more in the game. Keith hit the bar through Robertson early on but barring that Inverurie were well on top. You could see a goal coming. When it did, it added a third cracker to the nights proceedings. Ethan Cairns halved the deficit when he brilliantly struck the ball across and past Craig Reid with power in the Keith goal from the left. This off a bonnie pass from Lloyd Robertson.Game on and the home side went for it. A shower of attacks on the Keith defence came but breaking down the light blue back line was not on. Time eventually ran out for the Locos with Keith progressing to the semis.
Looking to get a taxi home I headed to the Locos bar for a pint before heading for the hills. The next thing I knew, my old pal from when I was an apprentice tapped me on the shoulder. 83, blind in one eye but as sharp as ever Ian Gifford let out a “Gilesy” as I was paying for my pint. I kyboshed the taxi to sit with the man I had ten thousand conversations about fitba on a Monday morning back when I was a teen. (Along with Euan Mutch of Longside’s committee). Incredible where time goes, I was a teen when I had these conversations with Gifford. I am now 41 as of Tuesday. But we spoke like we were good old pals.A much appreciated catch up with a great human being. Glad to know he is still going strong. A great way to end the night. Very much more important than the fitba. Time flies in life and great to catch up with brilliant people with an extra few beers. A night made much more enjoyable by meeting the man.
Entrance – £12
Attendance– 279 (Going by Jock Gardiner)
Pie – £6.40, Pie and Coffee
Pint – £5.10, Coors, Edwards/ £4.60, Tennent’s,The Butchers Arms/ £3.42, Tennent’s, The Gordon Highlander/£4.30 , Tennent’s,Black Bull/ £4.30, Tennent’s,The Commercial/ £4.30, Tennent’s, Locos Social Club.
FITBAWBAG 