Arthurlie 4 Drumchapel United 1
Walkies for Peanut was a little bit of a trek. It usually is on a Saturday. The 2-year-old Chihuahua has little legs however broad horizons.
‘He’s been approaching our travels since he was a pup,’ Christine Gibbon mentioned of her canine companion. She sits within the comfortable hospitality space of Dunterlie Park, dwelling of Arthurlie FC. Residence, too, for a few dozen groundhoppers, a minimum of for the day.
The Barrhead membership got here up with the wonderful concept of getting a groundhoppers’ day the place the genially obsessed might go to the bottom, hear the historical past, go to the dressing rooms, stroll on to the pitch and have a pie and a drink.
They got here from fairly far and really close to. There have been native grandpas who had been given the groundhoppers cross as a birthday current. There have been those that had travelled from Cambridgeshire. There have been Christine and her husband Chris (and Peanut, after all) who had ventured from Durham, setting off at 7am. There was additionally your humble correspondent, not strictly a groundhopper extra a floor limper.
There have been tales of Arthurlie then and now, hyperlinks with Stanley Matthews, and the routine recitation of hundreds of grounds visited. Within the phrases of the track, it was a day of fitba’ loopy, fitba’ daft, all loved by individuals who appeared curiously rational.
Christine was unabashed about her ardour. ‘We adore it,’ she mentioned, her phrases encompassing her husband and Peanut, who appeared unaffected by hours on the street.
Christine and Chris Gibbon, and canine Peanut, make the most of the Groundhoppers Day at Arthurlie FC
Followers get pleasure from their very own vantage level on the terracing as they soak up a 4-1 win for Arthurlie over Drumchapel United
Dunterlie Park was simply the newest cease for followers who go to grounds all around the UK and past
‘We have now been doing this for a few years so we’re not as skilled as a few of the groundhoppers right here. We prefer to go to decrease league groups as a result of they don’t get massive helps so we really feel our presence helps them.’
It was £25 for the groundhopper bundle at Dunterlie and it was the most important discount for the reason that Dutch purchased Manhattan from the Native People for the value of an honest fish supper.
The entry all areas, entry all pies and sandwiches deal was supplemented by a goody bag and, nearly by the way, a smashing match which Arthurlie received properly, together with two superbly crafted objectives.
It was floor 1,654 for Craig Dabbs, who had left his home in Northampton at 4.30am and picked up fellow travellers en path to Barrhead.
‘It began within the early nineties in a critical approach,’ he mentioned of his groundhopping odyssey. ‘However my fascination with small golf equipment started when my dad purchased me a Bartholomew map of soccer grounds of England and Wales after I was a child. I later purchased a league listing. Then after I handed my driving check I set forth for Worcester Metropolis.’
He did concede: ‘It’s a little bit bit extra critical now.’ He largely eschews the highest leagues. ‘I don’t wish to spend some huge cash on a ticket simply to be instructed the place to take a seat,’ he mentioned. ‘I prefer to stroll round a floor and chat to fellow spectators.’
The doorways open at Dunterlie Park for an thrilling match within the West of Scotland League Premier Division
Former novice participant George Ormond enjoys his first go to to Arthurlie’s floor
It is the third objective for Arthurlie as they chalk up a convincing 4-1 win over Drumchapel United
At 51, he has set himself a goal for his sixtieth birthday. ‘I want to full all grounds in all of the tiers of all decrease league soccer in England and the 4 tiers in Wales. I’m about 400 brief in England and 17 in Wales.’
This can take him to greater than 2,000 grounds visited. Virtually all have been on the British mainland, although he speaks fondly of a foray to Glentoran in Northern Eire and of a few visits to the Czech Republic.
Why does he do it?
‘It offers me numerous pleasure as a result of I understand how exhausting these small golf equipment can discover it and so they don’t have a lot in the way in which of funds. I really like soccer so that is my approach of placing again into the sport. I’ve additionally met some great folks. I’ve by no means had a foul welcome in Scotland.’
He’ll return subsequent March for an extra Caledonian journey. He helps Chris Berezai, managing director of GroundhopUK, and the corporate plan an expedition that may characteristic six matches in Fife over one weekend.
‘I name it a win, win, win scenario,’ mentioned Berezai. ‘It’s a win for me as I earn cash to maintain the corporate going, it’s a win for the groundhoppers who will see half a dozen matches on one journey, and it’s a win for the golf equipment who see their attendances improve.
The hallowed turf yields gently beneath the ft of the groundhoppers. It has been a day of religion repaid because the solar shines on the righteous and they’re allowed to tread on the Dunterlie pitch shortly earlier than kick-off. Their information is David Jack, a retired principal instructor of non secular training, who has a depraved sense of humour.
When requested if religion, hope and charity existed on this patch of Barrhead, he replied: ‘That is proof there isn’t any God. No God would do that to you.’
Even Peanut the canine appears to be completely having fun with the match with proprietor Christine
Chris Berezai is the managing director of Groundhop UK, who organise excursions
David Jack was a witty information for the groundhoppers on their journey to see Dunterlie Park
This, after all, is sheer mischief. His giggle is the clue that Jack might have an irreverent wit however a agency grasp of what Arthurlie means to him and the city. He first got here to Dunterlie in 1967 as ‘’a ten or 11-year-old’’. He’s exact in regards to the rating that day: ‘2-2 v Benburb.’
Pupil life after which obligations as a father saved him away from Arthurlie for spells however he at all times returned and in retirement is a constant attender who additionally compiles the wonderful match programme.
His finest second as a supporter in Dunterlie was within the early nineties when 4,000 gathered for a Scottish Junior Cup quarter last tie in opposition to Auchinleck Talbot. ‘We misplaced,’ he added wryly.
However he was profoundly critical when he addressed the importance of his membership. ‘I used to be born and bred in Barrhead and I really like the historical past that this soccer membership has. It has an essential social historical past. It’s a part of my identification and that of the city.’
It’s a part of the private historical past of George Ormond. ‘That is the place it began for my dad and uncle,’ he mentioned, searching on to the park.
He produced his telephone and clicked to disclose {a photograph}. It confirmed the 1945-46 Arthurlie aspect that misplaced the junior cup last in entrance of greater than 46,000 spectators at Hampden.
‘There may be my dad, William, and my uncle, Hugh,’ he mentioned. ‘My dad went on to play with Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen at Blackpool. My grandfather, additionally George, performed for Rangers.’
A heat welcome is at all times assured for anybody visiting Arthurlie FC’s comfortable floor
This supporter has a close-up view of the motion within the Arthurlie v Drumchapel showdown
Supporters take in the distinctive ambiance forward of Arthurlie’s transfer to a brand new stadium
The current-day George was an novice participant who has simply retired from the oil and gasoline trade. Saturday, nearly extremely, was his first go to to Dunterlie. ‘My sisters stumbled on this {photograph} in a Paisley newspaper a number of years in the past,’ he mentioned. ‘A pal steered I ought to come immediately and I’ve travelled up from Greenock.’
It’s best to go to Dunterlie soonest. The membership, who play within the West of Scotland League Premier Division, will transfer to a brand new stadium simply off Glasgow Street in 2027.
‘Not one of many committee desires to maneuver,’ mentioned president David Blakey. ‘Nevertheless it is smart. This land goes for use as social housing and we get a floor that has synthetic turf and fashionable services and we will improve the footfall.’
He regarded out on the stadium in all its ramshackle magnificence and mentioned: ‘She’s beginning to crumble.’
However she will be able to nonetheless lure admirers. The groundhoppers spoke of an exquisite journey. The native followers had been warmed by victory. And Peanut appeared to seek out it an ideal canine day afternoon.
