Rove Around Scotland

More photos...

2005-10-03T14:50:00.000+01:00

Hurrah! Niall finally managed to kick Vodafone's erse hard enough that they got GPRS working on his phone, so we've now got the photos from the missing four grounds in the south-west of Scotland. The photos are pretty grainy but I'm not about to do the tour again just so as you can see exactly how poxy Somerset Park is.

Blog is almost complete...

2005-09-21T10:31:00.000+01:00

I've now got almost all of the photos uploaded - the only ones left to add are from Ayr, Stranraer, Dumfries and Gretna. They're stuck on a mobile phone, hopefully we'll find a way to get them off that and onto the site over the next few days.

The other thing I've still to do is count the cash... I'll post the final total and also the name of the sweepstake winner when we've got all the forms back.

Anybody want to join me on a tour around each of the Champions League grounds next year???

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

2005-09-19T08:54:00.000+01:00

At 5.26am we arrived back at the San Starko exhausted and very very smelly. I'll add the rest of the photos once we wrestle them out of the multitude of cameras and phones that we used.

Many thanks to John who did a sterling job of keeping up with our progress, to James for driving like a daftie all the way to Hawick just so he could have a bag of chips and a game of footie in the street, and most of all to Niall and Graham for doing the full 36 hours and 10 minutes and 1026 miles with me.

Right, I've got some sleep to catch up on...

Starks Park, Kirkcaldy

2005-09-19T05:26:00.000+01:00

Hurrah!

Central Park, Cowdenbeath

2005-09-19T05:05:00.000+01:00

See, it's not just football grounds we wanted to visit, stock car racing is my second favourite sport.

East End Park, D*********e

2005-09-19T04:48:00.000+01:00

No comment.

Recreation Park, Alloa

2005-09-19T04:10:00.000+01:00

One of my favourite grounds for some reason unknown even to me. It's a bit of a shambles but it has loads of character.

Ochilview, Larbert

2005-09-19T03:42:00.000+01:00

Home of Stenhousemuir, and landlords a couple of seasons back to Falkirk. Possibly the worst view of any football ground for a visiting fan - that season we had the choice of paying £12 to stand on a flat bit of uncovered tarmac, or £14 to sit in a temporary stand made out of a tarpaulin and cunningly positioned behind the scaffolding that they used as a TV gantry. As you can possibly see from the photo, the prices are a wee bit more realistic when Stenhousemuir are playing there.

Falkirk Stadium

2005-09-19T03:26:00.000+01:00

This is technically in Grangemouth - which was the source of amusement to 'Shire fans a couple of weeks ago. The two teams met in the Stirlingshire Cup and the SPL newcomers were humbled 2-1 by their normally hapless neighbours. This prompted a rendition of "One team in Falkirk! There's only one team in Falkirk!"

Firs Park, Falkirk

2005-09-19T03:19:00.000+01:00

Home of the team with the second worst record in British senior football last season.

The second photo is conclusive photographic proof that Firs Park is haunted.

Brockville, Falkirk

2005-09-19T03:09:00.000+01:00

Yet another retail development to change the face of Scottish football.

Almondvale, Livingston

2005-09-19T02:20:00.000+01:00

Current home of Ferranti Thistle.

Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh

2005-09-19T01:46:00.000+01:00

Getting a bit peckish - could really do with some jam tarts.

City Park, Edinburgh

2005-09-19T01:24:00.000+01:00

Former home of Ferranti Thistle, before they reinvented themselves as Meadowbank Thistle and moved to Meadowbank Stadium, and then reinvented themselves as Livingston and moved to Almondvale. They'll always be Ferranti Thistle to me though.

Easter Road, Edinburgh

2005-09-19T01:15:00.000+01:00

At the entrance to the stand where we sat for the first leg of the Bayern Munich tie in 1995.

Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh

2005-09-19T01:05:00.000+01:00

The previous home of Livingston back when they were called Meadowbank Thistle.

Amazingly, this is the most photogenic part of the stadium!!!

Shielfield, Berwick

2005-09-18T23:31:00.000+01:00

Berwick Rangers were visited at 23:27.

They then headed back into Scotland with more familiar territory scheduled next.

Ground Control

2005-09-18T23:02:00.000+01:00

They are "somewhere in the borders!" approaching Berwick. They were joined at Hawick by James Proctor, who'll guide them home in style, they had some chips and a kick-about!!!

Ground Control is signing off for the night. I'll be up early with the details of the last legs of the trip.

The guys have been, as Ally Graham once said, "Unbelievable!"

Raydale Park, Gretna

2005-09-18T22:13:00.000+01:00

Millionaires Row was scored off at 21:00.

They report entering Englandshire without sufficient warning. They recovered and moved on...

The update was slower than they are!

Palmerston, Dumfries

2005-09-18T20:40:00.000+01:00

Went from the 'To be done' list to the 'Done' list at 20:15. The Queen wasn't at home.

Sweepstake Update - 761 miles and counting...

Stair Park, Stranraer

2005-09-18T18:50:00.000+01:00

Visited at 18:36 and now they set off across the country. For those unfamiliar with this ground, it's in the middle of a public park so if the game is rubbish you can play on the swings.

There is to be a mystery rendevous in Hawick - to find out more tune in later... :-)

Somerset Park, Ayr

2005-09-18T17:23:00.000+01:00

The visit to everyone's favourite away ground has taken place. :-P

Access to the infamous away Gents toilets was not possible...

Rugby Park, Kilmarnock

2005-09-18T16:37:00.000+01:00

The posse was there at 16:25.

The pace has slackened but the determination is un-dented.

Ibrox Park, Glasgow

2005-09-18T15:58:00.000+01:00

Been there done that. Didn't we win something there???

Apologies for the second photo... I blame it all on sleep deprivation.

Love Street, Paisley

2005-09-18T15:04:00.000+01:00

Visited at 3:02 - Spirits are high as they leave Paisley... ;-)

Cappielow, Morton

2005-09-18T14:36:00.000+01:00

On the road again. Have now 'done' Greenock Morton.

Technical difficulties delayed getting the photos from this point onwards uploaded to the site, but here they are now...

Liverpool v Man Utd

2005-09-18T12:32:00.000+01:00

Having a long overdue break!

Boghead, Dumbarton

2005-09-18T11:47:00.000+01:00

Lovely, eh?

Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton

2005-09-18T11:24:00.000+01:00

Under a Rock

Kilbowie Retail Park, Clydebank

2005-09-18T10:48:00.000+01:00

Kilbowie. Football heaven to retail hell.

Firhill, Glasgow

2005-09-18T10:14:00.000+01:00

(Insert joke about thistles having pricks here)

Cathkin Park, Glasgow

2005-09-18T09:00:00.000+01:00

RIP Third Lanark.

Hampden Park, Glasgow

2005-09-18T08:50:00.000+01:00

The home of football.

Shawfield, Glasgow

2005-09-18T08:41:00.000+01:00

Former home of Clyde.

Celtic Park, Glasgow

2005-09-18T08:30:00.000+01:00

No more European football here this season!

Douglas Park, Hamilton

2005-09-18T08:03:00.000+01:00

Breakfast at the site of the old Douglas Park!

New Douglas Park, Hamilton

2005-09-18T07:32:00.000+01:00

Colin McGowan's other club.

Fir Park, Motherwell

2005-09-18T07:15:00.000+01:00

It's breakfast time... If only the pie stand was open!

Cliftonhill Stadium, Coatbridge

2005-09-18T06:52:00.000+01:00

My favourite stadium entrance in Scotland.

Shyberry Excelsior, Airdrie

2005-09-18T06:35:00.000+01:00

Pirates.

Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld

2005-09-18T06:18:00.000+01:00

A lego stadium at dawn.

Forthbank Stadium, Stirling

2005-09-18T05:42:00.000+01:00

5.40am - eyelids eh? Who would have thought that such wee things could be so heavy?

BTW, I think it's hilarious that the two orange-tinged people in the second photo are trying to pass themselves off as adults!

McDiarmid Park, Perth

2005-09-18T04:55:00.000+01:00

Free the McDiarmid One!!!

Victoria Park, Dingwall

2005-09-18T02:30:00.000+01:00

Time to turn round and head south!

Telford Street

2005-09-18T02:01:00.000+01:00

Original home of Inverness Caledonian pre-merger.

Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness

2005-09-18T01:47:00.000+01:00

Almost 2am...

Borough Briggs, Elgin

2005-09-18T00:36:00.000+01:00

Anyone for a game of marbles?

Balmoor Stadium, Peterhead

2005-09-17T22:33:00.000+01:00

We'll be back here in less than a week... probably a good idea to take a more direct route though!

Pittodrie, Aberdeen

2005-09-17T21:39:00.000+01:00

The Tawdry Pit!

Glebe Park, Brechin

2005-09-17T20:51:00.000+01:00

Break in at Brechin?

Links Park, Montrose

2005-09-17T20:24:00.000+01:00

It gets dark early in Montrose!

Gayfield Park, Arbroath

2005-09-17T19:51:00.000+01:00

Is the barbed wire to keep people in or out?

Station Park, Forfar

2005-09-17T19:14:00.000+01:00

My garden shed is bigger than this!

Dens Park, Dundee

2005-09-17T18:34:00.001+01:00

My Dundee Hell, part two

Tannadice Park, Dundee

2005-09-17T18:34:00.000+01:00

My Dundee Hell, part one

Old Bayview, Methil

2005-09-17T17:41:00.000+01:00

It's not here any more. Obviously.

New Bayview, Methil

2005-09-17T17:36:00.000+01:00

One down, loads to go...

Starks Park

2005-09-17T17:12:00.000+01:00

We've started!

Bochum, Germany

2005-09-16T14:20:00.000+01:00

I wasn't planning to start the tour in Germany but here I am!

Update: 8th September

2005-09-08T18:44:00.000+01:00

Things are coming along nicely in preparation for the tour, the Fife Free Press ran their article to publicly launch this event today, you can see it here.

Sponsor sheets have gone out to everyone I know who wants to join the tour, with the exception of a couple of people I don't have e-mail addresses for. There's still space for more people to join, you don't necessarily have to have a car-load (or even a car!) to join as there will no doubt be one or two half-filled cars. My aim was always to get 6 or 7 cars in the convoy, we're not there yet so I'd be delighted if more people came forward.

I've *almost* cracked the technology for updating this blog with pictures as we go round the grounds, I've discovered that the only mobile operators that Blogger supports for image uploads at the moment are US-based ones, so I'm working on a workaround. I can upload text straight to the blog no problem, which will give us our time-stamped record at each ground, and although I can't upload images direct to the site I can send them to any other e-mail address. If I can find a way to auto-forward these to the blog then great, otherwise I will try to enlist a wee helper I can send the photos to who will then add them to the posts I've made from my phone.

Yes, I am a geek.

The Rules!

2005-08-14T11:47:00.000+01:00

To join the convoy, all we ask is that you organise a car-load of supporters who are prepared to meet the costs (fuel, insurance, etc) of participating in the tour, as we would like every penny raised through sponsorship to go to the Reclaim The Rovers cause. Contact falski@raithrovers.net with your details to register for the tour. Sponsorship forms will be made available to all participants.

In the interests of safety, you should ensure that you have at least two drivers in your car to share the burden of getting your car around Scotland, and we ask that you stay with the convoy at all times (we will be observing the legal speed limits!)

Although it is theoretically possible to visit all 42 grounds in Scotland within 24 hours, this would not allow time for photos to be taken at each ground or for rest and food stops. Setting a target time might also lead me into lead-foot temptation and lose my driving license, so with this in mind we will not put a time limit on the tour. We do expect to return to Kirkcaldy at some point late in the evening of Sunday 18th September, though.

The Route! (Draft)

2005-08-13T14:22:00.000+01:00

Starks Park (Raith Rovers), Bayview Stadium (East Fife), Dens Park (Dundee), Tannadice (Dundee Utd), Station Park (Forfar Athletic), Gayfield (Arbroath), Links Park (Montrose), Glebe Park (Brechin City), Pittodrie (Aberdeen), Balmoor Stadium (Peterhead), Borough Briggs (Elgin City), Victoria Park (Ross County), Tulloch Caledonian Thistle (Inverness CT), McDiarmid Park (St Johnstone), Forthbank Stadium (Stirling Albion), Recreation Park (Alloa Athletic), Ochilview Park (Stenhousemuir), Firs Park (East Stirlingshire), Falkirk Stadium (Falkirk), Broadwood Stadium (Clyde), Shyberry Excelsior Stadium (Airdrie Utd), Cliftonhill Stadium (Albion Rovers), Fir Park (Motherwell), New Douglas Park (Hamilton Academical), Parkhead (Celtic), Hampden Park (Queens Park), Ibrox Stadium(Rangers), Firhill Stadium (Partick Thistle), Strathclyde Homes Stadium (Dumbarton), Cappielow Park (Greenock Morton), Love Street (St Mirren), Rugby Park (Kilmarnock), Somerset Park (Ayr Utd), Stair Park (Stranraer), Palmerston Park (Queen of the South), Raydale Park (Gretna), Shielfield Park (Berwick Rangers), Easter Road (Hibernian), Tynecastle Stadium (Heart of Midlothian), Almondvale Stadium (Livingston), Central Park (Cowdenbeath), East End Park (Dunfermline Athletic), Starks Park (Raith Rovers!)...

The Plan!

2005-08-13T14:03:00.000+01:00

At 5pm on the 17th of September, after the full time whistle brings an end to the match between Raith Rovers and Ayr United, a convoy of cars will leave Kirkcaldy on a mission to visit every one of the 42 league grounds in Scottish football (plus a few sites which used to host senior football in years gone by)

If you would like to join this convoy please e-mail me at falski@fannybaws.com