And it was to Edinburgh to see Celtic’s first home Champions League qualifying match due to Paradise being used for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony and being given hunners of billions of £s in state aid to spruce up the surrounding areas. Thanks Scottish Government. Thanks Glasgow City Council.
The game was included as part of the season ticket cost and was always going to turn out a decent crowd even though the match took place during the Glasgow holiday fair fortnight when many Glaswegians are away lying pished in some med hot spot. A chance to visit Murrayfield, the home of Rugby in Scotland, a place most Celtic supporters would probably never ever visit….what what….but far more importantly, an opportunity to see Celtic for the first time this season under the watchful eye of Oh Ronny Ronny, Ronny Ronny Ronny Ronny Deeeeeeeeeila.
So how was I going to get there with my two weans to the game?
Being a Glaswegian….fuck yie, naw fuck you….and living a handful of miles from Celtic Park I’ve had it easy while all the teuchters who end every sentence in ‘Ken’ have had the misfortune to travel a fair distance in many cases come wind, rain or shine…..mainly pishing rain….to see our team. So I checked out google maps to see exactly where Edinburgh is as part of my intrepid planning session….
Supporters buses were an option but I’m not on one so gave that a miss. Take the car through but nowhere easy to park near the stadium so that was ruled out. Take the car to Ingliston, park and ride (Who loves ya baby!) and then the tram to Murrayfield. Yep, that’s the fella but just as my detailed plan of action that took all of three minutes to scope out was ready to be rubber stamped, a brainwave….the first since I realised if I agree with my wife I’ll get an easier life. What price will those robbing gits Scotrail charge? My expectations were set very low as a) they are overpriced robbing gits and b) robing basturts so with slim hopes I checked the price online.
Adult and two under 16’s to Embra….enter. Response returned as £12.50. I immediately rub my eyes and am fairly certain I’ve put in the wrong info. Slowly check again…enter. It is £12.50!
Home. Collect weans. Train station here we come!
Weans have the colours on and we get to Garrowhill train station and there’s loads of Tims there. Most decked out in the beautiful hoops and all with 2 litre bottles of soft drinks leading to a merry atmosphere. The caffeine and Sugar content in soft drinks nowadays is bloody ridiculous.
Few minutes pass and the train arrives. Conductor; “Welcome aboard everyone to the Rebel express”.
This is a fairly new line that used to end at Drumgelloch (Airdrie) but money was spent to actually improve the infrastructure and build a line to Bathgate that then joins the existing Edinburgh connection. Money? Infrastructure Investment? Improvement of service? Who’d have thought it!
The downside to the trip is as each station passes by beyond Coatbridge you feel as if you are in a timewarp! Airdrie – enough said. Armadale – people wearing high-waisters and platform shoes. Livingston North – Dear God, you mean there’s more to this place! All a wee bit of humour on my behalf but then as you pass by Edinburgh Park, next stop Haymarket, you see some right bowfin schemes. What’s this, shiteholes in Embra? I thought we were led to believe it was all posh privately educated sorts who lived in mansion houses through here. Nope, that’s the part sold to tourists. Edinburgh like any city has it’s shiteholes it’s just they’re hidden out of the way better from the city centre.
No matter…..Haymarket has arrived and our stop to get off!
It was some scene walking out the station into the main crossroads. A beautiful sea of Green and White all around in the lovely warm summer sunshine. Magic.
As I walk with the kids the fifteen or so minutes to the stadium it’s just a long trail of Celtic fans. Streets are lined with merry souls having a party and a fairly limited or out of the way police presence.
As we arrive at Murrayfield there’s a stop created for the new Edinburgh tram system, while the turnstiles are a couple of hundred yards back from the stadium. Go through here and there’s a large expanse for people to chill out or buy food from one of the many grossly overpriced food stalls. It’s not just Celtic Park that does rip off rubbish!
Number of steep stairs takes you up to what is in effect a middle concourse. From here there’s a choice of stairs to go up or down at the moment you enter the stadium. Good idea as it stops having to negotiate too many stairs but can imagine in the shite windy weather many deciding to stay in their seats.
The view from inside the stadium was terrific. No blocked views and plenty of space. Behind the goals there was a gap as this is where the rugger try area would be but the arrangement of seats was steep enough to allow good views all round…..nothing like Hampden!
The Green Brigade were out in force and this helped make the match a great experience. Loud, large, fairly bevvied crowd in a beautiful summers evening brings the best out of supporters but the added bonus of them conducting the choir was the icing on the cake.
The colour, the flags, the noise and the general jumping around created a magical atmosphere and it’s hoped we see them back in their usual place at Celtic Park this season.
The game itself was a breeze. FKR no more than an average Scottish second tier team and by half time the game was over with Celtic leading 3-0. Second half was no more than a training session and it will require 180 minutes of good football to see off the challenge of Legia Warsaw in the next round.
The most disappointing part of the trip was at Haymarket station. Trains delayed from Waverley causing a massive queue and frustration when this game was planned for some time. We got on the second train but a word of caution if you are going there in two weeks time. Either leave ten minutes before full time or even better….wait until the game has finished and go for a pint! With a couple of weans it wasn’t possible for me but for others it’s probably the better option.
One other thing to consider is I didn’t see how they can segregate the fans into the ground. Legia will have a large following with many probably locals who now live in Scotland. Our supporters get on with most other teams but just something to consider.
All in all an excellent experience….think of 40,000 going to an away match on a warm summers night….with Murrayfield wiping the floor with Hampden as a fit for purpose national stadium.
Oh, and we never got salt’n’sauce on our chips!
Great read and summary. As an Edinburgh Celt, this was ideal for me and I loved every minute of it. Great to see so many fans having such a great time on a warm, sunny evening. As you said – Murrayfield is way better than Hampden. Atmosphere was better and the view from all seats – great.
Can’t wait for the Warsaw game – lets fill the place and really get it rocking!!
testing
I thought the organisation was poor, atosphere largely poor and Murrayfield not suited to football.
Hector
No champaign flutes and cucumber sandwiches? These are staple pre-match fare at the rugger, usually devoured on the tailgate of the estate Range Rover. It is often followed by pate and toast and duck breast quarters accompanied by a several goblets of Chateauneuf du Pape. Linen napkins safely wrapped in silver rings are supplied to protect the tweeds from offending crumbs or droplets du vin. Och aye, a forgot that’s all at Ibrox this week.
Glad you had a swell time old man. I hope the next occasion is as joyful. Just keep your heid doon from flyin’ Polish sausages.
H H
I live a stone’s throw from Hampden, so travel for finals / semis has always been very simple and appreciated, however, after last weeks visit to Murrayfield I’d recommend closing Hampden and making Murrayfield the new national stadium.
Saying that, I did get caught up in the traffic on the way to Murrayfield (left Glasgow at 5.45) and never got in until 10 minutes before half time with the score 3 – 0, but I’ll plan better in future
Good review, cheers. Warm sunny evenings make all the difference to the overall experience. I go to a few games here in Sydney and its ‘pleasant’ but believe me I would rather be on a wind swept & pishin rain terrace in Scotland watching the Tic. ( as I used to do traveling to the games in Scotland from Bathgate…aye: Bathgate…eat there weans there!
HAIL HAIL.
Been to Murrayfield lots of time and a great stadium. Been to Hampden last 2 days for the gsmes and it is an athletics ground. I will never forget the terrible year we had there when building paradise – let’s make MF new national stadium for footy and rugby.
Hector
The Troll seems to be on your side too. Posted a response yesterday to your Auld Reekie tale and it is now somewhere in the monitor stratosphere. Interesting and insightful piece. And not doom and gloom like some of your fellow writers of late. No names, no pack-drill, Ralph 🙂 Maybe a rest from the “dairy” will help pasteurise your recent sour milk. But, please, don’t stop producing. The Diary is the best cream on the net – and not a hint of blue, just pure Chedar, or should that be pure Stoker?
H H
I found it in the Spam….duly corrected and should be present now