1pm 21 December 2013
North Caledonian League
Muir of Ord Rovers 3 Thurso 0 (att 21)
This was a personal milestone, my 4,000th football ground. Ideally I'd liked to have planned a trip somewhere particularly memorable for the occasion, but once I realised it would fall sometime around Christmas and New Year, the uncertainties caused by the weather, coupled with work and family commitments, meant it was Saturday morning before I settled on a destination.
Having stayed overnight in Perth the plan was to head north, and Muir of Ord's early kick off, at 1pm, left the option of diverting to Lossiemouth's 3pm game if there had been a late postponement. As it was the pitch, and the weather, was fine, and so my 4,000th venue was Pavilion Park in Muir of Ord, a few miles north west of Inverness.
Although there's no spectator accommodation the ground is fully enclosed, with the near side railed off and the far side having dugouts and advertising boards. A pavilion in the corner near the entrance houses the changing rooms, and a table was set up inside to serve welcome hot drinks and pies at half time.
On the pitch is was a straightforward win for the home side. Muir of Ord scored twice in the first half, adding one more, a penalty, in the second. Thurso had plenty of possession but rarely looked likely to score. When they did have decent chances, mostly in the second period, the Muir of Ord keeper made some good saves to deny them.
All in all a reasonable game and a pleasant ground in one of my favourite parts of the UK, which set me up well for the long drive home.
View Muir of Ord Rovers FC in a larger map
North Caledonian League
Muir of Ord Rovers 3 Thurso 0 (att 21)
This was a personal milestone, my 4,000th football ground. Ideally I'd liked to have planned a trip somewhere particularly memorable for the occasion, but once I realised it would fall sometime around Christmas and New Year, the uncertainties caused by the weather, coupled with work and family commitments, meant it was Saturday morning before I settled on a destination.
Having stayed overnight in Perth the plan was to head north, and Muir of Ord's early kick off, at 1pm, left the option of diverting to Lossiemouth's 3pm game if there had been a late postponement. As it was the pitch, and the weather, was fine, and so my 4,000th venue was Pavilion Park in Muir of Ord, a few miles north west of Inverness.
Although there's no spectator accommodation the ground is fully enclosed, with the near side railed off and the far side having dugouts and advertising boards. A pavilion in the corner near the entrance houses the changing rooms, and a table was set up inside to serve welcome hot drinks and pies at half time.
On the pitch is was a straightforward win for the home side. Muir of Ord scored twice in the first half, adding one more, a penalty, in the second. Thurso had plenty of possession but rarely looked likely to score. When they did have decent chances, mostly in the second period, the Muir of Ord keeper made some good saves to deny them.
All in all a reasonable game and a pleasant ground in one of my favourite parts of the UK, which set me up well for the long drive home.
View Muir of Ord Rovers FC in a larger map
Congratulations on your 4,000th ground visit!
ReplyDeletemy total iz now 306 for Newcastle games only!
well done from 'the Geordie Times' and a Merry Xmas az well!
Fink (the mad-sad groundhopper!)