1.30pm 18 December 2021
West of Scotland League, Conference B
Glasgow United 3 Gartcairn 2 (att 70)
The days seem numbered for Glasgow United's Greenfield Park ground, as the club has announced plans to relocate. It's potential demise put it high on my list for a visit, but I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever make it.
A planned visit earlier in the season was scuppered after foxes damaged the pitch, and in the days leading up to this game it looked as if the latest wave of covid would be a threat. The fixture survived that, but I arrived to find the ground shrouded in fog.
Luckily the entire pitch was just about visible. Once the game kicked off I kept my fingers crossed the conditions wouldn't deteriorate and cause an abandonment.
I needn't have worried. Although visibility was poor throughout, and got worse as the match reached its exciting conclusion, there were no problems playing the full 90 minutes.
Gartcairn had the better of opening exchanges, and it was no surprise when they went ahead following a free kick. Glasgow United were level before half time, courtesy of a penalty awarded for handball.
The second half, for the most part, wasn't a thriller. The visitors looked more likely to get a winner, and thought they'd done so after 88 minutes. As the fog grew denser it was hard to see clearly, but they went 2-1 up from a corner.
I had a much better view of what happened next, at the other end. Gartcairn got another penalty, again for handball, which they scored to make it 2-2. Then in stoppage time they won a corner, which was headed in for a very late home winner.
Until recently Glasgow United were known as Shettleston. It seems a pity for a club to lose its local identity in favour of a city-wide name, but I don't live in Shettleston and I don't support the club, so of course it's none of my business.
A move away from Greenfield Park would also be a shame, as it's a proper old-school Scottish junior football ground, with an mix of stands and terracing on the two sides that have spectator access.
It's a ground that's seen better days though, and would need considerable effort and investment just to tidy it up. It's not hard to see why a move would be appealing.
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