Steve B the Groundhopper

12 noon 24 August 2024 Saturday Morning Amateur League, Premier Division Glebe Hibernian 3 Dinamo Paisley 2 (att 25) My first game of the day was very much plan B. I'd travelled north expecting to watch Uddingston v Plains, in the same league at 11am in Hamilton. But the non-appearance of the referee meant that was a very late postponement. Options for an alternative match were limited, but this midday kick off in Easterhouse at least left me with the possibility of still getting to my intended afternoon game. I wasn't entirely sure if this would provide a new ground to visit. I was previously at the Lochend Community High School in 2014, but back then Tynecastle AFC played on a grass pitch, whereas this turned out to be on the caged 3G. Fortunately it also turned out to be a good choice. The top division of the Saturday Morning Amateur League provides a high standard of football, and this was a great game for the neutral, and for Glebe Hibernian. Dinamo Paisley looked the bet...

10am 10 February  2024 Saturday Morning Amateur League, Premier Division Blackthorn Rovers 1 Dinamo Paisley 3 (att 20) Having stayed overnight after Friday evening's game at Drumchapel I decided to begin Saturday by visiting a venue that's challenging to reach in time for a morning kick off from Manchester. Blackthorn Rovers have moved since I saw them at Battery Park in Greenock in 2020 , and now play a short distance away in neighbouring Gourock. It's a floodlit 3G pitch at Gourock Park, with plenty of space for spectators to stand inside the fence. Dinamo Paisley looked the sharper side from the start and were ahead early. Their lead remained at 1-0 by half time, but they doubled their advantage after around an hour. In a feisty game, that at times threatened to become bad-tempered, a third away goal eventually settled the outcome. Blackthorn did pull a late goal back, but it was nothing more than a consolation.