Steve B the Groundhopper

10.30am 14 March  2026 Dundee Saturday Morning League, Premier Division Monifieth Athletic 1 Lochee United AFC 2 (att 38) There have been changes since I last watched football in the Dundee Saturday Morning League. It's expanded to three divisions, and whereas all fixtures used to be at multi-pitch venues allocated by the league, now many clubs have their own home grounds. Monifieth Athletic play at Riverview Park, a surprisingly good venue for a team playing at this level. The pitch is fully enclosed by a plastic post and rail barrier, and is alongside a pavilion that houses the changing rooms. The Tay Estuary is just a hefty wayward shot away behind the far goal. The league table suggested a tight game between two sides in with a chance of winning the title, and the match didn't disappoint. A pair of early goals - the first for Lochee and then a Monifieth equaliser - set the tone for an entertaining morning. At that stage it looked likely to be a goal-filled game, but defence...

10.40am 12 July  2025 Angus and Dundee Summer League Cup, League B Arbroath Amateurs 2 Dundee West 3 (att 18) This fixture fitted in well on day when we were heading towards Scotland's far north, and having stayed in Perth on Friday night it was a simple task to be in Arbroath in time for a morning kick off. The Angus and Dundee Summer League Cup is a new competition, providing semi-competitive football for local Saturday and Sunday sides in a Nations League-style format. Arbroath Amateurs spent last season in the Saturday afternoon Midlands Amateur League. They've entered two sides in the Dundee Saturday Morning League for 2025/26. Whether that's instead of, or in addition to, playing Saturday afternoons remains to be seen. Dundee West are a Saturday morning side, although they failed to complete last season. They've made a good start to this season though, as this was their second win from their opening two fixtures There wasn't much between the sides. Arbroath le...

10am 2 November 2024 Dundee Saturday Morning League, Premier Division Dryburgh Athletic 3 Cairdy Thistle 1 (att 14) I'd stayed overnight near Glasgow to ease the journey north to my planned afternoon game, and a handful of earlier than usual kick offs in Dundee's Saturday morning league made a double possible. While most games are at 10.30am this fixture, at Dawson Park in Broughty Ferry, was one of a few to get underway 30 minutes earlier. Dawson Park was hosting a trio of top division matches, although the other two were later kick offs. All games in this league are effectively at neutral venues, usually at multi-pitch parks. I only saw an up-to-date table after the game, and it turned out that I'd witnessed Cairdy's first league defeat of the season. I wasn't entirely surprised, as they'd looked the better of two decent sides during a goalless first half. The turning point was a straight red card for a Cairdy player, for a reckless challenge, about five minut...