Recreation Park (Alloa Athletic v Aberdeen)

Last night I took a train from Glasgow Queen Street to Alloa for my first visit to Recreation Park, home of Alloa Athletic. Alloa is a small town seven miles east of Stirling. The railway link re-opened in May 2008 and it takes less than an hour to travel from Glasgow to the home of the Wasps. Recreation Park, a small but tidy ground, is only a five-minute walk away from the station.

The SFL Second Division side were playing hosts to SPL leaders Aberdeen in the second round of the Co-operative Insurance Cup. The Dons, who started the season perfectly in the league, were of course favourites to win this tie easily but there is always the chance of an upset.

However after 15 minutes Alloa goalie Stephen Robertson brought down Fraser Fyvie and of course Paul Hartley scored from the spot once more. Rory McArdle's header ensured a 2-0 lead for the Dons at half time. Chris Maguire made it 3-0 with a long-range effort. It was a comfortable win for Aberdeen but the Wasps had a opportunities to score a consolation goal but they missed composure faced with substitute goalkeeper Thomas Flynn.

Recreation Park has an artificial pitch and which was blamed after the game by Dons boss Mark McGee for the knee injury sustained by Fyvie. Alloa manager Allan Maitland however did not think anything was wrong with their plastic pitch and felt the 18-year-old was partially to blame for waring blades on the artificial surface.

I arrived early at the turnstiles so no queues. The people you see queueing have tickets for the grandstand.

The Main Stand.



The covered terrace in the Clackmannan Road End.



Aberdeen fans in the Railway End...


...and more Aberdeen fans in the Hilton Road Stand.

Paul Hartley's penalty.

Celebrations after Hartley opened the score.


Queuing up for an excellent steak pie.

Tuesday 24th August 2010
Co-operative Insurance Cup round 2
Alloa Athletic 0 Aberdeen 3
Goals: Hartley (pen) 18, McArdle 38, Maguire 60.
Att: 1,649

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Recreation Park (Alloa Athletic v Aberdeen)

Last night I took a train from Glasgow Queen Street to Alloa for my first visit to Recreation Park, home of Alloa Athletic. Alloa is a small town seven miles east of Stirling. The railway link re-opened in May 2008 and it takes less than an hour to travel from Glasgow to the home of the Wasps. Recreation Park, a small but tidy ground, is only a five-minute walk away from the station.

The SFL Second Division side were playing hosts to SPL leaders Aberdeen in the second round of the Co-operative Insurance Cup. The Dons, who started the season perfectly in the league, were of course favourites to win this tie easily but there is always the chance of an upset.

However after 15 minutes Alloa goalie Stephen Robertson brought down Fraser Fyvie and of course Paul Hartley scored from the spot once more. Rory McArdle's header ensured a 2-0 lead for the Dons at half time. Chris Maguire made it 3-0 with a long-range effort. It was a comfortable win for Aberdeen but the Wasps had a opportunities to score a consolation goal but they missed composure faced with substitute goalkeeper Thomas Flynn.

Recreation Park has an artificial pitch and which was blamed after the game by Dons boss Mark McGee for the knee injury sustained by Fyvie. Alloa manager Allan Maitland however did not think anything was wrong with their plastic pitch and felt the 18-year-old was partially to blame for waring blades on the artificial surface.

I arrived early at the turnstiles so no queues. The people you see queueing have tickets for the grandstand.

The Main Stand.



The covered terrace in the Clackmannan Road End.



Aberdeen fans in the Railway End...


...and more Aberdeen fans in the Hilton Road Stand.

Paul Hartley's penalty.

Celebrations after Hartley opened the score.


Queuing up for an excellent steak pie.

Tuesday 24th August 2010
Co-operative Insurance Cup round 2
Alloa Athletic 0 Aberdeen 3
Goals: Hartley (pen) 18, McArdle 38, Maguire 60.
Att: 1,649

You have read this article Aberdeen / Alloa Athletic / Scottish League Cup with the title Scottish League Cup. You can bookmark this page URL https://couplesfootballstadium.blogspot.com/2010/08/recreation-park-alloa-athletic-v.html. Thanks!

St Mirren v Rangers (2010 Co-operative Insurance Cup Final)

Yesterday we went to Hampden Park for this year's edition of the Co-operative Insurance Cup final. St Mirren had reached their first major final since 1987 (and their first League Cup final since 1955) after beating East Stirlingshire, Ayr United, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, and Hearts. The Saints had never won the Scottish League Cup, Rangers had won it 25 times. Rangers were of course overwhelming favourites to bag their first major trophy of the season, and not just because of this disparity in League Cup pedigree.

However today it was not a case of simply turning up for the Ibrox men. St Mirren were the stronger team in the first half with a few decent chances but, as so often this season, they were unable to find the net. After the break Saints continued in the same vein. Then Rangers saw red: first Kevin Thomson was sent off, followed by Danny Wilson not much later. The Buddies could not capitalize on the numeric advantage though, and it seemed to spur on Rangers.

After 83 minutes Kenny Miller scored with a header that followed Steven Naismith's cross and in doing so cruelly crushed the hopes of the 10,000 Buddies in attendance. We all knew it would be difficult to beat Rangers in a cup final, but Saints should have done it yesterday. Instead Rangers won it for the 26th time.

Approaching Hampden Park.


Rangers fans show their favourite flag.

Saints fans on the South Stand.

Unfortunately St Mirren were unable to sell their complete allocation of 14,000. About 4,000 tickets remained unsold.

More Buddies on the East Stand.

Kevin Thomson was sent off after a late lunge on Stephen Thomson.

Danny Wilson was sent off after pulling back Craig Dargo.

Even against nine men Saints were unable to score.

Sunday 21st March 2010
Co-operative Insurance Cup Final
St Mirren 0 Rangers 1
Goal: Miller 84.
Att: 44,538

You have read this article Rangers / Scottish League Cup / St. Mirren with the title Scottish League Cup. You can bookmark this page URL https://couplesfootballstadium.blogspot.com/2010/03/st-mirren-v-rangers-2010-co-operative_22.html. Thanks!

St Mirren v Rangers (2010 Co-operative Insurance Cup Final)

Yesterday we went to Hampden Park for this year's edition of the Co-operative Insurance Cup final. St Mirren had reached their first major final since 1987 (and their first League Cup final since 1955) after beating East Stirlingshire, Ayr United, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, and Hearts. The Saints had never won the Scottish League Cup, Rangers had won it 25 times. Rangers were of course overwhelming favourites to bag their first major trophy of the season, and not just because of this disparity in League Cup pedigree.

However today it was not a case of simply turning up for the Ibrox men. St Mirren were the stronger team in the first half with a few decent chances but, as so often this season, they were unable to find the net. After the break Saints continued in the same vein. Then Rangers saw red: first Kevin Thomson was sent off, followed by Danny Wilson not much later. The Buddies could not capitalize on the numeric advantage though, and it seemed to spur on Rangers.

After 83 minutes Kenny Miller scored with a header that followed Steven Naismith's cross and in doing so cruelly crushed the hopes of the 10,000 Buddies in attendance. We all knew it would be difficult to beat Rangers in a cup final, but Saints should have done it yesterday. Instead Rangers won it for the 26th time.

Approaching Hampden Park.


Rangers fans show their favourite flag.

Saints fans on the South Stand.

Unfortunately St Mirren were unable to sell their complete allocation of 14,000. About 4,000 tickets remained unsold.

More Buddies on the East Stand.

Kevin Thomson was sent off after a late lunge on Stephen Thomson.

Danny Wilson was sent off after pulling back Craig Dargo.

Even against nine men Saints were unable to score.

Sunday 21st March 2010
Co-operative Insurance Cup Final
St Mirren 0 Rangers 1
Goal: Miller 84.
Att: 44,538

You have read this article Rangers / Scottish League Cup / St. Mirren with the title Scottish League Cup. You can bookmark this page URL https://couplesfootballstadium.blogspot.com/2010/03/st-mirren-v-rangers-2010-co-operative.html. Thanks!

Fir Park (Hearts v St Mirren)

For pictures of a Motherwell home game at Fir Park click here.

On Tuesday I went to Motherwell where the first semi-final of the 2010 Co-operative Insurance Cup (the Scottish league cup) was staged. Fir Park was the venue chosen by the Scottish Football League to host the first semi between St Mirren and Hearts. I know many St Mirren fans had preferred Hampden but I always thought the atmosphere at Fir Park would be much better. The last time the Saints played in a semi-final in this competition (and lost 3-0 to Kilmarnock) only 9,213 attended. A similar number were in attendance today however I had expected a bigger crowd as Hearts are a bigger club than Kilmarnock.

All fixtures in this competition, apart from the final, are played in midweek which does not add to the appeal for many fans. I managed to leave work a couple of hours earlier than usual and we were in Motherwell at around five o'clock. After my first visit to a Wimpy restaurant in over 25 years we headed for the New Century Bar in Windmillhill Street. Most punters in here were Hearts fans but the atmosphere was good.

We then headed for Fir Park and took our seats in the Davie Cooper Stand. St Mirren had been allocated the Phil O'Donnell Stand as well. The game was not a sell-out but there was a great atmosphere. The Buddies dominated the match and after missing a few chances Billy Mehmet scored his cracking goal early in the second half. It was no more than the Saints deserved. The men from Paisley continued to dominate and, despite a few nervy moments at the end, managed to reach their first national cup final since 1987 and their first league cup final since 1955.

St Mirren fans on the Davie Cooper Stand.

Again the Davie Cooper Stand, which was sold out.

The Phil O'Donnell Stand was also allocated to fans from Paisley but it was not filled to capacity.

The South Stand before kick-off, one of the two stands allocated to the Hearts fans.

Again the South Stand. This stand was also sold out.

The East Stand also housed some of the Hearts fans.

The final whistle. St Mirren have reached their first League Cup final since 1955.

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
Co-operative Insurance Cup Semi-Final
Hearts 0 St Mirren 1
Goal: Mehmet 51.
Att: 9,170

You have read this article Hearts / Scottish League Cup / St. Mirren with the title Scottish League Cup. You can bookmark this page URL https://couplesfootballstadium.blogspot.com/2010/02/fir-park-hearts-v-st-mirren_03.html. Thanks!

Fir Park (Hearts v St Mirren)

For pictures of a Motherwell home game at Fir Park click here.

On Tuesday I went to Motherwell where the first semi-final of the 2010 Co-operative Insurance Cup (the Scottish league cup) was staged. Fir Park was the venue chosen by the Scottish Football League to host the first semi between St Mirren and Hearts. I know many St Mirren fans had preferred Hampden but I always thought the atmosphere at Fir Park would be much better. The last time the Saints played in a semi-final in this competition (and lost 3-0 to Kilmarnock) only 9,213 attended. A similar number were in attendance today however I had expected a bigger crowd as Hearts are a bigger club than Kilmarnock.

All fixtures in this competition, apart from the final, are played in midweek which does not add to the appeal for many fans. I managed to leave work a couple of hours earlier than usual and we were in Motherwell at around five o'clock. After my first visit to a Wimpy restaurant in over 25 years we headed for the New Century Bar in Windmillhill Street. Most punters in here were Hearts fans but the atmosphere was good.

We then headed for Fir Park and took our seats in the Davie Cooper Stand. St Mirren had been allocated the Phil O'Donnell Stand as well. The game was not a sell-out but there was a great atmosphere. The Buddies dominated the match and after missing a few chances Billy Mehmet scored his cracking goal early in the second half. It was no more than the Saints deserved. The men from Paisley continued to dominate and, despite a few nervy moments at the end, managed to reach their first national cup final since 1987 and their first league cup final since 1955.

St Mirren fans on the Davie Cooper Stand.

Again the Davie Cooper Stand, which was sold out.

The Phil O'Donnell Stand was also allocated to fans from Paisley but it was not filled to capacity.

The South Stand before kick-off, one of the two stands allocated to the Hearts fans.

Again the South Stand. This stand was also sold out.

The East Stand also housed some of the Hearts fans.

The final whistle. St Mirren have reached their first League Cup final since 1955.

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
Co-operative Insurance Cup Semi-Final
Hearts 0 St Mirren 1
Goal: Mehmet 51.
Att: 9,170

You have read this article Hearts / Scottish League Cup / St. Mirren with the title Scottish League Cup. You can bookmark this page URL https://couplesfootballstadium.blogspot.com/2010/02/fir-park-hearts-v-st-mirren.html. Thanks!