Stadium Series: Husky Stadium, Seattle

Officially known as Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium, through a sponsorship with Alaska Airlines, who maintain an air hub at the nearby SeaTac Airport, Husky Stadium is the football stadium for the University of Washington, who compete in the Pac-12 conference’s North Division. Following renovations in 2013, the stadium seats 70,083, making it one of the largest stadiums in the Pacific Northwest region.

Originally built in 1920, with a capacity of 30,000, the stadium has undergone many changes in it’s near 100 year lifespan, and currently sits as a U-Shaped bowl, with the ope end facing Union Bay on Lake Washington, giving views of the Cascade Mountains on clear days. The U-Shape was specifically designed to shield the playing field from glare during afternoon games. The stadium sits as the centrepiece of the athletic village of the University of Washington, with their main indoor arena (the Hec Edmunson Pavilion), Husky Ballpark, Husky Softball Stadium (there was a game going on here when I walked round the site), Husky Soccer Stadium, and the rowing team’s Conibar Shellhouse all sitting within a few hundred yards of the stadium. The Seattle Link Light Rail has a station right at the stadium, which has proven popular for supporters who are not attending from campus.

The stadium has been long regarded as one of the loudest in college football, partly due to the design of the stadium, with most of the spectators housed in the two sideline stands, which both overlap each other and have large cantilever roofs. A game in 1992 was recorded by ESPN as reaching 133.6 decibels, which is the loudest recorded level at any college sporting event. The Seattle Seahawks have also used the stadium, first for five games in 1994, when the Kingdome’s roof required emergency repairs, and for the entire 2000 and 2001 seasons when CenturyLink Field was under construction.

Vale of Leven v Annbank United

Vale of Leven 7-2 Annbank United
SJFA West Region League Two
Millburn Park
Saturday 20th October 2018

It’s been slightly better weather than it was this time last week and that means there’s no waterlogged pitches hampering my Saturday plans. So it’s back to the Millburn for some more League Two action.

The Venue

Millburn park has been extensively profiled on this site a couple of times. You can see here, here and here for details.

The Teams

With last weekend’s trip to Muirkirk a victim of the weather, the Vale have played just once in the league since I saw them draw 1-1 with Ashfield. That was an impressive 3-0 win over Salcoats Victoria, although their Junior Cup run came to an early end when they were on the wrong end of the same score up north against Islavale. The Vale are in fourth place in League Two, just three points off leaders Lanark United.

Annbank United were formed in the eponymous former mining village in 1939. They reached the Scottish Junior Cup Final once, in 1953, where ironically they lost to today’s hosts. The two clubs have met several times in the cups, but today is the first ever league meeting between the sides. Annbank won the Ayrshire Second Division in the 1989-90 season, but have spent most of the recent years in the district leagues.

This season, the club – co-managed by Graeme Neil and Tom Robertson, started well with two wins in their Sectional group, although they failed to qualify for the knockout stages. They defeated fellow League Two side Ardeer Thistle comfortably in the Scottish Junior Cup, but are firmly in the lower half of the table on league duty with 11 points from nine games.

The Game

The game was barely 30 seconds old when Lee McGeachy sent the ball across the face of the Annbank goal to find the head of Greg Ross, who nodded in to give the home side an early lead. The early goal shellshocked the visitors, who took a while to get themselves into the game. Ross had a chance to double the lead with ten minutes gone when he headed wide from Craig Cowan’s cross. Annbank had their first chance in 13 minutes, but Andrew Campbell in the Vale goal was the equal of a decent effort.

With 20 minutes gone it was 2-0. McGeachy swing a corner into the box, and Ross scored his second of the day as he nipped in, in front of the keeper to knock the ball into the net. It was 3-0 just a few minutes later. Chris Jackson was upended in the box, and Cowan stepped up to slam the penalty past the Annbank goalkeeper. It was to be four before the half hour as McGeachy played in Robbie Dolan on the left hand side. Dolan’s low, driven cross was deflected into the net by an unfortunate Annbank defender, as the visitors saw the game slip out of their reach.

Annbank pulled one back with 42 minutes gone as a long ball deceived the Vale defence and allowed Stephen McLelland to latch on and finish well below Campbell. The scoring wasn’t done in the first half though, as just two minutes later, Andy Biddulph got himself on the end of Dolan’s back post cross and drilled the ball low into the net. And on the stroke of half time it was 6-1. Ross swung a free kick to the back post which was met by the head of Mark Butler, who headed it back across goal into the patch of Jackson who knocked it in for the simplest of goals.

The second half was to be a much tamer affair, although Vale were still creating chances, with both Biddulph and David McNaught coming close. Biddulph was sent off for a second bookable offence with an hour played, but the man advantage never really let Annbank back into the game to any great degree.

With 68 minutes gone, it was 7-1, as McGeachy’s cross was nodded in at the back post by Stuart Bryson. Two minutes later, Annbank reduced the defecit through a well taken penalty from Jordan Ryan. Both sides worked hard on the wet pitch but it was to be the last real action of a game that saw the home side’s first half dominance see them run out as comfortable winners.

The Pies

It goes without saying that the Vale’s steak pies are worth eating every single time. They are outstanding, and it’s no exaggeration to say they might be the best in football at any level.

Admission: £5
Programme: None
Pie: £1.60 (scotch) £2 (steak)
Bovril: 90p
Attendance: 53

Stadium Series: Bruins Field, Clallam Bay

On our travels round the Olympic Peninsula on our way to Cape Flattery, the most north-westerly point in the continuous United States, I stumbled upon a high school with a football stadium in one of the most remote settlements I’ve ever visited. Clallam Bay is a Census Designated Place with a population of just 363, but the high school also takes in students from neighbouring Sekiu and other, even smaller nearby places.

The Clallam Bay High School Bruins play at Bruins Field, which sits behind the school. While their fierce rivals, Neah Bay Red Devils also have a team and are situated some 20 miles further northwest, they have just a field with no actual stadium facilities at their school. Which leads me to believe – and I may be wrong about this – that Bruins Field is the most north-westerly stadium in the “Lower 48”.

Clallam Bay play in the North Olympic Division 1B, the class for the smallest schools in the state. Bruins Field is a largely open area, with two small enclosure like structures on one side, one with removable metal bleachers, and the other filled with permanent wooden bleacher seating. The other side of the pitch contains a small section of uncovered metal bleachers, which I assume are for visiting players and team officials. The natural grass field is floodlit, and despite the remoteness of the setting, a fully operational electronic scoreboard. The facilities here are extremely basic compared to other high school stadiums I’ve seen, but with the picturesque setting on the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the remote location of the town, it’s more than adequate for the school and their team. A real hidden gem of a find.

Glasgow City v Hibernian

Glasgow City 1-2 Hibernian Ladies
SSE Scottish Women’s Cup Semi-Final
Forthbank Stadium
Sunday 14th October 2018

It’s semi-final day in the Scottish Women’s Cup. Unlike in the men’s game, which caused chaos amongst fans and the police when they tried to arrange both league Cup semi-finals at Hampden on the same day, the Women’s Cup (and league cup) frequently host both games at the same site on the same day, with today’s games having just four hours between scheduled kick offs. The first game up today is an absolute cracker between the two top teams in Scottish women’s football, fierce rivals Glasgow City and Hibs.

The Venue

Forthbank became the new home for Stirling Albion in 1993, when they moved out of their old Annfield ground. The ground is well appointed, fairly close to Stirling’s centre, and has become a popular venue for both home and away supporters. It is also home to the first team of Stirling University, who moved back in this season, after previously playing home games here from 2013-2016.

The ground has two fully seated stands on either side of the ground, which are both well covered and offer excellent views of the pitch. There are also two terraces behind the goals, which bring the overall capacity of the ground to 3,808 with 2,508 being seated. Forthbank is an excellent place to watch a game of football, and a really good venue for the semi finals of this competition.

The Teams

I’ve spoken about both of these teams at length in the not too distant past, so this is a very abridged section today. Both sides recorded 11-0 wins over lower league opposition at the quarter final stage, but today should be a very different kettle of fish. Both league games between the two sides so far this season have ended in draws, with the big almost certain league decider just one week away. Hibs do have the upper hand this season though, holding a 3-1 win over City in the League Cup semi-final. Another tight affair is to be expected this afternoon.

The Game

Hibs had the better of the opening exchanges and came close to taking the lead in the seventh minute. Emma Brownlie’s free kick wasn’t dealt with properly by Lee Alexander in the City goal, but Sam Kerr managed to clear the ball before it fell to a Hibs attacker. Two minutes later, City found themselves on the front foot, but Kirsty Howat’s effort from Leanne Ross’ corner was well wide of the post. Abi Harrison was causing problems for City’s defence every time she got hold of the ball, and she forced a good block from Ross with eleven minutes played after finding herself in a wonderful position.

Hibs took the lead with fourteen minutes gone, when City could only half clear, giving Lisa Robertson the chance to cross into the box. City failed to deal with the cross completely, and Kirsten Reilly knocked a shot in off Alexander. It was no more than the Edinburgh side deserved, and Alexander was having a rough time of it in goals for City. With 20 minutes on the clock, Robertson tried a speculative effort from distance that should have been routine for the Scotland number 1, but she could only spill it wide for a corner.

Abbi Grant was looking City’s liveliest player, and with 23 minutes gone, she cut in from wide on the left and sent a shot only just wide of the post. On the half hour, Hibs only half cleared a corner which gave Ross the chance to knock the ball back into the box. Howat picked up the ball and looked certain to score, but a fine save from Jenna Fife kept her side in the lead. Harrison was still looking dangerous for Hibs, and with six minutes to go until the break, she latched onto Rachel McLauchlan’s through ball but saw her volley blocked by Jo Love at full stretch.

Scott Booth must have ripped into his team at the break, because they came out looking like a different side in the second half. On 53 minutes, Megan Foley sent an inviting ball across the box that was missed by everyone until it was picked up by Lidija Kuliš at the back post. The Bosnian rifled a shot off the post with City looking dangerous. Four minutes later, City worked a short corner into the box and Kerr forced a great save from Fife. Howat put her head onto the rebound, and somehow managed to put the ball past the post when it looked easier to score. The game became a dogged midfield battle, and with 70 minutes played, City slipped up and allowed Harrison in. The striker rounded Alexander, but Ross had enough time to recover and put in an excellent saving tackle.

Just a minute later, City broke and Kuliš sent an excellent looking ball into the box, that was snatched off the head of Howat by Fife. As the game approached the last ten minutes, Jamie-Lee Napier, on as a substitute, very nearly got onto the end of an initially hopeful looking long ball. Hibs kept up the pressure, and with 80 minutes gone, Robertson found herself in the middle of a goalmouth scramble, but couldn’t quite get the final touch before City cleared.

It was a frantic last ten minutes, and Hibs looked like they’d put the game to bed in the 82nd minute. Brownlie’s corner sailed to the back post, and captain Joelle Murray ghosted in and slammed the ball past Alexander to make it 2-0. City broke straight up the pitch though, and Hayley Lauder got on the end of Leanne Crichton’s long ball, but could only aim her shot straight at Fife. City were given a glimmer with four minutes remaining, when Siobhan Hunter swung wildly at a harmless looking long ball from the City midfield and sliced the ball into her own net. City pushed for an equaliser, but Hannah Stewart’s injury time shot that was saved routinely by Fife was as close as they came. Hibs deservedly into the final in a spicy game.

The Pies

I had been going on about how good Stirling Albion’s steak pies were to Kaitlin for some time in the run up to this game today. Thankfully, they lived up to the hype, being crammed full of large chunks of meat and lashings of thick gravy. Well worth the £2.50, and a bloody good lunch at the game.

Admission: £5
Programme: Free online
Pie: £2 (scotch), £2.50 (steak)
Bovril: £1.50
Attendance: 600 (approx)

Stadium Series: Olympic Stadium, Hoquiam

When you’re driving through a place as small as Hoquiam (population 8,726) and see multiple road signs for something called “Olympic Stadium” it seems to me like an absolute no brainer decision to make a quick stop and check it out. I’m glad I did, as this behemoth of a stadium is both unusual and spectacular, and could almost be a tourist destination on it’s own. The City of Hoquiam applied for a Civic Works Administration Grant to build an all wooden stadium in 1932. The application was approved, but it took six years for construction to begin with the stadium being opened in October 1938. The stadium was renovated in 2005 and added to U.S. National Register of Historic Places a year later. It is named after the nearby Olympic Mountain range, and the Olympic Peninsula, where Hoquiam is located.

The stadium has been home in the past to several independent minor league baseball teams, but since opening has mainly been home to the Hoquiam High School Grizzlies football team, with the annual game against their fierce rivals and near neighbours Aberdeen High School Bobcats regularly filling the stadium to it’s 9,000 seated capacity and beyond. Jack Elway, father of Denver Broncos legend John Elway, and a former college football player and coach was an alumni of the school, who currently play in the Evergreen 1A division.

The natural grass field can accommodate both American Football and baseball, with floodlights and two large scoreboards also present. The stadium is entirely constructed out of wood, with all 9,000 seats being wooden bleachers. The L-shaped grandstand is huge and extends down one side and one end of the football field. The angle of the stand was chosen to give some shelter from wind and rain coming off the Pacific coast. This is a wonderful stadium and community hub. It’s one of the most unusual stadiums I’ve seen, and it’s one I’m really glad I stopped by for a look at.

Scotland v France

Scotland U19 0-5 France U19
SFA Women’s Under 19 Preparatory Tournament
Simple Digital Arena
Saturday 6th October 2018

With Scotland hosting the 2019 Women’s European Under 19 Championships, the youngsters don’t have to play any qualifiers, and are therefore missing out on important competitive games. This preparatory tournament is therefore giving the girls vital competitive action as well as acting as a test event for the main event next summer.

The Venue

I’ve talked plenty about St Mirren Park on the blog, and regular readers will know I’m a big fan of the place. The fact that it’s being used for the preparatory tournament fills me with real hope that it will be utilised for the finals, as it’s very easily accessible for me.

The Competition

Scotland and France have been joined by Spain and Denmark for this four team, round robin competition. With Scotland hosting the Women’s Under 19 European Championships next summer, this is being used as a test event with games being hosted here, Firhill in Glasgow, East End Park in Dunfermline and McDiarmid Park in Perth. These four venues give an idea of where the games will be played at the finals, although the official venues have yet to be confirmed. All four teams will play each other once in this tournament, which has the double function of giving Scotland’s youngsters somewhat competitive games in the run up to hosting the finals.

The Teams

Scotland carried over several players from last year’s Under 19s, who made the final qualifying round for the 2018 Championships. Notably, Jamie Lee Napier and Lauren Davidson of Hibs, Rangers’ Amy Muir and Leah Eddie and Michaela McAlonie of Spartans have experience in the Under 19s. They started off this tournament against current European Under 19 Champions Spain here in Paisley on Wednesday evening with a 1-0 defeat.

France also have several holdovers from their team who reached the 2018 finals. They started their campaign in Perth on Wednesday afternoon with a 3-2 victory against Denmark.

The Game

The full time nature of the French players was fairly evident right from the kickoff, as they showed a level of fitness and sharpness that was just above the young Scots. This was a very impressive French team, and on this showing, they will be hot contenders for the title should they return to our shores next July. The first chance of the game fell to Sarah Zahot, who headed Jessy Roux’s cross just wide of the post after just three minutes. Zahot had another excellent chance with 9 minutes played when she beat Scottish keeper Emily Mutch to the ball on the edge of the box. Zahot advanced with the ball, but Mutch recovered extremely well to make a good save.

With 18 minutes gone, Scotland were awarded a free kick when the ever lively Jamie-Lee Napier was fouled around 25 yards out. Captain Amy Muir had a shot from distance, but it was comfortably held by French goalkeeper Camille Pinel. France were on the front foot for the majority of the game, and with around 25 minutes gone, Sandy Baltimore forced Mutch into another good save with a pinpoint shot from a very tight angle. The French girls were highly impressive going forward and on the half hour Zahot forced superb blocks from jenna Clark and Leah Eddie in close succession on the edge of the box.

The French were extremely impressive in defence as well as going forward, with Océane Deslandes, Emeline Saint-Georges and Grace Kazadi dealing with everything Scotland could throw at them. Napier and Naomi Welch were working hard up front, but could not find a way past the wall of white shirts that surrounded every opportunity. France took a deserved lead with eight minutes of the first half remaining. Sonia Ouchene picked the ball up on the edge of the box and saw her initial shot blocked by Clark. But the ball rebounded to the French midfielder and she curled an excellent strike into the top corner. It was two just a few minutes later when a superb run from Roux on the right wing ended with an excellent low cross that was turned in by Loreno Azzaro. It was a deserved lead for the French at the break.

Any slim hopes of a Scotland comeback were dashed just three minutes into the second half. A defensive error from Rachel Brown saw the French gifted a corner, which was whipped low into the box by Baltimore. Zahot got her foot onto it and she blasted the ball past Mutch to make it 3-0. With 58 minutes on the clock, Azzaro worked the ball to the byeline and flicked the ball back across goal. Ouchene threw herself at the cross but could only divert her header wide of the post. Two minutes later, Roux ghosted past Muir down the French right wing and sent a low cross into the box that was stabbed just wide by Azzaro.

The introduction of Lauren Davidson for Welch almost paid dividends for Scotland on 67 minutes, as the Hibs forward worked well to send a cross into the box that was well cut out by Deslandes. Six minutes later, there were shouts for a penalty as Napier went down in the box under a challenge from Saint-Georges, but the shouts mainly stemmed from the stands rather than from the pitch.

With nine minutes remaining, the French went further ahead. Substitute Melvine Malard picked the ball up on the edge of the Scottish box and turned well before sending a low shot past Mutch. It was five just two minutes later when Amelie Delabere, who had only just come onto the pitch a matter of seconds before, turned beautifully 25 yards from goal, left Eddie in her wake and fired an unstoppable shot past the despairing Mutch. Whoever was working the scoreboard then had a moment to forget as the score kept going up, at one foint reading 29-0 to France. They were good, but Scotland were by no means bad enough to be that far behind!

Scotland pushed on for a consolation in the final five minutes or so, and the tireless Napier – the undoubted standout player for the Scots – danced past two French defenders only to see her cross cut out before it could reach Davidson. With 87 minutes gone, Scotland were awarded a free kick on the angle of the box as Napier was fouled on another promising looking run. Kaela McDonald-Nguah struck a wonderful effort that came back off the post before hitting Pinel and spinning out for a corner. Davidson had one final chance in stoppage time, but her shot was tame and easily held by pinel after a very decent run. It was a comfortable win for a French side that were full of quality, but despite the result, Scotland coach Pauline Hamill will still be able to find positives from the performance of her young team.

The Pies

I plumped for my standard Paisley steak pie, which as always delivered on texture and taste. Kaitlin had hot dog on the brain after smelling them all night at Braehead last night, so she plumped for one today. Rollover do bloody good hot dogs and this one was no exception. As a side note, look at my spot on sauce work on that dog!

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Pie: £2.60 (steak). £3.10 (hot dog)
Bovril: £1.50
Attendance: 362

Glasgow v Fife

Glasgow Clan 2-1 Fife Flyers
Elite Ice Hockey League Challenge Cup Group B
Braehead Arena
Friday 5th October 2018

It’s been a while since I’ve been to an ice hockey match, but after a season where the performances on the ice didn’t merit my hard earned cash, the Clan look like they are going to be at least competitive this year. A Friday night fixture against a bitter rival seems like the perfect time to get back.

The Venue

Braehead Arena was built in 1999 alongside the larger Braehead shopping centre onto which it is attached. It has a full capacity of 5,200, although this is reduced to around 4,000 for ice hockey. The arena is largely used for ice hockey, being home to both the Glasgow Clan and Paisley Pirates and being the former home of the now defunct Scottish Eagles.

Although the arena is primarily used for ice hockey, it is a fully multi-purpose venue that has also hosted professional basketball, professional wrestling, boxing, ice shows, curling and large scale concerts. It is also home to an annual comic book convention and is open to the public as a skating rink. Sightlines for hockey are excellent from just about everywhere, and it almost feels like a purpose built hockey arena.

The Competition

The Elite ice Hockey league is the highest level of ice hockey in the UK and is the only fully professional league in the country. It contains 11 teams, divided into three conferences, with a playoff tournament to crown a champion at the end of the season.

The Challenge Cup actually pre dates the EIHL, first being played in 1997 by the Ice Hockey Superleague teams. the competition currently sees teams play in a group of either 3 or 4 teams, playing each team home and away before successful clubs reach the knockout stage.

The Teams

Glasgow Clan (who were known as Braehead clan before a rebranding this summer in order to appeal to a wider demographic) were formed in 2010, as the EIHL looked to expand into the West of Scotland, who had been left without a professional team since the demise of the Scottish Eagles in 2002. The Clan began play in the 2010-11 season, and reached the playoffs, before being knocked out in the quarter finals. Since the league went to a conference format in 2012-13, the Clan have won the Gardiner Conference on four occasions, but have never gotten past the playoff semi-final stage, with a solitary third place finish in 2013-14. The team missed the playoffs for the first time last season, and a full scale clearout was undertaken.

Hugely successful Scottish coach Pete Russell was appointed as coach for the 2018-19 season, and began the rebuilding process by re-signing several fan favourites who had left under the previous regime. Their Challenge Cup campaign has begun on the road due to Disney on Ice taking over Braehead Areana and they have just a solitary point after a shootout loss away to Fife. Three home wins could still see qualification for the knockout phase depending on other results. They have four points from five league games so far, with all games once again having been played on the road.

Fife Flyers were formed in 1938 and are currently the oldest professional ice hockey club in the UK. They joined the EIHL in 2011 and have a long list of honours including two British National league titles and two Celtic League championships. They were also British Champions on five occasions in previous league setups. They have won an impressive array of trophies over their 80 year history (at least 50 going by Wikipedia) and are based out of the Fife Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy. They won the Gardiner Conference last season but lost in the League Play-off semi-finals.

Canadian Todd Dutiaume has been head coach since 2006, initially as player-coach. He first joined the club in 1999 and is celebrating his twentieth year in Kirkcaldy. They finish their Challenge Cup group campaign this evening and have five points from their five games thus far. Their league campaign has started well with seven points from four games played, and they sit in third place in the early table. The two sides tonight share what is known as the fiercest rivalry in Scottish hockey.

The Game

Clan started strongly and were the better team for the majority of the first period, save a two minute spell early on when Vaclav Stupka was sent to the penalty box for interference. The first Clan penalty kill of the game held strong, and they continued to dominate once they were back to full strength on the ice. Clan were dominating possession and looking the stronger side, but the Flyers were dangerous on the break, and Joel Rumpel in the Clan goal had some smart saves to make. With just 22 seconds remaining in the first, Clan took the lead. The puck broke to Gerard Hanson, who fumbled his fist effort but managed to poke the puck past Shane Owen at the second attempt to seal the lead at the first interval.

The second period was a spicy affair with end to end action broken up by several penalties, mostly to Clan players. The Flyers, despite still looking dangerous on the break couldn’t find a way past Rumpel, and the Clan’s penalty kill unit was on top form throughout as it remained 1-0.

The third period continued in much the same vein, with the Flyers pushing for the equaliser, the Clan having plenty of chances, and some penalty minutes for the hosts as tempers flared. Victory looked to have been sealed with a little over nine minutes left when Craig Peackock released Josh Gratton who struck a fantastic shot past Owen to make it 2-0. Less than three minutes later, Paul Crowder had pulled one back for the visitors in the aftermath of what looked like a clear missed holding call on the Fife forward. The goal set up a frantic finish, with Flyers goalie Owen being pulled for the final 90 seconds to give a man advantage on the ice. Despite this, Clan held firm for their first Challenge Cup win of the season.

The Pies

It’s quite expensive to eat at Braehead Arena, although it doesn’t seem to stop people, given the amount of time that hot dogs can be smelled during any given game. We didn’t partake in food at the arena, so I’m going to talk about “Chuck-A-Puck.” During the second interval, the crowd are invited to throw pucks that they have purchased for £1 a pop at Clangus, the Clan’s hard dancing anthropomorphic Highland Cow mascot. The closest puck to Clangus wins a £50 merchandise voucher. It’s quite a spectacle, and one of Kaitlin’s favourite things about a hockey game!

Admission: £20
Programme: None
Pie: Hot Dog £4
Bovril: Coffee/tea: £2. Soft Drink: £2. Beer: £4 can, £4.50 draft pint
Attendance: 3,365

Stadium Series: Spartan Stadium, Forks

Forks is a city in north west Washington with a population of 3,783, probably best known as being the setting for the Twilight series of books and films. It is named after the the forks in the nearby Quillayute, Bogachiel, Calawah, and Sol Duc rivers, which was a piece of information I was glad to receive, as I could not figure out where the name came from given that there’s literally one road through the town. Forks High School is the only High School in the Quillayute Valley School District, and their sports teams are known as the Spartans, with the football, soccer, track & field and lacrosse teams all sharing the charming Spartan Stadium.

The school roll may only be around 290 students, but Spartan Stadium’s single stand has bench seating for almost double that amount of people, with standing room for many more. I’d estimate total seated and standing capacity to be somewhere in the 1,200 region. There appears to be space underneath the stand for changing facilities, but I’d not be surprised if the actual facilities were held in the large building on the opposite side of the playing field. The current school was built in two waves in 2000 and 2012, and if the stadium itself was not built in the first wave, it may actually be slightly older.

The stadium contains an artificial playing surface, marked for football and soccer, floodlights and a large electronic scoreboard. There are spectacular views over the Olympic mountains. Forks ply their trade in the Evergreen 1A conference.

Wigtown & Bladnoch v Annan Athletic

Wigtown & Bladnoch 2-3 Annan Athletic Reserves
Cree Lodge Cup First Round
Trammondford Park
Saturday 29th September 2018

The Wigtown Book Festival – soon to be covered by Kaitlin, watch this space – is wrapping up this weekend, and we made a jolly down to check it out. As luck would have it, the local senior team are at home today, so we headed slightly out of the town to catch a game in a brand new venue for me.

The Venue

Trammondford Park is situated just outside Wigtown, it’s actual postal address is genuinely “Near Wigtown”. It’s just a very short trip down the main road through the town when you come upon the ground.

Wigtown hold an SFA Entry License for Trammondford Park, and it’s a very tidy and well appointed ground, with all the basics required. There’s a sizeable covered enclosure down one side of the pitch, with hard standing and a raised disabled viewing platform on the same side. The rest of the ground is grass standing for an overall capacity of 888. There’s an old fashioned concrete pillar and painted metal pole spectator barrier. The old pavilion has been complimented with portakabins to ensure the correct accommodation for licensing is all present and correct. It’s a nice wee setup, and plenty for the club’s needs.

The Teams

Wigtown & Bladnoch were formed in 1880 as Wigtown FC, adding the “& Bladnoch” suffix in 1919. Bladnoch is a tiny village only a mile from Wigtown, but with the Bladnoch Distillery – the southernmost distillery in Scotland – and Bladnoch Creamery being two of the major employers in the area, it was decided to incorporate it into the club’s name. The club have played in the South of Scotland League since it was reformed in 1946, and have been champions on five occasions, most recently the 2014-15 season.

The club were granted an Entry Level SFA license in 2015, having been long term full members of the SFA. They sat out the 2017-18 season due to financial difficulties and lack of players. They returned this season but currently sit in thirteenth place in the table, with just three points from five games.

Annan Athletic, along with Stranraer, enter reserve sides in the South of Scotland League. This season’s Annan team have struggled, and have yet to pick up a point from six games, but do have a better goal difference than Newton Stewart, who sit bottom.

The Game

There was a slight delay to the kick off as a problem with one of the nets was addressed. It took a while for either side to get going and the first real chance came with 13 minutes played. A free kick about 25 yards out on the right hand side was struck by Wigtown’s Kieran Marshall and forced a decent save from Robbie Minto in the Annan goal. Two minutes later, Thomas Garron broke forward but could only put his shot straight into the arms of Minto.

Annan took until midway through the first half to register their first chance, when the ball broke to Danny Price just outside the Wightown box. His shot flew over the bar. With 28 minutes played, the home side took the lead. A good run from Garron was stopped by an excellent tackle inside the box, but the ball broke directly to Stuart McLimie, who blasted the ball into the roof of the net. Two minutes later it was 2-0, when McLimie won the ball near the halfway line and beat several players before slipping a low shot past Minto. It was a fantastic goal and the first sign of real quality in the match.

The home side were well on top, but failing to convert their pressure into clear cut chances and were punished for their failure to extend their lead. With 44 minutes gone, Elliot Parry saved the ball from going out for a goal kick and flicked the ball to Jack Ball. Under pressure from the Wigtown defence, Ball stood the ball up directly onto the head of Grant Scoular who nodded into the net to make it 2-1. It was a frantic end to the half with Aaron Roberts seeing a chance deflected just over for Annan, and Garron being denied only by a superb tackle by Ben English after he had beaten Minto to the ball. 2-1 and a well deserved lead for the hosts at the break.

Wigtown started the second half strongly and Garron had a headed chance that went hopelessly wide after 48 minutes. With 52 minutes gone, Kevin Jamieson cut in from the left wing and forced Annan’s substitute keeper Andrew Boyd into an exclennet save with a low, curling drive. Two minutes later, Annan equalised against the run of play. Some poor defending led to Danny Ross picking the ball up wide on the left. His cross/shot flew over the heads of everyone including Wigtown keeper Dale Reid, and nestled just inside the far post.

Wigtown continued to press despite being pegged back, and with 57 minutes on the clock, Garron grazed the top of the bar with an effort from distance. Three minutes later, Jamieson saw his shot held by Boyd, and with 70 minutes gone Jamieson’s cross really should have been nodded in by Garron, but the striker failed to get anything on the ball.

Sorry to have to mention another referee who wanted the day to be all about him, but the performance of Sean Sutherland in the middle really was something to behold. It wasn’t so much the decisions he gave, which for the most part were fine, but the ones he didn’t give. Some of his calls were genuinely comedic, and I wasn’t the only one in the crowd outwardly laughing at his performance.

With thirteen minutes remaining, Annan took the lead for the first time. Ross’s corner was headed in by English, their third goal with just their third shot on target. Wigtown tried in vain to find an equaliser, but couldn’t manage to find a way through as Annan attempted to close the game out. Wigtown’s substitute forward (who I didn’t catch the name of) was shown two yellow cards for dissent and was sent off in the dying seconds as the visitors picked up their first win of the season and will see themselves in the second round draw.

The Pies

The pie today was a really tasty Scotch one, I believe from the butcher in town. It was exactly what I needed to keep me going for the long drive home.

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Pie: £1.50
Bovril: £1
Attendance: 37 (+1 Westie, the adorable Max)