MATCH 2076 - Saturday 1 August 2026

SEASON 2026/27

SCOTTISH LEAGUE DIVISION 2

Venue:  MEADOWBANK STADIUM

EDINBURGH CITY  0  ELGIN CITY  5

Scorers: Murray, Hyde, OG, Girvan, MacIver

I finally see Elgin win a league game and in some style.   After nine years of going to Elgin matches in the lower tiers of Scottish League football to visit grounds that I hadn't managed to visit for a match, I returned to the revamped Meadowbank Stadium for the same fixture I attended in 2017.  

The new Meadowbank Stadium also known now as the Meadowbank Sports Centre is a huge downgrade on the original stadium that was built for the commonwealth games of 1970.  The replacement stand has just three rows running the length of the running track with a capacity of only 500.  On the plus side the plastic seats are quality, the best in the country and the standard gents toilets are the cleanest and best I've seen inside a football ground.

It was match day 1 of the new Scottish League season so it was a very good start for Elgin City.

Three row stand

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• Third time seeing this fixture - all in the league and in Edinburgh
• The 9th time seeing Elgin in the league
• Overall this was the 3rd time seeing Edinburgh City and the 13th time seeing Elgin

MATCH 2058 - Saturday 28 February 2026

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Venue: EXCELISOR STADIUM

AIRDRIE*  3  MORTON  1

Scorers: Thomas(2), McArthur;  McGarrity

This one was a freebie with wife, daughter & friend and it turned out to be an entertaining afternoon with Airdrie needing points as they battle against relegation.  So when Morton took an early lead the signs looked ominous.  However a great long range equaliser inspired the home side to deliver a much needed win and to send their long suffering fans home with a smile on their faces.  It has to be stated Morton getting a player sent off in each half helped the "Diamonds" enormously.

It is always a huge plus when both sides play in their traditional strips and thankfully Airdrie* played in their red diamond tops and Morton in their bold blue hoops.

Pre-match formalities

Frances & friend

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• Although I've been to Airdrie-Morton in the past incarnation due to the original Airdrieonians clubs "demise" this counts as a new fixture on my list - number 438
• This was the 20th time seeing Morton and the 3rd time seeing Airdrie*
• My 11th visit to Excelsior Stadium which includes 5 minor matches

MATCH 2023 - Saturday 16 August 2025

SEASON 2025/26

ENGLISH LEAGUE DIVISION 1

Venue:  BLOOMFIELD ROAD

BLACKPOOL  3  HUDDERSFIELD TOWN  2

Scorers:  Ennis(2), Evans;  Wiles, Gooch

Attendance:  10,922

10-man Blackpool shock early league leaders Huddersfield in a clinical first half. Coming from one goal down to lead 3-1 before ex-Sunderland man, Gooch reduced their lead.  All five goals were scored in an eventful first 45 minutes which also included a red card for the scorer of two of Blackpool's goals, Niall Ennis.

This was a bit of a bonus game as we headed to Blackpool for a day out.  Thankfully it was a clear journey down the M6, which is more than can be said of traffic heading north towards the Lake District.

Both clubs played in their traditional kits, Blackpool in tangerine shirts and Huddersfield in light blue & white stripes.

Managers: Blackpool - Steve Bruce;  Huddersfield - Lee Grant

The match was played in a great atmosphere with the away support in fine voice early on due to the confidence from their good start to the season and the Seasiders got right behind their team when they went down to ten men. In the second half they cheered every clearance and gave the team tremendous backing to help the 10 men keep going until then 97th minute to claimed a deserved victory.

Pre-match formalities 

Goal celebration

Final whistle and the Seasiders fans celebrate

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• First time attending this fixture. The 428th different fixture attended.
• My 9th visit to Bloomfield Road since 1981.
• Overall this was my 11th time seeing Blackpool and the first seeing Huddersfield Town.

MATCH 2006 - Saturday 8 March 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

Venue:  BALMORAL STADIUM

COVE RANGERS  3  QUEEN OF THE SOUTH  1

Scorers: Yule, Emslie(2);  Lyon

Attendance:  411

Random match, a battle of the northern blues from Cove in Aberdeen v southern blues from Dumfries, to visit one of the last Scottish football grounds I hadn't previously been too.

A decent game with Queens starting off well and taking the lead inside 10 minutes with a very well worked goal but Cove soon grew into the game and scored an excellent equaliser. A well placed shot from outside the box from Yule who was later named Man of the Match.  Then two good striker goals in each half to win the three points.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• New ground
• New fixture
• Second time seeing Cove Rangers and 7th time seeing Queen of the South

MATCH 1961 - Saturday 6 April 2024

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Venue:  HAMPDEN PARK

QUEENS PARK  0  DUNDEE UNITED  5

Scorers:  Fotheringham(2), Moult, Graham, Sibbald

A visit to Hampden with a difference, to see Queens Park in a lower league match against the league leaders, Dundee United.  My second time seeing Queens Park this season with a reverse of the scoreline again Elgin at the begining of the season making their aggregate score 5-5.

Personal notes:

• This season the 2nd time seeing Queens Park (both at home) and 3rd time seeing Dundee United (all away)
• This was the first time seeing these two clubs in a lower league match 
• Overall I've now seen Queens Park 5 times, Dundee United 130 times and this was my 137th visit to Hampden.

MATCH 1919 - Saturday 6 May 2023

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH LEAGUE DIVISION 2

Venue:  NEW DUNDAS PARK

BONNYRIGG ROSE  3  ELGIN CITY  0

Scorers:  McGachie(2), Gray

Attendance 2,057

Admission £10

Another lower league ground visited, so another Elgin match and another heavy defeat for the Highlanders.

A very basic ground with more grass than terrace and it felt like a ground from the first round of the Scottish Cup rather than a league ground but on the positive side a very healthy crowd.

This was the last day of the 36 game league season and there was still one issue to be decided. After goalless first half Bonnyrigg increased the pressure on their opponents in the second and quickly got their reward of the first goal.  There was no looking back and two more goals followed to secure their place in league two, confirming the wee Rovers in the play-off spot.

Personal note:  

• This was my first time seeing Bonnyrigg Rose and first visit to New Dundas Park, making it the 40th Scottish League ground out of the current 42 I've been to for a match.
• 10th Elgin match and still waiting for the first win (9 defeats and 1 draw)

MATCH 1917 - Saturday 29 April 2023

SEASON 2022/23

ENGLISH LEAGUE DIVISION 2

Venue:  BRUNTON PARK 

CARLISLE UNITED  2  SALFORD CITY  3

Scorers:  Garner, Dennis; Hendry, Bolton(2)

A crowd of just under 11,000 including ex-Manchester United stars Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs who have invested in Salford City watched this exciting encounter as both sides looked to confirm their place the end of season Play-offs to gain promotion to League One.

Ticket price £21.00 for a place in the Paddock terrace.

Personal note:

• 23rd seeing Carlisle with 21 at Brunton Park and two away.
• 1st time seeing Salford City
• 204th match outside of Bonnie Scotland

MATCH 1864 - Saturday 5 February 2022

SEASON 2021/22

SCOTTISH LEAGUE DIVISION 2

KELTY HEARTS  4  ELGIN CITY  0

Scorers: Higginbottom, Agyeman(2), Tidser

Another new team and new ground to visit thanks to Elgin City but unfortunately the awful run of results while following Elgin to some new grounds continues.

Kelty are flying high at the top of Scottish League Division 2 and easier swept their Highland opponents aside.

My dismal Elgin record now reads as:

• Seen:    9
• Won.    0
• Drawn. 1
• Lost.     8
• Goals for:  6
• Goals against: 30

However on the plus side:

• Number of Grounds: 9 of which 8 were first visits
• Number of Opponents:  8.  Only Edinburgh City have been the opposition on two occasions.

Match Report: LINK

MATCH 1795 - Saturday 13 April 2019

SEASON 2018/19

SCOTTISH LEAGUE DIVISION 2

COWDENBEATH  2  ELGIN CITY  1

Scorers:  Cox, Sheerin;  McLeish

Elgin took the lead in the first half but Cowdenbeath fight back in the second half to come out on top.

A new ground - Central Park - and a new team - Cowdenbeath.

7th Elgin match in 7th different ground and 7th defeat!  Goals for 5 against 21.

MATCH 1788 - Saturday 16 February 2019

SEASON 2018/19

ENGLISH LEAGUE DIVISION 2

CARLISLE UNITED  2  MILTON KEYNES  3

Scorers: Scougall, Hope;  McGrandles, Hesketh, Agard

My 20th match at Brunton Park and a newish club MK Dons previously Wimbledon who were taken over when they got into financial trouble and relocated and rebranded as a Milton Keynes club.

Former Hearts player, Steve Pressley is manager of Carlisle.