MATCH 1568 - Sunday, 24 august 2014

Season:  2014/15
ENGLISH FA PREMIERSHIP
Venue: STADIUM OF LIGHT


SUNDERLAND   1  MANCHESTER UNITED  1

Scorers:  Rodwell;  Mata

We travelled by train for our first chance to see Louis van Gaal's Manchester United, he clearly has a big task on his hands to return the reds to the top of English football. 
We left Airdrie at 9.40am and arrived in Sunderland at 1pm via Edinburgh and Newcastle.  All train connections going out and back went smoothly making for a pleasant and enjoyable day.

This was my 30th Sunderland match and 4th encounter v Man United.

 

MATCH 1567 - Saturday, 16 August 2014

SEASON: 2014/15
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    6    DUNDEE UNITED    1

Scorers: Denayer, Commons, Johansen, Stokes, Berget(2); 

Rankin

The first match of the season at Celtic Park.  Home debuts for four players today - Craig Gordon who has replaced Fraser Forster as Celtis's No. 1, Callum McGregor returning to the club after a very successful season with Notts County, and two loan players 19 year old Simon Denayer (Man City) and Jo Inge Berget (Cardiff City).  

It was also new manager Ronny Deila's first taste of Celtic Park.

Two of the debutants scored their first goals for Celtic - Denayer & Berget.

Fergus McCann the club's great visionary from the '90's returned to the stadium he built to raise the 45th league flag before kick off.

United's last trip to Celtic Park was the Scottish Cup final in May and this visit was not anymore pleasant for them.

Personal: New seats in section 445 of North Stand upper.

7th match of new season - 3rd Celtic game.

MATCH 1566 - Monday, 11 August 2014

SEASON 2014/15
ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP 1st ROUND
Venue:  BRUNTON PARK


CARLISLE UNITED   0   DERBY COUNTY   2
Scorers:  Hendrick, Martin

Just like last season we attended the first match of the English League Cup.  Steve McLaren brought his much fancied Championship side to Carlisle and done a thoroughly professional job on their League Two opponents.

Carlisle did have their moment when a terrific free kick crashed off the crossbar in the second half just before Derby took the lead.
The player who impressed most on the night was Derby's Simon Dawkins.

This was the second occasion seeing Derby and like the first they beat a United team 2-0 away! (Previous Derby match: 1989 Manchester United 0 Derby County 2)

MATCH 1565 - Saturday, 9 August 2014

SEASON:  2014/15
ENGLISH LEAGUE DIVISION 2
Venue:  PRENTON PARK


TRANMERE ROVERS    1    YORK CITY    1
Scorers:  Rowe;  Lowe

Start of new football league season in England and while on a short break to Southport we had a few opportunities to visit a new ground.  We decided to catch the Northern Line train from Southport and head to Birkenhead (via Liverpool Central & the Wirral Line) for this one.
We got off at Birkenhead Central and walked the long and winding road that is Borough Road which goes straight past Prenton Park.

It was a fair old walk from the town centre and it didn't help that we were up against time.  There were very few fans walking to the game maybe due to the half hour walk.

As we were up against time we just paid at the cash turnstyle in the Kop end.  Prenton Park for a fouth tier league side is very impressive and a great view afforded from the back of the very tall Kop Stand which dwarfs the rest of the ground.

As for the game York were good and were only denied a deserved win by a last gasp Rovers equaliser.  I expected a big second half effort from the home side as they attacked the big Kop but it didn't really materialise.  They did get a draw in the end though.

MATCH 1564 - Wednesday, 6 August 2014

Season:  2014/15
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFYING ROUND 2nd Leg
Venue:  MURRAYFIELD STADIUM(2)

CELTIC    0    LEGIA WARSAW    2

Scorers: Zyro, Kucharczyk

Celtic were comprehensively beaten by their Polish opponents in the Champions League qualifying round.  Playing their second match at their temporary home of Murrayfield in Edinburgh the players looked a shadow of the side under Neil Lennon. 

It was only my second time watching Polish club, the previous game also involved Legia when they played Manchester United in the former UEFA tournament called the Cup-Winners Cup.
The match looks like being Fraser Forster's last match for the club.  In four years Fraser has progressed to being an England international after performing at a very high standard in the Champions League and a with great consistency without his time at the club.

FLASH BACK - Match 511 - 24 April 1991

Season:  1990/91
UEFA CUP WINNERS CUP Semi Final 2nd Leg
Venue:  OLD TRAFFORD

MANCHESTER UNITED  1  LEGIA WARSAW    1

Scorers: Sharp;  Kowalczyk

Great to attend a European semi final and although Man Utd are 3-1 from the first leg it is still an ocassion to remember.

MATCH 1563 - Tuesday, 29 July 2014

Sesason:  2014/15
Friendly
Venue:  Dumbarton FC Stadium (aka Bet Butler Stadium)

DUMBARTON    0    CARLISLE UNITED    2

Scorers:  Amoo. Dempsey

Interesting comparison between the strengths of sides in Scottish second tier against an English 4th tier team.  From start to finish Carlisle were well on top and Dumbarton caused their cross border opponents very little trouble.  The gulf in ability is no doubt reflected in the clubs wage bill.

Main reason for taking in the game as it was my first chance to visit Dumbarton's "new" home and replica of the previous new ground at East Fife with one Grandstand and nothing else around the rest of the ground.

A few milestones tonight:

1st visit to Dumbarton new stadium

10th Dumbarton match

20th Carlisle match





MATCH 1562 - Tuesday, 22 July 2014

SEASON 2014/15
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Qualifying Round 2nd Leg
Venue:  MURRAYFIELD STADIUM (2)

CELTIC    4    RK REYKJAVIK    0

Scorers: Van Dijk (2), Pukki (2)

Due to the Commonwealth Games being held in Glasgow, Celtic decided to use Murrayfield Stadium as their "home" ground.  This was the second match for me at the home of Scottish Rugby having seen Barcelona v Hearts there a few years ago.

Overall it was a good experience for the Celtic fans with fantastic weather, a day out for some in the capital, a chance to use the new tram system and a comfortable Celtic win.  The only downside was the  high volume of traffic into Edinburgh at rush hour.

It was my first match involving an Icelandic football club and the start of season no. 34 following Celtic.

MATCH 1561 - Saturday, 5 July 2014

SEASON:  2014/15
FRIENDLY
Venue:  BAYVIEW STADIUM

EAST FIFE    0    FULHAM    3

Scorers: Zverotić, Rodallega, Woodrow

First visit to Bayview for my first match of season 2014/15. The ground on the shore of the Fife coast was basked in sunshine for the pre-season match. 

Only second time seeing East Fife which gives them a record of 2 defeats and 5 goals conceded with zero scored.

As for Fulham this was the third time watching them which for a pre-season run out was much better than the previous random match I watched them in at Blackburn Rovers in 2009 which ended 1-1.  

Scott Parker and Hugo Rodallega were the well know players on show for Fulham while Gary Naysmith was playing for East Fife.

Summary: Season 2013/14

TOTAL MATCHES:   45

 

 

Breakdown:

• Celtic            34
• Non Celtic    11

 

Scottish Premier League -     24
Scottish League Div Two  -      1

Scottish Cup                -            4

Scottish League Cup   -            2

UEFA Champions League -     6

English FA Premiership   -       1

English FA Cup                    -   3
English League Cup           -     3

Friendlies                          -       1