On approaching the ground the main gates were locked, not surprising, as it was a Sunday morning. I walked to the end of the road, & tried to peer through fencing, to see if their was a way I could gain access. Two pensioners, walking a dog, called over to me. The man asked what what I was doing & I explained that I was just trying to have a peek at the ground. He told me he was a keyholder, & that he could let me in! And it wasn't just me...turns out I was the third Englishman he'd let in on a non-matchday, while passing, over the last few years!
As it happened, by the time we'd walked the few yards back to the gate someone else had parked outside & opened them! But I thanked him nonetheless. He tried to chat to me about the club, but to be honest I found his accent a bit hard to decipher, so couldn't follow all he was saying! I hope he didn't notice...
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2HT4Cj0I/AAAAAAAADv8/IkUI8YNpNiI/s400/PICT0494.jpg)
This was the sight that met me as I arrived at the station!
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2FHZiXqI/AAAAAAAADv0/n7bYM982SYE/s400/PICT0493.jpg)
Here are the main gates to the ground.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q24WKZ8lI/AAAAAAAADx8/u7va5EWEkv8/s400/PICT0525.jpg)
I'm assuming this hoarding by the gates are advertising the club sponsors.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q25iZFLDI/AAAAAAAADyA/pyzGU80AdIg/s400/PICT0526.jpg)
The name of the ground was on this sign.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q27CWMCVI/AAAAAAAADyI/oax28No70_E/s400/PICT0527.jpg)
Just inside is this entrance block.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2JMlHzFI/AAAAAAAADwA/yOX05nlYYYk/s400/PICT0495.jpg)
Open hard standing behind the goal to our right, the main road beyond the brick wall.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2LHISmrI/AAAAAAAADwE/dxhRCAp6rO4/s400/PICT0496.jpg)
From this corner we look across the pitch, at least I think there's a pitch under there! You can see the covered enclosure on the far side.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2M2c362I/AAAAAAAADwI/zpITE6SkEeg/s400/PICT0497.jpg)
Open along this side, which is the way we're going to gingerly walk around the ground. I'm not sure if this is just banking, or if the snow is covering a couple of shallow steps.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2OYUyMEI/AAAAAAAADwM/uq69Ie1TRb4/s400/PICT0498.jpg)
Further along we come to the dugout, with the other on the opposite side, in front of the cover, as is that Scottish 'peculiarity'.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2PoVZ0jI/AAAAAAAADwQ/jZ5EQab-qpQ/s400/PICT0499.jpg)
Almost at the club buildings, we look back at the section of ground we've 'struggled' through so far!
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2RJhDZ5I/AAAAAAAADwU/Z3duMyn3bTk/s400/PICT0500.jpg)
There are some concrete steps of terrace in front of the changing rooms & pavilion, with the 'tunnel' to the pitch for the players railed off.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2TcnGMiI/AAAAAAAADwY/snkr313vpbg/s400/PICT0501.jpg)
It's also fenced off at the other 'end' of this small terrace.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2VaZ2OVI/AAAAAAAADwc/pLqeOMFmP3o/s400/PICT0502.jpg)
Moving onwards, it's very open to the elements, just railed off, to the touchline, and along behind the goal.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2WsVGeaI/AAAAAAAADwg/t0sBpLDQnhU/s400/PICT0503.jpg)
From on the pitch we face the terraced area in front of the club building.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2YBRvEQI/AAAAAAAADwk/4hsvmR7YKDg/s400/PICT0504.jpg)
As we reach the corner there is a slight thaw, so there IS probably some steps running down the touchline, as we see a glimpse of one here.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2aEK6hxI/AAAAAAAADwo/PR0JhjbJxAI/s400/PICT0505.jpg)
Behind the goal it's flat, so I'm guessing either more hard standing, or even just grass?
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2bWHE4AI/AAAAAAAADws/59hw0ltGVBE/s400/PICT0506.jpg)
From this end we look over to the covered area, where we are on our way to.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2cntzgKI/AAAAAAAADww/ZIXircM5GrE/s400/PICT0507.jpg)
Down this side it's sloped/terraced, with the cover further along, toward the middle.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2em04lRI/AAAAAAAADw0/f-SDU-p30MU/s400/PICT0508.jpg)
Before we get there it's another 'corner flag' shot, without the corner flag in situ!
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2fi2opJI/AAAAAAAADw4/2wEMEEaO4_Q/s400/PICT0509.jpg)
We've now got to the covered terrace, with the dugout in front.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2hhEFUNI/AAAAAAAADw8/MpohNWs6428/s400/PICT0510.jpg)
It's a decent stretch of terrace.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2jRrqW9I/AAAAAAAADxA/Q-5zas19PlY/s400/PICT0511.jpg)
A nice personal touch, presumably a loyal club man in the past?
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2pY-LksI/AAAAAAAADxQ/t1t7nqcPFNs/s400/PICT0515.jpg)
Another look down the covered terrace, from the other end of it.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2q4_JjTI/AAAAAAAADxU/23Adeain_LE/s400/PICT0516.jpg)
Behind the dugout we see over the pitch.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2kiBllsI/AAAAAAAADxE/ZLFsWfdA9x4/s400/PICT0512.jpg)
And just past it we see behind the roadside goal again.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2l64BzrI/AAAAAAAADxI/q2GyPHrBHnc/s400/PICT0513.jpg)
From under the cover we see there is also some terracing under the snow..I think!
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2nzeVNAI/AAAAAAAADxM/LTnRSZ3hNCY/s400/PICT0514.jpg)
Yes, this close up confirms it.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2tAQXZKI/AAAAAAAADxY/zdxYOLVJpLo/s400/PICT0517.jpg)
Behind the goal at last, flat hard standing all the way along.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2uq7cgmI/AAAAAAAADxc/PQb6qx73fN8/s400/PICT0518.jpg)
Blocked by the goal!
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2w1n9aSI/AAAAAAAADxg/F5ljxyxGUL8/s400/PICT0519.jpg)
Back on the pitch, to look at the covered terrace.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2yB0WjMI/AAAAAAAADxo/p9o8_06lRgw/s400/PICT0520.jpg)
And the dugouts, with changing area behind.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q2zKd1mdI/AAAAAAAADxs/Wrnah4tfa5w/s400/PICT0521.jpg)
Another last glance at the covered spectator area, why..I have no idea, it's just another snap I took, so waht's one more eh? ;-)
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q20CZYgOI/AAAAAAAADxw/Vq7Ye97dHf4/s400/PICT0522.jpg)
Walking off across the pitch, I take the opportunity to snap the other dugout.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q21S2T6VI/AAAAAAAADx0/kkCgCkHum6g/s400/PICT0523.jpg)
Before it's time to leave through the gates, and head back to the station, to find a train to another ground to document for you!
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8Mqu1wmEwRw/S5q223SEW0I/AAAAAAAADx4/zZZtllJHXWs/s400/PICT0524.jpg)
1 comment:
I played for Neilston from 1970 to 1974 before moving to Canada . Played for Barry Town in Wales before moving back to Scotland. Great memories of our local derby games against Arthurlie This is a great website - well done !
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