Tuesday 25 May 2010

Petershill; Glasgow, Scotland

Petershill are a Scottish Junior club from Glasgow, who play in the Stagecoach West of Scotland Super League Premier Division. It is a very modern ground, with an all-weather surface, & initially, having seen a number of run-down, but grounds with 'character' I didn't like it. But it grew on me, & it's not a bad venue at all. It's atop a hill, so I can imagine it would be bitingly cold here, with a wind blowing across in the winter months!





It's set in a public park.



This is the outer wall of the main club building, which includes the Petershill Park Leisure Centre.



There is a separate entrance for the players.



As you can see from this sign.



This is the main entrance, there is a bar area inside.



Just through the doors are some wall displays portraying the past glories of the club.



Back past the corner of the building we enter the ground through this open gate. Note the closed turnstiles, with the 'Spectators' lettering above, to the left.



Here they are on the other side.



To our left is the impressive main stand.



To our right is a pathway, in front of some buildings, not connected to the actual football, I think, with netting obscuring the playing surface.



Here is the same end, pitchside, so no viewing from this end, making it-effectively-a three sided ground.



We are going to head toward the main stand, going round the ground clockwise.



On the wall is a hoarding from the main sponsors.



Here we look along the seats, from the back of them. We see the open, railed far end for the first time.



Turning back we look toward the 'empty' end.



Now facing the way we are going once more, we look over to the entire far end, and also see the open hard standing clearly in front of the seats.



Modern day funding for a modern stadium.



At the end of the stand is this door, presumably leading into the changing rooms.



I guess this, due to this gate in the pitch surround, which acts as the 'tunnel'.



Now we look back along the seating from the other end. Note the park bench. Unfortunately I didn't pay any attention to it on my visit, so can't tell you what the small plaque on it says.



Now behind the open goal, rather than tarmac there is a sort of shale type area.



A corner angle, looking across the pitch, toward the open far side, & the dugouts.



From just behind the goal we see the main stand once more.



On the perimeter netting the club emblem is nicely woven in.



At our next flagless 'corner flag' shot. Across the pitch, toward the seats again.



Along the third side now, with a few steps of terracing, givng a raised vantage point.



Note the plethora of goals along here. A good example of how these all weather pitches can be utilised 27/7, if need be.



This time we see the seats, while standing on the terracing.



This is one of the dugouts.



And here we look back down the terraced side.



Now almost behind the goal, no spectators allowed to stand at this end.



From here we can see the far corner, where we came into the ground.



As you can clearly see, there is nothing to be seen at this end.



Even if you press up to the netting itself.



Monday 24 May 2010

Glasgow Islay; Scotland

I saw Glasgow Islay on a Saturday morning...not surprising as they play in the Glasgow & District Saturday Morning League! Standard wise it was probably on a par withthe lower divisions of the Kent County League, say step eight or nine of the English pyramid. The 'ground' was a simple playing fields, the multi-pitched King George V playing fields, in Renfrew; which is on the edge of Glasgow.

I saw them lose by the odd goal in three to Vale United, in the semi finals of the league cup, on 6th March 2010.

A very fuzzy club crest on one of their shirts!



This was from their match. You can just make out the snow capped hills in the distance.



This was one of the matches on an adjacent pitch. note the very loud referee's shirt!



The Glasgow Islay match is on the pitch on the right.



Behind the goal, pitches not even roped off at this level.



A look down the touchline. Note there is some grass banking set back to the right.



Looking across the pitch, from the (non existant) bench.



Home team tracksuits sponsored by a Glasgow bar, the Islay Inn.



A qwick glance at another game in progress as I leave, to head to Hampden Park, for Queen's Park v. Berwick Rangers.