The big game at last. Hearts had to win to qualify for the Betfred Cup knockout stages while Inverness would qualify as a best second placed team if they avoided defeat by more than three goals. Walked down to Tynecasle after lunch and arrived at the ground around 14.30. Hearts  made three changes from the side defeated Cowdenbeath in midweek; Ikpeazu started ahead of Kyle Lafferty, Aaron Hughes  replaced Michael Smith who was injured and Olly Lee replaced Andrew Irving in central midfield. Lafferty  has been linked in the press with a move to Rangers who are reported to have made a derisory offer of £200,000 for his services. He had stated last season, after his gambling problems came out, that he would be happy to stay at Hearts for the rest of his career. As a boyhood Rangers fan and a former player at the club, in its previous incarnation, it will be interesting to see what happens with the proposed move. If he goes Hearts will certainly want a fee closer to £1,000,000 than £2

After the Penicuik game I went home for a quick meal and then headed out to Ainslie Park to see Spartans take on Stirling University. Two games in one day for first time since 2012 when I watched Tynecastle Amatures v Hearts U-18s (0-11) at lunchtime then Hearts v Auchinleck Talbot (1-0) in afternoon. As time was running short I caught a 27 bus to Ainslie Park but still arrived around 19.10. I had time for a coffee in cafe/bar then went out to ground and met Jim who had been at Kelty Hearts v Dalbeattie Star (2-2) in the afternoon. Alex joined us just before kickoff-off having been at Alloa v Ross County (0-2). We had a chat about the games we had been at before moving into the stand as the rain started. Moving into the stand was a good move as the rain started to come down in torrents and a strong wind blew towards the goal Spartans were defending. The conditions did not help the game and the ball spent most of the half in the air. Spartans however had most of the game and

Off to Penicuik today for their first game as a senior club. Penicuik and their opponents Sauchie were two of the teams who opted out of the Junior game and have now joined the East of Scotland  league. This is effectively the sixth level of the pyramid within the Scottish game and could, in time, lead to these teams become part of the SPFL set-up. While playing success can lead to the SPFL status teams also need to have an SFA licence. Criteria for the licence include the standard of the ground and Penicuik indicated in the match programme that they would be looking at an extensive fundraising campaign to finance the improvements required. Alex was intending to come to Penicuik also but texted me earlier in the week to say he was going to Alloa v Ross County instead. I caught a 47 bus in Lothian Road and arrived at the ground at 14.05. When I went to pay at the gate my old work colleague John was collecting the cash. I was telling him how Spartans offer half price season ticket

At last a Hearts Game at Tynecastle ! Walked down to the ground arriving around 7.20. Was checking Facebook on my phone after I arrived I saw that Pete had posted a photo of Tynecastle and view looked similar to that from my seat. I turned round and Pete was sitting five rows behind me with his two boys. I wandered up to have a chat with him and we caught up on events over the summer.  Went back down to my own seat for what was a very important game for Hearts. Hearts had earned five points from their first two games agway to Cove Rangers and then Raith Rovers, in Raith game final score was 1-1 but Hearts earned a bonus point by winning a penalty shoot-out under Betfred Cup rules. However Andy Irving had been fielded against Cove without his extended contract having been registered with the Scottish Football Association. An SFA commission had discussed the matter yesterday and Hearts had two points deducted from their total and a £2,000 fine, a further £8,000 fine has been sus

A new ground for me today. Tynecastle who play in the East of Scotland League and have shared the Saughton Enclosure ground with Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale for the past three seasons. The facilities at Saughton are primitive to say the least and with games being played on the park every week the pitch is not in the best of condition. For the past eighteen months Tynecastle have been negotiating with Edinburgh Leisure, who run City of Edinburgh Council leisure activities, to move to an alternative ground at Meggetland. The stadium at Meggetland was built primarily for use by the amateur Boroughmuir Rugby Club, although the professional rugby Edinburgh side have used the stadium on occasions. The stadium is build at Meggetland ,a public area, which is also used for Council schools football and rugby on adjoining pitches. I used to play at Meggetland as did my son's when we all attended Boroughmuir School albeit in different era's. James was the odd man out as he played rug

I was wanting to go to Raith Rovers v Hearts at Methil. However I was too late in applying to get a ticket so decided to go the Ainslie Park for Edinburgh City v Queen of the South (QOS). Alex is a QOS fanatic so at least I would have someone to chat to. As usual walked down to ground and arrived about 2.20. City had posted on Twitter that bar would be open to all fans from 1.30 till 2.45 but by time I arrived it was packed and no-one  else was being allowed in. I bought a Diet Coke from external stand and then met up with Alex and a number of other Queens fans.  The match was a Betfred Cup group tie with City currently having two points from two games (draw at Clyde with an added bonus point for winning penalty shoutout) while QOS had six points from two victories with eight goals scored. Last seasons top scorer Steven Dobbie had already scored five of his sides eight goals in the competition. It certainly looked like being a game for goals with QOS being a Championship side w

The season started today in Scotland with the first round of the Betfred Cup group fixtures. However our European contenders had already been in action in midweek although they are exempt from the Betfred Cup group stages. As Hearts are one of the idle sides this weekend given there are five teams in each group and they all play each other once I decided to go to watch Spartans play Dumbarton. Spartans qualified for the Betfred Cup by winning the Lowland League and will therefore play four group matches against SPFL clubs in the group stage. The first of these was today at Ainslie Park against Dumbarton at Ainslie Park. Dumbarton were relegated from the championship last season after a play-off but will still provide a daunting task for Spartans being two leagues above Spartans in the Scottish pyramid.   Spartans fielded close season signing Jack Smith with the remainder of the line-up on familiar lines. Dumbarton field a strong side with ex-Motherwell players Stuart Carswell and

I did not want to stay in and watch England v Sweden in the World Cup today. I am sick of players diving and feigning injury, VAR, jingoistic commentators and England's sole tactic of bunging high balls into the opposition box in the hope of a header from one of their big centre-half, a flick on to Harry Kane or a penalty for opposition holding in the box. Decided to go to Ainslie Park for Spartans friendly against Dunipace and being a nice day walked to the ground. Admission was £5 but as I wanted a season ticket I was allowed in free and directed to the office to get a season. Adult  season tickets are normally £70 but as I hold a Hearts season ticket I only had to pay £35 given that I would be unable to attend Spartans games when Hearts are at home. Spartans have made two major signings over the summer, striker Jack Smith, son of former Airdrie forward Tony,  and Harry Girdwood. Smith was previously with East Kilbride and was top scorer in the Lowland League last season

Choice today I could stay in and watch France v Argentina in the World Cup or head out to watch a live match. Sun was shining so I decided to head to Ainslie Park to watch Edinburgh City take on Whitehall Welfare in a pre-season friendly. Walked to the ground in just under a hour for the three mile trip. Admission was £5 with a forty-eight page programme available for £2.50. Programme is an excellent read with several interesting articles including pen pictures of all the City new signings. Edinburgh City had made a number of changes during the close season with eight players leaving in addition to four loanees returning to their parent clubs. Departures included  player/assistant manager Craig Beattie, long-serving defender Shaun Harrison and, top scorer from last season, Ashley Grimes. Nine new signings have been made with a number having connections with City manager James McDonaugh from his time coaching with Hibs and Falkirk. New signings include former Hearts defender Conr