After being at Meggetland in the afternoon I decided to head to Peffermill for Edinburgh University's Lowland League match against Berwick Rangers win the evening. Alex had texted me while I was at Meggetland and asked if I was going. He had thought about heading to Kelty v Spartans but had decided to stay and watch a local match. After having something to eat I left home to catch the 18.30 number 30 bus to Peffermill. The journey normally takes around forty-five minutes but with the Edinburgh Festival having finished yesterday the roads and the buses were quiet and it looked as if the bus was ahead of the timetable. As I did not want to arrive too early I got off the bus at Prestonfield and walked along Prestonfield Avenue then Peffermill Road to arrive at the ground at 19.15. After paying my £6 admission and £1 for a programme I got a shock when I entered the ground as there was a van parked behind the stand selling drinks and snacks. One of the joys of visiting Peffermill i

Reserve Cup group stages started today and Hearts played St Mirren in a repeat of last weeks League match. Due to the Oriam pitch being unavailable the match was switched to Meggetland, the home of Tynecastle FC and Boroughmuir RFC. Meggetland is only a short walk along the banks of the canal from where I stayed so I walked there arriving around 13.35 for the 14.00 kick-off. As a reserve match there was no admission charge so i just walked in through the gates. In the ground I saw Hearts manager Craig Levein and had a quick chat with him about Sunday's game at Celtic Park. He thought Hearts played well to restrict Celtic to five shots throughout he match but felt all the Celtic goals were avoidable. He thought that two of the goals were own goals and the third could have been avoided if, as he put it, the ball had been played into the stand rather than taking a touch. I am not sure if I agree 100% with his assessment as I thought Hearts should have been mor

This was the first time I have gone to a Hearts match at Celtic Park since 2005 when Hearts drew 1-1 with a goal from Rudi Skacel. At that game the police ignored missiles being thrown into the Hearts fans area from Celtic fans and also ignored their sectarian songs while ejecting a Hearts fan who waved a Hearts scarf with a Union Jack on it as this was 'provoking the Celtic fans'. The final insult was added when police refused to allow Hearts fans to leave until the Celtic fans had dispersed. I vowed after that match never to return but felt after their display at Motherwell Hearts had a chance here and decided to go. I left home at 11.45 and caught the 12.05 train from Haymarket to Glasgow Queen Street arriving at 12.50. I then walked to Glasgow Central Station and paid £1.70 for a return to Bridgeton which is not far from Celtic Park. As I was early I popped into Costa at the station for a latte and a chocolate brownie before catching a train. The train takes around ten

Hearts are playing Celtic this weekend and against my better judgement I have bought a ticket and will be going. Due to Celtic being knocked out of the Champions League the match has been moved to tomorrow as Celtic had a Europa League tie on Thursday. This meant I had a free Saturday and decided to use it to go the Ainslie Park and watch Spartans against Gretna 2008 in the Lowland League. I left the house after lunch at 13.15 to walk to Ainslie Park. I left early as I had to go the bank to pay in some cash. I therefore first headed to RBS at the West End and paid in using the machine in the wall outside the branch.  I then headed down to Ainslie Park by firstly walking down to Stockbridge then along towards Fettes and cutting up the road alongside Broughton High School and then the Edinburgh Academy playing fields to Ferry Road. Finally arrived at Ainslie Park around 14.20 and after buying my programme, having got in for nothing with my season ticket, I headed up to the cafe/bar to

I was meant to be going to see Ruby Wax at the Fringe today but as she has had an accident the show had to be cancelled. Thankfully my refund for the tickets came through today. I was therefore able to go to Riccarton for the first Hearts Reserve League game of the season against their compatriots from St Mirren. I had texted Malcolm and we arranged to meet at the ground. I caught a 35 bus at 13.20 and arrived at Riccarton at 13.50 in time for the 14.00 kick-off. On the way there had been a heavy rain shower and another started as we got off the bus. I met Alan as we both got off the bus and we had a chat as we walked up to the ground. I collected a team sheet as we walked in, no charge for admission to reserve games, and checked the stand to find Malcolm had not yet arrived. Alan went to sit with some friends and I took a seat in the stand near the entrance as Malcolm arrived just in time for the kick-off. Thankfully the rain stopped minutes into the game and the sun came out for

With Hearts having played last night I decided to head to Penicuik today for the re-arranged East of Scotland Premier Division game between the local side and Hill of Beath Hawthorn. With the withdrawal of the 15 bus service at weekends I am only able to catch a 47 bus to Penicuik locally. I walked to Lothian Road to catch a 47 but a 300 arrived and I took this to Newington which gave me a choice of a 37 or a 47 to Penicuik. This was to no avail as the 47 arrived first. There was a long delay just after entering Penicuik due to temporary lights as a result of roadworks which took some time to negotiate. Despite the delay I arrived at the ground around 14.20 for the 14.30 kick-off. I paid my £6 admission and £2 for  programme. The programme remains one of the best in the lower leagues despite having a number of adverts which can make it seem like a version of a Pencuik Yellow Pages. This weeks issue included a souvenir colour team-sheet of last weeks Scottish Cup tie between Eastho

I don't think that after last Saturday I would have gone to this game if I had not bought my ticket before the Ross County. One good thing, however, is that Motherwell class concessions as over 60 so I only had to pay £10 for the ticket. I thought about taking the train through but if the game had gone to extra time there were only two trains for Edinburgh after the game ended and both meant travelling to Glasgow Central and then walking to Queen Street for a train back to Edinburgh. Talking the second train would mean arriving back in Edinburgh at 1.00am. I noticed on Facebook that Murrayfield Sports Bar were running a bus to the game for £12 return. As the bar is only three bus-stops away from home I booked a seat to travel. I arrived at the bar at 17.30 for a 18.00 departure and after a couple of alcohol-free beers boarded the bus at 18.00. After stopping in Livingston to pick up a couple of people we arrived in Motherwell at around 19.00. Instead of parking where the coache

I have been thinking very carefully about what to write here as I do not want to be accused about being negative and I hope that my thoughts do not offend anyone. The day started out not badly and after lunch I met Craig and his children Harper and Harmoni who now all have season tickets. They parked in the car park at our flat and the four of us walked down to Tynecastle together. After Craig had bought the kids juice and food we parted company as they are in a different section of the main stand to me. I took my seat around 14.40 ready for the kick-off. A guy took the seat next to me and I thought the usual inhabitants of the two seats to my left had either given up their tickets or switched seats. When they turned up it was established that the guy in the seat should have been in Section P and not section Q. Hearts had made four changes to the side who lost 32 at Aberdeen last week. Out went Aaron Hickey, suspended after his red card last week, the injured John Souttar, Jak

A difficult decision to decide where to go today. With no Lowland League or East of Scotland League fixtures only option left was the Tunnocks Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup ties. This competition is basally for clubs outwith the SPFL, although "Colts" sides of SPFL sides take part from round on, with English, Welsh and Irish sides joining in later rounds. Hearts were drawn away to Albion Rovers and I did not fancy travelling to Coatbridge to watch a reserve side so decided to go to Easter Road to watch Hibs Colts v Elgin City. Despite there not being a large crowd anticipated entry was by ticket only and I had ordered my £10 ticket online, selecting the e-ticket option. No e-mail with the ticket arrived by match day although I had received confirmation of payment. I had wandered down to Easter Road this morning to collect the ticket at the ticket office to save waiting in a queue tonight. Alex texted me around 15.30 asking which game I was going to. I replied "Easter

With Hearts away at Aberdeen this weekend I decided to go to Ainslie Park for Spartans v Edinburgh University. Left home at 13.30 and as usual walked down the old North Leith Railway path. Arrived at the ground at 14.35 and showed my season ticket for admission. Paid my £2 for a programme and headed to the cafe/bar for a cold coke. Got a team sheet in the bar and then headed out to a seat in the stand after I finished my coke. Spartans have yet to pick up a point in this seasons Lowland League having lost their only match against BSC Glasgow in midweek. Alan "Hovie" Brown and Blair Atkinson who missed the mid-week game due to injury returned to the squad but Michael Bolochoweckyj (achilles tendon injury) and Dale Baxter (medial ligament injury) both missed out. Recent signing Max Ashmore was making his first appearance in the side.Edinburgh University have lost both their games to date although they generally start the season slowly and historically pick up once stude

Wednesday evening and the choice was stay in and watch Coronation Street (not my idea) or go and watch football. The latter was an easy winner and I headed to Paties Road to watch Edinburgh United v Dalkeith Thistle in the East of Scotland League Conference B. United's home game against Easthouses Lily was rained off on Saturday so this would be United’s first competitive game of the new season. I could have walked to Paties Road but decided to be lazy and walked up to Gilmore Place to catch a 27 bus at 18.40. Twenty minutes later I got off at the top of Craiglockhart Road for the short walk down the hill to Paties Road. On the way I met Alan. I have seen him at quite a few games and we have exchanged a few words but this was the first time we have had a long chat. He is a Patrick Thistle fan at heart but like me enjoys watching games when ever he can. Arrived at the ground around 19.25 and paid my £6 admission along with £1.50 for a programme. We both took a seat on the bench