First game for almost a week. There was local football on Tuesday however it was my birthday and we were going out for a meal. As this is the one time every year we go out without me putting my hand in my pocket I had to take advantage and giving up going to football. After a later lunch of pie and beans left home just ten 14.00 to walk down to Tynecastle. Arrived around 14.15 and hung around at the Foundation Plaza for a few minutes before entering the ground and heading to my seat at 14.30. Ground was filling up well and the atmosphere was building as the kick-off due closer. Hearts had drawn at Ross County and made a few changes to the starting eleven from that game. out of the side went the injured John Souttar, Andy Halliday, and Arnaud Gnanduillet, the latter two dropping to the bench. Into to side came Michael Smith, returning from injury, Cameron Devlin, and Alex Cochrane. Devlin was making their first starting appearances and I was particularly looking forward to seeing Devl

  Second Scottish Cup game of the weekend today with an Edinburgh Derby between LTHV and Edinburgh University at Ainslie Park. Left home at 13.30 to walk down the railway path to the ground. There was a slight drizzle as I left but this cleared up as I covered the four mile journey. I arrived at Ainslie Park around 14.35 and showed my e-ticket for entry. I also purchased the Scottish up special programme for £2.  Jim was already in the ground when I arrived and I have him the copies of Friday nights Edinburgh City programmes he had asked for. We were later joined by Jim’s friends Martin and Keith as we took up position against the perimeter fence at the cafe end of the ground. Today’s tie is an inter-league clash with LTHV  urgently thirteenth in the East of Scotland Premier League while Edinburgh University are second bottom of the Lowland League. This is the first Scottish Cup tie between the two clubs who have not met competitively since season 2013/14. LTHV have shown improved form

  Scottish Cup first round today and with Hearts away at Ross County I decided to go to the tie of the round, in my opinion, Penicuik Athletic v Tranent Juniors. Natalie was childminding so i had an early lunch and left home  around 12.30. I walked as far as Minto Street and then caught a 37 bus tp Penicuik. After the usual detours by way of Loanhead and Roslin, not help by roadworks and temporary lights in both villages, I arrived in Penicuik at around 13.35. Kickoff was at 4.30 so I got of the bus a few stops early and walked to the ground in the sunshine. The match was all ticket but I had picked up my ticket when I went to Penicuik last week so there was no waiting on entry. At the gate John was selling programmes. The programme was a 32 page special and as usual an excellent read. John and I had a chat before I wandered off to find a vantage point to watch the game. I found a good stop in the cover enclosure but just before kick a family arrived with two kids and a vuvuzela. I dec

  Another Friday night match at Ainslie Park. Tonight Edinburgh City are playing Stirling Albion in a League Two fixture. City will have another two games at Ainslie Park before returning to Meadowbank in November if everything goes to plan. I left home at 18.15 and plan was to walk along to Lothian Road and meet Natalie. who had been childminding, before heading off to Ainslie Park. However she went into Tesco on the way along Fountainbridge and we missed each other. Undaunted I decided to walk to the game. I went down Lothian Road to Stockbridge before cutting through Inverleith Park and heading top to Ferry Road arriving at the ground around 19.15. I showed my electronic ticket at the turnstile before entering the ground. Jim had written an article for tonights programme and asked if I could pick up his complimentary copy from Alick, the programme editor. I found Alick and got the complimentary copy along with another two, one for myself and one for Stefano in Italy. I had not had a

  Well here we are the first Edinburgh Derby of the season. As usual I was a bundle of nerves as I got feady for the game. Had a couple of bacon rolls at 10.45 as an early lunch due to the 12.00 kickoff as the game was live on Sky. Left home at 11.10 and walked to Tynecastle arriving around 11.30. Season ticket gave me entry to the Main Stand and I was at my seat within minutes to watch the teams warming. Unlike the recent Glasgow Derby Hearts had given tickets to Hibs and they were filling the Roseburn Stand. With two sets of fans in the ground the atmosphere was brilliant as the stands filled up. With Rangers having beaten St Johnstone yesterday the Edinburgh sides were one point behind the league leaders with Hibs second on goal difference. Hearts made one change to the side which defeated Du Dee Utd in their last game. Steven Kingsley came into the back three with Alex Cochrane moving to left wing-back replacing Andy Halliday who moved to the substitutes bench. New signings  Camero

  With Hearts playing Hibs tomorrow I decided to make my first visit to Penicuik since November 2019. Penicuik were playing Hawick Royal Albert United in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup and I expected to see a few goals. I left home at 12.45 and walked the three miles to. Ameron Toll. Stupidly I boarded a 37 to Penicuik rather than wait for the 47 three minutes later. The 37 diverts through Loanhead and Roslin on the way to Penicuik while the 47 goes directly to Penicuik. I arrived at the ground at 14.15 for the 14.30 kickoff. I had bought an electronic ticket through Fanbase and this was scanned to allow me entry. Inside the ground I bought a programme from my old work colleague John. John is on the Penicuik committee and warned me that after I had previously been at Penicuik only defeat off the season, at Musselburgh, I would be banned if they lost today ! The Penicuik programme is excellent value with some great reading material. I wandered round to the halfway line under the co

  After a really warm day I decided to head to Ainslie park again this evening to watch Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale (LTHV) against Crossgates Primrose in the East of Scotland league Premier Division. As I had already walked twelve miles today I decided to be lazy and catch a bus to the ground. I walked to Tollcross and caught a 27 arriving at Morrisons in Ferry Road around 19.10 in plenty time for the 19.45 kickoff. I walked down to the ground and having bought my ticket on Fanbase was quickly through the turnstile where I also bought a programme for £2. The turnstile operator said 'on you go young man" and when I told him how old I was he said that he was 82. I suppose that does make me a young man in his eyes ! I hung around at the entrance and Jim arrived shortly after. He had been on a recent Highland League trip and was telling me about the games he had seen. Alex arrived just before kick-off and we moved along to take seats in the stand for the first half.  LTHV had a

                         X International break today so no match for Hearts. There were a few good games around the local area but I decided to head to Christie Gillies Park. The park is the home of Civil Service Strollers (CSS) and today they were playing host to Spartans in the ‘North Edinburgh Derby’. I had purchased an electronic ticket through the Fanbase app although surprisingly all tickets were charged at £7 with under14s admitted free if accompanied by a paying adult. I left home just after 13.00 to walk to Marine Drive. I walked down the old railway path as if I was going to Ainslie Park however at Craigleith instead of going straight on I diverged to the left heading towards Davidson's Mains. I came out at the Davidson's Mains turnoff but headed straight on down to Silverknowes Drive. From there I walk along to the roundabout near Craigroyston High School and turned left down Marin Drive. Chrsitie Gilies Park his on the left and backs on to the World of Football comp

  Was not sure where to go tonight. Spartans were at home to Cumbernauld and I could get in with my season ticket but there was a full cardin The East of Scotland League as well. With Musselburgh at home to table topping Penicuik I decided to head to Olivebank for this game. I left home just after 18.00 and walked down to Haymarket where I caught a 44 bus to Musselburgh. I arrived in Musselburgh around 19.10 and had a short walk to the ground. Having bought my ticket on the Fanbase app there was no problem with getting access and I was soon inside the ground.  No  match programme was available although team line-ups were sourced on Twitter. I wandered past the dressing room area and met John, another road work colleague, who is on the Penicuik Athletic committee as treasurer. We had a long chat about the current Penicuik side before I wandered round to the covered enclosure leaving John with his committee colleagues. I then met Alan and his friend Graham, a Linlithgow Rose and Hearts f