After a disappointing week football wise it was another Friday, another trip to Ainslie Park. I had intended going to Bonnyrigg on Tuesday but that was rained off at lunchtime. Hearts U18 side was playing in the SFA Youth Cup semi-final at Tynecastle on Thursday but again I could not go due to a long-standing engagement. As I had done quite a bit of walking during the day I decided to catch a bus to Ainslie Park. I walked to Tollcross and caught a 27 around 18.45. After walking from Ferry Road I arrived at the ground around 19.20. I showed my electronic Fanbase ticket for entry and purchased a programme inside the ground. The programme is an excellent read and I also purchased the issued for the games again Kelty Hearts and Albion Rovers at the souvenir hut. I had attended the later two games but programmes had not been available on the night. The Kelty programme was a short issue and was available for £1 rather than the normal £3. I met Jim and we took up position against the fence at

  I had intended going to Penicuik today for their East of Scotland League match against Broxburn. However the storms during the week and the fact that Penicuik seems to exist in a different climate zone to the rest of the East of Scotland made it unlikely the match would go ahead. The postponement  was confirmed on Friday night. I did think about going to Bonnyrigg v Bo'ness but thought it would also be off. I was wrong about Bonnyrigg being postponed but had decided to go to Spartans for the second v fifth Lowland league clash against East Kilbride. I left home at 13.25 and walked to Ainslie Park along the old railway pathway. I arrived at the ground at 14.20 and showed my season ticket for entry. I purchased a programme and a half-time draw ticket before taking top a position against the touchline fence at the cafe end of the ground.  Spartans are currently second in the Lowland League but have several players unavailable for todays match. Miss due to either illness, injury or f

Another trip to Ainslie Park with Edinburgh City playing Albion Rovers. This match would have been played at New Year but was postponed due to Covid outbreaks at City and now finally being played. I left home at 18.30 and walked to Tollcross where I caught a 27 to Ferry Road. Surprisingly there were two other City fans on the bus. We all got off at Ferry Road Morrisons and walked down the hill to the ground. I had purchased my ticket through Fanbase and made sure I showed my ticket rather than my Tesco Clubcard when i went through the turnstile. Disappointingly no paper programmes were available tonight although a digital download was available. I resent paying for ink to print a download so will wait util a paper version is available. I met Jim at the Pilton end perimeter fence and Alex joined us just before the match kicked off.  City have already played Albion Rovers twice this season and I have been at both matches. Rovers won 3-0 at Cliftonhill in August and 4-0 at Ainslie Park in

  After the defeat by Dundee in mid-week I had a degree of apprehension about todays's cutie. I left home at around 13.30 and took a roundabout route to Tynecastle to get my daily steps up and have some exercise. I eventually arrived around 14.30 and showed my Covid pass before heading to the turnstiles. As a cup-tie is not covered by my season ticket I had to purchase a ticket for today's game. Hearts are now trialing digital ticketing and I used this to get my ticket. I cannot understand however how a digital ticket still carries a £1.50 handling fee. I had loved my ticket to my Apple wallet on my phone and used my phone to have the ticket scanned for entry. As I had bought my ticket early I was in my usual Main Stand seat. As I was watching the players warming up a guy took the seat next to me. While he was a Hearts fan his nephew Jason Holt, a former Hearts player, was playing for Livingston.  After the Dundee debacle Hearts made three changes to their starting line-up. Mic

  Friday and another game at Ainslie Park with Edinburgh City against Stirling Albion. City were meant to have moved back to their old stadium at the redeveloped Meadowbank by now. However the contracts have not yet handed the building over to City of Edinburgh Council and it now looks unlikely City will be playing there this season. I left home at 18.30 to catch a bus to Ainslie Park.the bus was early and I got off at Goldenacre and walked along Ferry Road arriving at the ground at around 19.15. There was a queue at the turnstiles and I searched on my phone for my electronic Fanbase ticket while waiting. The stewards then split into three for tickets, cash and card payments going to different turnstiles. I showed my phone to be scanned at the turnstiles but my ticket did not register. It was then I realised I was showing my Tesco Clubcard for entry ! I switched my phone to show the correct ticket and got into the ground. After issues earlier in the season there was a programme on sale

Another midweek fixture at Tynecastle with my double issue programmme, covering tonight’s game and Saturdays cup tie against Livingston, arriving in the post this morning. I left home around 19.00 for the short walk to the ground arriving after about fifteen minutes. Covid checking continues and I showed the stewards my pass before heading to the turnstiles. My ticket did not work in the first turnstile I entered so I moved to the next turnstile and got through. I mentioned the problem to the steward inside the turnstile area and his responses was ‘So you got in ok’. Customer care personified ? I headed to my seat in the Main Stand to watch the sides warming up. Hearts had played Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday and after a fair start fell apart when Rangers scored a second goal around the hour mark. Without Michael Smith, John Souttar and Craig Halkett the defence was seriously under strength and Rangers finally won 5-0. Souttar returned to the side tonight after injury with Andy Halliday,

  After the disappointment of Saturday I was looking forward to getting to a match tonight. On Saturday I had boughta ticket online for Penicuik Athletic v Blackburn Utd and caught a bus out to arrive around 14.15 for 14.30 kickoff. I had checked Twitter in case game was off but no news until I checked as bus arrived on outskirts of Penicuik to find it was off due to heavy rain. Got off that bus and crossed road to get one back into Edinburgh. I thought I might make it for Spartans FC match kicking off at 15.00 and the bus was scheduled to reach Crewe Toll at 14.53. I had forgotten about rugby traffic and the bad weather as the 47 bus did not reach Fountainbridge until 14.45 so I gave up got off and went home. I settled down to watch the rugby and Scotland winning the Calcutta Cup improved my day somewhat.  Tonight I was going to watch Civil Service Strollers v Stirling University in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup. I purchased my ticket in the Fanbase app and walked to Tollcross t

  This is the big one, the Edinburgh Derby, Hibs v Hearts at Easter Road. The first match I ever went to was when my dad took me to seee Hibs v Hearts in 19666. Hibs won 3-1 which was common in the late 60’s and early 70’s however since then Hearts have generally had the upper hand. Hibs are on longer issuing programmes having stopped earlier this season. Given that there have been no programme sellers at the away end for a number of years there is no great loss to Hearts fans. I left home around 18.20 and wandered halfway along Princes Street before catching a bus. Buses are being diverted because of tram works and I could not get off at the top of Easter Road as usual. However I got off at the top of Abbeyhill and walked down to the ground. Covid checks are still in place but I was not asked to provide proof of vaccination as I approached the turnstiles. All fans had to submit to a body search before being allowed through the turnstiles which I think is ridiculous. It obviously did n