Well here it is my first match of 2024 after a spell of illness. Really looking forward to today’s Scottish Cup tie with Edinburghs two top sides in competition. When the draw was made I thought Spartans would switch the game to a larger stadium but fair play they are staying at Ainslie Park. Police have agreed a crowd limit of 3500 and the game is live on BBC Scotland. I left home at 11.00 and walked to Tollcross to catch a bus to Ainslie Park. A 23 came first and I took that to Goldenacre and then walked along Ferry Road towards the ground. I usually get into Ainslie Park alongside the leisure centre but today all Hearts fans had to enter by the little used Pilton Drive entrance. I made my way there and got through the entrance to find that the terracing where Hearts fans were located was like a mud bath after recent heavy rain. I made my way through the mud to the far side of the ground and found a space near the perimeter fence standing on a concrete. A good decision as people st

  Back to Tynecastle today for my first match for a few weeks. It should be an interesting game with Craig Levein returning to Gorgie as the new St Johnstone Manager. A further ex-Jambo, Andy Kirk has joined Saints as Levein assistant. I left home just after 14.00 and walked to Tynecastle Arrington around 14.20. After recording the match on the Futbology app I entered the ground and headed up to my seat in the main stand. Craig is going out with friends today and will not make Tynecastle. However Harper and his pal Jayden are going on their own. Both are now eleven years old, the same age as I first went to Tynecastle with parental support. I have not been well since the game and have copied the Hearts mmatvh report from their website rather than write my own Head coach Steven Naismith made one change from the side that was victorious at Motherwell prior to the international break. Jorge Grant came into the starting XI, with Calem Nieuwenhof moving the bench. Craig Levein included two