* This trip couldn’t be done by train as there were no trains back to Durham on the Thursday because of a(nother) rail strike. The state of this country...
With breaks, it was a 6 hour drive to Dundee, where I checked in at the local hostel before jetting off to Montrose, another 36 miles on. And what a tidy place it is, a high street full of independent shops, some grand old buildings and well manicured public lawns, nevermind the golf courses which presumably enjoy more business than the local football team. I’ll be honest, I had no idea what division Montrose were in. Turns out they’re in League 1, the 3rd tier. (When I couldn’t see them in the bottom division, I presumed they were one of those sides relegated to non-league. My mistake.) Opponents Forfar are in the division below.
An added bit of spice was that it’s a local derby, another reason I plumped for this tie over Dundee United-Partick Thistle. In a 5 team group (bizarre!) 3 were local, including Arbroath. A healthy crowd of 745 turned out, including a fair smattering from Forfar. I arrived in plenty of time, with 2 queues at the entrance. I notice the concessions queue was twice as long as that for adults. What will Montrose do for crowds as the aging process reaches its inevitable conclusion?
The turnstiles were at the Gable End. Hence the ‘Gable Endies’, I guess. Once in, I was met by the programme seller. As a general rule at this level…if I bring a bag to put my programme in, there won’t be any programmes, and if I don’t….well, you get the idea. I didn’t bring a bag tonite. I find out that tonite’s meeting is the 272nd between the teams, the home side being formed as far back as 1879 while the visitors had to wait another 6 years. With a bit of time to spare before kick-off, I joined a long queue for a pie. I’ll give it to Scotland, their match pies are far superior to the ubiquitous Pukka in England. And they’re capable of being served at a temperature possible to imbibe.
There was no segregation, and while I queued I was able to listen to possibly Scottish football’s most deranged fan. In his sixties and with white, slightly unkempt hair, he’d have blended right in if he didn’t open his mouth. He must have had 30 different chants (though admittedly, half a dozen were of the ‘There’s only one (insert name of Montrose player here)’. At one point he was bellowing ‘there’s only one Scottish women’s team’. A small child asked his dad ‘why’s that man singing about a women’s team at a men’s football match?’ ‘Because he’s eccentric’ the man didn’t say. Away fans stayed well alone, despite the number of jibes aimed at their team. I took my pie and stood as far away as possible. You can have too much of a good thing (though he quietened down as the match went on).
I stood first half in the Gable End, a covered terrace several yards behind the goal. A smaller, open, terrace lay opposite, while the left hand touchline had none, fans merely leaning against the advertising hoardings on the boundary. However, the ground is dominated by a high, steep stand on the halfway line which houses 1300 of Links Park’s 4,900 capacity. I spent most of the second half here, and a grand vista it is too from the higher seats. Oddly adjacent was a 5 aside pitch.
In an entertaining game, Forfar ran out winners, racking up a two goal lead by half-time, then hanging on despite Montrose pulling one back and dominating. Still, my memory is of a couple of refereeing decisions, rather than the goals. Forfar play a ball through. The Montrose keeper comes out, fumbles it, runs into a forward and falls to the floor. The ref gives a free kick, as the forward lifts the ball over the keeper into an empty net. Later, a Forfar player is pushed over in the box. ‘Ah wuz ah shite referee an’ even ah woulda give that!’ shouts a voice nearby. I concur, on both counts.
The Damage:
£12 ent
£2.50 programme
£2.50 Scotch pie
£32 petrol
£23 accommodation (Dundee Backpackers)
= £72
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