Clydebank, Holm Park – Hoppers Tale #181

Here we Glasgow Again!

This weekend we return to the Glasgow area for a game between Clydebank and Troon.

Clydebank are a former SPFL club, and it’s good to see the new phoenix club moving towards restoring that status.

The Bankies will be facing Troon FC, who we saw at Pollok last weekend, and they should provide a good test for The Bankies.

I look forward to visiting Holm Park and seeing just how far along the project is from the goal of league football being played there once more.

Obviously, my regular reader will be aware that I love visiting Scotland and Scottish football grounds, and today is no exception.

So, let’s get on with the review!

The Journey

The day began early, with my alarm waking me at 05:45.

I jumped out of bed, alive and full of energy.

Yeah, you can file that under ‘Things that never happened!’

After dragging myself out of bed and stumbling around getting dressed, I caught the 06:30 X1 to Newcastle.

Arriving at John Dobson Street at 07:24, I headed to Greggs to get a pastry-based breakfast. I haven’t been for ages; give me a break!

After chomping a lukewarm steak bake, I made the last part of the walk to Central Station, with plenty of time to spare.

My 08:26 Northern train to Carlisle pulled into the station on time, and we were in the ‘Great Border City’ by 09:45.

Once more, I observed the departures board showing how bad (Avanti) Eventually West Coast trains are. There were two cancellations heading for London Euston, and every other train was late.

Of course, all the other trains were running on schedule.

This made me nervous about the return journey, knowing I would be relying on an Eventually West Coast connection.

Still, I will worry about that when the time comes. I boarded the 10:11 TransPennine Express service to Glasgow Central, arriving at 11:30.

I descended to Platform 17 of the Low Level station and caught the 11:47 ScotRail service to Dalmuir.

Twenty minutes later, I arrived at Yoker station and left the train.

While I make the short walk to my designated watering hole, have a read about the town of Clydebank.

Clydebank

The town of Clydebank is in West Dunbartonshire, in west central Scotland.

It sits on the north bank of the River Clyde, around 7 miles northwest of Glasgow Central. Dumbarton lies roughly 8.2 miles to the northwest, while Edinburgh is around 54 miles to the east. Carlisle is 105 miles to the southeast, while Hetton-le-Hole is a distant 171 miles to the southeast.

At the 2022 Census, Clydebank had a population of 26,221, although the exact figure depends on where the town’s boundaries are drawn.

Clydebank takes its name directly from the Clyde Bank shipyard, which opened beside the River Clyde in the 1870s. The town that grew around the yard adopted the name when it became a burgh in 1886.

Early History

The area’s history, however, stretches back much further. Modern Clydebank lies within the former Kingdom of Strathclyde and the historic territory of Lennox. It also includes part of the Roman Antonine Wall, which crossed Scotland during the 2nd century. A Roman fort once stood around Hardgate and Duntocher, and the surviving wall became part of a World Heritage Site in 2008.

For centuries, the area remained largely rural. Before 1870, farms, estates and small villages such as Kilbowie, Drumry, Dalmuir and Duntocher dominated the landscape. Small-scale coal, limestone and stone mining provided some employment, alongside paper and cotton mills and a handful of boatbuilding yards.

Industrial Growth

Everything changed in 1871 when shipbuilders J & G Thomson began constructing a new shipyard on land known as the West Barns o’ Clyde.

The location proved ideal. It stood close to the Forth and Clyde Canal and the main road between Glasgow and Dumbarton, while its position opposite the mouth of the River Cart allowed the company to build larger and heavier ships than it could further upstream.

At first, paddle steamers carried workers to the shipyard. Thomson soon realised that building homes beside the yard made much more sense, and the company constructed tenement blocks for its workforce. More houses followed, along with a school, community facilities and churches.

Other businesses soon recognised the advantages of the area. By 1880, around 2,000 men lived and worked there, and Clydebank took shape as an industrial community.

The arrival of the railway in 1882 accelerated that growth. Between 1882 and 1884, the Singer Manufacturing Company built a huge sewing-machine factory at Kilbowie, less than half a mile from the shipyard. Singer would become one of Clydebank’s biggest employers and one of the industry’s most closely associated with the town.

The population grew so quickly that residents petitioned for their community to become a police burgh. Their request succeeded on 18 November 1886, formally creating the town of Clydebank.

By the early 20th century, shipbuilding and manufacturing dominated local life. Clydebank also became closely associated with the labour movement of Red Clydeside. In 1911, around 11,000 Singer workers went on strike in support of 12 female colleagues who had protested against changes to working practices. Singer responded by dismissing 400 workers, including the strike leaders.

The Clydebank Blitz

Clydebank’s industrial importance brought terrible consequences during the Second World War.

On 13th and 14th March 1941, German Luftwaffe bombers launched a devastating series of raids on the town. Their targets included the shipyards, Singer factory and the Royal Navy oil depot at Dalnottar.

The Clydebank Blitz caused enormous destruction. Over the two nights, 528 civilians lost their lives, and more than 617 suffered serious injuries. Large areas of housing also disappeared beneath the bombing, making the raids one of the defining events in Clydebank’s history.

Post War

After the war, Clydebank faced the monumental task of rebuilding. The Linnvale housing estate, destroyed during the Blitz, rose again during the late 1940s. Its new streets were named after members of the post-war Labour government, such as Attlee Avenue and Bevin Avenue.

The town continued as an important industrial centre, but the second half of the 20th century brought major changes. Traditional industries gradually lost their dominance, while redevelopment transformed former industrial land.

The Clyde Shopping Centre opened on part of the former Singer Works in 1982, signalling the changing nature of the local economy. Transport links also continued to connect Clydebank closely with Glasgow, Dumbarton and the surrounding communities.

Today, Clydebank forms part of West Dunbartonshire and the wider Greater Glasgow urban area, although locals retain a strong identity of their own. A native of the town is commonly known as a ‘Bankie’, rather than a Glaswegian.

From scattered farms beside the Clyde to one of Scotland’s great shipbuilding and manufacturing towns, Clydebank experienced extraordinary growth in little more than a generation. Industry created the town, while war almost destroyed it.

Clydebank has changed considerably since the days of the shipyards and Singer factory, but its industrial heritage, wartime experiences, and community identity remain.

Notable People from Clydebank

Dragon’s Den entrepreneur, Duncan Bannatyne; comedian, Kevin Bridges; musicians, Graeme Clark (Wet, Wet, Wet), Martin Doherty (Chvrches), Marti Pellow (Wet, Wet, Wet); screenwriter and filmmaker, Frank Hannah; film director and TV critic, Gavin Millar; actors, Nicola Park and Mary Riggans.

With two of its founding members being from Clydebank, I thought I would post a tune from the boys.

A real taste of life on the banks of The Clyde.

The Lovat Arms

While you were reading about Clydebank, I had made the short walk to The Lovat Arms, which claims to be ‘The first pub in Glasgow‘.

Despite its façade proclaiming it ‘The Lovat’, an online search reveals that the full name adds ‘Arms’.

Once inside, the bar is to the left, with stools around it, and the room expanding off to the right. TV screens adorn the walls, with sport showing. A pool table stands in an area by the window, and a dining area is beyond.

I headed to the bar and ordered a pint of Murphy’s, as a change from Guinness. Two different stouts, but both more than palatable. At £4.30, I thought that was a reasonable price.

There were plenty of locals inside, though the number grew as time moved on. Some were wearing Clydebank shirts, and even a couple of Troon shirts were on display.

The Lovat Arms displays two signed Clydebank shirts to recognise the fact that they sponsored the Bankies last season.

Some of the locals were playing pool, and at some point during my second pint, I asked if I could play the winner.

I ended up playing six games against some very good cueists. That makes me even happier that I emerged with a 4-2 win/loss ratio.

It also ate up the time, and by the time I had finished my third pint, it was time to head off to Holm Park.

A big thanks to the locals who made me welcome and let me win more than I lost, despite not having played for some time.

Holm Park is just a five-minute walk from The Lovat, making this one of the shorter walking trips of the grounds I’ve visited.

Clydebank – Holm Park

Getting In

I bought my digital ticket in advance via the Fanbase App, costing £13.00.

There is also a cash turnstile available for those who prefer that option.

My ticket was scanned, and I entered Holm Park.

In front of me, I immediately noticed someone selling programmes, one of which I bought.

Programme

For £2.50, you get 36 glossy pages of content, 13 of which are adverts, which equates to 36.11% of the programme.

In terms of reading material, there is a column by manager Gordon Moffatt, boardroom notes from Grace McGibbon, a double spread on visitors, Troon, a review of the recent victory over Newton Stewart.

There is an A-Z of 10 players to wear Clydebank colours over the years, pen pics of the squad, an ‘On this day’, and a latest from the Lowland League section.

There are also the usual features, including fixtures and results, and expected team line-ups.

This is a decent effort from the Bankies, and it’s hard to be too critical of the amount of adverts, considering the club is run by the fans, with no sugar daddy to fund things.

That said, there is an annoying number of pages that aren’t stapled together correctly, meaning some of the middle pages jut out at the bottom and don’t open correctly.

Seems like an issue that is easy to rectify with a little care and attention.

All in all, the content is good, though a little heavy on adverts, with the mis-stapling being the biggest negative for me.

I’d score this as a 7/10. (8/10 if put together properly.)

East End

Entry to Holm Park is at the southeast end. For simplicity’s sake, I am theoretically tilting the ground a few degrees and calling this the East End.

This is the end in which you enter Holm Park, and it contains the players’ dressing rooms, players’ entrance, and a structure for disabled supporters to shelter under.

Behind this, there are toilet facilities and a snack truck.

North Side

The northern side of Holm Park consists of an open terrace, a small covered terrace, and a covered, seated stand.

It begins with a section of open terracing in the northeast corner, followed by a 157-seater stand.

A small covered terrace stand beyond this, with a gantry structure sitting on the halfway line. This is used by Clydebank TV to record the action.

More shallow open terracing lies beyond the halfway line.

The technical dugouts are situated on either side of the halfway line, while four floodlights are spaced along the length of the pitch.

These are located at the top of the bank, with a perimeter fence forming the ground’s boundary behind them.

West End

The west end of the ground is the least interesting aspect of Holm Park.

There is a flat standing area behind the goal, with a wire mesh fence hindering the view across the penalty area.

A metal fence forms the boundary at the top of the small bank behind.

There are good views beyond of the church and the distant Kilpatrick Hills.

South Side

The southern side of the ground features a grass bank with a flat standing area atop it.

This stretches to the halfway line, where another covered terrace takes over. Beyond is a continuation of the terrace, but without any cover.

This covered section houses the Bankies’ small but vociferous band of fans.

In fact, they kept up the singing almost continuously throughout the match and gave their team superb backing. They also had a good number of different songs, which can’t be said for every club.

Club Shop

The club shop is located at the eastern end of the south side behind the open terrace.

It consists of a repurposed shipping crate, one of several in the vicinity.

Inside, there were replica shirts, scarves, etc. for sale, and most importantly, pin badges.

I bought a club crest pin badge which cost a whopping £6.00. The joint highest I have ever had to pay for one inside a ground.

Clydebank – Holm Park Gallery

Clydebank Tidbits

The Clydebank Football Club, known as the Bankies, has one of the more unusual modern histories in Scottish football.

The original Clydebank Football Club was first formed in 1888.

A second club followed in 1899, while another Clydebank entered the Scottish Football League in 1914 before disbanding in 1931.

The club most directly connected with the modern Bankies emerged after an unsuccessful 1964 merger between Clydebank Juniors and East Stirlingshire. Following the merger’s collapse, a new Clydebank F.C. was established in 1965 and elected to the Scottish Football League the following year.

Playing at Kilbowie Park, Clydebank rose through the divisions and reached the Premier Division, becoming the first club to play in every Scottish League division following the 1975 reconstruction. The Bankies spent three seasons in the top flight and reached the Scottish Cup semi-final in 1990.

After New Kilbowie was sold in 1996, Clydebank became homeless. Financial problems followed, and in 2002 the club was purchased, relocated to Airdrie and renamed Airdrie United, prompting supporters to establish the present Clydebank F.C. the following year.

The Loss of Kilbowie Park

Clydebank’s decline accelerated when the Steedman family, then owners of the club, sold Kilbowie Park without securing a credible replacement ground within Clydebank.

The Bankies subsequently spent two seasons sharing the home of neighbouring Dumbarton. During this period, businessman John Hall acquired the club and initially recruited a higher standard of player. However, Hall and his associates planned to relocate Clydebank to Dublin.

The proposal generated strong opposition from supporters and ultimately failed when FIFA refused to permit the club to operate across national borders. Other attempts to sell or merge Clydebank with Gala Fairydean Rovers, Livingston and Carlisle United also proved unsuccessful. As Hall’s interest declined, the club entered administration.

Clydebank later played at Cappielow, the home of Greenock Morton. The move took the club even further from its traditional support base. Businessman David McGhie subsequently explored the possibility of rescuing Clydebank from administration, but the attempt failed to provide a lasting solution.

The End of the Senior Club

Events elsewhere in Scottish football eventually determined Clydebank’s fate. Following the liquidation of Airdrieonians, attempts were made to establish Airdrie United and gain entry to the Scottish Football League. When Gretna received league membership instead, Airdrie United’s owners turned their attention to Clydebank.

Clydebank supporters submitted their own bid to meet the administrators’ requirements, but Airdrie United offered more and its proposal was accepted. Clydebank was effectively renamed and relocated to Airdrie, allowing Airdrie to continue with a club free of the former Airdrieonians’ debts.

The Bankies played their final match of this era against Berwick Rangers at the end of the 2001/02 season. Clydebank supporters were left without a team, but they refused to allow the club’s identity to disappear.

Phoenix from the Flames

United Clydebank Supporters played the central role in preserving the club. Airdrie United agreed to transfer the Clydebank name and crest to the supporters, who then applied to enter the Scottish Junior football structure.

After one season without a team, Clydebank returned for the 2003–04 season. The revived club played at Glenhead Park, the former home of Duntocher Hibs, with supporters helping to prepare the ground for competitive football. Former Bankies player Budgie McGhie became manager.

The first match back in Clydebank attracted a large crowd and ended in a 3–2 victory over St Roch’s.

Clydebank entered Central League Division Two, the fourth tier of Junior football. After losing to Carluke Rovers in November 2003, the Bankies produced an exceptional run, winning 17 of their final 18 matches and drawing the other. They secured the championship with a game remaining, with 972 spectators watching a 5–0 victory over Coltness United that delivered the first trophy of the new era.

Climbing the Junior Pyramid

Clydebank finished third in Central League Division One in 2004/05, narrowly missing promotion. The following season produced an important Scottish Junior Cup run. The Bankies reached the quarter-finals against Tayport, drawing 1–1 away before another draw at Glenhead Park in front of 1,142 spectators. Tayport eventually progressed through a penalty shootout.

Promotion finally arrived in 2006/07. Clydebank and Kirkintilloch Rob Roy contested the leading positions for much of the campaign. Rob Roy eventually won the championship, but Clydebank finished second and secured promotion to Super League Division One. The Bankies also reached the Sectional League Cup final, losing 2–1 to Pollok.

Clydebank finished eighth in their first Super League Division One campaign in 2007/08 and again reached the Scottish Junior Cup quarter-finals, losing to Bathgate Thistle following a replay.

The 2009 Scottish Junior Cup Final

The 2008/09 season became one of the most memorable of Clydebank’s modern history. By then, the club had left Glenhead Park and entered a ground-sharing arrangement with Yoker Athletic.

Clydebank produced an outstanding Scottish Junior Cup campaign, defeating Petershill in the quarter-finals before overcoming Pollok over two legs in the semi-final, including a 3–2 victory at Newlandsfield.

The Bankies met Auchinleck Talbot in the final at Rugby Park. A crowd of 8,122 watched a closely contested match, with Talbot eventually winning 2–1 after a late goal.

Clydebank reached another Scottish Junior Cup semi-final in 2009/10, gaining a measure of revenge by eliminating Auchinleck Talbot in the fifth round. Largs Thistle prevented a second successive final appearance, winning both legs of the semi-final 1–0.

The season nevertheless produced silverware. Clydebank defeated Ashfield 2–0 at Newlandsfield to win the Central League Cup, the club’s first cup trophy of its revived era.

Reaching the Super Premier League

Promotion to the highest level of Junior football followed in 2010/11. Ten victories from 12 matches placed Clydebank in contention for both promotion and the title. The championship eventually went to Ashfield on goal difference following a decisive 2–0 defeat at Holm Park, but Clydebank’s runners-up position secured promotion to the Super Premier League.

The Bankies adapted impressively. After an uncertain start to 2011/12, Clydebank finished the league season with eight consecutive victories and secured fourth place. They also won 13 successive matches in all competitions and claimed another Central League Cup, defeating Scottish Junior Cup winners Shotts Bon Accord 3–0.

Clydebank improved to third place in 2012/13, completing a decade in which the supporter-owned club had risen from Central League Division Two to become one of the leading sides in the Junior game.

Further Success and Relegation

The 2013/14 season brought two more trophies. Clydebank won eight of their opening nine matches and defeated Pollok to lift the Sectional League Cup. The Bankies finished fourth in the league before defeating Cumbernauld United 3–0 at Newlandsfield to win another Central League Cup.

Fortunes changed dramatically in 2014/15. Clydebank won only two league matches and suffered early exits from the cup competitions against lower-division opponents. A 6–0 defeat away to Kilbirnie Ladeside confirmed relegation from the Super League Premier Division.

The Bankies returned to the higher division following a successful 2016/17 campaign.

While Holm Park was being refurbished, Clydebank played the 2018/19 season at Maryhill FC’s Lochburn Park, before returning for the 2019/20 season.

Further progress came in the 2024/25 season after winning the West of Scotland League (founded to replace the Super League in 2018/19) championship. This saw them play in the Lowland League the following season.

Ahead of the 2026/27 season, the Lowland League split into two divisions, with Clydebank placed in the West Division.

The Bankies are currently managed by Gordon Moffat, who has been in the hot seat since September 2019.

They Played for Clydebank (the Current Club)

Iain Anderson, Derek Carcary, Ross Forsyth, Phil Johnston, Nicky Low, Darian MacKinnon, Austin McCann, Billy McGhie, Michael McIndoe, Junior Mendes, and Adam Strachan.

Billy McGhie was also the club’s manager from its reformation in 2003 until 2016.

Highlights of the players who played for the former incarnation of Clydebank are:

Terry Butcher, Owen Coyle, Tommy Coyne, Gerry Creaney, Willie Falconer, Derek Ferguson, Ally Maxwell, Billy McKinlay, John McStay, Andy Ritchie, former Scotland manager Andy Roxburgh, and Gary Teale.

Stoke City connections are sparse, but one person well-known to football fans and sharing a connection is Northern Ireland manager and former Stoke City manager Michael O’Neill.

Clydebank – Pre-Game View of Holm Park

Clydebank v Troon – The Game

Form

Coming into today’s game, Clydebank have played twice, winning and losing one.

They opened the season with a convincing 4-2 win at home to Newton Stewart, who were promoted from the South of Scotland Football League as part of the Lowland League’s restructure.

The next game was less encouraging for the Bankies, as they succumbed to a 6-1 mauling from Celtic B.

Meanwhile, Troon has played three games at this new level.

I was there at Pollok for their very first Lowland League game, where they were beaten 2-0.

They also lost their following game 2-0 at Johnstone Burgh.

Things turned around for them when they hosted Gretna 2008, marking their first Lowland League home game with a 4-1 victory.

Today, I foresee a close-fought game with both teams scoring. I think Clydebank’s extra season of experience and home advantage will give them the edge.

Pre-game prediction: Clydebank 2 Troon 1

Kick-Off

Summary

What a game this was!

Four penalties, one of which was missed, a red card, and a very late winner.

Clydebank were the better side on the day, but it was Troon who took a surprising lead via the penalty spot, following a handball.

For half an hour, the Bankies played good football and pressed for an opener, but Mike McDonald in the Troon goal was in inspired form.

Easily the man of the match, and if he consistently plays as well as he did here today, he should be playing at a higher level.

However, in the 34th minute, Callan Veitch tucked away a penalty (included in the video below) to put the visitors ahead.

Bronsky Beat

In the 39th minute, Clydebank were given a penalty, and Troon were down to ten men.

The referee decided that despite there being two defenders around the ball, a clear goalscoring opportunity was denied.

Personally, having watched it back, I think Troon were very unlucky here. If you watch the match highlights, you will see that the Bankies player is the one doing the pulling and then goes over to claim a penalty.

Even if it was the other way around in your view, it still shouldn’t have been a red, as another defender was there.

Still, it was what it was, and Stephen Bronsky was dismissed.

Indeed, you could say the Bankies attacker had Bronsky Beat… sorry, not sorry.

Nicky Low dispatched the spot kick to bring the game level.

There was still time for Clydebank to take the lead before halftime.

A minute into injury time, Low delivered a ball into the back post from range, and Neil McLaughlin was on hand to tap it in unmarked.

Second Half

Troon were given an unexpected lifeline in the 59th minute, when Blair Rossiter inexplicably decided to kick a Troon attacker off the ball.

Another penalty was awarded, though at the time, I didn’t have a clue what for.

I noticed the guy standing nearby was taking notes, and I asked him if he knew what had happened.

He said there had been an off-the-ball incident, but he hadn’t seen it himself.

It turns out that this was a referee assessor, and he introduced himself as Brian, and his mate, Stuart.

What I didn’t realise was that Brian was listening in to the match officials’ conversations, so I apologise for my constant chatting to him.

He didn’t seem to mind, however, and we had a good chat ending with him offering me a lift back to Glasgow Central after the game.

Fantastic guy!

A Fourth Penalty and a Late Winner

With time starting to peter out, the referee awarded his fourth penalty of the game.

Clydebank got the decision this time, after the tall defender, Matt Niven, was judged to have been fouled at a corner.

Martin McDonald continued his incredible game with a fantastic save to keep the spot-kick out, and seemed to have saved Troon from defeat.

With the scores locked at 2-2, all this game needed was a dramatic last-minute winner.

We even got one of those!

After a Troon breakaway attack had looked like giving them a surprising winner, the goal eventually came for the home side.

A cross was delivered from the right flank, and Ciaran Mulcahy leapt highest and helped the ball into the net above the despairing dive of the unlucky McDonald.

What a game!

I won’t lie, though, I’d love to see Brian’s assessment of today’s referee and game… 👀

You can read a full Match Report here, via the Troon FC website.

Full-time – Clydebank 3 Troon 2

Attendance – 690

Entrance Fee – £13.00

Programme – £2.50

Clydebank v Troon – Match Highlights

League Table After Today’s Game

Up Next

Following a couple of cup fixtures, Clydebank will resume their league campaign at Caledonian Braves on 18th August.

This is followed by a home tie with Gretna 2008 (22nd), and a trip to Renfrew (29th) sandwiched between two more cup ties.

Troon will look to bounce back in their next league game when they host Renfrew on 19th August.

They will then travel to Beith Juniors (22nd), before hosting Cumbernauld Colts on the 29th.

Clydebank Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Clydebank.

From the people in the Lovat Arms to my arrival back at Glasgow Central, I was looked after and made very welcome by the locals.

The ground itself was surprisingly atmospheric.

Terraces make for a better atmosphere in my mind, and the Bankies supporters standing behind me kept up a constant support for their team.

The fact that they produce a programme earns them bonus points, too, at a time when so many ‘bigger’ clubs just can’t be bothered to do so.

In terms of negatives, there is hardly anything to say.

If I was being critical, I would highlight the cost of the pin badge I bought, which at £6.00 is the highest I have had to pay for one.

Entry price is also the highest I have paid in the Lowland League. For example, Pollok cost a tenner two weeks ago. That seems to be the usual price in my previous visits to this particular level of football in Scotland.

Those are small gripes in terms of the overall experience of a trip to Holm Park, which was overwhelmingly positive.

If you haven’t been here yet, I would recommend a visit if you get a chance.

Clydebank – After the Game

Following the final whistle, Brian asked me if I would like a lift back into Glasgow, where he would drop me off near Central Station.

What a gentleman!

Amazingly, he also managed to find me a spare steak pie in the match officials’ room that they didn’t want.

Yes, please!

It was delicious, too…

Good to his word, Brian went out of his way to drop me a few yards away from the train station. Seriously, this is why I love Scotland.

The people are just incredibly friendly as a whole. Obviously, there are exceptions to that rule, but I have found nothing but good-natured people on my travels, and Brian exemplified that today.

Thank you, sir!

I had quite a long wait for my train back down to Carlisle, but that wasn’t my biggest concern. That honour fell to the fact that it was an Eventually West Coast train and therefore may not even arrive.

Imagine my surprise, then, when it not only showed up, but departed on time! I felt very lucky.

I arrived back in Carlisle at 19:55, perfect timing to jump on the 20:00 Northern train to Newcastle on the adjacent platform.

This arrived in the Toon at 21:40, and I walked to the bus stop on St Nicholas’ Street.

Eventually, an X1 arrived at 22:12and deposited me safely back in Hetton around 23:00.

Another successful Hop in the books!

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Next Up for Hoppers Guide

Next week sees me make a rare appearance at the home of a Premier League team, as I head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

My last visit to watch Spurs play at home was back in the days of a Klinsmann, Sherringham, and Anderton forward line.

The 1994/95 season, when Klinsmann was Spurs’ top scorer with 20 goals before heading off to Bayern Munich. The opposition was Norwich City, and Spurs won 1-0 via a Teddy Sherringham goal at White Hart Lane.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t reviewing grounds back then, so there are no photographs of the old stadium, just a few sparse memories of the day.

This time, I am going to their wonderful-looking new stadium armed with my phone, which doubles up as a camera and notepad. It also lets me find my way around areas I otherwise have no clue about.

What did we do before we had such handy gadgets?

Well, we had cameras, notepads, and the ability to ask random strangers if they knew the way to…?

I sometimes miss that, to be honest. People everywhere live their lives staring at a 5-inch screen now. Don’t believe me? What are you doing right now?

Look around you; if you are in a public area, the chance is that everyone around you is doing the same.

Oh well, we can only move forward and wonder what further ‘improvements’ are coming our way, eh?

That said, it seems that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a big improvement on White Hart Lane and I can’t wait to see it.

Onto the next!

Hopper Tales #180 – Millwall

Hopper Tales #182 – Tottenham Hotspur