The Perils of Groundhopping
We ended up at Tynecastle FC’s Meggetland Stadium today but that wasn’t the goal when we set off.
We were all set for a trip to Linlithgow Rose‘s Prestonfield but the weather had other ideas.
After a noon pitch inspection deemed the surface unplayable, we were left already in Linlithgow and looking for other options.
This is a winter peril for groundhoppers everywhere and the Futbology app is a great thing to have on your phone in these instances. A list of all the scheduled games in the nearby area is displayed and it’s just a matter of finding a game that is still on.
For us, despite Bo’ness United being much closer to Linlithgow, it meant we had to head back towards Edinburgh to catch a game. This was due to our train home leaving Waverley at 17:55 and we wouldn’t be able to get a bus back to either Linlithgow or Edinburgh in time to catch it.
So, let’s get on with how our day panned out…
Linlithgow – The Journey (Part One)
After being rudely awakened by Mrs Hopper at 06:00, I crashed and bungled my way into the bathroom. A quick wash and teeth scrub, put on some clothes, grabbed a cup of tea and I started to feel a little more human.
We left home for the 07:05 X1 to Newcastle and it showed up dutifully on time.
Even better, the payment system wasn’t working! After attempting to pay, the driver waved us on and the day had started well.
The morning was still pitch black and as we drove towards the city, the neon and lights from traffic started to remind me of the Tron movie as we drove through an otherwise black void.
The bus dropped us off in Newcastle at 07:55 and we made our way towards the train station.
Now, today was a big day in Newcastle and it was already apparent.
Big Day for the Toon Army
The big Tyne and Wear FA Cup game at Sunderland was today and already there were black and white shirts and scarves in abundance.
As we got to McDonald’s for our breakfast, it was full of Newcastle fans stocking up before heading to their big day out.
We ate a leisurely breakfast consisting of a hash brown and a Mighty McMuffin with brown sauce and I’m glad we filled up because our next meal would be when we got home.
Wiping the remaining vestiges of my Mighty McMuffin from my beard, we made our way to the station. Yet more black and white surrounded us (and the police) as they prepared to descend onto the domain of their dread enemy for the first time since 2016.
Mrs Hopper got herself a coffee and we boarded our train, which was already on Platform 7 and made ourselves comfortable. The train set off a minute early at 08:40 and we were on our way up the delightful Northumberland Coast and into Scotland.
We pulled into Waverley station in the Scottish capital at 10:05, slightly ahead of schedule. This meant we were able to board an earlier train to Linlithgow at 10:15.
Things are going far too smoothly!
Linlithgow
Twenty minutes later, we arrived in Linlithgow and the winter sun greeted us warmly.
Well, it greeted us anyway.
It was actually pretty chilly and the ground was covered with frost This didn’t inspire me with confidence for the match going ahead, but so far, nothing had appeared on social media to say otherwise.
As we walked around Linlithgow, it had a nice feel about it. Quirky buildings mixed in with a mini-Edinburgh feel and all was dominated by the spire of St Michaels church.
We had a wander into a craft shop where Mrs Hopper bought herself some wool and I practiced a few words of rusty German on the lady behind the till.
I ‘think’ I pulled it off.
Then we headed up past the church to Linlithgow Palace and wandered around the southern bank of the loch behind it.
After helping a lovely lady in a wheelchair down a slippery path, we continued on… and fell over.
More specifically, Mrs Hopper did.
After laughing and asking her to stay put while I took a photo, (yes, she was ok and no, you can’t see it, you horrible lot!) we carried on a little more gingerly.
The loch was looking great in the winter frost, although the Palace is unfortunately undergoing repairs and is covered in scaffolding.
We came back into Linlithgow’s town centre and this was when I found out that the game had been called off.
Linlithgow Gallery
Tynecastle – The Journey (Part Two)
After frantically searching Futbology for an alternative, we settled on Tynecastle FC, which meant journeying back into Edinburgh.
Tynecastle play at Meggetland Sports Complex in the southwest of the city.
I’d like to give a big shoutout to our Twitter (X, if you insist) followers, who were quick to message and offer alternative games in the area. It was much appreciated and you know who you are!
We boarded a train at Linlithgow station at 12:32 and arrived at Edinburgh Park fifteen minutes later.
We caught a #2 bus across the road from the train station and got off at Stewart Terrace. There are probably better ways to complete this journey but in a rushed panic, this was the way we went.
This still left us with a twenty-minute walk to the ground.
As we got closer, I asked a local which way to Tynecastle FC’s ground. He started directing me back the way we had come and I asked him if he was showing me the way to Hearts’ ground.
He was.
After correcting him that I meant Meggetland Stadium, a look of understanding came over his face. He said he hadn’t even heard of Tynecastle FC but gave us directions to the ground anyway.
For future reference, if you are heading to a Tynecastle FC game, make sure you head for Meggetland Sports Complex, as opposed to Tynecastle.
Our walk took us along the Union Canal, which was still frozen in places, despite the sunshine.
We headed up some steps onto Meggetland Wynd and our destination was just ahead.
Tynecastle FC – Meggetland Sports Complex
From first glimpses, the Meggetland Sports Complex doesn’t make you jump for joy at arriving.
It looks like it may be another 3g pitch in a cage.
It isn’t, but more of that when we take a look around.
Sports Complex Bar
To the right of the turnstiles, there is a cafe and bar at the south end of the stadium and that’s where we headed.
We ordered pints of Heineken and Neck Oil IPA which came to the ridiculous cost of £11.71.
Those same two pints would cost less than £7.00 in the Bedlington/Ashington area of the northeast.
Anyway, we took our seats and watched the Sunderland v Newcastle game being played out on one of the two televisions on the wall. The second half was starting and Newcastle scored an early goal to make it 0-2.
They went on to make it three before the end and I already had visions of what Newcastle city centre would be like when we got back.
Around 14:20, we set off to do my customary walk around the ground before the 3 pm kick-off.
Oops!
We paid the £8.00 entry fee at the gate and made our way inside the stadium.
Once inside, it soon became clear that this was no 3g cage.
In fact, I quite like Tynecastle FC’s ground.
We started by heading to the cafe in the stand on the west side of the ground. This is where I had been told I may be able to get a pin badge.
I could and it cost £5.00. Again, not the cheapest.
It was at the point of leaving the cafe, that I realised the game had already kicked off and I would have to do my tour of the ground with the game underway.
I left Mrs Hopper at the top of the main stand and went on my walk around.
South End
After entering via the southern corner, you walk down a ramp to the pitch level.
To the right is an elevated terrace that sits just below the balcony of the bar we had been in.
East Side
The east side consists of a grassy bank that is mostly covered by a shallow terrace nine steps deep.
Four floodlights sit at the top of the bank and these are mirrored by four more on the west side of the ground.
North End
The northern end of Meggetland is pretty nondescript.
There are no features of note other than a mesh fence running the length of it.
West Side
The west side is where the main stand is situated.
It’s a little beauty, too. It has an arched roof, reminiscent of a mini Huddersfield Town stand.
This is the main area of the ground and contains the dressing rooms, players’ tunnel and a large room with a small cafe window at one end. This is located behind the seating at the top of the stand.
The pitch used by Tynecastle FC consists of natural grass. Some of the surrounding pitches in the complex are used for other sports and are artificial surfaces.
Meggetland is listed on Wikipedia as having a capacity of 4,388, with five hundred seats.
Tynecastle FC – Meggetland Sports Complex Gallery
I made my way back around to Mrs Hopper at the top of the stand to watch the rest of the game.
Tynecastle FC Tidbits
Tynecastle’s club crest shows the date 1928. This is due to the original Tynecastle Boys Club being formed in that year.
The Boys Club was originally set up as a Meccano club to build models and had a membership of just ten boys.
Tynecastle FC is a relatively new team, formed in 2005 when the Tynecastle Boys Club and Tollcross United merged.
The merger allowed the Boys Club to compete at senior level and they replaced Tollcross United in the East of Scotland First Division.
The newly merged club’s first-ever game was a tremendous 2-2 draw with city neighbours, Hibernian. The game took place at Tollcross United’s home venue, Fernieside Recreation Ground. They remained there until 2015 when they relocated to Saughton Park, sharing with Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale.
Tynecastle FC benefited from Scotland national team goalkeeper Craig Gordon’s move from Hearts to Sunderland in 2007. A windfall of £90,000 was their share of the transfer fee and this helped the club to push forward.
Former Scotland captain, Darren Fletcher also played for the Boys Club during the 1990s.
David Bingham was appointed player-coach ahead of the 2008/09 season and he was part of the club’s First Division title success. Former Hearts player Gary Mackay was also on the coaching team at that time.
In 2017, the club relocated from Saughton Park to Meggetland Sports Complex.
Tynecastle’s latest promotion came in 2020/21 when they regained their EoSFL Premier Division status by winning the First Division in the Covid-shortened 2019/20 season.
The club shares colours with Heart of Midlothian, playing in all maroon (though Hearts have white shorts.)
Not surprising, given the club’s proximity to the Gorgie area of Edinburgh and a brief merger period with Hearts Boys Club around the start of the millennium.
Tynecastle FC – Pre-Game View of Meggetland Sports Complex
Tynecastle FC v Broxburn Athletic – The Game
Form
Coming into today’s game, Tynecastle FC were sitting in mid-table, with sixteen games played.
December saw them play just two games, with a 2-2 draw at Musselburgh and a 2-3 home defeat by Dunbar United.
West Lothian visitors, Broxburn Athletic, are sitting pretty at the top of the table. They have only managed a single league game in December, playing out a 0-0 stalemate at home to Haddington Athletic.
Both teams have been a little starved of action in the lead-up to today’s match.
My pre-match prediction was a 1-2 win for Broxburn.
This was based purely on a conversation with a guy in the bar, pre-game. He told me where the two clubs were in the league and that he expected an away win.
Who was I to disagree?
Kick-Off
The game started with us in the cafe, getting a pin badge.
How rude not waiting for us!
We quickly took our positions at the back of the stand and I went to take photos of the ground.
Fortuitously, just as I was about to start doing a video sweep of Meggetland, the action came to my end of the field and I decided to film that instead.
Ryan Cameron calmly converted the ensuing penalty – video below.
With the home side taking the lead, the scene was set for a good game and that’s exactly what we got.
Both sides played some good football and both deserve credit for a very entertaining affair.
A great introduction to the East of Scotland Football League for us.
The visitors were level in the 34th minute and again, I managed to capture this deflected goal by Greg Page.
That was the end of my luck recording goals, I’m afraid.
The first half was a very evenly and hard-fought forty-five and it was only fitting that honours were even at the break.
Half Time – Tynecastle FC 1 v Broxburn Athletic 1
Normally, at halftime, I get out my phone and check to see how Stoke are getting on. With this game kicking off half an hour earlier, there were only twenty minutes gone at the Bet365 Stadium.
Still, that’s plenty of time to let in a couple of goals against an excellent Brighton team in the FA Cup, right?
Surprising then, that Stoke were actually winning 1-0 and a shock was on the cards! Unfortunately, this didn’t last and the Premier League outfits class showed through in the end, leaving Staffordshire with a 4-2 win.
We decided to celebrate Stoke’s shock lead with a halftime pie from the cafe behind us. Sadly, everyone else must have seen Stoke’s score and had the same idea, as all the pies were gone.
Oh well, I wasn’t hungry anyway!
Second Half
The second half picked up where the first left off, with both teams fighting hard for the three points.
In the 58th minute, the home side retook the lead and it was that man Cameron again with his second
This followed a disallowed goal for the visitors and the referee certainly wasn’t popular with the visiting fans.
There seemed to be as many Brox fans inside the ground as there were home fans. Many of them sporting their team colours.
This shouldn’t be too surprising, as Broxburn lies just to the west of Edinburgh and they were top of the league after all.
Controversy reigned again in the 66th minute.
With a goal seeming certain for Broxburn, their striker went flying to the ground and was rewarded with a yellow card for simulation.
With the distance, it was hard to say if it was a dive or not but if it was, I really don’t understand why he would do it with the goal gaping.
The visitors did draw level soon after through Ross Nimmo and it was game on again.
A series of back and forth ensued and it was anyone’s guess as to who would snatch the winner.
With just four minutes of normal time remaining, it was Broxburn’s Darren Downie who snatched it, to the delight of the majority where we were standing.
A thoroughly entertaining game and a great decision to head here after our earlier disappointment.
Full-Time – Tynecastle FC 2 v Broxburn Athletic 3
You can read a full Match Report here, courtesy of the Broxburn Athletic website.
Attendance – 185
Entrance Fee – £8.00
Programme – N/A
Up Next
Weather permitting, next up for Tynecastle, is another home game, against Hillfield Swifts on January 13th.
This will be followed by away trips to Glenrothes (20th) and Penicuik Athletic (27th), to round off January.
For Broxburn, they will face a Friday evening fixture at Lothian Thistle on the 12th.
A further away game against Crossgates Primrose (20th) before finally seeing out January with a home fixture against Sauchie Juniors.
Tynecastle FC – Thoughts
Tynecastle might have been an afterthought in today’s plans but I’m glad it was.
A surprisingly good quality of football, an entertaining game and also a surprisingly good ground.
It all added up to a happy Hopping experience.
Sadly, there was no programme, or none that I noticed anyway. This is always a bit of a downer for me, as I love them as a memento of the day. I do understand that money is an issue for clubs though.
A happy medium for me would be a printed team sheet given out at the turnstile as an optional part of the entry fee. Something to consider maybe?
Also, reconsider the price of the pin badges. The ‘norm’ at non-league clubs is £3 to £3.50, so there is no need to charge a fiver.
Maybe stock a few more pies, too. My stomach would never forgive me if I didn’t mention this…
These were my only complaints for an otherwise superb venue and small complaints at that.
Edinburgh – After the Game
We had a short walk to Colinton Road to catch the #27 bus into Edinburgh’s centre.
Our bus was already in situ and we faced either a quick run to try and catch it or a half-hour wait for the next one.
My arthritic bones arranged themselves into a bone-rattling semblance of what could be seen as jogging and we managed to catch it before it pulled away.
Phew!
We got off at Victoria Street and made the ten-minute walk to the station.
Edinburgh looked particularly pretty as we approached Princes Street Gardens. A large Ferris wheel was lit up, as was the Scott Memorial and a fairground was set up along the gardens.
My phone isn’t built for nighttime photos but hopefully, it did well enough.
With the early kick-off time, we were back at Waverley with an hour to kill, before our 17:55 train home.
We killed time with a slice of cake each, some of which was donated to the pigeons that scrabbled around our feet in the waiting room.
We headed for our train at 17:30 and were rewarded with it being on Platform 1 waiting for us.
A pleasant ride back into Newcastle ended at 19:20 and we quickly walked in the hope of catching our bus.
We quickly skirted around several drunken pockets of people in black and white but all to no avail.
The X1 pulled off just as we rounded the corner, leaving us with a half-hour wait for the next one.
We caught the next bus and were ordering a much-needed pizza on Mrs Hopper’s phone app. We collected it when we arrived in our town and took it home to fend off the gnawing pangs in our stomachs.
Home before nine o’clock and another successful Hop in the books.
Next Up for Hoppers Guide
Next week, we take it up a few notches as we head to Huddersfield Town’s John Smith’s Stadium, for a Championship game between the hosts and Plymouth Argyle.
I have visited Huddersfield before, many years ago, when they were still playing at Leeds Road.
That was as a visiting Stoke supporter and I’m hoping I will be greeted a little friendlier than that day. I still remember the stones and bricks clattering against the fence behind the away end.
And that was after they had beaten us! 😂
Onto the next!
