Hunting Grounds by Gary Sutherland

Author:Gary Sutherland [Sutherland, Gary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780857901187
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd

I would like to point out that not all club shops were open (so when do they open?). In the shops that were open, I had to sift through an awful lot of crap. Anyway, on with the second-half …

SCENARIO: Gretna are playing Queen of the South in the Scottish First Division. Crikey. A Borders derby.

DATE: Saturday, November 11, 2006.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: the border town of Gretna, which is distinct from Gretna Green which is several miles away.

CULTURAL NOTES: Weddings became a Gretna tradition because of runaway couples eloping north of the border for a quickie. Marriages were made over the anvil at the blacksmith’s shop, horseshoes were straightened and the rest is history.

GRETNA PROFILE

KICKED OFF: 1946. Gretna were only admitted to the Scottish Football League in 2002 but they have been making up for lost time by running like the clappers through the divisions.

TRUE COLOURS: White and black.

BADGE OF HONOUR: The Gretna badge consists of a horseshoe and an anvil. Wedding stuff.

NAME CALLING: Black & Whites. Or Borderers. Neither nickname is particularly stirring.

MORTAL ENEMY: Queen of the South. Whom Gretna are always trying to depose. Recently with some success. Doon with the Doonhamers! But those are not my words.

AREN’T WE BRILLIANT?: Gretna have fast-tracked themselves through the divisions, reaching the Scottish Cup final in 2006, which they lost to Hearts at Hampden, but qualifying for the Uefa Cup. A lot has been said and written about Gretna but I would like to mention Dennis ‘Touchy’ Smith. He was a Gretna striking legend (though he did not like being reminded of missed chances). Dennis scored more than 100 goals for Gretna in a single season. The Carlisle and District League must have been crap.

MISSION LOGISTICS

ALIGHT AT: Gretna station. Turn left for Gretna. Don’t turn right for Gretna Green. Unless you are planning on getting hitched before the match. It is about a fifteen-minute walk to the football ground from the train station. You pass through a long tunnel and then through a field. On my way to Raydale Park, a horse and carriage passes by, the carriage containing two happy-looking newlyweds. Ah, bless! I would shower them with confetti but if I rip up my return train ticket I’ll have to buy another one.

A Pint At: I would not say that Gretna is the best place for a pint because I can’t seem to find any pubs. There is a hotel near Raydale Park, so you can head in there for a drink, but I make it into the Gretna social club at Raydale Park for the sake of 50p on the door. Not having ever spent much time in this part of the world, the biggest thing I find is re-tuning my ears to the local accent, but everyone is very friendly and the social club is very busy.

MISSION DEBRIEFING

Field of Dreams: Raydale Park is packed to the rafters for the derby with Queen of the South whose fans are packed like sardines in the low covered enclosure across from the main stand.

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