Ayr United V Arbroath – Cinch Scottish Championship (07/08/2021)

Todays journey consisted of two train journeys, got off to a great start as my train into Glasgow was 8 minutes late into Glasgow Queen Street which meant I missed my next train from Glasgow Central. One positive from this meant I had time to grab a pair of sausage rolls from Greggs to enjoy on the train.

Enjoyed a scenic train journey as we went along the coast and passed lots of golf courses and several lower league football grounds including Irvine Victoria and Troon, two grounds that are on my list to visit.

The walk from Newton On Ayr train station was an easy 10 minute walk and mainly straight roads and using the trusty google maps made it even easier. Managed to avoid the rain that started tumbling down as it was just spitting before I entered the ground.

Thanks to Ayr United assistant manager Dave Timmins (ex Shrewsbury Town goalkeeper coach) entry to the game was free due to him providing me with a complimentary ticket to the game. I went to the club shop to collect the ticket, picked up a pin badge to add to the collection and had a wander around the ground to take in Somerset Park. I was more than happy to find out that I would be behind the goal in the covered standing terrace, Somerset Road End. It took me back to when I first started going to football matches back in the 90’s, even more so when the air was filled with the scent of bovril and pies. Some great atmosphere being created behind the goal by fans with a drum and constant singing.

Somerset Park is a real old school ground with three terraced stands, two with roofs and one open air and the all seater main stand running along the touch line. This is why I love ground hopping, getting to take in all these grounds with great character and a big difference from the all seater stadiums popping up nowadays.

Both sides started the game with great attacking intent, on 10 minutes Arbroath broke the deadlock with a great curling finish into the top corner from Nouble, who’s celebration of his finger to his lips to the home fans riled up the Ayr faithful behind the goal.

The visitors went 2-0 up on 25 minutes as a cross from McKenna was not dealt with by McGinty who was under no pressure and left the ball which looper into the far corner past the keeper who was not at fault in my opinion as the captain should have dealt with it with ease, a very poor goal to concede.

Following the goal Ayr seemed to be content with playing the long ball game which wasn’t working as the long balls weren’t finding anyone or just going out of play. Ayr should have equalised if it wasn’t for great defending and goalkeeping as a pair of shots were deflected away 10 minutes after the goal. It’s safe to say the second goal deflated the fans as the drumming and singing were replaced by boo’s and silence. The half time whistle was greeted by a made of boo’s echoing around the ground.

Treated myself to a steak and ale pie seeing as the snack bar was open, good price of £2.50 and tasted good too with some good chunks of steak. The only downside was that it was served on a napkin which did make for a messy feast, could have done with a box or tray.

Ayr started the second half brighter, mixing the long ball game with some strong attacks on the ground going close from a long throw but were still giving the ball away when getting in dangerous positions. Arbroath were seeming to be sitting on their 2-0 lead and were almost caught out from a flick on from a corner but Gaston in goal kept it out. The home side clearly got a kick up the arse at half time.

20 minutes in to the second half and Arbroath were awarded a penalty after a hand ball, but the penalty was struck against the bar and the follow up deflected behind for a corner. In fairness it would have been cruel on Ayr if it had gone in as they had been the better side in the second half.

Ayr got their deserved goal with 20 minutes left as a free kick was drifted to the far post and following a neat cutback the ball was stabbed into the net by Adeloye to make it 2-1.

As the second half wound down the long ball game returned from both teams but with time running out the home side got the equaliser their second half performance deserved as the ball wasn’t dealt with at the back post from a cross and substitute McKenzie smashed home from 6 yards. A good finish to the game with it ending 2-2 which to be fair was the right result as Arbroath controlled the first half and Ayr would superior in the second.

Good day out in Ayr today, really liked the ground and getting to stand was an added bonus. To make the game all the better for me all four goals were scored at the end I was stood in. Once again a massive thanks to Dave for sorting out the ticket to the game for me.

So onto my ratings…

Ticket Price – Complimentary

Programme – N/A

Programme Rating – N/A (Team sheet only)

Refreshments – 7/10

Stadium Facilities – 7/10

Getting to stadium – 8/10

Stadium rating – 9/10

Game rating – 7/10

Thanks for reading my thoughts on Ayr United against Arbroath.

Daz Carding

Airdrieonians V Montrose – Cinch Scottish League One (31/07/2021)

I was hoping I would be spending my 35th birthday watching Hearts V Celtic at Tynecastle but following two failed ballot draws I went ground-hopping and headed to Excelsior Stadium to watch Airdrie V Montrose. Got some good birthday swag though with 4 football shirts with two Dortmund, one Croatia and the new Hearts home shirt.

Got the train into Glasgow Queen Street, then changed trains to Airdrie. The train got as far as Shettleston and we ordered off the train and the service was cancelled due to signalling issues. Then the wait began….a 40 minute wait and then a train showed up and luckily was heading towards Airdrie, but we got about 5 minutes out and the train stopped in the middle of nowhere, with every random stop I got the worry that I was going to spend the afternoon on a piss scented Scot Rail train.

Off the train an hour and 10 minutes later than planned and made the just over a mile walk from Airdrie train station to Excelsior Stadium. Passed a Tesco so made a quick pitstop for a sausage roll as the pie shop at the ground wasn’t to be open. Didn’t really help that I’m unfit and the walk was all uphill, made it to the ground with 20 minutes to spare. Not really a stadium made with getting from public transport in mind.

No match day programmes on sale today, as the programme stand was being used as a sanitation station but I did manage to grab a team-sheet from a steward who thought I was a member of the media.

The Excelsior Stadium or The a Penny Cars Stadium as it’s also known, is a pretty modern looking stadium and would look at home in the Championship. The four all seater stands with the seats in the red, white and black of Airdrie, like many lower league sides in Scotland there is an artificial pitch. Managed to get a seat behind the dugouts and with no pillars in the ground had a great view for the game.

The game started brightly and with 10 minutes played the visitors took the lead with a goal from Masson who nipped in and scored from close range. Montrose had the better of the first half as Airdrie struggled to create anything at all and looked second best all across the pitch.

Montrose doubled their lead with 5 minutes of the second half gone, as the Airdrie defence seemed to let Milne walk into the box easily beat the keeper and put the ball in the bottom left corner. With the score at 2-0 there was loud boo’s from the home fans as they clearly weren’t enjoying what they were seeing.

A clumsy penalty was given with 15 minutes left to play and things went from bad to worse for the Diamonds as the penalty was put away with ease by Webster. There were a few brighter spells as Airdrie brought on Easton who looked like he could create something and got stuck in but they couldn’t find a breakthrough and the game finished 3-0 to The Gable Endies.

Had to make a mad dash to make my train back home as going out for a birthday meal with my wife, so as soon as the full time whistle went I power walked to the train station and managed to beat google maps by 6 minutes (it’s the small victories).

Another ground ticked off this list to put me on 70 football grounds visited now, enjoyed my trip to the Excelsior Stadium but not so much the train journey to get there. Happy to have spent my 35th birthday doing what I love watching football and ground hopping.

So onto my ratings…

Ticket Price – £18

Programme – N/A

Programme Rating – N/A (team sheet only)

Refreshments – N/A

Stadium Facilities – 7/10

Getting to stadium – 5/10

Stadium rating – 7/10

Thanks for reading my thoughts on Airdrieonians against Montrose.

Daz Carding

Dunfermline Athletic V Stenhousemuir – Premier Sports Cup Group H (24/07/2021)

I was meant to be going to Ayr United V Falkirk but due to Falkirk having a positive Covid case the game was called off, so a last minute change was needed and luckily Dunfermline were selling general admission for their game against Stenhousemuir in the Premier Sports Cup.

Being daft I purchased my ticket without checking travel to Dunfermline, so an hour and 45 minutes train journey it was for my first visit to East End Park. Also confused as to which train station to get off at as after speaking to different people it seemed as though both stations were a similar distance from the ground, decided on Dunfermline Town as it sounded like it was near the centre as needed to pick up something to drink. As I was travelling east into Fife I got the 1141 train to Edinburgh Haymarket and a change for the train to Dunfermline, can’t complain too much as the train crossed the Forth Bridge which had some cracking views from the train window.

Made a slight detour when I got to Dunfermline Town Station and went on the hunt for something to eat and a drink, went for the reliable Greggs and two sausage rolls and two yum yums. Popped the postcode into google maps and made my way to East End Park, pretty straight forward walk to the ground as was near enough a straight road apart from one roundabout.

Got into the ground at about 10 past 2 after picking up a pin badge for my collection from the club shop. As time got closer to kick off the seats started to fill up and a nice atmosphere was beginning. Not sure exactly how many were in the ground but it felt a lot more normal than it has been at football for a long time.

After 15 minutes gone ex Jambo Craig Wighton dinked the ball over the Stenny keeper following a neat through ball. With 10 minutes till half time after an error at the back from the Stenhousemuir keeper, a low cross was tapped into an empty net by O’Hara to make it 2-0 to the hosts. After further calamity at the back and after several chances in quick succession Wighton scored his second and Dunfermline’s third from close range as the half drew to a close.

With mere minutes of the second half gone it was 4-0 to The Pars after a great ball was put into the back post O’Hara grabbed his second with a net finish. The visitors pulled one back with around 25 minutes left through Thomson with another close range goal following a great ball in from the left.

A decent game for Dunfermline and neutral fans like me, never a bad thing seeing 5 goals to be fair unless your on the losing side of course. Dunfermline looked a decent side and can see them being dark horses in the Scottish Championship this season.

Enjoyed my first trip to East End Park and to finally tick off a ground I’ve wanted to visit for some time now. Would highly recommend visiting the ground as has a modern feel to it but still maintains an old school vibe.

So onto my ratings…

Ticket Price – £12

Programme – N/A

Programme Rating – N/A

Refreshments – N/A

Stadium Facilities – 6/10

Getting to stadium – 8/10

Stadium rating – 7/10

Thanks for reading my thoughts on Dunfermline Athletic against Stenhousemuir.

Daz Carding

@Salopian_Jambo

Albion Rovers V Ayr United – Premier Sports Cup Group E (10/07/2021)

A 45 minute train journey to Coatbridge today (28 of that waiting at Greenfaulds) for me as I tick off another new ground today for Albion Rovers V Ayr United. Safe to say Greenfaulds station is in the middle of nowhere, nothing anywhere near the place, so made do with reading When Saturday Comes to kill the time.

Off the train at Coatbridge Central and thankfully there was plenty of shops on the way to the ground, stopped off for two sausage rolls at Greggs to fill the gut.

Arrived at Cliftonhill Stadium and I was happy when I saw it was a proper old football ground, a wooden stand with seats at the rear and standing at the front. This right here is why I love groundhopping!!

A pair of familiar faces were involved today, ex Hearts man Ryan Stevenson on the bench for Albion Rovers and ex Shrewsbury goalkeeper coach and man I had star pleasure of spending an evening with chatting all thing Salop and football, Dave Timmins who is a part of David Hopkins’ coaching staff at Ayr United. So happy to be back amongst the 150 fans for some competitive football.

Prematch I noticed the 6 yard box wasn’t flat as it looked pretty bumpy from where I was sat. 9 Ayr hit the bar after 10mins. First half was all Ayr as they created the better of the chances but credit to Rovers as they took the game to their Championship opponents for the last 10 minutes of the half.

Second half started with a battle in the isle of the park but to be fair to them Albion Rovers has the upper hand but just lacked that final ball. Ayr had a great chance with 10 left but the Rovers keeper kept it level with a superb save. Neither team could find a breakthrough in the 90 minutes so it went straight to penalties to find a winner, not the result I was expecting today. Even more of a surprise in the shootout as the Rovers keeper made a pair of saves as they won 4-2 on penalties.

Special mention for the facilities at Cliftonhill Stadium as they had better toilets than some higher league clubs and they had a little cafe in the ground that kept the air smelling of bovril and pies. Hats off to the fans behind the goal with flags, banners and a drum.

So onto my ratings…

Ticket Price – £12

Programme – N/A (team sheet only)

Programme Rating – N/A

Refreshments – N/A

Stadium Facilities – 9/10

Getting to stadium – 8/10

Stadium rating – 7/10

Thanks for reading my thoughts on Albion Rovers against Ayr United.

Daz Carding

England V Denmark – UEFA Euro 2020 Semi Finals (07/07/2021)

Travelled to Glasgow Green for what should be the final time unless I can get a ticket to come here for the final. Once again it stated sold out online but with half hour till kick off it was as dead as it has been every other time I’ve been. Ventured to the information desk to enquire about spare tables and was told to check back just after kick off.

Must be my lucky day as was told with 20 mins till kick off to go sit at any table, just meant I lugged this bloody camping chair with me for nowt. Celebrated this little victory with a non alcoholic Heineken.

Few more showed up as we got closer to kick off would say around 500 or 600 at most. Fair few English fans here and lots of Scots supporting the Danes, which made themselves heard when Denmark took the lead with a great free kick that Pickford had no chance with.

But I had my chance to celebrate as Saka put in a great ball that was turned in to his own net by the Danish captain Kjear, safe to say I leapt off my seat and made a lot of noise, even exchanged a celebratory fist bump with another England fan.

Half-time came but before I made my want to the portaloos for a quick Jimmy riddle, some knuckle draggers tried to get a response by giving me the middle thing as they walked past as they had been trying to do all through the first half. Unfortunately they are trying to get a reaction from the wrong person as I find it very easy to ignore idiots like that so no reaction from me.

Second half had a definite semi final feel as both teams went for it, but it always looked like it was going to extra time.

The same idiots from half time came over and one of the lovely lot told me he hopes I die and pointed at me doing a cut throat, his mother must be so proud.

Extra time and Gareth Southgate saves all his subs bar one, so had the luxury of five subs in extra time. Boy did that luxury pay off as we got a penalty early on and Scmeichel saved from Kane but Super Harry banged in the rebound and cue mental scenes in Glasgow Green from the English contingent!!!

The second half of extra time felt like 15 hours not 15 minutes, which wasn’t helped by some people from UEFA deciding with 7 minutes left that they wanted to ask me a few questions, but we managed to hold off the Danes and book our place in Sunday’s final!! Made the decision while on the phone to my mate while leaving the fan zone that I’ll watch at home Sunday and have a bit of a knees up.

Well Glasgow Green Fan Zone it’s been a blast these few weeks, although it’s been like a ghost town most times I’ve visited and the non alcoholic beer was a rip off. Now roll on Sunday!!

So onto my ratings…

Ticket Price – £0

Programme – N/A

Programme Rating – N/A

Refreshments – N/A

Stadium Facilities – 3/10

Getting to stadium – 7/10

Stadium rating – N/A

Thanks for reading my thoughts on my trip to the UEFA Euro 2020 Fan Zone in Glasgow.

Daz Carding

Czech Rep V Denmark – UEFA Euro 2020 Quarter Finals (03/07/2021)

Safe to say the weather wasn’t on my side as on the train back into Glasgow it was pissing down. Made my way to Glasgow Green for the Czech Republic against Denmark, I’m guessing the weather put people off as there wasn’t many people waiting to go in. There was a bloke outside selling Scotland flags and scarves which I found a little strange.

Got through security and made my way to where I thought the merchandise was but there was just an empty space and some funny coloured grass, I asked one of the ever helpful volunteers where it was and one said it’s as you go into the benches area on the right and I couldn’t see it. Asked another and they said they haven’t come today…. helpful. The drink servers were annoying me as every few minutes they would come up asking if I wanted a drink, if I wanted anything I’d order using the bloody app!!

Don’t think there’s many England fans about as I was wearing my England shirt was approached by people recording for the Euro big screens for some photos and an interview, had to settle a debate if my hometown is pronounced Shrewsbury or Shrowsbury.

The fan zone again was as it has been every time I’ve been here, dead. As I’ve said before seeing as it can hold up to 3,000 people you were lucky if there were 300 there. It’s a shame as you see fan zone’s elsewhere in Europe and they are really busy, even worse when pubs have their own fan zone’s and they are busy too. Probably the prices of drinks and food have put people off and that it is way out of the city centre. The fan zone could have been such more of a success of managed properly.

The Danes dominated the first half of the game and showed that by going in at the break 2-0 up thanks to goals from Delaney and Dolberg. It looked like it was destined to be a Denmark win up to the end of the first half.

With that in mind Czech Republic got themselves right back into the game 5 minutes into the second half as the tournaments top scorer Schick scored a great volley. As the second 45 went on neither team could really break though and it finished 2-1 as the Danes went through to the semi finals.

With my England flag that was laid out on my table piss wet through, thick black clouds hanging over the fan zone and yellow weather warnings for rain and thunder storms, I made the decision to head home and watch the England game in the dry.

So onto my ratings…

Ticket Price – £0

Programme – N/A

Programme Rating – N/A

Refreshments – N/A

Stadium Facilities – 3/10

Getting to stadium – 7/10

Stadium rating – N/A

Thanks for reading my thoughts on my trip to the UEFA Euro 2020 Fan Zone in Glasgow.

Daz Carding

Dumbarton V Clydebank – Preseason Friendly (03/07/2021)

My first trip to the C&G Systems Stadium in Dumbarton today, £6 train ticket and under an hour journey from my house. The stadium was only a 10 minute walk from the station and was pretty much a straight road. The ground is in a pretty picturesque area with Dumbarton Castle and Rock behind the main stand, the ground itself sits on the edge of a bay. The area that the ground is in is a real unique one and happy I decided to take in the game here today.

The ground only has one stand and no facility to stand around the other three sides apart from two little benches that looks like old dugouts opposite the main stand, but with the view behind the one goal it would be a shame to block it with a stand. The stewards inside the ground were pretty strict with the covid protocols, making sure people only sat in seats with ticks on and informing anyone who took their mask off to promptly put it back on.

The first half was a real scrappy affair with neither team getting a hold of the game and no real chances being created. That changed though as Clydebank hit the post not long before half-time as the keeper was clearly beaten but the ball struck back off the woodwork, which I’m pretty sure we the only shot on target. The game just seemed to struggle to find a flow, you couldn’t tell who was the league side and who was the junior team.

The second half continued as the first had but the home side took the lead after they worked their way into the box and 14 hit the post and the ball went in for 1-0.

Dumbarton seemed to have the edge as the second half went on creating some chances but the Clydebank keeper had an answer for everything thrown at him. 16 for Dumbarton added some threat after coming off the bench, working well to get into the box. Safe to say the second half was a bit more lively than the first but overall not the best of games but a typical pre season friendly.

Same walk back to Dumbarton East train station to head back into Glasgow and onto the Glasgow Green Fan Zone for Ukraine V England.

So onto my ratings…

Ticket Price – £5

Programme – N/A

Programme Rating – N/A

Refreshments – N/A

Stadium Facilities – 6/10

Getting to stadium – 8/10

Stadium rating – 6/10

Thanks for reading my thoughts on Dumbarton against Clydebank.

Daz Carding

Sweden V Ukraine – UEFA Euro 2020 Round Of 16 (29/06/2021)

Massive thanks to Gary for sorting me out with a ticket for this game, not going to lie I think I would rather have been at Wembley than watching it on my phone in Hampden three hours before kicks off. It’s even worse that I had a ticket for England v Germany but couldn’t get the time off work, real life sucks.

The train from Glasgow Central to Mount Florida sounded like it had seen better days as the creaks and screeches were pretty worrying, due to the heat I had guzzled down a cold can of Fanta lemon and the trains toilets being out of use was far from ideal.

I watched the England game on my phone but switched to the big screen as my phone was a few minutes delayed, realised this when Sterling scored. Did enjoy a few English fans starting singing “It’s Coming Home” at full time though.

My seat was next to the majority of the Sweden fans and there seemed to be a lot of them, unless a lot of Scots own Sweden shirt and flags. Pre-match the fans created a good atmosphere, enough that you would think there was a lot more in the stadium than there was. Bit of a shame that a contingent of drunken idiots thought it was ok to boo the national anthems.

The game started with both teams going for it as you would expect in a last 16 game, the game was being fought for in the middle of the pitch and seemed pretty even. That was until Ukraine took the lead when Yarmelenko played a superb pass with the outside of his boot to Zinchenko who smashed the ball across the keeper from a tight angle.

The Swedes equalised right before half-time through the impressive Forsberg with a strike from outside the box that took a slight deflection before going in, perfect time to get back in the game.

The woodwork was struck 3 times in the second half with Sweden hitting it twice and Ukraine once. The Swedes were dominant and the keeper kept Ukraine in it with an awesome save. In the last 10 minutes it was all Ukraine though but as the game headed towards extra time it was the Swedes who looked most likely to grab a later winner. But it wasn’t to be as it ended 1-1.

Extra time looked as if we were destined for penalties as neither team looked threatening. Both teams were kicking lumps out of each other with stoppages left right and centre. VAR came into play after a reckless tackle from Danielson, a yellow became a red and the Ukraine player left the field injured. Just as it was heading to penalties Zinchenko put in a cross and Dovbyk headed past Olsen in the 121st minute. The Ukrainians went mental even with a topless (male) pitch invader, as you would expect with such a late winner.

So it will be England against Ukraine in Rome on Saturday night in the quarterfinals. After a later finish than expected I left Hampden and decided on the shuttle bus back into the city as most fans were heading to the train station. That brings an end to my Euro 2020 games I’m going to unless I somehow get a ticket to one of the semi’s or final at Wembley (never say never).

So onto my ratings…

Ticket Price – £50

Programme – £10

Programme Rating – 10/10

Refreshments – N/A

Stadium Facilities – 8/10

Getting to stadium – 8/10

Stadium rating – 8/10

Thanks for reading my thoughts on Sweden against Ukraine.

Daz Carding

St Rochs V Cambuslang Rangers – Preseason Friendly (26/06/2021)

Change of scenery for this weekends pre-season game, as I went back to Petershill Park for the first time in a while for St Rochs V Cambuslang Rangers. A nice short walk from Springburn train station and as I’ve been here before no chance of getting lost this time.

Cambuslang were easily the better side in the first half as they had most of the ball and created a lot of chances and deserved a bigger lead than they had at the break. A good well taken first goal by number 21 but their second was a disaster from St Rochs at the back as the keeper played himself into danger and the resulting corner was somehow bundled in after some poor defending for 2-0. Soon after it was 3 as the St Rochs defence seemed to fall asleep as the Rangers player strolled into the box and beat the keeper with ease.

St Rochs could have had a couple of goals of their own but both chances were missed from close range. They were made to rue those missed chances as Rangers got a fourth just before the referee blew for half time, after another mistake at the back.

No messing about here as there wasn’t even 5 minutes break for half time. Cambuslang started how they played in the first half on the attack. But that attack saw number 5 go down after a coming together and as the physios came on it didn’t look good as he was carried off the pitch.

The start of the half as back and forth but St Rochs again missed an opportunity as they hit the bar from close range. A big improvement from the first half as the chances kept coming but the finish was missing. The substitute keeper for Rangers was helping keep St Rochs out with some great saves.

The second half deadlock was broken by Rangers as they scored a peach from around 30 yards out, giving the keeper on chance to make it 5-0. It went from bad to worse as the St Rochs keeper was beaten once again for 6-0.

After a few minutes spell where Rangers kept the ball from St Rochs with pass after pass, a seventh was added and it was another long ranger that beat the keeper with ease. As the players lined up for kick off the referee blew for full time. As the 7-0 score line shows Cambuslang were easily the better side today.

So onto my ratings…

Ticket Price – £3

Programme – N/A

Programme Rating – N/A

Refreshments – N/A

Stadium Facilities – 0/10

Getting to stadium – 8/10

Stadium rating – 6/10

Thanks for reading my thoughts on St Rochs against Cambuslang Rangers.

Daz Carding

Slovakia V Spain – UEFA Euro 2020 Group E (23/06/2021)

Same walk to Glasgow Green as the last few times I’ve been to the Fan Zone, picked up more snacks than usual but made an unknown error buying an expensive drink from an American candy shop which I was told I couldn’t take in with me. So I entered very bloated and in much need of a piss from drinking a 500ml can, joined by my mate Bam for the afternoon.

The volunteers were as useless as ever as our ticket we had booked stated “table allocated” but had no table number on, we were sent to 5 different people to then be sent back to the first people we spoke to. I let Bam go deal with it as I stood watching the start of the game. Not sure why we couldn’t just sit anywhere as out of the 3,000 capacity there were 15 people sat in the three sections at kick off. Thanks to this shambles Bam ended up missing the first 8 minutes.

We finally got given a table in the blue zone right in front of the screen, table 363. The fan zone felt eerily silent with the only noise being the commentary from the speakers. It’s really frustrating that these games are all showing as sold out online as I think the only games that haven’t been under half full have been the Scotland games.

As for the game, it started off a bit boring and Spain looked very poor constantly misplacing passes but only not on the losing end as Slovakia were no better. But that all changed after half an hour as Slovakia keeper Dúbravka scored one of the craziest own goals I’ve ever seen, Laporte doubled Spain’s lead in first half stoppage time.

Ten minutes after the break they made it 3-0 through Sarabia, they ten minutes later it was 4 as Ferran Torres scored with his first touch after coming off the bench. Slovakia made things worse for themselves a few minutes later when Kucka put the ball into his own net when trying to clear the ball. From a boring start to a 5-0 win for Spain.

As it had rained and the skies were pretty grim looking we decided to head home rather than stay for the Portugal V France game. It was made more appealing to watch it at home when my wife text saying we were getting a Chinese take-away for tea!!

So onto my ratings…

Ticket Price – £0

Programme – N/A

Programme Rating – N/A

Refreshments – 3/10

Stadium Facilities – 7/10

Getting to stadium – 7/10

Stadium rating – N/A

Thanks for reading my thoughts on my trip to the UEFA Euro 2020 Fan Zone in Glasgow.

Daz Carding