7th April
2012
Irn Bru
League Division 2
Forfar
Athletic 1-4 East Fife
Station Park, Forfar
Attendance: 559
I think
the last time I visited Station Park in Forfar was as a 6 year old
boy for a pre-season friendly between the home side and Aberdeen. I
don't actually remember much about the day other than it being a lot
of fun, with pretty good food, a very cool, but very cold stadium and
Forfar playing in a kit being bluer than a Trinidadian sky in July!
Arriving
at the ground, I was immediately taken back to that day and realised
I was about to embark on a 90 minutes in a properly old school
Scottish football ground.
The
Stadium (quirkiness and comfort) 8/10
Saying
that, one thing that had definitely changed since the “olden days”
is the zero tolerance policy Forfar have for those looking to
bring...well...pretty much anything semi-unorothodox into the ground.
No Exceptions! |
On entry,
I was delighted to discover that the ground allows access to all four
sides of the stadium. A half-time walkround – check! The “Loons
Direct” club shop, filled with all sorts of treats, sits behind the
East Terrace and just to the left hand side as you enter the ground.
Behind
each of the goals are open terraces - the aforementioned East Terrace
and the larger the West Terrace – with a small, covered terrace
running the length of the pitch on the South side of the ground.
Opposite sits a very old and traditional looking Main Stand which
only covers about half of the pitch. I watched the first half of the
match from the comfort of this stand's spacious bench seats.
Due to
the fact that Station Park offers the full walkround and, four very
differently sized and shaped ends, the ground offers fans many
different perspectives in the course of a match, which is appealing.
Overall, a good place to watch a game.
Catering
(quality and price) 10/10
How many times have you seen a reference to the fact that I’ve
never found a pie and a tea combination cheaper than Cappielow?
Well...ladies and gentlemen...Forfar have, at last, outdone Morton in
these stakes or steaks, if you enjoy a pun. For only £1.60 you can
pick up an exceptionally good pie and a perfectly acceptable cup of
tea. More than a year has passed since that wonderful day of the
£1.80 at Cappielow. I've paid more than £4 on far too many
occasions at SPL grounds. I've been physically sick after paying
double what I paid at Station Park at Falkirk. At Forfar I even
bought local, traditional, Bridie at half time as well...which came
in at only £1.50. Brilliant stuff!
Fans
(scored on both atmosphere & conduct – sporting behaviour,
welcoming nature etc) – 17/25
Firstly, I should say that once again the majority of fans inside the
ground were East Fife supporters. The Fifers do seem to love taking a
massive away support to an Angus ground. They outnumbered Brechin and
did the same to Forfar.
Those Forfar fans who were in situ, were a mixed bag. Atmosphere
wise, there wasn't a hell of a lot of it. The fact the Fifers were
2-0 up reasonably early couldn't have helped but even when the home
side pulled one back to make it 2-1, the fans up in the stand barely
let out an “hooray”.
The Stand was home to the single most polite teenage fan I've ever
encountered at a game though. Instead of “You blind b@stard!”
he taunted the referee with “you should have a look at the patch on
your sleeve, referee, then do what it says!” - obviously making a
rare, articulate “Should've gone to Specsavers” quip! The same
wee man also decided that instead of giving the visiting goalie a
good, old-fashioned “Yer pish keeper!” he dropped the
B-bomb............Butterfingers! Who, other than someone's granny,
refers to someone as “Butterfingers” when they drop something?
In the second half I moved down pitch side and noticed a lovely wee
“Supporters club” cafe-type thing which, I think, may be for
season ticket holders to grab a free jammie dodger and a coffee?
The fans down that way were equally mute in terms of encouragement,
but a lot more salt of the earth when it came to abuse, reverting back
to the more traditional “You're a fud linesman!” and so on.
All round, not unpleasant to be around the Forfar fans, but a little
bit nondescript on this occasion. I didn't feel like they energised
each other or the players. Getting pumped 4-1 probably doesn’t
help!
There was one exception though, a special little fan who appeared to sneak into the ground on the day without paying a fee! Ladies and Gentlemen....a baby bear!
Who's laughing now, Bungle? You big Rainbow pr!ck! |
Entertainment
on the pitch (quite self explanatory) 13/25
I
remember giving Stirling Albion a pretty hard time for their
performance when I featured that club. Giving Forfar anything less
than the same pelters, I think, would be harsh on Stirling. With the
exception of a couple of players, Forfar really were lacking both
quality and confidence. Too many defensive errors, too pedestrian in
possession and pretty impotent up top, it must be very frustrating to
watch the Loons this season. Not a great performance from them at
all.
Some home
players worth a mention:
Kevin
Motion: For some inexplicable reason, Dick Campbell decided to hook
this fella on the hour mark. Based on the evidence of this game, he's
one of the few with a bit of technique, directness and creativity in
the home side. A couple of very decent runs and efforts at goal were
a highlight.
Greg
Ross: I've not seen much of Forfar this season, so don't know how
well her performs normally, be he played pretty well on this
occasion. Box to box and fairly dynamic, he seemed to be one of the
few trying to add a bit of intensity.
Overall,
not a great day for the Loons on the Park, I’m afraid.
Value
for money (what you get for your buck) – 16/30
With
all that said, Forfar get pass marks, but are by no means one of the
better supporter's experiences. On the park, there wasn’t much to
write home about and it could be that Forfar don't stay up this
season. If they do, I can see another season of pain next year unless
there is a serious turnaround at Station Park. Perhaps they could
benefit from a drop, ironically.
Station
Park is a treat, if you get a chance to go then I’d certainly
consider it. The food is tremendous, if nothing else.
Overall Score for Forfar Athletic: 63/100
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