Stenhousemuir FC

On Easter Saturday 2009 (April 11th), I made my first ever visit to OCHILVIEW PARK - the home of STENHOUSEMUIR.

However, I wasn't there to watch "THE WARRIORS" play a home game - I was there to watch EAST STIRLINGSHIRE (their tenants)take on Irn Bru League "new boys" ANNAN ATHLETIC in a Third Division fixture.

The ground at Ochilview is a strange affair.
Despite having a capacity of 5267 - of which 2117 are seats, Ochilview is only 2 sided, comprising a main stand and a behind goal covered terrace.

Various 5-a-side "pens", run down industrial units and a fairly sizeable car park form the perimeter of this odd looking football "stadium", just a few miles from Falkirk.

Here are the snaps from my visit.



THIS IS THE MAIN STAND, WHICH IS KNOWN BY LOCALS AS "THE McCOWANS END" (AFTER THE TOFFEE FACTORY IN THE SAME STREET).THE STAND RUNS 1/2 THE LENGTH OF THE PITCH, STRADDLING THE HALF WAY LINE.
THIS VIEW COMES FROM THE ADJACENT "PLAYERS" CAR PARK, WHERE, TOTALLY UNCHALLENGED, I LEFT MY CAR!!



VIEW OF THE COVERED "TRYST ROAD" TERRACE - VIEWED FROM THE ACCESS ROAD WHICH PASSES BEHIND THE GOAL.
NOTE THE ARTIFICIAL "3G" PITCH, WHICH IS ALLOWED (AND INDEED COMMON) IN THE IRN BRU LEAGUES 1-3, BUT NOT IN THE SPL!!



VIEW FROM THE CORNER FLAG TO THE MAIN STAND - I TOLD YOU THE ROAD WAS CLOSE TO THE GOAL!!



THE WONDERFUL PITCHSIDE PARKING ARRANGEMENTS.
I PROBABLY COULD HAVE SAT THERE ALL AFTERNOON, AND WATCHED THE MATCH FOR NOTHING!!



NOW WALKING BACK ALONG THE ROAD, THE PITCH-LENGTH VIEW FROM GOAL TO GOAL.



THE DUGOUTS - HIDDEN AMONGST A VAST ARRAY OF PRACTICE GOALS!



A CLOSER VIEW OF THE MAIN STAND - ALSO CALLED THE "NORWAY STAND", DUE TO A LARGE SUPPORT BASED IN SCANDINAVIA.



CONFIRMATION OF THE PREVIOUS CAPTION - VIEWED FROM THE ACCESS ROAD THAT LEADS YOU TO THE CAR PARK.
A SMALL SUPPORTER'S BAR (ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE RECEPTION AT PLAINMOOR) IS HOUSED UNDERNEATH THIS STAND.
ON THE DAY, IT WAS QUITE A SQUEEZE IN THERE AND THE SERVICE WAS A TAD SLOW......BUT WHAT DO EXPECT - THERE WAS NEARLY 20 OF US IN ALL!!



CLOSE UP OF THE TIRED LOOKING MAIN STAND SIGNAGE.



THIS IS MORE LIKE IT - AN OLD TURNSTILE BLOCK WITH SOME CHARACTER!
ONLY USED WHEN CROWD LEVELS DICTATE, THESE TURNSTILES LEAD INTO THE TRYST ROAD TERRACE, BEHIND THE GOAL.



THE PLAYERS (AND OFFICIALS) TUNNEL.




....AND THE PA/CORPORATE BOX, WHICH GIVES THE PERFECT VIEW OF THE DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.



SIDE VIEW OF THE "McCOWANS/ NORWAY/ GLADSTONE ROAD STAND...........TAKE YOUR PICK!!



AND THE LATEST HIGH TECH POLICE SURVEILLANCE FACILITIES - TO DETER THE WARRING FACTIONS!!







Anyway, on to the game between "THE SHIRE" and "THE BLACK AND GOLDS"/ "GALABANKIES" of Annan.

With both sides lying 3rd and 4th respectively in the league - and chasing a possible Play Off place at the end of the season, it was always going to be a tight affair.
And so it proved........

Here are the important bits.


WITH 18 MINUTES ON THE CLOCK, ANNAN'S #9 PHIL STOREY (BLUE SHIRT, 3RD FROM LEFT) BEATS A "SHIRE" DEFENDER ON THE POST, AND KEEPER MARK PEAT TO OPEN THE SCORING.
EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 0, ANNAN ATHLETIC 1.




EAST STIRLINGSHIRE REPLY WHEN, ON 25 MINUTES, #11 ANDY RODGERS (UNDER PRESSURE FROM ANNAN'S #2 ALAN INGLIS) FIRES A LOW SHOT ACROSS KEEPER CRAIG SUMMERGILL AND INTO THE FAR CORNER OF THE NET.
EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 1 , ANNAN ATHLETIC 1.



SUMMERGILL CAN ONLY OFFER A DESPAIRING DIVE AS THE BALL NESTLES IN THE ONION BAG!!
AT THIS STAGE, I AM AMAZED TO LEARN (FROM THE HOME SUPPORTERS) THAT THERE IS, INFACT, "ONLY 1 ANDY RODGERS!!"



HALF TIME - AND "SHIRE" MANAGER JIM McINALLY (ON THE RIGHT) HEADS FOR THE DRESSING ROOMS FOR HIS RALLYING TEAM TALK.



LOOKING AS IF THE BALL IS ABOUT TO HIT THE BACK OF THE ANNAN NET, THIS LATE SECOND HALF EFFORT GOES NARROWLY WIDE.
A LACKLUSTRE SECOND HALF, BEREFT OF ANY MEANINGFUL PASSING MOVES FROM EITHER SIDE, SEES THE MATCH FIZZLE OUT AS A 1-1 DRAW - WATCHED BY A CROWD OF 503.









AND FINALLY.....
ON EXITING THE GROUND, I CAME ACROSS THIS SIGN.
THANK GOD I MANAGED TO GET A PIE BEFORE KICK OFF! I MEAN, WHAT THE HELL WAS THE "ALTERNATIVE" ON OFFER???
THE MIND BOGGLES!!!