Loon Safari

I went to Forfar Athletic 3 Stirling Albion 3 on Saturday...

On the appropriate date of St. Andrew’s Day, I crossed the border to complete my 34th of the current 42 Scottish Professional Football League grounds. I travelled first to Edinburgh Waverley, on a train packed with the usual array of middle-aged Prosecco glugging ladies who lunch. On arrival, I opted not to attend the memorial service at St Giles Cathedral for Big Lexo Salmond, the man who saw the madness in your area when facing down Jeanette Mugabe, who was not only a voracious collector of mobile homes, but the self-appointed Uncrowned Queen of Scotland, Her Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor VC, DSO, MC, CBE, Ruler of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas, Conqueror of the British Empire. Within minutes, I was heading onward to Dundee on a far quieter service, frequented by a slack handful of Buddies en route to Tannadice to support St Mirren. However, I was going further than them, and I made my way through the pleasantly festive Discovery City I’ve developed something of an affection for, to catch the 21 to Kirriemuir from Seagate Bus Station, while I mused about my actual destination, Station Park, Forfar for the visit of Stirling Albion in the Scottish FA Cup. 

Despite its name, Forfar Athletic are based over 14 miles from the nearest railway line, with it being a toss up between Dundee and Arbroath which is the closer. Stagecoach buses are more frequent from Dundee, so as I sat struggling to cope with the noise pollution occasioned by some screaming bairns, I considered the potential titles for this blog. Station to Station, for the Bowie fans out there. Arrayed for the Bridie, as a nod to Bellini’s operatic air and the gorgeous local delicacy. However, bearing in mind Forfar Athletic’s parlous position at the foot of SPFL League 2, it may have been 42nd Street. Instead, as Station Park is my favourite Scottish ground I’ve visited since Somerset Park, my tribute to Air (Ayr) is the fact I’ve been on a Loon Safari. Of course, it could have been worse; if they’d lost, it would have been Loon Pants, as Forfar’s nickname is the Loons.

I got off the bus at around 13.50 and, travelling alone, felt no urge for a pint. Instead, I took the longish but straightforward route to Station Park on foot. With the relegation of Brechin City to the Highland League, Forfar was the third and final leg of my Angus Odyssey. I’d say that Montrose is my favourite of the three places, in terms of scenery and ambience, with Forfar in second place as a solid, somewhat stolid burgh, without the air of hedonistic bonhomie that seeps from every corner of Arbroath. I had bought my ticket in advance, though with the eventual attendance being 437 there wasn’t a lot of chance I’d be locked out of a 6,777-capacity ground. Although I was, as the turnstiles hadn’t opened yet. Instead, I nipped in the social club attached to the ground, prepared for a glass of pop but pleased to find coffee on sale.  

At 2.30, the gates opened, and I made my way in, stopping immediately for one of the iconic local snacks, a Forfar Bridie, from a concession run by Saddlers of Forfar, which had me wondering if there’s a Loons of Walsall at the Bescot Stadium. While the steak and black pudding pie at Arbroath was a rare delicacy, the macaroni pie at Montrose probably contravened the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This, on the other hand, was stunning. Shortcrust pasty, minced steak and onion. A delicious snip at £2.50. I could have eaten half a dozen. If Forfar won the Angus food prize, they also claimed the football ground one. Station Park is an absolute gem. Not only can you walk around all 4 sides, with both sets of fans swapping ends at the break, you can watch from either a covered or uncovered stand. The ends are open, with one resembling Crook Town’s Millfield Ground and the other the Brian Moore Stand at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium. In the first half, with drizzle in the air, I took cover in the covered, side terrace and saw Forfar immediately show just why they’re bottom of the league. On 12 minutes, a regulation cross was dropped by home keeper Mark McCallum, allowing Brown to lash the visitors ahead, to the delight of their 50 or so fans. Within 10 minutes, things got worse as Stirling played the ball around a static Loons rearguard, allowing Kerr to roll it home.

Suddenly, it all changed. Stirling, managed by the intriguing Alan Maybury, shut up shop and went into their shell, no doubt assuming the tie was won. Bad move, as it allowed Forfar, tentatively at first, to come forward. From a right-wing flag kick on 39 minutes, the experienced Ross McClean began his eventual hat trick, with a thunderous header. This gave the Loons renewed hope. For the second period, I took a spot on the impressive Mert Bank terrace, to which Forfar were attacking and saw almost the entire pattern of play. On 52 minutes, McClean had his second, tying the game up with a cool finish at the near post after a rather impressive display of short passing. Forfar’s ground gives you a brilliant view from every side and the 4G pitch encourages passing football. 

However, the devil was in the detail. My post-match travel arrangements were set in stone. I was on the 20.56 from Waverley. To catch that, I had to be on the 18.47 from Dundee, which meant my only choice if I wished to make that connection was the 17.11 number 20 from Forfar. Extra time and penalties would not be happening on my watch. And, despite the very best efforts of both Forfar and, belatedly, Stirling Albion, this is what came to pass. After the referee had played an age of stoppage time, things ended at 16.53, so I headed straight through the gates, without a backwards glance, to make my bus. I even ignored the pinging of my phone. Imagine how pleased I was, stood outside Forfar Police Station, to learn the notification had been of a 94th minute Palace equaliser. Whoopee, eh?

On the bus, I followed Forfar’s Twitter feed. Firstly, the Loons went 3-2 ahead when McClaren grabbed his hat trick after 102 minutes, only for Brown to get his second on 107 minutes to complete the scoring. I didn’t hear any cheering from the bus stop. I did cheer on the bus when Forfar prevailed 4-2 on penalties. Watching the highlights on YouTube, I was pleased to spot myself behind the goal as McClaren made it 2-2. Even more enjoyable was his brilliant header to make it 3-2. Best of all were the two penalty saves by McCallum, making up for his earlier error and seeing Forfar through to the last 32. Come on the Loons, eh? 

My journey back was quick and pleasant, so I’m looking forward to St Johnstone v Hibs on January 2nd for my next trip.