The Meaning of Life

42, according to Douglas Adams, which also is the number of Scottish Football League Grounds. Here's a rundown of them all -:

According to The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, the meaning of life is 42. As I’ve come to discover when visiting all the SPFL grounds, that is indeed the case. Hence, here are my reflections on all the grounds I’ve been to, in alphabetical order rather than ranking them in order of preference. I must say that now this task is complete, I do intend to be back, to Easter Road and to Falkirk at least. Also, you never know what will happen to 2025/2026’s 42^nd club in their play off with the winners of the Highland v Lowland knockout.

 Current Scottish League Grounds:

Aberdeen, Pittodrie. A ground I really like, so I can’t understand why the Dons keep exploring the idea of moving to a new stadium. Did this one by myself; a televised Sunday 2-2 draw with Dundee United in March 2025. Great game. Unfortunately ScotRail’s signalling system failed in Fife, so I had to stay overnight in Dundee and began the first of my numerous Delay Repay claims.

Airdrieonians (1878) Broadwood & Airdrieonians (2002) the Excelsior Stadium. So, the first visit was the Hibs game mentioned below in May 1997. It’s a dull and unlovely identikit new ground. For my revisit in March 2022, I was accompanied by Tom Devlin to a 1-1 draw with Cove Rangers. Quite a nice new ground actually, which bizarrely had an ice cream van in one corner.

Alloa Athletic, Recreation Ground. My previous attempt at getting here was thwarted by a waterlogged 4G pitch, but this trip in March 2022 with Canadian Dave went off alright, despite the fact it threw it down all day. They lost 2-0 to Ayr United, but it was a good day out.

Annan Athletic, Galabank. The late, unlamented David Caisley took the car to this one. A properly rancid 1-0 win over Berwick Rangers in March 2016, which had a crowd so quiet you could actually hear the stream trickling behind the main stand. There’s nothing in Annan town either.

Arbroath, Gayfield. Now this is a proper ground. Because of the proximity to the sea and potential for climactic interference, me and Big Gary went to see them lose 3-0 to Annan in a League Cup tie in July 2024. Had a good drink and met Neil Doncaster on the way in. Superb pie as well.

Ayr United, Somerset Park. August 2023. A 2-2 draw with Hamilton Accies. Impressive levels of swearing throughout and another ground with an ice cream van. Somerset Park is a must visit for connoisseurs of bad language.

Celtic, Parkhead. St Valentine’s Day 2004 on a freebie in the posh seats with Kevin McCormick from University. They beat Dundee United 2-1. Very impressive ground, but with little atmosphere where we were.

Clyde, Broadwood Stadium (though now playing at New Douglas Park). A strange one this. I didn’t see Clyde play. I was actually at the Scottish Premier relegation play off between Airdrie and Hibs, that Hibs won 4-2 in Darren Jackson’s last game in May 1997. Went with Mick Hydes and the late, great Les Dodds.

Cove Rangers, Balmoral Stadium. A solo trip to Aberdeen in April 2025 and a 2-2 draw with Kelty Hearts. I’d heard nothing but criticism of this place, but it served its purpose, despite being located in a Retail Park. Nice pie as well. First time I noticed how those in the North of Scotland swear far less than those from the West.

Dumbarton, Dumbarton Stadium. A fabulous location under the imposing Rock, even if the single stand points away from it. Saw a mightily lucky Falkirk, with a huge, fractious support, claim a last minute draw with Ben, as well as Deek and the rest of the Bairns’ venerable punk rock crew, in November 2019.

Dundee, Dens Park. Solo Sunday trip in July 2023 to see a 2-0 league cup win over Inverness. Pretty poor game and an even worse, ramshackle ground.

Dundee United, Tannadice. August 2024 solo trip for a 1-0 league cup victory over St Mirren. Another sunny Sunday in Dundee and a far better ground than the once across the road. Atmospheric and well designed. I liked this place quite a lot.

Dunfermline Athletic, East End Park. January 2013 and a day trip to the Fife derby with the Hudson Brothers, Andy and Mick, that saw The Pars overcome Raith 2-1. It was a great old fashioned ground in a very picturesque part of the Kingdom. Got back to see the second half of Dunston v West Auckland as well, which was a bonus.

East Fife, New Bayview. March 2024 and a solo trip to Leven. With great foresight, I did this a month before the train line from Waverley opened, so I had to take a slow bus to and from the place. Final score in the dull, one sided ground was 3-2 to the home side over Dumbarton. Nice part of the world (sociologically speaking), but the second most boring ground of the whole 42 it must be said. Only Meadowbank is worse.

East Kilbride, K-Park. Solo overnight trip in July 2025, to see the home side lose 6-2 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The ground is a functional 4G cage but located in a scenic country park. Loads of English groundhoppers recompleting their 42, though I didn’t allow that to spoil my fun.

Edinburgh City, Ainslie Park (2018) & Meadowbank (2023). The first ground is discussed below, as it is now where Spartans play. Meadowbank is truly awful. A long, flat covered stand and nothing else to speak of. Big Gary accompanied me to see Falkirk, with their host of old punk rocker fans (including Wee Jim, RIP) win 2-1. A mile down the road, Hibs were destroying Aberdeen 6-0, and I heard the cheers for every goal.

Elgin City, Borough Briggs. Oh this is a special ground. Absolutely tanking it down on a Tuesday night in March 2025 as I did the first of my scheduled stopovers. The home side lost 2-0 to The Spartans, but it was a glorious experience in the driving rain. Somewhere I would definitely go back to. I might even retire to Elgin, you never know.

Falkirk, Falkirk Stadium. Accompanied by a viciously hungover Andy Hudson, we did a day trip to a 4-3 home win over Airdrie in January 2013. The first time I’d visited Falkirk, but I’ve subsequently been back several times. It’s a really good new ground; a proper stadium in fact.

Forfar Athletic, Station Park. Solo trip in November 2024 for a 3-3 Scottish Cup game with Stirling Albion, which the home side won on penalties after I’d had to leave for the bus. Station Park is an excellent ground. Definitely in my top 5, because of the size and different styles of each end. Lovely bridies as well. Shame there’s no station, thanks to Lord Beeching.

Greenock Morton, Cappielow. A wonderful, ramshackle old dump with incredible floodlights. I did this one with David Stoker and Joris van de Wien in January 2013 for 1-1 draw with the Paisley Bastards (St Mirren). Weather was filthy, but a proper day out at the fitba.

Hamilton Academical, New Douglas Park (though now playing at Broadwood). I didn’t see a Hamilton home game, but the 2021 Scottish Junior final between Auchinleck Talbot and Girvan, with David Stoker. I can’t see Hamilton play there now, as they’re using Broadwood, where Clyde used to play.

Heart of Midlothian, Swinecastle. A squalid hole full of people who dress like bus drivers. The very worst Scottish ground. First visit August 1995 for a Newcastle pre-season friendly, won with a Peter Beardsley goal.

Hibernian, Easter Road. The finest ground in Scotland and one I love almost as much as Valley Parade. I remember seeing one of the worst games of football ever; a 1-1 draw with Raith Rovers in January 1988, accompanied by Mick Hydes and the late, great Les Dodds (RIP). A ground I will always return to.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Caledonian Thistle Stadium. Another solo, overnight stay for a 2-0 win over Elgin City in the League Cup. A long walk to the ground and a decent game, followed by a football special back to the town centre. Inverness is a lovely spot and probably well worth visiting again. To see Clachnacuddin.

Kelty Hearts, New Central Park. Me and Big Gary did this one in January 2024; a tepid 1-1 draw with Annan, who had a collection of consciously whacky, predominantly English away fans. Not a bad little ground in a nasty little town, but I wouldn’t be rushing back here.

Kilmarnock, Rugby Park. Having already done Auchinleck Talbot v Hearts in the Scottish Cup in January 2022, Kenny Yancouskie did the driving up to this one. I liked Rugby Park a lot. The main stand is solid, venerable and trustworthy. The pie was great and Killie deservedly beat Dundee United 2-1 in the Scottish Cup.

Livingston, Almondvale. One trip to the former Ferranti’s new home in July 1999, to see Newcastle lose appallingly 2-0 in a pre-season friendly. It was Lionel Perez’s first and only game for the Toon and he got dog’s abuse all game, because of his previous employers.

Montrose, Links Park. I found Montrose to be a charming, old-fashioned seaside town, but Links Park is disappointingly dull and reminded me very much of Cove Rangers, who were the visitors and 2-0 winners this day. Did this one solo in October 2024.

Motherwell, Fir Park. I love this old place. The Main Stand reminded me a bit of Rugby Park, but it is the skyscraper of an away end that really catches your eye. Not that it was very full for this one in September 2021, as The Steelmen overcame Ross County 2-1. Did this alone the day before St Mirren v Aberdeen with Mick Hydes.

Partick Thistle, Firhill. Up to see Teenage Fanclub on the Sunday night, I came up early for a 1-1 draw with Ross County. A seemingly sterile game enlivened by the worst Tourette’s sufferer in Maryhill screaming invective at the referee all game, after the award of a dubious early penalty to the away side. At one point his son attempted to quieten the old bloke down, who indignantly replied “I will have my say.” A great afternoon and a great gig the night after.

Peterhead, Balmoor. Solo overnight trip as a birthday present to myself in August 2025. A rip-roaring 4-2 home win over Aberdeen B in the Scottish Challenge Cup group stages, in front of 584 crazed ultras (not really). A decent ground and a nice welcome. I liked it here, but it was one hell of a trek.

Queen of the South, Palmerston Park. What a day this was on the away terrace, watching Berwick Rangers fall to a 2-0 loss along with Des Kennedy, Graham and Phil Bull in March 1997. We had a wonderful Gentlemen’s Day Out, that included the relentless barracking of QoS player / manager Tommy Bryce (“baldy cheat”), struggling to find a pizza restaurant (“championi amigo”) and seeing a father explain the concept of flavoured condoms in a pub toilet to his 7 year old son. We also looked up Tommy Bryce’s number in the phone book and called him from a pub. He wasn’t best pleased.

Queen's Park, Hampden Park & Lesser Hampden. Having been to Hampden several times to see Hibs lose Cup finals, I finally made it to a Queen’s Park home game in February 2020. I took my place in a massed throng of 470 punters who saw the home side easily brush Cowdenbeath aside, 2-0. I gained quite an affection for the Spiders’ support that day, while the visitors from Fife seemed brutish in comparison. Similar feelings when I recompleted the 42 with Queen’s Park 2 Raith Rovers 1 at the compact but pleasant Lesser Hampden that is definitely more than merely functional.

Raith Rovers, Starks Park. Holidaying in Fife in August 1995, I seized the opportunity to watch Raith’s first ever European tie, in the old UEFA Cup, against the Faroese side Gøtu Ítróttarfelag. I’d assumed I could just pay at the turnstile, but no tickets were available on the day. Having explained my situation to a club steward, he gave me an away complimentary in the lovely, curved main stand, from which I saw the home side win 4-0. A good memory.

Rangers, Ibronx. You’ll be relieved to know I didn’t go to see the home side play. Instead, I watched Falkirk lose 3-1 to the Bus Drivers in a Scottish Cup semi-final in April 1998, accompanied by nice Jambo Nick Cannon, who did the driving.

Ross County, Victoria Park. Absolutely the worst of all my trips. This was a solo, overnight one to Dingwall in May 2025 for the SPFL relegation play-off final second leg. A combination of incompetent LNER trains, sluggish ScotRail ones and my hotel cancelling my booking at the last minute, transferring me to a dosshouse above a pool club and drug den, meant I arrived frazzled just before kick-off. Next bit of news was that my seat number didn’t exist. Stress or what? I’m glad Livingston won 4-2 (5-3 on aggregate) and that I wasn’t murdered in my bed. Apart from that, nothing positive to say. The ground’s all right I will admit.

St Johnstone, MacDiarmid Park. As a Hibs fan, it was brilliant to get to see the Cabbage in the flesh in January 2025 up in Perth. Of course, my legendary inability to read maps meant I got completely and utterly lost trying to find the ground, necessitating a taxi from the middle of nowhere to the ground, which was also in the middle of nowhere. A pretty poor game, but Dwight Gayle rescued a point, and I got a bus back to the station, so all was good in the end. Longest queue I’ve ever see at a pie stall at any ground ever, meaning I went hungry.

St Mirren, St Mirren Community Stadium. Courtesy of Matty Longstaff, who was an unused substitute for The Dons during his ill-starred loan spell at Pittodrie, I blagged a couple of freebies for this one and was able to take Paisley resident Mick Hydes in September 2021. This is a very good new ground, and the atmosphere was rocking as The Buddies came out on top by a margin of 3-2. A quality game and a great weekend, which had begun the day before at Motherwell v Ross County.

Stenhousemuir, Ochilview. My first trip was in March 2018, sat in seat C86 no less, accompanied by Deek Steel. The Warriors have a lovely old ground on 2 sides and nothing else. They lost this one 2-0 to Elgin City, going down without a struggle. A pretty lame effort considering how much I’d been looking forward to this one.

Spartans, Ainslie Park. Another team I’ve not see play, but I did see Edinburgh City dismantle Elgin City 4-1 on a freezing December day in 2018. The 4G pitch was the only reason the game was on. Modern, two sided, functional. Better than Meadowbank.

Stirling Albion, Forthbank Stadium. A 2-0 win over Strathspey Thistle in a Scottish Cup tie in October 2019 saw me reach the 50% mark as it was my 21^st Scottish ground. Not really a lot to say about the place, which only had one stand open. Yeah, it was OK, but the highlight for this Velvet Underground fan was seeing the adjoining supermarket; Stirling Morrisons.

Stranraer, Stair Park. My 42^nd current SPFL club, but my penultimate tick. A 3-1 home win over Forfar Athletic, in front of a crowd of 463, including 4 visiting fans, who were presumably the semi-mythical Forfar 4, on November 1^st, 2025. Big Gary drove us in his sophisticated new motor, and we enjoyed a scenic old style ground in a public park, as well as a decent pie. Possibly even more isolated than Ross County or Peterhead.

 Former Scottish League Grounds:

The introduction of the play-off between “Club 42” and the winners of the Highland v Lowland League play-off has seen some famous old grounds leave the SPFL. All the ones I’ve been to are now in the Lowland League. I didn’t get to either of the other former members Brechin City or East Stirling (who now groundshare with Stenhousemuir), sadly.

Albion Rovers, Cliftonhill. Pre-season friendly v Partick Thistle, July 2007.  Went with Mick Hydes, who was sponsoring this game. Hence ended up in boardroom before game and in directors’ box during it. Easily the most dilapidated ground I’ve ever been to. Charming in its own way.

Berwick Rangers, Shielfield. Dozens of visits here over the years. First one I really remember was a 2-1 loss to East Fife in October 1991, on the day Scotland played England in the Rugby World Cup. Scotland won and the Berwick fans sang Swing Low Sweet Chariot to wind up the visiting Fifers, who had the last laugh with the football.

Bonnyrigg Rose, New Dundas Park. Drew 1-1 with Peterhead in December 2022. A lovely, rickety ground with the infamous slope. Went with Big Gary and we were on the Black Bottle and Tennents before the game. Lashed down all day.

Cowdenbeath, Central Park. Lost 2-0 to Dumbarton. Went with Mick Hydes, who had just moved there. Got hammered in adjoining nightclub afterwards. A real experience to see the giant safety tyres around the pitch for the stock car racing.

Gretna, Raydale Park. A bit of a cheat this one, as I saw them play Buxton in the Northern Premier League, before they joined the Scottish set up. Really nice ground, if I remember December 1998 that clearly.

Photos are of Alloa (top) and Stranraer (bottom)