Stenhousemuir - Ochilview

28^th March 1998

Stenhousemuir 0-1 Stranraer

I was going to say this match was Son’s first, but that is not strictly true as he had already been wheeled along to a number of Bathgate Thistle matches – his first at the age of 5 months.  This trip to Ochilview was, however, his first to a senior ground, a fact which seemed to inordinately annoy the guy in the refreshment hut.  

“How is he gonna ken which team tae support, if you keep taking him to different grounds?  You’ll just confuse the laddie” ran his objections; plainly viewing dragging a child ground-hopping just one step above sending him up a chimney.    

It was not my first visit to Ochilview.  That had been way back in the spring of 1986 to watch Bathgate play a midweek friendly.  My over-riding memory of that particular evening is one of basking in the wonderfully sweet aroma wafting from the McGowans Toffee factory next door.  The factory was still there in 1998, but they plainly did not make toffee on Saturday afternoons.



Both on that visit and this, I took the opportunity of sitting in the old wooden stand (nicknamed The Dolls’ House”) for a spell.  I enjoyed a connection with this stand, as it had originally stood at the ground of Bathgate FC’s Mill Park during the club’s spell in the Scottish League.  It was moved to Ochilview around 1930, and this relic from a bygone age was demolished in April 1999. 

 I had seen Stenhousemuir play a few weeks before and had not been particularly impressed but, despite being on the wrong end of the scoreline this afternoon, this had been a much improved display.  Indeed, I felt Stranraer had been mightily fortunate to sneak away with both points.  The only goal of the game came after 20 minutes when the visitors’ Dougie JOHNSTONE popped in a rebound after Warriors’ ‘keeper Neil Alexander had spilled a shot.

Son, making his contribution to the standing or sitting at football grounds debate.

The same view in 2014 - no Son this time, but there is now a
roof over the terracing, erected in 2004

 

Son, not remotely impressed, tries to show the Stenhousemuir
players how it should be done.



The old "Doll's House" stand, demolished 1999.

The same view in 2014 - Doll's House long gone, with that side of the
ground used mainly for car-parking,

The "new" main stand, erected in 1996.

The same view in 2014 - the stand has since been named The Norway Stand
as it is, rather bizarrely, sponsored by the Norwegian branch of the
Stenhousemuir Supporters Club.  It was used to house only home support today.

The main entrance to Ochilview, Stenhousemuir.

The same view in 2014 - the red wooden gates to the right of the turnstiles
have been replaced with metal ones, and the roof which has been
constructed over the Tryst Road end can just be seen. 

Stenhousemuir v Dunfermline (November 2014)

Panorama of Ochilview, Stenhousemuir.

Panorama of Ochilview, Stenhousemuir.

********************************************************************************************************

6th October 2018

Stenhousemuir 3-2 Montrose
Cook (22)                                 Antionazzi (35)
McMenamin (50)                  Steeves (89)
McGuigan (90+4)         

Stenhousemuir v Montrose - October 2018

Panorama of Ochilview, Stenhousemuir FC

Montrose 'keeper Jordan Miller was pleased to see a first half free-kick by Jesus Garcia Tena miss the target.  

"You can shuv yir Arbroath Smokies up yir arse, etc, etc, etc."

Not Iain Campbell's finest moment as he misses a 44th minute penalty.
Moments later Montrose would see a goal chalked off for no-one was quite sure what.

Stenhousemuir No11 Alan Cook takes the usual precautions at a free-kick, whilst teammate
Sean Dickson clearly values his solar plexus as much as he does his nuts.

Jesus walks above the carpet.