Broxburn Athletic v Bo'ness United (match abandoned) - 10/01/2015

This post will probably be very similar to the game at Albyn Park last Saturday (ie. half-finished). I've never been to a match that was abandoned before, so this was a new experience at least. When I was checking twitter in the morning it seemed like Broxburn v Bo'ness was one of the only games in Scotland that was actually going ahead! The pitch passed an inspection about an hour before kick-off, although perhaps the ref should have had a quick look at the weather forecast before he made his final decision.

Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to have a proper look around the ground (as it was too cold to explore further than the pie stand.) I liked what I did see though: it was an interesting mix between old and new, with the run-down, corrugated iron enclosure (where most of the supporters were wisely huddled together) standing alongside the brand new changing rooms / social club complex. The other three sides of the pitch are surrounded by grass banks. There were some fans viewing the match from a balcony attached to the social club, which I guess is the hospitality area. Albyn Park also boasts a 4G pitch, and the old changing rooms have been refurbished and now host the local boxing club. Impressive!

All looked well when the game kicked off...

 

The dugouts. Note the massive bing behind the ground.

The rather swanky programme.

Now to the game. What to say about the game? I think it may have been too cold to actually take any of it in. At one point I remember commenting to my mate that it was a poor game. In fact I think that may have been just before Bo'ness scored. As the first (and only) half wore on the snow began to fall. The pitch got whiter and whiter and it was increasingly difficult to see anything. Despite this, the fabled orange ball never appeared. I remember looking at the linesman standing on the halfway line with the wind and sleet in his face and seeing him grimace. I felt slightly foolish as it dawned on me that I was here of my own free will. In fact I'd actually paid to get in! The ref blew up for half time and the players  bolted for the changing rooms.A short time later, the announcement came over the tannoy that the match had been abandoned. I don't think they even drew the half-time raffle!

 

Things start to go downhill...

Nae orange baw? Hametime.