Limbs

Not so long after concluding my own personal odysessy around Scottish league football, Tom joined me in Club 42. 

A low key AM (3rd migraine in a week will do that to a boy) with a couple of hours tapping keys and washing towels.

Alex rolled in from school; half term now in full effect. Tom nowhere to be seen.

To kick things off in the week of football, we'd booked tickets for Ayr v Hibernian. Tom had originally booked just for him and his mates as there was in theory a calculated release (season ticket holders first etc) and once Alex and I had successfully procured wur tickets, it was all systems go!

Tom it turns out took the bus with his mates and left Edinburgh at 3, Alex and I opting for the 1630 train to Glasgow; ahead of the quick shimmy to Central and  then off doon the coast. 

I've been to Ayr 3 times previously; once to watch the greatest ever game (I may well be coaxed into telling the story one day soon; involving a hitch hike from Derby in such vehicles as an ice cream van and a crane - no, seriously!) but my most recent visit coincided with buying Nirvana's Nevermind so that was 1991? 

We finally made into the ground; ticket scanning issues not withstanding. 

Somerest Park away end is not built for big crowds, but we fought our way in behind the goal and joined the boisterous throng - Alex found his pal Joe and about 20 minutes in, Tom rolled up, marginally pissed, half bottle of buckfast in hand, clearly celebrating his fine achievement of having seen a game at all of Scotland's league grounds. 

A tight encounter; but overall I got the impression Ayr were set up not to lose and Hibs were the ones trying to win the game. It took a while, and it wasn't always pretty, but in the death throes, Bashiri got enough of a touch to flick on and the ball was in the net. Bedlam!

A fine save a couple of minutes later, and we sprinted for the 2205 train back to Glasgow, dodged the nightlife back to Queen St and were back in Edinburgh just after midnight; the N16 the final leg of the journey home. 

Alex still has 2 more (Killie and Partick) to complete his set, but a decent start to the half term football jollity.