The SFA presented me with a big problem for this match. The tie was originally pencilled in for the following weekend (26 Apr) which would have suited me fine as I would have been off work that weekend. The SFA then decided that the tie will be played on Mon 21 Apr (Easter Monday) with a 19:45 kick-off time, again a complete joke so far as planning is concerned.
Fortunately, after loads of complaints from the ICT support etc the tie was moved to Easter Sunday. To give you an idea of the problems facing me in getting to this match here is my weekend working roster:-
Fri: 1400-2200; Sat: 1400-2200; Sun: 0600-1800 and Mon 0600-1400.
In order to attend this historic event at Hampden Park I had to secure time off work, which isn�t easy at the best of times but is made more difficult especially over the Easter period. Fortunately, a colleague offered to stand in for my twelve-hour day shift and my day off was secured. All I had to do now was get there for the 15:00 kick-off and make sure I got back in time to work my 06:00 shift the next day. There was no way that this could be done by rail so I had no alternative but to travel there and back by motorcycle. (I do not own a car).
Another colleague came to my rescue on Saturday evening when he agreed to come in early in order for me to hit the road and travel up to Interthenet�s house in Stewarton. I left work just after 19:30 and opened up the throttle up the M6. I stopped at Tebay services to fill up and continued my lonely journey to Stewarton, arriving there shortly after mid-night.
After a very sociable evening of drink and entertainment my head hit the pillow at around 04:30.
I was woken up by the sound of the of a blowing horn and chants of Caaaley Caaaaley. Coffee was then consumed together with a little breakfast before we departed early for a local rail station (Patterton) to head for Hampden.
Our early arrival at the ground gave us the opportunity to sample same of the occasion, take a few pictures and purchase prog�s etc before the crowds arrived. We also had time to take a walk down to the old ground of the once famous Third Lanark F.C. The terracing is still there but overgrown with trees, a very spooky place.
The craic in the pub prior to the match was superb and once inside the ground the atmosphere was one of anticipation and sheer excitement. The match itself had a very disappointing result loosing that late goal with twelve minutes left to play. If only Dennis�s shot had rattled the net instead of the post it may have been a different story.
After the match it was back to Stewarton, a quick bite to eat and on the road for the long haul home. On the return journey I was taking Jnr back with me on the pillion. We filled up with petrol in East Kilbride and I then noticed a �wet spot� on the rear tyre. The substance inside the tyre that seals a puncture as soon as it gets one caused this. It was only a slight leak but, according to the products jargon, the best way to seal the hole is with centrifugal force so we jumped on the bike and hit the road. I thought that, if this stuff does what it says on the box, then we�d be ok�.and we were. We stopped next at Forton services on the M6, topped up with fuel and stretched the legs before heading for home. We arrived back at 00:10. I got to bed at 01:00 and was up again at 05:15 to go to work. I was a little bit tired when I arrived at work !!.
