Wednesday, February 22, 2006
It's my ball
Ah, the folly that is the governing body of the beautiful game in Scotland! It's their ball, they've taken it home and nothing, not least common sense, will persuade them to change their mind.
The almost dream ticket match grasped the senses and the spirit of the people of Edinburgh: a semi-final between Hearts and Hibs. We'd have preferred it to be the Scottish Cup Final, but that's where the "almost" comes in.
Still, can you imagine the streets of the capital? Thronging. Heaving. Bustling. Everyone out for a guid family game; and it will bring a spending boost to business in the city. Bring it on; and, naturally, let's play at Murrayfield Stadium, home of Scotland's rugby union.
The idea is sound. Rather than have 50,000 fans travel the 50 miles between Edinburgh and Glasgow on already busy road and rail networks, many people, perhaps surprisingly, would be happy to walk through the capital to Murrayfield. That's all part of the guid spirit.
It makes it a very Edinburgh-focused day. Our two biggest teams, in the country's biggest stadium; why, it could even take in another 15,000 people comfortably.
"Naw," said the Scottish Football Association. "Ye cannae dae that."
Incredible. Police in both cities supported the Edinburgh venue. As did traffic and travel experts, not least motoring organisations like the AA and the RAC. Environmentalists wanted it as well saying it would eliminate thousands of unecessary car and vehicle journeys, and free the central Scotland train services from additional bulge.
"Naw, ye cannae. We'll no' let youze," said the big man at the SFA.
He had, he guided us puir, ill-informed hacks, a concern expressed by Hibs. The Easter Road management was of the opinion that Heart of Midlothian would have an unfair advantage if the Edinburgh option was exercised. "Cos the Jambos huv played at Murrayfield, so they huv," offered the SFA.
Now hold back your splutters there, he was told, and in no uncertain manner, that few of those who would be playing for Hearts in the semi-final had been on the team that played European matches at Murrayfield a couple of years ago, so the argument was flawed.
"Hampden's better than Murrayfield," hissed the man from the SFA. "That's where a' the big fitba' games huv to be played, so they dae."
The gentlemen at Murrayfield stressed they fully understood that the SFA wanted to ensure the Cup Final is played at the national soccer stadium. "But this is the semi, and it's an Edinburgh semi, so it seems naive to go to the west. Tea?" offered the man at the SRU.
Hearts fans said the chaps at the SFA were a bunch of so-and-sos. Hibs fans began to see the sense of staying in Edinburgh; even their manager ended up saying he actually couldn't care less where it was played and had no problem with a Murrayfield semi.
"Naw," said the man at the SFA in Glasgow. "It's oor ba' an' we're gonnae play wi' it at Hampden, so's youze ur jist gonnae huv to dae whit we tell youze," he harrumphed, triumphantly.
Well, of course, perhaps I have taken a liberty with some of the language, but you get this tale of two cities: The draw for Scottish Cup Semi Final puts Edinburgh clubs Hearts and Hibs against each other; it's suggested it could become an Edinburgh Derby - played at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium; some of the Hibs people grumble that it gives Hearts an unfair advantage - that doesn't stick; the SFA makes the rules and regulations and they said no. The game has to be played at Hampden.
Of course, there are a number of cost implications here: if it is played at Hampden, there's income for the SFA; if it's played at Hampden, there's the cost for 50,000 fans to get to Glasgow; if it is played at Murrayfield, that's an income for the SRU; if it's played at Murrayfield, that's a positive financial impact for the fans. Oh, and as you read earlier, business in the capital.
Some years ago, I recall walking past the SFA headquarters in Glasgow with my Gran. I saw the sign and asked her what it stood for. "Sweet Fanny Adams!" she responded.
Aye, and it still does.
Charles Fletcher
charles.fletcher@caledoniamedia.com
Ah, the folly that is the governing body of the beautiful game in Scotland! It's their ball, they've taken it home and nothing, not least common sense, will persuade them to change their mind.
The almost dream ticket match grasped the senses and the spirit of the people of Edinburgh: a semi-final between Hearts and Hibs. We'd have preferred it to be the Scottish Cup Final, but that's where the "almost" comes in.
Still, can you imagine the streets of the capital? Thronging. Heaving. Bustling. Everyone out for a guid family game; and it will bring a spending boost to business in the city. Bring it on; and, naturally, let's play at Murrayfield Stadium, home of Scotland's rugby union.
The idea is sound. Rather than have 50,000 fans travel the 50 miles between Edinburgh and Glasgow on already busy road and rail networks, many people, perhaps surprisingly, would be happy to walk through the capital to Murrayfield. That's all part of the guid spirit.
It makes it a very Edinburgh-focused day. Our two biggest teams, in the country's biggest stadium; why, it could even take in another 15,000 people comfortably.
"Naw," said the Scottish Football Association. "Ye cannae dae that."
Incredible. Police in both cities supported the Edinburgh venue. As did traffic and travel experts, not least motoring organisations like the AA and the RAC. Environmentalists wanted it as well saying it would eliminate thousands of unecessary car and vehicle journeys, and free the central Scotland train services from additional bulge.
"Naw, ye cannae. We'll no' let youze," said the big man at the SFA.
He had, he guided us puir, ill-informed hacks, a concern expressed by Hibs. The Easter Road management was of the opinion that Heart of Midlothian would have an unfair advantage if the Edinburgh option was exercised. "Cos the Jambos huv played at Murrayfield, so they huv," offered the SFA.
Now hold back your splutters there, he was told, and in no uncertain manner, that few of those who would be playing for Hearts in the semi-final had been on the team that played European matches at Murrayfield a couple of years ago, so the argument was flawed.
"Hampden's better than Murrayfield," hissed the man from the SFA. "That's where a' the big fitba' games huv to be played, so they dae."
The gentlemen at Murrayfield stressed they fully understood that the SFA wanted to ensure the Cup Final is played at the national soccer stadium. "But this is the semi, and it's an Edinburgh semi, so it seems naive to go to the west. Tea?" offered the man at the SRU.
Hearts fans said the chaps at the SFA were a bunch of so-and-sos. Hibs fans began to see the sense of staying in Edinburgh; even their manager ended up saying he actually couldn't care less where it was played and had no problem with a Murrayfield semi.
"Naw," said the man at the SFA in Glasgow. "It's oor ba' an' we're gonnae play wi' it at Hampden, so's youze ur jist gonnae huv to dae whit we tell youze," he harrumphed, triumphantly.
Well, of course, perhaps I have taken a liberty with some of the language, but you get this tale of two cities: The draw for Scottish Cup Semi Final puts Edinburgh clubs Hearts and Hibs against each other; it's suggested it could become an Edinburgh Derby - played at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium; some of the Hibs people grumble that it gives Hearts an unfair advantage - that doesn't stick; the SFA makes the rules and regulations and they said no. The game has to be played at Hampden.
Of course, there are a number of cost implications here: if it is played at Hampden, there's income for the SFA; if it's played at Hampden, there's the cost for 50,000 fans to get to Glasgow; if it is played at Murrayfield, that's an income for the SRU; if it's played at Murrayfield, that's a positive financial impact for the fans. Oh, and as you read earlier, business in the capital.
Some years ago, I recall walking past the SFA headquarters in Glasgow with my Gran. I saw the sign and asked her what it stood for. "Sweet Fanny Adams!" she responded.
Aye, and it still does.
Charles Fletcher
charles.fletcher@caledoniamedia.com
# posted by scotcast @ 8:27 am 
