2/42 - Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh
17th March 2018
Ground Number: 2
Ground: Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh
Home of: Heart of Midlothian FC
Match: Hearts v Partick Thistle
Score: 3-0
Attendance: 17179
Ground 2 then. It wasn't a conscious decision to come back to Lothian so soon. There's nothing wrong with the place but there are grounds in other parts of the country. It is a nice part of the world mind you. How exactly do we decide where to go though? In truth, there's no real science behind it, especially at this stage of the tour. We simply have a look at the weekend fixtures and see what tickles our fancy.
And so with that this weekend we ended up in Edinburgh. Specifically Gorgie. Even more specifically at Tynecastle Park, home of Heart of Midlothian FC. We'd both been here before, but not together and, for David at least, certainly not since the ground was modernised. With this being a Premiership ground we had looked into tickets prior to arriving. Hearts are going through a bit of a renaissance with a new owner, manager and they are full of optimism so tickets can be hard to come by. Thankfully we got ours via their official website a week or so in advance and decided to sit with the home supporters in the Roseburn Stand. Tickets were a whopping £24 each.
Upon arriving in Gorgie there's plenty of on street parking close to the ground and we parked up in Harrison Street and took the short stroll down to the ground. Whether you're in Edinburgh or Cowdenbeath there is just that feeling of "magic" in the air as you approach a football ground. The fans start to gather, the programme sellers are out, there's generally a supporters bar nearby and the club shop is buzzing. That's how it felt outside Tynecastle today. We arrived outside the impressive looking new main stand and were immediately impressed.
Don't ask me how we managed to miss the Club Shop but we missed the Club Shop! They would kindly take payment over the phone for pin badges and send them out to us in the post following the match. So we decide to make our way to our seats and it turns out to get into the Roseburn Stand we have to enter through the Wheatfield Stand. We're so confused but we're in! There are loads of catering options here. Pies, burgers, hot dogs, chips and curry!! We of course opt for the humble Scotch Pie as soon as we enter. It does the job and warms us up on this utterly freezing day.
On our way to our seats we pass this touching tribute which pays homage to the Hearts players and fans who have served their country. A nice touch.
We've got great seats! That's what your £24 gets you here! You are right on top of the action. There's no doubt the views would be even more impressive from one of the stands at the side of pitch but we're happy with our view. The fans around us are positive about their team and give them good encouragement. It's great to be an honorary Jambo for the day! The stadium is impressive, a fully enclosed affair with high sided stands adding up to a great atmosphere. The away fans are also housed in the Roseburn Stand but there can't be many of them today as the home fans are also housed here.
The match is over before half time. Three goals in 27 first half minutes blow Partick Thistle away. Hearts are all over them. It's not an exaggeration. It's three going on ten inside the first half! As a result the place is rocking and the home fans are right behind their team. They want even more goals and it's a total procession in the first half.
At half time David nips out for his customary cigarette. He was allowed to smoke near to the statue which was good, he didn't have to actually leave the stadium. It's freezing cold though and we're now beginning to wonder if we'll make it to ground 3 never mind 42 as we might actually succumb to frostbite here!
The second half is a total non contest as Partick have accepted their fate and are soundly beaten on the day. We make an early exit to a) avoid the traffic and b) heat up before we freeze to death.
We liked Tynecastle a lot. We thought the views were great, the fans were good fun, the food was good and the staff were happy to send out the pin badges we forgot to buy! All in all a great day out.
With that ground number 2 was done. Where to next? Surely we'd actually find someplace that wasn't in Lothian next time?
Ground Number: 2
Ground: Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh
Home of: Heart of Midlothian FC
Match: Hearts v Partick Thistle
Score: 3-0
Attendance: 17179
Ground 2 then. It wasn't a conscious decision to come back to Lothian so soon. There's nothing wrong with the place but there are grounds in other parts of the country. It is a nice part of the world mind you. How exactly do we decide where to go though? In truth, there's no real science behind it, especially at this stage of the tour. We simply have a look at the weekend fixtures and see what tickles our fancy.
And so with that this weekend we ended up in Edinburgh. Specifically Gorgie. Even more specifically at Tynecastle Park, home of Heart of Midlothian FC. We'd both been here before, but not together and, for David at least, certainly not since the ground was modernised. With this being a Premiership ground we had looked into tickets prior to arriving. Hearts are going through a bit of a renaissance with a new owner, manager and they are full of optimism so tickets can be hard to come by. Thankfully we got ours via their official website a week or so in advance and decided to sit with the home supporters in the Roseburn Stand. Tickets were a whopping £24 each.
Upon arriving in Gorgie there's plenty of on street parking close to the ground and we parked up in Harrison Street and took the short stroll down to the ground. Whether you're in Edinburgh or Cowdenbeath there is just that feeling of "magic" in the air as you approach a football ground. The fans start to gather, the programme sellers are out, there's generally a supporters bar nearby and the club shop is buzzing. That's how it felt outside Tynecastle today. We arrived outside the impressive looking new main stand and were immediately impressed.
Don't ask me how we managed to miss the Club Shop but we missed the Club Shop! They would kindly take payment over the phone for pin badges and send them out to us in the post following the match. So we decide to make our way to our seats and it turns out to get into the Roseburn Stand we have to enter through the Wheatfield Stand. We're so confused but we're in! There are loads of catering options here. Pies, burgers, hot dogs, chips and curry!! We of course opt for the humble Scotch Pie as soon as we enter. It does the job and warms us up on this utterly freezing day.
On our way to our seats we pass this touching tribute which pays homage to the Hearts players and fans who have served their country. A nice touch.
We've got great seats! That's what your £24 gets you here! You are right on top of the action. There's no doubt the views would be even more impressive from one of the stands at the side of pitch but we're happy with our view. The fans around us are positive about their team and give them good encouragement. It's great to be an honorary Jambo for the day! The stadium is impressive, a fully enclosed affair with high sided stands adding up to a great atmosphere. The away fans are also housed in the Roseburn Stand but there can't be many of them today as the home fans are also housed here.
The match is over before half time. Three goals in 27 first half minutes blow Partick Thistle away. Hearts are all over them. It's not an exaggeration. It's three going on ten inside the first half! As a result the place is rocking and the home fans are right behind their team. They want even more goals and it's a total procession in the first half.
At half time David nips out for his customary cigarette. He was allowed to smoke near to the statue which was good, he didn't have to actually leave the stadium. It's freezing cold though and we're now beginning to wonder if we'll make it to ground 3 never mind 42 as we might actually succumb to frostbite here!
The second half is a total non contest as Partick have accepted their fate and are soundly beaten on the day. We make an early exit to a) avoid the traffic and b) heat up before we freeze to death.
We liked Tynecastle a lot. We thought the views were great, the fans were good fun, the food was good and the staff were happy to send out the pin badges we forgot to buy! All in all a great day out.
With that ground number 2 was done. Where to next? Surely we'd actually find someplace that wasn't in Lothian next time?
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