And so it begins....1/42 - Tony Macaroni Arena, Livingston

23rd February 2018
Ground Number: 1
Ground: Tony Macaroni Arena, Livingston
Home of: Livingston FC
Match: Livingston v Dundee United
Score: 2-1
Attendance: 1604

We had to begin somewhere and where better than West Lothian on a freezing cold February evening? Hmmm. We haven't really thought this through have we?! The truth is we're Dundee United fans. There we said it. Someone has got to be right? Right!? We were always going to be here tonight but little did we know it would be the start of our epic journey around the phenomenon that is Scottish football.

I'm Shaun and he's David and we're best mates based in and near Dundee and we'd been talking about doing "the 42" for a while. We're both football fans and, truthfully, it had become increasingly more frustrating following United home and away. A bit of a chore if you will. These last few seasons hadn't been easy! So this would be the ideal chance to get out there and finally see the rest of the clubs!

The rules. There are always rules! We talked about this at half time during the match at Almondvale (sorry the Tony Macaroni Arena) tonight. As of ground 2 we must:

• Always sit with the home supporters
• Always try some sort of pie
• Always buy a pin badge as a souvenir.

Through no fault of our own (ok sometimes it was our fault) we'd break one or more of these rules sooner or later. But hey at least we tried!

So back to tonight. We've both spent a lot time in Livingston over the years. We both worked for a rather large food retail organisation with offices here (Think a big green logo!) so we'd find the ground no problem. How hard could it be? Rather more challenging than we expected to be honest. The problem was we could see the ground we just couldn't get to it! I thought this was a planned town!? It's meant to be easy driving around this place!

After we (eventually) arrived at the ground we found that there was car parking right at the stadium but they were charging £5 per car. Given it was fairly close to kick off (due to our not being able to reach the ground) we decided to pay the fee and park at the ground. As of ground 20 it's still only one of two grounds we've had to pay for parking at.

We find the away supporters turnstile (the only time we've not sat with the home fans so far) and are into the ground. It's £18 to get in and it's freezing tonight by the way. It's going to be a long night. Upon emerging from the concourse we're impressed with the place. 3 stands are a long continuous affair starting behind one goal, carrying along one side of the pitch and then behind the other goal. The fourth (or should that be second?) stand is the Main Stand which is separate from the rest and houses the main stadium offices, changing rooms and other facilities. This is where the home support are housed. Tonight we're sitting directly opposite them. The match is frantic, top of the table stuff and Livingston are well on top in the early stages and take a deserved lead on 22 minutes through a sublime finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Half time and it's food and smoke time. David is the smoker among us and he appreciates being able to get a cigarette at half time. The Livingston pie was fine. No need for more description than that. It wasn't particularly memorable and nor was it disgusting. Kudos to the club for allowing smokers out at half time. David really appreciated that. Not all grounds we'd visit will allow that.

The second half kicks off and United have decided to turn up! We're going to make a game of this! 74 minutes in and that superstar of football Matty Smith draws United level. Cue scenes in the away end. There's only one team going to win this now! It wasn't United. To be fair goalkeepers just don't save the type of shots Livingston got the winner from. It was a worldie. Suitably depressed heading back to the car and, honestly, trying to get out of the car park was a nightmare! I'd hate to be here when there's a bigger crowd.

So up the road towards Dundee and we reflect. Our epic journey to get round all 42 professional football grounds in Scotland started tonight in Livingston. Would the ground hold a special place in our hearts? Not really but it will always be the place we started. It was a neat, modern football stadium and we couldn't fault the food, facilities or staff. I did write to them a few days later to ask if I could buy two pin badges. The response? Visit the club shop at the stadium! Helpful. I have to admit therefore that we acquired our Livingston pin badges via eBay. It wouldn't be the first time either.

So that was that. Ground number 1 done. Only the 41 to go now. Where to next?