NB - This is written 48 hours later, so the exact time and details are approximates, apart from the really obvious moments. Its all completely my own personal feelings on the day. And its here because we have foreign supporters who check this site, and I have many friends amongst the regulars who sympathised with our plight in recent seasons.
One weekend. One mission. The mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get to Peterhead by any means necessary, cheer on the Jags, and have fun.
BACKGROUND
Partick Thistle are the greatest football team in the world, so say I so say all. However, in recent free fall we've suffered two relegation seasons are in Division 2 of the Scottish football league. And, despite at times a rather torrid season (we shall speak no more of Gretna 6-1 Thistle) we are in the playoff final. Scottish playoff finals are home and away two leg affairs, and being us we lost the home leg 2-1 against the one team we never ever beat, Peterhead. To say the odds are stacked against us is a slight understatement. The papers all week have been full of how great it would be to see Peterhead go up because they are part-timers and only got promotion to Division 2 last season, but no! We can't have that. Going 200+ miles to the north of Scotland to try and spoil the natives promotion party.
HOW WE GOT THERE
Thistle are in the playoff final, thanks to a 2-1 win at Stirling Albion on the penultimate day of the season, and a 4-3 aggregate (3-1 win away, 2-1 defeat at Firhill) victory over first division Stranraer, thus relegating them. Having relegated Dumbarton on the final day of the season, we seem to have a knack for this sort of thing. Now all that stands in our way is Peterhead, the team that we never ever beat. On their own home pitch. Easy. Thistle have been in one playoff final before, the infamous Tannadice '96 where we lead until the final 40 seconds when they scored, going on to win in extra time and relegate us from the Scottish top flight. Thus started the problems that have beset us ever since, a 2-year stay in the SPL not withstanding.
Sunday, 6am. Not sleeping. The bloody bed broke last night. Instead of the beams being attached with nails, its attached by string! Managed to get it in some form of sleeping device, but the adrenaline is pumping too much now, so no sleep for Michael. Last night Jenny* was over and we watched much Dr Who and then the A for Andromeda remake (Let it not be denied that I am utterly sad). She also knicked most of my donuts! (typical, hehe) Now, I shall have to go have a shower or something. Meeting the bus in 2 and a half hours. We're going to Peterhead.
*Notes from the future - this is not Jenny Shirt who worked on the Christmas Book of Ghosts. It was a friend from iO, the Glasgow Uni SF society, with whom we lost touch, sadly. On the time line, I believe the episode of Doctor Who was Rise of the Cybermen and the ones before it. The week after was Episode 2 and the Eurovision final. The donuts I believe were jam filled, and pizza four cheese.
7.20am Locking the front door. The journey is on.
7.34am Back in the house. Forgot the bloody tickets.
7.55am Other Michael*, who is my Firhill going buddy and who I convinced it would be a good idea to go to Peterhead today, texts to remind me to pick up the tickets. As if I would forget.
7.20am Locking the front door. The journey is on.
7.34am Back in the house. Forgot the bloody tickets.
7.55am Other Michael*, who is my Firhill going buddy and who I convinced it would be a good idea to go to Peterhead today, texts to remind me to pick up the tickets. As if I would forget.
*Other Michael is now a respected uni lecturer.
8.17am Meet up with Other Michael. He's not wearing his hat. The third member of our party, Rob, is not coming because
a) He's an actor and all shagged out from a week of rehearsing/performing the Government Inspector
b) I couldn't afford another bloody ticket.
*We lost touch with Rob Jones too, which is a shame as I was convinced he was going to do big things in acting. So was his mate who was the best actor in the year, and who probably IS doing big things now, but I've forgotten his name entirely. Neil somebody?
8.25am Meet up with our ride, the proclaimed "Bible Bus*", and our new found mates. I get the tickets, Mike gets travel was the plan. I got the tickets, he just about got the travel. So in a cramped minibus, we are going to Peterhead. Be something to tell the grandchildren. Especially when we win promotion.
8.25am Meet up with our ride, the proclaimed "Bible Bus*", and our new found mates. I get the tickets, Mike gets travel was the plan. I got the tickets, he just about got the travel. So in a cramped minibus, we are going to Peterhead. Be something to tell the grandchildren. Especially when we win promotion.
*A group of friends who travelled across Scotland, the UK and Europe to support Thistle. We appeared as intercessors with beer...
8.31am The bus begins its marathon journey.
8.32am The drinking begins
9.22am Somewhere on the motorway. Talking to the others, who seem really nice and friendly. An unforgettable bunch of lads, however I hope they forgive me for having completely forgotten most of their names! (In my defence I forget my own name most of the time too) There was Big Dave, and his brother (the designated driver) and us, and Stefan, and Malky (I think that was his name) and another Dave, and the others I can see their faces. But you were all top blokes and brilliant!
8.31am The bus begins its marathon journey.
8.32am The drinking begins
9.22am Somewhere on the motorway. Talking to the others, who seem really nice and friendly. An unforgettable bunch of lads, however I hope they forgive me for having completely forgotten most of their names! (In my defence I forget my own name most of the time too) There was Big Dave, and his brother (the designated driver) and us, and Stefan, and Malky (I think that was his name) and another Dave, and the others I can see their faces. But you were all top blokes and brilliant!
*We haven't spoken since.
10.30am Big Dave in the back seat seems to share my own optimism that Thistle will win today, albeit on penalties. I do not want the tie to go to penalties as we are rubbish at them. We've won our last two shootouts, but that's us won 6 out of something like 36 now. Other Michael can't see it happening and someone predicts a 1-1 draw. We have to win though - we're coming up from Glasgow for it!
11.20am My laughable overprotection of friends who happen to be girls has got me a new nickname off of Malky, but I can't remember what it was. No, honestly.
10.30am Big Dave in the back seat seems to share my own optimism that Thistle will win today, albeit on penalties. I do not want the tie to go to penalties as we are rubbish at them. We've won our last two shootouts, but that's us won 6 out of something like 36 now. Other Michael can't see it happening and someone predicts a 1-1 draw. We have to win though - we're coming up from Glasgow for it!
11.20am My laughable overprotection of friends who happen to be girls has got me a new nickname off of Malky, but I can't remember what it was. No, honestly.
*Still can't remember the nickname, but Adult Me thinks Teenager Me needed to lighten up a bit, too, tbh...
12.02pm Peterhead, here we are. Time to go to a local refreshment centre to see what passes for Jack Daniels in this part of the world. Went to the Buckie which is just off the high street. Serve some of the best Jack ever. Or maybe that was being starved of it recently.
12.05pm Peterhead fans at 12'o clock! High noon in the bar. There's only one thing to do now.
12.10pm Singing contest! Our lot win easily, because we're loud and they keep laughing at the lyrics (the barmaid nearly dropped the glasses at "Mary from Maryhill"). Peterhead lot cheer the "you must wear your Thistle bonnet, with "F*ck the Old Firm" on it" line in "If you want to go to heaven when you die". Their songs are no match however and they give us a standing ovation. Or they were standing already anyhow. The natives are friendly currently.
12.02pm Peterhead, here we are. Time to go to a local refreshment centre to see what passes for Jack Daniels in this part of the world. Went to the Buckie which is just off the high street. Serve some of the best Jack ever. Or maybe that was being starved of it recently.
12.05pm Peterhead fans at 12'o clock! High noon in the bar. There's only one thing to do now.
12.10pm Singing contest! Our lot win easily, because we're loud and they keep laughing at the lyrics (the barmaid nearly dropped the glasses at "Mary from Maryhill"). Peterhead lot cheer the "you must wear your Thistle bonnet, with "F*ck the Old Firm" on it" line in "If you want to go to heaven when you die". Their songs are no match however and they give us a standing ovation. Or they were standing already anyhow. The natives are friendly currently.
*Since then, that song got a slapping down by the high uppies for being anti-sectarian. Yes, the Thistle telling the Old Firm to F off...
12.48pm Off to the Strathie place where the Jags all meet up. They serve JD as well, and very nice Scotch pies.
12.48pm Off to the Strathie place where the Jags all meet up. They serve JD as well, and very nice Scotch pies.
*If I was to do a tally of the drinking during this day, I think I officially died around midday...
1.15pm There's a game on the set. Brentford-Swansea. C'mon the Swans.
2.00pm An hour to go. Can't drink anymore time, but I have another anyhow to be on the safe side. Keep checking the tickets are still there. Nothing runs away faster than inanimate objects.
2.15pm The Swans are going to Cardiff! (For a playoff final, not a ruck, I presume). SO my 2nd team are on the verge of promotion. But hang on, surely this a bad omen. Both your teams can't win big matches on the same day, it'd be a mathematical impossibility. I mean, Swansea are good, but they couldn't hold a candle to the passion I have for the Jags.
1.15pm There's a game on the set. Brentford-Swansea. C'mon the Swans.
2.00pm An hour to go. Can't drink anymore time, but I have another anyhow to be on the safe side. Keep checking the tickets are still there. Nothing runs away faster than inanimate objects.
2.15pm The Swans are going to Cardiff! (For a playoff final, not a ruck, I presume). SO my 2nd team are on the verge of promotion. But hang on, surely this a bad omen. Both your teams can't win big matches on the same day, it'd be a mathematical impossibility. I mean, Swansea are good, but they couldn't hold a candle to the passion I have for the Jags.
*I have absolutely no memory of considering Swansea City my "other team". At all.
2.31pm We're off to the ground.
2.46pm We're in the ground. No stand tickets for us, me and Other Michael are in the terracing, which essential runs the entire ground beneath the stand. The other Bible bus crew are in the stands. Big Dave is on his feet, starting chants, banging the boards.
2.52pm And let the noise commence. 1200 Thistle fans have travelled to Peterhead, many of whom are singing away their entire repertoire as we speak. Forget the dismal performances in recent weeks, its all past history. All that matters is the here and now of the next 90 minutes.
2.56pm The players come out, and the whole place erupts. You can't hear a single announcement over the tannoy or any of the Peterhead lot from the noise of our travelling support. Loudest I've ever heard them. Loudest Big D has ever heard them. (And since he's been going to these things twice as long as I've been alive almost, I think that proves the point better)
2.59pm The game starts! C'mon the Jags
3.03pm No worries, that pass has a distinct offside look to it
3.03pm, 20 seconds later. PETERHEAD 1, thistle 0, Peterhead lead 3-1 on aggregate. I don't believe it, the pass was massively offside and the referee let it play on. From then on with no one to stop him, Martin Bavidge of "scores-against-us-every-bloody-time" fame slams the ball past Kenny Arthur.
2.31pm We're off to the ground.
2.46pm We're in the ground. No stand tickets for us, me and Other Michael are in the terracing, which essential runs the entire ground beneath the stand. The other Bible bus crew are in the stands. Big Dave is on his feet, starting chants, banging the boards.
2.52pm And let the noise commence. 1200 Thistle fans have travelled to Peterhead, many of whom are singing away their entire repertoire as we speak. Forget the dismal performances in recent weeks, its all past history. All that matters is the here and now of the next 90 minutes.
2.56pm The players come out, and the whole place erupts. You can't hear a single announcement over the tannoy or any of the Peterhead lot from the noise of our travelling support. Loudest I've ever heard them. Loudest Big D has ever heard them. (And since he's been going to these things twice as long as I've been alive almost, I think that proves the point better)
2.59pm The game starts! C'mon the Jags
3.03pm No worries, that pass has a distinct offside look to it
3.03pm, 20 seconds later. PETERHEAD 1, thistle 0, Peterhead lead 3-1 on aggregate. I don't believe it, the pass was massively offside and the referee let it play on. From then on with no one to stop him, Martin Bavidge of "scores-against-us-every-bloody-time" fame slams the ball past Kenny Arthur.
(This video acts as a spoiler but I'd like to point out I still think that Peterhead goal was offside...)
3.04pm Something strange has happened. In recent weeks when we fall behind, sections of the support turn against the team and confidence falls. Today, we fall behind and the support becomes twice as loud in support. Its just a minor setback, we can still do it! The players visibly are taken aback by this support and suddenly are going mad for it, winning balls in succession and darting forward. Miracle worker Adam Strachan is causing the Peterhead defence all kinds of trouble. If only he could get the ball to Mark Roberts, our main striker (first man to get 20 league goals in a season for Thistle in my lifetime) then we might have a chance of a quick reply.
3.07pm GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!!! Peterhead 1, THISTLE 1, Peterhead lead 3-2 on aggregate. And let the game commence. Nice play into the box, a few people have a swing at it, falls to Mark Roberts and the big man shots it into the back of the net. We're back in it. And we're going wild.
3.08pm From this point Peterhead more or less boss the first half.
3.44pm Half time. Referee Alan Freeland is having what could be nicely put as a bad day, and less euphemistically placed as "an anti-Thistle cheating us" day. Every single bloody decision has gone against us bar the goal, but thankfully we haven't paid for it yet. Peterhead players are falling over injured all over the place, and with them leading the tie, do you know how much injury time he gave? None.
3.54pm The vegetable/mince pies at Balmoor are very nice. The guy in the queue behind me is very negative about the game, our lads and our chances. All it takes is one second of the 90 for something magic to happen, I say. This guy responds, says "We wont have that one second because the lads aren't good enough." (I remember that quote exactly now)
4.22pm The second half has been mostly one way traffic. True to recent vs form, Peterhead are mauling us on the pitch, but somehow the score on the day is still 1-1. The referee isn't helping matters. We're just getting into the half, but we have reached the 68 minute mark and there is no sign of the equalizer.
4.26pm Paul Ritchie comes on. This is the first substitution I've really noticed because I've been following the game so much the sub breaks have just washed over me. Ritchie has a bit of a bad press with the fans because despite being ancient he came with a good rep as a player and it hasn't displayed itself on the pitch, something he himself admits. We're still going for it, although it becomes clear that Peterhead could snatch the killer winner of the tie. We're playing too high up the park.
4.34pm Ten minutes to go. Time to pray. Come on God, give us a sign. Are you and Bob (my deceased but never truly gone, Thistle mad grandfather) on our side today or what?
4.36pm Peterhead are in, he has an open goal because Kenny's gone out too early. Damn it, this is out, all this and we're gone and conceded a stupid goal and we're out of it...…..THEY'VE MISSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Peterhead player had the entire open goal to slot into and he's gone and hit it off the post.
*This did happen, exactly. And after it, I just tipped my head to the sky and said "Thanks, Bob!" Hey, just because you are a sceptic doesn't mean you don't need to be polite...
4.37pm And they've just gone and done it again, with same result! We should be 3-1 down on the day. We're not, its still 1-1 and the lads are getting buoyed by this near escape. We're starting to dominate, the fans are getting louder. Our part of the terracing is bouncing, starting up chants, making sure nothing goes quiet. Big Dave is in the stands, standing, leaning over the edge, banging the boards and singing his heart out. And hey, after 80 horrible minutes, Alan Freeland seems to be giving us decisions now. Maybe he just wanted it to be utterly dramatic. But we have to get that one goal. C'mon, anyone!
4.45pm Injury time. 3 minutes left of Thistle's season. Unless someone, anyone pops up with a goal for us. Anyone. Please.
4.46pm Peterhead nearly scored. We've gone up the pitch and should have scored, but its gone behind for a goal kick. That must be it.
4.47pm We are in the 93rd minute. The games would be over, but they've just fouled our player. A free kick, 20 yards out. This is the final kick of the game. Billy Gibson stands over the free kick. Everyone is in the box, bar Kenny in our goal. Billy G kicks the ball into the box....
....it takes a bit of a deflection, and its landed....
RIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE PETERHEAD NET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We've scored! Peterhead 1, PARTICK THISTLE 2, tie level 3-3 on aggregate with the very last kick of the 90 minutes. And we've all gone mad. Loudest celebrations the world has ever seen (probably). 1200 jumping about the place. We've saved ourselves at the death. Hugging complete strangers - they're all fellow Jags! Look up to the stands, there's Big Dave nearly having a coronary. The Thistle players all immediately run over to our bit of the terracing, and Other Michael gets to embrace wonderkid Adam Strachan, who has been one of our star performers week-in, week-out, and instrumental today*. Ran over to the stand area and jump high-five the Bible bus crew. The Peterhead natives have gone silent.
4.37pm And they've just gone and done it again, with same result! We should be 3-1 down on the day. We're not, its still 1-1 and the lads are getting buoyed by this near escape. We're starting to dominate, the fans are getting louder. Our part of the terracing is bouncing, starting up chants, making sure nothing goes quiet. Big Dave is in the stands, standing, leaning over the edge, banging the boards and singing his heart out. And hey, after 80 horrible minutes, Alan Freeland seems to be giving us decisions now. Maybe he just wanted it to be utterly dramatic. But we have to get that one goal. C'mon, anyone!
4.45pm Injury time. 3 minutes left of Thistle's season. Unless someone, anyone pops up with a goal for us. Anyone. Please.
4.46pm Peterhead nearly scored. We've gone up the pitch and should have scored, but its gone behind for a goal kick. That must be it.
4.47pm We are in the 93rd minute. The games would be over, but they've just fouled our player. A free kick, 20 yards out. This is the final kick of the game. Billy Gibson stands over the free kick. Everyone is in the box, bar Kenny in our goal. Billy G kicks the ball into the box....
....it takes a bit of a deflection, and its landed....
RIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE PETERHEAD NET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We've scored! Peterhead 1, PARTICK THISTLE 2, tie level 3-3 on aggregate with the very last kick of the 90 minutes. And we've all gone mad. Loudest celebrations the world has ever seen (probably). 1200 jumping about the place. We've saved ourselves at the death. Hugging complete strangers - they're all fellow Jags! Look up to the stands, there's Big Dave nearly having a coronary. The Thistle players all immediately run over to our bit of the terracing, and Other Michael gets to embrace wonderkid Adam Strachan, who has been one of our star performers week-in, week-out, and instrumental today*. Ran over to the stand area and jump high-five the Bible bus crew. The Peterhead natives have gone silent.
*Sort of ruined his career after this, sad to say.
5.22pm We have dominated extra time, but no winner coming. The boys seem to have a third wind brought about by the end of the 90 minutes. But could we score? No. Ritchie lets down more than one pass, and we're getting a bit annoyed with him. But support for the team, if it started at a Spinal Tap style 11, has progressed up to about a 20.
5.23pm Full time. And you know what that means. Penalties. Oh dear god. I don't know if my heart can take it.
5.27pm We're shooting first. Up comes Mark Roberts. Scores. Thistle lead the shootout 1-0
Peterhead player takes penalty, and...Kenny saves it! There's only one Kenny Arthur, what did I tell you?
5.28pm We lead 3-1 on penalties, Kilgannon and the official best free kick taker of all time, Billy G scoring whilst one of their players didn't even hit the post with a wild shot. If Willie Snowden scores now (and he scored the winner in the shootout against Caley in the Cup) then we're up.
Its been saved. Oh damn. Especially seeing as Peterhead score now to make it 3-2. Still if we score our final penalty of the five, we go up. Its as simple as that. Who's going up now? Oh god, its Paul Ritchie. If he scores, we're in the First Division, and his entire season will be surplus to the fact that his penalty took us up. If he misses, it will sum his and our season up. So close but so far. Ritchie lines up. AND SCORES EASILY!!!! 4-2 on penalties, Partick Thistle win. WE'RE GOING UP!!!!! Cue pitch invasion for all but me. I'm so knackered I have to lean on the barricade to stay standing, so a lovely middle aged couple helped me up and got me a drink. To you two, thank you! Other Michael was on the pitch, but forget the bad cardiovascular system, we're up. PARTICK ARE PROMOTED!!!! So excited, it hasn't sunk in. Hell, this is Tuesday and it hasn't sunk in! We're up!
The Peterhead lot are shattered. Feel a bit sorry for them, as they haven't lost on their home pitch all season, and they thought they had it in the bag, but this is our moment. And we won! YAY!! Time for the party to begin.
6pm-4am This is where my memory gets very hazy. We were in Peterhead, and Inverbervie (which, as you would expect from the name, is full of pubs) and had some chip suppers, and sang "There's only one Kenny Arthur" down the phone to our hero goalkeeper (who loves us guys - We love you too, Kenny!), and generally got very drunk. Oh yes, and spent the entire night telling Other Michael how right I was to insist we came to Peterhead. Rub it in? Moi? And I kept coming up with lyrics for a new Thistle song about the Wicker Man ("He has a stadium ban, he is a Thistle fan, all hail the Wicker Man, etc") And we phoned Rob, because at the moment of triumph you just need to remind your pal that he wasn't there. He seemed quite happy himself over the phone for us though. Even mum was congratulating, although she hasn't got over our relegating her Dumbarton. The moment of the goal will live with me to my death. You can't get that from teletext, or live tv. And live tv doesn't give you alcoholic refreshment, or the delirium of being there, on the Bible bus.
So long live the Jags
5.22pm We have dominated extra time, but no winner coming. The boys seem to have a third wind brought about by the end of the 90 minutes. But could we score? No. Ritchie lets down more than one pass, and we're getting a bit annoyed with him. But support for the team, if it started at a Spinal Tap style 11, has progressed up to about a 20.
5.23pm Full time. And you know what that means. Penalties. Oh dear god. I don't know if my heart can take it.
5.27pm We're shooting first. Up comes Mark Roberts. Scores. Thistle lead the shootout 1-0
Peterhead player takes penalty, and...Kenny saves it! There's only one Kenny Arthur, what did I tell you?
5.28pm We lead 3-1 on penalties, Kilgannon and the official best free kick taker of all time, Billy G scoring whilst one of their players didn't even hit the post with a wild shot. If Willie Snowden scores now (and he scored the winner in the shootout against Caley in the Cup) then we're up.
Its been saved. Oh damn. Especially seeing as Peterhead score now to make it 3-2. Still if we score our final penalty of the five, we go up. Its as simple as that. Who's going up now? Oh god, its Paul Ritchie. If he scores, we're in the First Division, and his entire season will be surplus to the fact that his penalty took us up. If he misses, it will sum his and our season up. So close but so far. Ritchie lines up. AND SCORES EASILY!!!! 4-2 on penalties, Partick Thistle win. WE'RE GOING UP!!!!! Cue pitch invasion for all but me. I'm so knackered I have to lean on the barricade to stay standing, so a lovely middle aged couple helped me up and got me a drink. To you two, thank you! Other Michael was on the pitch, but forget the bad cardiovascular system, we're up. PARTICK ARE PROMOTED!!!! So excited, it hasn't sunk in. Hell, this is Tuesday and it hasn't sunk in! We're up!
The Peterhead lot are shattered. Feel a bit sorry for them, as they haven't lost on their home pitch all season, and they thought they had it in the bag, but this is our moment. And we won! YAY!! Time for the party to begin.
6pm-4am This is where my memory gets very hazy. We were in Peterhead, and Inverbervie (which, as you would expect from the name, is full of pubs) and had some chip suppers, and sang "There's only one Kenny Arthur" down the phone to our hero goalkeeper (who loves us guys - We love you too, Kenny!), and generally got very drunk. Oh yes, and spent the entire night telling Other Michael how right I was to insist we came to Peterhead. Rub it in? Moi? And I kept coming up with lyrics for a new Thistle song about the Wicker Man ("He has a stadium ban, he is a Thistle fan, all hail the Wicker Man, etc") And we phoned Rob, because at the moment of triumph you just need to remind your pal that he wasn't there. He seemed quite happy himself over the phone for us though. Even mum was congratulating, although she hasn't got over our relegating her Dumbarton. The moment of the goal will live with me to my death. You can't get that from teletext, or live tv. And live tv doesn't give you alcoholic refreshment, or the delirium of being there, on the Bible bus.
So long live the Jags
Other Michael, 2021: Still remember you drinking that pub out of Jack Daniels! Memories, eh?
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