I have been pretending to myself that I don’t care whether the SFA choose Hampden or Murrayfield as a future national stadium, where, presumably, Scottish and League Cup semi-finals and finals will be played.
Our trips to Murrayfield for Champions League qualifiers in 2014 were an eye-opener. The stadium had great vantage points and plenty of facilities. But it’s in Edinburgh, so for me, getting into the city along the M8 for an evening game was a traffic nightmare.
You do not need me to tell you Hampden is a dreadful spectator experience for most – apart from those in the South Stand. At ground level behind the goals you would scarcely know what the score was, were it not for the screens and reaction of others.
Jock Stein’s comment, that we need “one neutral acre in Glasgow” had validity when he said it in the 70s, but I’m not so sure now. Most European nations flourish without a neutral acre and Scotland would be no different. The national team would benefit by moving games to venues that better reflect the expected attendance, instead of playing before vacuously empty stands. And if they had a game which required a huge stadium, Murrayfield, Celtic Park or Ibrox would be available.
I get the historical pull of Hampden. It was a theatre to many of football’s greatest achievements – and to the top dozen-or-so of Europe’s highest attendances, but that stadium is long gone. What you will not often hear about the old Hampden, is that it was also a truly terrible place to watch football for anything up to 70,000 people who were huddled behind the goals.
For the most part, in the old ‘Celtic end’, you were further away from play than the modern equivalent, and when it rained, you left covered in muddy ash from the knee down. The ‘terrace’ was latterly just a slope, with wooden uprights which long since gave up the pretence that they supported a flat step.
We complain about modern Hampden and eulogise about the objectively inferior old Hampden because our expectations and standards have changed.
So what’s that got to do with the SFA’s decision on where the national stadium should be, which they will announce this afternoon? The SFA should be considering the next 30-50 years. What will fans in future decades expect from a stadium? It sure will not be Hampden Park. For what it’s worth, the same conclusion could be reached about Celtic Park. But whereas Celtic can afford a continuous programme of improvements, the SFA do not have this kind of budget.
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If we’re talking of facilities in the North Stand lower, what about hot water and soap in the toilets? Even the taps running the cold water need controlling. As for the paper towels, there are seldom any at half-time. Surely, with all that money lying in the bank, such basics should have been sorted long long ago.
Spain just scored 2 cracking goals in the space of 2 minutes against Croatia.
PCS
The North Stand bogs have been better since they let us puffers out onto Janefield Street for a half time smoke. Have learnt to dry my hands on the arse of my troosers over the years. :)
Delaney’s Dunkey,I’m in the front of the old main Stand,the food outlets are horrible,ques?,and honestly the Stand is needing demolished,it’s served its purpose over the years,but it’s time is up, Lawell said it would take about 30 to 40 million for it to be upgraded,I question that,and surely in can be done in stages.
I would not give any money to Queens Park (who are as guilty as the SFA in creating the shambles that is Hampden since the 90’s) or to the RFU but I would walk away from the current Hampden.
We could cope with alternating between Glasgow, Embra and Aberdeen but keep our money within football circles.
DD,
There are still plenty smoking in there in my experience, especially evening games.
Timbhoy
My sister’s season ticket is Main Stand behind Celtic dugout. I have sat there twice in last decade. Agree with you. That Stand is like a throwback to 70’s fitba facilities
Tear it down and rebuild would be better than a hotel for me.
YNWA
PCS
There is no excuse. Stewards open the gates at North Stand/Jock Stein corner and North Stand Lisbon Lions corner. Get the lazy puffers telt. I hate selfish bassas like that. Some eejits support us sadly.
YNWA
Parkheadcumsalford
Realistic – ye will never stop enough supplies of towels etc.
It happens in pubs ……
The dispenser suppliers want more towels takin…..& it happens….more takin if ye have a bevvie :)
Spain running riot against Croatia. 5 nil up with half an hour to play
SFTB
Does Malky MacKay and his father have a close connection to QPFC? Seem to remember reading that.
YNWA
ADI_DASSLER,
We could at least have hot water, surely, in this day and age and with all the money we reputedly have lying in the bank.
DD,
I think Malky’s father played for QP.
DD, Bobby, Hello.
6 nil for Spain
Adi D
It always cracks me up when I go into a boozer in Glasgow City Centre, and the toilet soap dispensers are locked in a cage. :)
Parkheadcumsalford
The hot water at Celtic is siphoned into an underground pipe that leads to Peter Lawwells driveway.
Dave King knows this, thats why Peter won’t invest to press home Celtics advantage…because glib and shameless will expose his water siphoning
Trump says the storm about to hit east USA,is going to be ‘tremendously wet….’
PCS
Did Malky play for QPFC too?
JTT53
Good evening sir.
How are you Jim?
Throat recovered fae yer Celtic Musical sing song? ;))
Bada
Never mind Trump
What does Judith say
Wits
Lucy Verasamy disnae know who Judith is.
WITS,
Very good.And quick.
WITS- Looking forward to the Precipitation Princess’ take on it…?
Turkeybhoy
You on to shit stir?
Saw that accusation thrown at you.
Well… ;))
Garry, I didn’t stop singing when I left the Pavillion. We got a bus from Buchanan bus station to Harthill. The bus driver as I found out was from Wales! There was me at the front of the bus serenading him with David of The White Rock, Myfannwy, the Welsh National Anthem. He wouldn’t join in. My sisters were mortified.
But when I left the bus he was fine.
Turkeybhoy
I should have put …..FACT!!!
At the end for effect
BB
Lucy or Judith?
Be honest noo. ;)))
JTT53
Hahaha. Magic. Like to sing myself. TriCoĺouredRibbon and I got kicked off a train for serenading the zombie ticket collector wi a few rebel tunes. Thankfully he kicked us off at oor stop in Clydebank. This was after a BMCUW Hootenany ;))
DD- Judith every time.
BB
Fair play pal.
Lucy Verasamy for me.
Magic, we don’t need to fight for our lady of choice. ;))))
DD
YOu and BB may be fine. But, you and I, however, may have a problem….
Pistols at dawn?
:)
DD,
I don’t know about Malky himself.
MIT- dawn at your place is different to my place….?
MIT
You succumbed to the allure of Lucy too?
She’s a belter!
Gerry Cinnamon CSC
TRUTH!FACTS? HALFWITS ,PISH,VENOM,
PCS
Just checked. Celtic signed Malky MacKay fae QPFC.
YNWA
DD: Lucy every time.