Scottish Professional Football League

League 2

Friday 1st October 2021

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.44

Edinburgh City 1 Cowdenbeath 1, attendance 314

8’ 1-0 D. Handling

83’ 1-1 K. Renton

@ Ainslie Park Stadium

94 Pilton Drive

Edinburgh

EH5 2HF

£14 Admission

£3 Programme, 56 pages.

I was fast running out of opportunities to tick off Ainslie Park Stadium whilst it is hosting Scottish League football. It is normally home to non-League club Spartans F.C. who play in the Lowland League. Back on 6th January 2001 I saw Spartans lose 1-3 at home to Stirling Albion in a Scottish F.A. Cup 2nd Round match, a tie that was played at City Park, in nearby Ferry Road. They left that ground, since demolished and built on, in November 2008, moving here to Ainslie Park. Edinburgh City signed a deal to play their matches here whilst their home ground at Meadowbank Stadium underwent a complete rebuild, due to move back there at the start of this season, but work has overrun, so they have extended their stay here a little longer. They are due to play their first game back home some time in November, so time was certainly of the essence to visit Ainslie Park as a League ground, although there is always a chance that Spartans themselves could gain promotion in the future.

With this weekend being the ‘Scottish Ground Hop’, with six matches being played from Friday-Sunday at staggered kick off times, it fitted in perfectly for me, especially as there were only two grounds hosting matches that I hadn’t yet visited (11.15 and 17.00 on the Saturday). The only problem was how the ‘fuel crisis’ might affect things, but once clear of the M25, there was a very high availability of fuel at the petrol stations en route, which improved the further north you went.

Tonight’s match was 5th versus 10th (bottom) in the league table and when Edinburgh City opened the scoring just eight minutes in, it looked to be going to form. However, Cowdenbeath came back into it and really made a game of it. They dominated the second half and totally belied their league position. The equaliser came seven minutes from time, when a cross from the right was flicked past the ‘keeper at the near post. In the end, they will feel disappointed that they only got a draw. They certainly deserved all three points against a very poor Edinburgh City side.

The ground here is not great for a ‘League ground’. One goal end is not accessible to spectators and there is open grass banking at the other. The far side, where the dugouts are, is also out of bounds. Although the 500+ seated stand on the near side looks impressive, it is not much use on a wet and windy night like tonight, as it is on the eastern side of the ground, so people got wet even on the back row (admittedly only 6 rows).

It is not surprising that the crowds here are so poor. With Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian also based in Edinburgh, then Edinburgh City are very much the third club of the city (some of the non-League clubs might dispute that). There seemed very little ‘home’ support, with most of the crowd appearing to be neutral. I wouldn’t think charging £14 for this level of football is encouraging too many new fans either.

I’m now left with just Cove Rangers to complete visits to the current 42 Scottish League grounds.