Gretna FC 2008
Gabrielle’s “Dreams can come true” sounded from the car radio, and for Gretna Football Club in the 2000’s they really did.
From 1947 the club participated in English Football, getting as far as the Northern Premier League 1st Division in the early 90’s which back then was just two league’s below the (GM Vauxhall) Conference. The club also enjoyed the odd FA Cup run taking Rochdale to a replay in 1991/92 and losing narrowly 3-2 to Bolton Wanderers at Burnden Park in 1993/94.
Despite being an established fixture in English non-league football the club had ambitions to join the Scottish league system, which duly happened in 2002.
What followed was the stuff of dreams as the eccentric Brooks Mileson, who’d made his money in insurance, took over the club.
Mileson backed the club well and a formidable team was assembled which secured consecutive Division 3, Division 2, and Division 1 titles.
There was also a trip to Hampden Park for the Scottish Cup final, whilst a Division 1 club, in 2006, where they lost to Hearts on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Scottish Prem football beckoned, but dark clouds were forming on the horizon. Home games had to be played at Motherwell, debts began to mount, and Brooks Mileson fell ill. What followed was unpaid wages, a points deduction, an inevitable relegation, and then, come summer 2008, liquidation.
Gretna FC 2008 were formed out of the ashes and ply their trade in the Lowland League, the 5th tier of Scottish Football.
Sam meets Andy and me outside Hatton Co-op showing us his bullet-proof looking cans of Sapporo, “Costco, feel the weight of them!”. A grinning Micky greets us on Platform 1, as Andy and me reminisce about the childhood trips to Scotland which began here with all the suitcases, backpacks, and off course the coveted “food bag” which Craig would always volunteer to look after.
08.01 Hatton – 08.58 Crewe
09.08 Crewe – 09.52 Preston
10.03 Preston – 11.18 Carlisle
~ Pub ~
12.15 Carlisle – 12.27 Gretna Green
Not much surprises us well-seasoned lads but coming out of Carlisle station at the exact moment an Orange march goes past, hmm, that’s a new one on us. We kept to our own 2 at the front / 2 at the back formation and marched forth, a quick “right-turn!” at the riot van, and into the Griffin pub.
Pints supped, it was back to the station for the 10-minute saunter over the border in the Scotrail class 156. (156445 for any train aficionado’s reading.)
Arriving into Gretna Green station from the south, Gretna Green is on your right, Gretna to your left. Because we were going to the football and not a wedding, we took a left turn, through a menacing looking underpass, through a field, and just as it was beginning to feel a bit ‘last of the summer wine’ we re-joined civilisation taking a left turn at Gretna Tandoori, onto the Gretna Inn.
“Youse here fae the fitba?”, asked one of the regulars as 4 Tennent’s were purchased and the table by the tele grabbed for the remainder of the Inverness vs Falkirk cup semi. This was a friendly pub with dining on one side and drinking on the other, nice and simple, are you here for food or to get pished, choose ya’ room.
We couldn’t stay too long mind as we had a game to get to.
Back up the Annan Road we headed, Gretna Tandoori now on our right, then a left turn onto Dominion Road to Raydale Park.
After struggling to find a way into the ground (since learned the gates don’t open until 2pm) we were greeted by club volunteer Iain who took our admission money, showed us to the bar, served us cans of Tennent’s, led us back outside to sell us programmes, before opening the club shop for us. Nothing was too much bother for Iain, a very helpful gent and a credit to Gretna FC.
With pin badges and other merchandise purchased from a good dry-humoured lady from behind the bar (we didn’t get her name sadly), it was time for kick-off.
With the league season finished (Gretna finished 17th out of 19), today was the 1st Round of the Lowland League Cup, and the current holders East Kilbride were in town…
East Kilbride are an ambitious club with aspirations of getting into the Scottish League and only last week appointed Mick Kennedy, who led Darvel to cup glory over Aberdeen, as manager.
In contrast, Gretna had just parted ways with their manager Michael McIndoe.
The difference in, what’s the right word, it’s probably finance, between the clubs was evident just by looking at both benches.
East Kilbride’s backroom team jostled for space on the touchline, they had a tablet on a stand, a club photographer, whereas Gretna’s bench was much less populated with just 2 subs named (EK had 7).
Furnished with scotch pies and tea, we took our place behind the goal Gretna was attacking hoping to cajole them to an upset over the bigger boys from up the road.
Hopes of an upset take a hit after 2 minutes as East Kilbride take the lead.
7 minutes in, as a Basset Hound ambles past us, East Kilbride make it 2-0 with an unmarked header at the back post.
There is a good passage of Gretna play; passes are neat, touches tidy, but alas, closing in on the promised land of the penalty area, East Kilbride clear.
On 20 minutes it is 3-0 to East Kilbride.
The 4th goal is worthy of a clap, a half-volleyed finish from outside the area, as Andy heads back to the tea-bar.
The keeper spills the ball, a bit of pinball follows, the net rustles. It is 5 and you wonder is it cruel to keep watching?
An emphatic finish makes it 6, even the Basset Hound has had enough now.
“What? It’s 6?”, Andy has returned from the tea-bar.
…. A Gretna shot! Saved. (38 mins)
7 (seven), a back-post header from a corner.
Half-time.
During half-time there is a memorial service on the pitch for Father Bob Dent, described in the club programme as Mr Gretna, who recently passed away.
The East Kilbride players wait respectfully to be allowed back onto the field, as we move to the side of the ground close to the travelling band of East Kilbride supporters.
The winger simply brushes off the full-back, he crosses, and what a finish by Kyle Connell on the volley. He is almost apologetic in celebration; such was the execution he would have been excused for going full-on Ravanelli.
Is it 9?… no! The ball smacks the crossbar; what a sight, what a sound.
Number 9 looks to be carried in by the keeper when catching a header, but no one appeals, the ref is in a kind mood, it stays at 8.
A free-kick bounces in, it is 9 now.
The full-time whistle blows on this one-sided contest and 106 spectators make for the exits.
“Was it 6, 7, or 8?”
“Ah, god knows Dave.”
“Guess I’ll find out in the paper tomorrow!”
It was hard not to feel sorry for Gretna. As well as their manager leaving last week, we were told some players had also left, and it certainly looked a youthful team that were given a torrid time by an East Kilbride side containing the experienced Bob McHugh, who scored a hat-trick, and Alan Lithgow, who was at Livingston in the Scottish Prem up until a couple of years ago.
The Lowland League is a competitive league full of clubs with football league ambition and some have a lot more financial backing than others. Gretna seem to be one of the “have-nots”, but it is testament to the volunteers that they have a club at all after the tribulations of the late 2000’s.
I wondered about the local businesses, are there people who can help with sponsorship, help make them more competitive? Or is the current club a victim of the previous club’s success, with them having already reached for the stars, lived the dream, is there an appetite for it in the local community when you’ve already done it?
I hope so, I hope Gretna get the backing they need so they can remain competitive at this level.
And what about beyond that, could Gretna again have a team competing in the Scottish football league? I guess for now, if you can allow for some poetic licence, it is like the other Gabrielle song, and we’ll need to give them a little more time.
Jamie Golds 