Scottish Cup
Monday 25th October 2021
Having now completed a visit to all 42 grounds in the SPFL after witnessing Kelty Hearts' cup win over Buckie Thistle last time out, I've reached the stage now where I'm looking towards the non-league system for brand new places to visit and explore.
Some clubs (and grounds) seem far more attractive than others - where a visit would appear to be a chastening experience rather than 'fun', although I very nearly didn't end up with a ticket for this game (due to being dopey and not realising they went on sale over a fortnight beforehand), it was always on my agenda to pay Clydebank's Holm Park home a visit at some point.
Their history is well-documented and they're certainly one of the more familiar names that currently languish in Scotland's non-league set-up. That's mainly down to their SPFL membership which spanned from 1966 until their demise in 2002 when, six years after leaving Kilbowie Park and becoming homeless, they were bought out by Airdrieonians (who themselves had just gone bust and took drastic action to continue their own SPFL membership).
In the two decades since, the Bankies have competed in junior football which has recently become part of the overall Scottish Football Pyramid system at Step 6 - one level below the Lowland League. Their old Kilbowie Park home - famously once sponsored by local pop band 'Wet Wet Wet' and located just a stonesthrow from Singer Railway Station, is nowadays a retail park, so home matches are played at Holm Park (whom they groundshare with local rivals Yoker Athletic).
Their long-suffering fans certainly haven't experienced many high octane games or high-profile occasions in recent times so the locals were out in force for this one - many spoting club-related attire and cheering their side on with absolute fervent passion!
There wasn't to be a cup upset on the night but the underdogs came bloody close to producing one under the floodlights and infront of the BBC Scotland cameras who were there to broadcast the game on television.
Infront of a sell-out crowd of just over a 1,000 - including a handful of hardy souls who'd made the long trip down from the Highlands, non-league Clydebank initially toiled, looked sluggish and struggled to make any sort of meaningful impact during a poor opening 45 minutes where they gave on-lookers very little to get excited about.
A goal behind at half-time courtesy of Rory MacEwan's strike, the Bankies needed inspiration from somewhere and responded with a brilliant second half performance which epitomised exactly what cup football is all about. They upped the ante, got the crowd going, suddenly looked capable of delivering the goods and a much-improved second half showing was rewarded thanks to Nick Little's equaliser from the penalty spot.
Though it eventually finished 1-1 (thus meaning a replay will be needed at Borough Briggs this coming weekend), the Bankies could have even snatched a late winner as they seized the initiative and went within a whisker on a couple of occasions as their SPFL counterparts were left clinging on!
Those in attendance certainly got their money's worth and if Clydebank can replicate their second half efforts in the replay, they have every possibility of earning themselves a place in the Fourth Round where third-tier Clyde await.
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