Arbroath’s Player/Manager Paul Sheerin completed his ‘Tour of Duty’ across Scotland’s football grounds last Tuesday night when he played at Albion Rovers’ Cliftonhill Stadium and the Coatbridge side very generously gave him an engraved plaque to mark his achievement.
With his Gayfield side top of the Third Division table and no midweek game to play this week, Sheerin spent a considerable time talking through his favourite memories about each ground he has played at.
The 36-year-old midfielder started his career at Alloa Athletic almost 20 years ago and had spells at Southampton, Alloa a second time, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Ayr United, Aberdeen and St. Johnstone and as you will read, he has scored a few penalties in his time.
Here is Sheerin’s summary:-
Central Park, Cowdenbeath
A 3-2 CIS Insurance Cup tie in August 2005 when St. Johnstone won 3-2. An exciting game at a ground I played at a few times. I always found it a bit of a daunting place to go to, which was probably down to the big gap between the stand and terracing and the pitch with the stock car racing track in-between.
Dens Park, Dundee
St. Johnstone won the Challenge Cup there against Dunfermline Athletic in November, 2007 and that was a great day. I scored a penalty in that game which we won 3-2 and that made it all the more special.
East End Park, Dunfermline Athletic
My favourite memory there is actually in a game that I was substituted in. It was during the season that St. Johnstone won the First Division Championship and Liam Craig scored a brilliant goal to give us a 2-1 win. That goal, that game and that result was a real turning point in our season.
The Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
I played one of my last games for St. Johnstone there last season and this makes it memorable although it was not a great game. The game was postponed originally but we went out and trained on the park anyway. We went back and played the game later in the season and it was a fairly dull nothing each draw.
I have to be honest and admit that I was part of a St. Johnstone side that got a couple of real going overs there under John Connolly.
Brockville Stadium, Falkirk
I played there in what was meant to be the last ever game played at the stadium before it closed and there was a huge crowd. I scored for Inverness that day but I am fairly sure that Falkirk stayed for another year, so the game lost its importance in terms of Falkirk’s history.
Cappielow Park, Morton
I do not have too many good memories from Greenock and the 5-1 defeat that Inverness Caledonian Thistle suffered there kind of sums up my times there. It was on the Friday night before Scotland played England in the European Qualifying Play-Off game where Paul Scholes scored twice in 1999. We must have been thinking about going to Hampden during that game
Firhill Stadium, Partick Thistle
Again a game where I was substituted as St. Johnstone drew 4-4 with Partick Thistle in a pulsating encounter. I watched us win in a penalty shoot-out from the dug-out.
Palmerston Park, Queen of the South
Very early into my career with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, I scored with a header at the front post. We won 4-1 in that game and that got my career there off to a flyer.
Stark’s Park, Raith Rovers
Played there more than a few times and scored from the spot in a CIS Insurance Cup tie penalty shoot-out win a couple of years ago and also in League games.
Victoria Park, Ross County
I have had some great days there but with my Inverness connections, I was never a favourite at their ground. The derby matches were great and I remember one in particular when we won 3-0 and Alex Bone was sent off for a tackle on Charlie Christie. He chased Charlie across the pitch before he went off.
Dunblane Doubletree Stadium, Stirling Albion
Inverness put on a great performance down there and defeated Stirling 5-1. We played some great stuff and were really on fire during that game.
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie United (previously Airdrieonians)
It has to be the Bell’s Challenge Cup Final for Inverness against my first club Alloa and it was a real bittersweet day for me. I scored a hat-trick and we lost in a penalty shoot-out after drawing 4-4. I scored two penalties during the game and then missed one in the penalty shoot out!
Recreation Park, Alloa Athletic
My first club and plenty of happy memories, despite only playing nine games before moving to Southampton. Hugh McCann was great with me and helped me with my move to England. I came back briefly when Tom Hendrie was in charge and scored one of my best ever goals with a volley against Ross County. They missed out on promotion by a point that season and that is probably another reason I do not get a warm welcome in Dingwall.
Somerset Park, Ayr United
One of the clubs I played at and we created a shock when we knocked Dundee United out of the Scottish Cup. We drew 2-2 at Tannadice and then won through 2-0 on a wet and windy night where I managed to score a pretty decent goal. Not so good was getting sent off against Kilmarnock in a League Cup tie however, the boys held on to win.
Glebe Park, Brechin City
I have been there loads of times and always enjoy it as it is a good ground to go to. I scored there for St. Johnstone, as did Ryan Stevenson, in a game where we blew them away 4-1 when Owen Coyle was St. Johnstone Manager.
Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton
Not a very good memory there as I was part of an Ayr United side that lost in a cup tie shock at Dumbarton’s ground.
Bayview Park and New Bayview Stadium, East Fife
I won promotion from the Second Division with Inverness Caledonian Thistle at East Fife’s old ground so that was special. It was a really tight park and I remember that I missed a chance but I scored a penalty later on.
I played at the new ground as well but nothing as exciting as that one happened.
Station Park, Forfar Athletic
I played a midweek game there with Inverness and scored both goals in a 2-1 win. In another game there, we were winning 2-1 and I went through on goal late on and tried a fancy chip over the goalkeeper and it never came off. They cleared up the park and Bobby Mann equalised and I remember the Assistant Manager Alex Caldwell going mental at me afterwards.
Braidwood Motor Company Stadium, Livingston
There was a great game there between Inverness and Livingston when we were both going for the Second Division title. We were four down after 22 minutes but managed to pull level with 15 minutes left before losing another one to go down 5-4. I also played at Meadowbank Stadium but not in a competitive first team game.
Balmoor Stadium, Peterhead
I remember scraping through there in a midweek cup tie with Inverness and Bobby Mann scored for us. We were in the First Division and they were in the Third and we really struggled to win through.
Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir (and East Stirlingshire!)
I started last season on the artificial surface there with St. Johnstone, in a Co-operative Insurance Cup tie, and we won 5-0 and played really well. I played there when it was a grass surface for Aberdeen against Falkirk in a day of really bad snow. It was a terrible day but a good result as we won a Scottish Cup tie 2-0.
Cliftonhill Stadium, Albion Rovers
I completed the set there with a 2-0 win and it was a fantastic gesture by the people at Albion Rovers to mark my personal achievement. I was really touched by their gift and hope they do not mind too much their kindness being repaid by Arbroath winning the game!
Galabank, Annan Athletic
I played there for the first time this season and in the first half, we got a bit of a tanking but turned things around after the break, despite getting two players sent off. Annan are a fantastic club, with a good playing surface, and excellent people operating an excellent set-up.
Gayfield Park, Arbroath
Gayfield is now my place of work and the scene of where everything clicked for us this season. We defeated Montrose 4-0 and the shackles really came off that day after we scored an early goal and showed how good a side we can be. I scored with my right foot and there are not too many grounds I have done that in.
Shielfield Park, Berwick Rangers
Arbroath have been there a couple of times this season and the second visit was much better than the first one when we were beaten 4-1. The second time we played at Shielfield was the week after they had played well against Celtic. We took advantage of any tired legs they had and blew them away 4-0.
Broadwood Stadium, Clyde
I won a game 6-2 there with Inverness and I remember Ian Stewart grabbing a couple of goals. I am fairly sure I got one as well.
Firs Park, East Stirlingshire
That is where my football career began as a 17-year-old with Alloa. I was thrown in at the deep end a bit but I think I did okay as there was little pressure on me. We did lose 3-2 all the same.
Borough Briggs, Elgin City
I made my League debut as a Player/Manager at Elgin’s ground where we won 5-3 with Josh Falkingham and Keith Gibson scoring two apiece. I thought this management lark was going to be easy. After that, I soon learned!
Links Park, Montrose
Both memories of Links Park are from this season and show the conflicting emotions of football. Losing 3-0 there was the low point of the season however, I learned from it, as I had to take a step back from managing when I am playing as I was not delivering on the pitch. We went back on 2nd January and won 5-0 after playing really well.
Hampden Park, Queen’s Park
It has to be The CIS Insurance Cup Final with Ayr United against Rangers which was a wonderful occasion. It was an amazing few days in the build up to the day of the game. We lost 4-0 but it was still a great game to be involved in. I missed the Dinner afterwards after I suffered from water intoxication as I drank too much as I prepared for a drugs test. I missed out as I was being really sick and had a severe headache.
Stair Park, Stranraer
Another ground of highs and lows this season as we lost heavily and then went back and won 4-3 with Gavin Swankie scoring a hat-trick. We had two players sent off which was not so good but overall, a great day.
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Another former home ground and full of good memories but the top one is being awarded the Man-of-the-Match award in a game against a Rangers side that included the de Boer brothers and Emerson. We drew 1-1 and the game had a fantastic atmosphere and my only regret is that the ball took a bobble when I had the chance to make it 2-0 to Aberdeen.
Celtic Park, Celtic
No prizes for guessing this one. I scored a penalty in Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s famous 3-1 Scottish Cup win in 2000 over Celtic. My goal was the third one and 10 minutes into the second period set us up for the win after Barry Wilson and Bobby Mann scored. I also had a good night there with a really young Aberdeen side that ended a 77 game unbeaten home record for Celtic by winning 2-1. We were down to the bare bones and lost Steve Tosh early on as well but goals from Bryan Prunty and David Zdrilic saw us win.
Tannadice Park, Dundee United
I actually signed for Dundee United for a month after coming back from a spell in Sweden but I never featured in the first team although the Manager, Tommy McLean, was great with me. I went back there shortly after joining Inverness and scored in a 1-1 draw on a Valentine’s Day cup tie. Unfortunately, United won the replay up at our place.
New Douglas Park, Hamilton Academical
I went there with St. Johnstone when we had a chance of winning the First Division in 2007. Gretna were up at Ross County and their game was still being played after ours had finished in a win for us. At that point, they were drawing and we were up until James Grady scored right at the death and that was the lowest point of my career.
Tynecastle Stadium, Heart of Midlothian
I played in a CIS Insurance Cup Semi-Final for St. Johnstone against Hibs and it was a great atmosphere. They started off like a train and it looked like it could be a long night for us but we eventually got back into things and ran them very close indeed with Hibs winning in extra-time.
Easter Road, Hibernian
I do not have a great record at Easter Road but I can remember one positive experience when I was with Aberdeen. We were losing 2-0 and I threaded a pass through to young Fergus Tiernan and he got his first ever senior goal as a result.
Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Another ground with a lot of happy memories and probably the best was getting promotion out of the Second Division. It was done with a few games to spare and I scored a penalty in the game against Clyde that secured it. We won that game 3-0 and set us up for a title chase with Livingston that we just missed out on.
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
Another ground I do not have a great record at and being there with Inverness when a game was abandoned after 20 minutes sums up my luck there. They had to turn off their undersoil heating after complaints from their neighbours and we had to go back again. We lost 2-0.
Fir Park, Motherwell
When I played for Aberdeen, we had a big 1-0 win there as it made us mathematically safe from relegation. I scored the only goal and that win secured our season so it was very satisfying.
Ibrox Stadium, Rangers
I was part of a St. Johnstone side that achieved a huge result there in The CIS Insurance Cup. Steven Milne scored twice in a Quarter Final tie to send us through in what was a great night.
McDiarmid Park, St. Johnstone
Has to be the day we won the First Division Championship against Morton especially as we were a goal down before coming back to win 3-1. To win a title and promotion was an excellent achievement.
Love Street, St Mirren
I played there for Inverness Caledonian Thistle just a few days after we had beaten Celtic at their place in the Scottish Cup. We lost to St Mirren which was no real surprise as we were a touch ‘jaded’ following our celebrations
Played there twice last season for St Johnstone, once from the start and once as a substitute - reckon that both games ended in draws
And.Raydale Park, Gretna
I went there when they were flying in the First Division and they even had brought in Sir Bobby Robson to do their team talk. We won 2-0 and it was the turning point in our season and theirs as we clawed into their lead but just missed out.
Sheerin will also create another piece of history this weekend, if he picks himself for the Red Lichties game against Stranraer, as it will be his 400th starting appearance in a League game in Scotland.
Well done Paul!
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