Whatever the score is in Sunday’s Fourth Round Scottish Cup tie between Peterhead and holders Celtic, the Third Division side will be creating a record.
4,600 fans will pack into their Balmoor ground to create a new attendance record at the north eastern ground for the visit of Neil Lennon’s side and there has been a lot of work undertaken to make it happen.
Chairman Rodger Morrison said: “We have increased our crowd capacity for this game by making a number of changes to the ground. We have put in raised standing areas behind both goals to get all the fans in. We have had an embankment taken away by earth moving equipment to cater for the Sky TV cameras so there has been a lot done structurally.
“The work started to happen as soon as the draw was made. There was talk of a move to Aberdeen’s Pittodrie Stadium but that was never an option as far as I was concerned.”
Other changes will see a marquee erected to cater for 250 corporate hospitality guests, a temporary segregation fence installed for safety requirements and every advertising board around the ground has been re-painted to ensure crystal clear lettering with Morrison adding: “We have managed to sell another 36 boards as well so there has been a lot of work done by a lot of people.
“Our previous record attendance of 3,480 was against Partick Thistle in the Decond Division Promotion Play-Off Final back in May, 2006 and that ended disappointingly in a penalty shoot-out defeat, so we will need to see how this game turns out.”
On the field, The Blue Toon may sit second bottom of the Third Division and Celtic at the top of the SPL however, the clubs have been a lot closer off the field in recent weeks with Morrison saying: “The co-operation from Celtic has been first class and their help in arranging everything has been great. We had ground covers that we bought from Gretna however, they were not as good as the ones Celtic have, so they loaned us theirs and they have also helped with other matters including stewarding.”
This co-operation is not based on a long-time relationship with Morrison adding: “This will be our first ever competitive game against Celtic and completes the Old Firm double as we played Rangers at Ibrox a few years ago in the Scottish Cup as well.”
The interest in the game has been far more intense than it would have been for their scheduled match away to Alloa Athletic on IRN-BRU SFL duty with Morrison saying: “We have been fielding phone calls and e-mails from around the world but the sold out signs are up now and we cannot squeeze anyone else in.”
The work put in to make the Celtic game a fantastic occasion has involved a lot of the business community in Peterhead with Morrison commenting: “It is great that our main sponsor, Bon Accord Glass, will get some recognition through this game. Their Chairman, Martin Allan, is a real football person and was Manager of Keith in the Highland League for a long time and he will enjoy being involved in this tie.
“Jamieson Construction have carried out all the work required free of charge to create the space for a record crowd and it has probably cost them tens of thousands of pounds. They have also ensured that the team from Sky Sports can work effectively. We are delighted to welcome them to our home and although they do take over, we really don’t mind.”
Local oil companies have also been on hand to help out Peterhead with Morrison adding: “Score International are our Executive Hosts on the day with Gas de France and Weatherford’s also ensuring that we look after our corporate guests in the marquee.”
Morrison has been involved in an official capacity at Balmoor for 27 years although he has been a supporter for much longer as he said: “I have been on the Board since our Highland League days and have been a fan of the team since I was 12. I like to think I am the club’s biggest supporter in a number of ways."
That support has been through thick and thin with the Celtic game coming at the end of a thin period for the club elected to the SFL ranks for the start of season 2000/01 with Morrison saying: “We have had a disappointing last two years and I have to accept some of the blame for that as the club have made choices in management that turned out to be disappointing ones.
“We were relegated last season despite having what was probably the highest budget in the Second Division as well as the only full-time manager. It was incredibly disappointing how things turned out but I have every faith in the appointment we have made in Jim McInally.”
Ironically, McInally began both his playing career at Celtic and he also had a spell as a Youth Coach there before being the First Team Manager at Morton and East Stirlingshire.
Morrison believes that adopting a different approach to recruitment will bring them success through McInally as the Peterhead Chairman explained: “We normally pinpoint someone and head hunt them but earlier this season, we decided to take a different approach and advertised.
“That approach got us a great guy in Jim. He is a joy to work with as he approaches everything with a lot of common sense. He has a low key approach but we are getting to see where he is going to take us over the past couple of months."
After a summer of high profile player recruitment under previous Manager John Sheran, who was only in place for a few months as a replacement for the new Hartlepool United Manager, Neale Cooper, McInally is keen to put his own stamp on the Peterhead squad although he may have to be patient.
Morrison explained: “Jim would like his own players in but we are over budget at the moment and the way things have gone so far this season, it looks like it would take an incredible turnaround to get us into a promotion place.”
After weeks of preparation and selling out the tickets, Morrison was asked if he would be able to sit back and enjoy the David versus Goliath tie and he said: “I am not sure I will enjoy the day, I do not normally enjoy home games as you are responsible for so much and this one is a lot bigger than one of our usual games.”
Morrison joked: “I will enjoy it once the final whistle goes and we have got a draw. The players have been told that they are on a big bonus for a draw and a replay at Parkhead but they get nothing if we win!
“Seriously though, I am sure Jim will not go for a defensive approach as we have good strikers at the club. In fact, we have very good strikers at the club that have still to hit top form and perhaps they will do that on Sunday.
“Whatever happens, we have confidence that we are moving in the right direction after a disappointing period.”
One worry Morrison has not had this week has been the weather with the Balmoor Chairman saying: “The weather forecast looks good and there is no snow forecast. Wind is a frequent visitor to our ground and we have had some this week but not as bad as the central belt.”
Morrison finished by saying: “You never know, if we win, I may just enjoy the day.”
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