Andy Harrow, Shaughan McGuigan and Craig G Telfer bring you the Scottish Football Bucket List; all the reasons you need to visit the Ladbrokes Championship, League 1 and League 2 during the Premiership winter break.
Get blown away at Gayfield!
Gayfield Park in Arbroath holds the honour of being the ground closest to the sea in Europe. Fans along the East Terrace can, on occasion, find waves crashing over the perimeter wall in winter! Renovated to its current format, the Red Lichties' ground is loaded with character. Not only granting the opportunity for fans to change ends at half-time, Gayfield also holds the British record for the biggest win in senior football, Arbroath defeating Bon Accord 36-0 in a Scottish Cup tie in September 1885.
Stephen Dobbie
Give Up Worryin’ and just enjoy watching Stephen Dobbie this winter. Take the Slow Train to Palmerston – where rockers Status Quo famously played in 2015 – to see a man who, depending on the temperature, Queens fans might call their Frozen Hero. He was once The Wanderer, but in recent years has settled down in Dumfries where his performances this season have left many Tongue Tied. With the experienced striker leading the line, Queens are Takin’ Care of Business in the Championship and will be hoping, come April, they’re crowed The Winner.
Labrokes League 1 title showdown
Saturday sees a massive match at Stark's Park as leaders Raith Rovers face Ayr United. Both sides have been heavily fancied to battle it out for automatic promotion back to the Championship and, so far, it has gone to form. Raith took an early lead in the division, with Ayr then in the ascendency, before Rovers hit back to move a point clear with two games in hand.
The Borough Briggs Pillbox
As well as being the most northerly ground in the country, Elgin City’s Borough Briggs once boasted an unusual feature: a World War II pillbox! The pillbox was built into the banking at the Lossie Green end of the ground in 1939 and was eventually removed in 2000 when the club left the Highland League for the SFL. A photo of the pillbox can be seen in the ground’s catering booth.
Look out for Scottish Cup shocks
January gives Premiership fans the opportunity to keep an eye on their forthcoming opponents in the Scottish Cup fourth round. Shocks are a common fixture at this stage of the competition and, with six Premiership teams paired against challengers from the lower leagues, the winter break might be an ideal time to get a flavour of what’s in store on January 20/21.
Read the rest of the SPFL Bucket list:
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-1/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-2/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-3/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-4/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-5/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-6/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-7/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-8/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-9/
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scottish-football-bucket-list-10/
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