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.
Water-way to watch Falkirk
The way fans consume football is constantly evolving and clubs must ensure they remain relevant to their supporters. It is to Falkirk’s credit, then, that the club is finding new and enterprising ways to engage with their fans. In recent seasons the Bairns have given supporters the chance to watch the game from a pitch-side hot tub; high above the stadium in a crane; and from a vintage car whilst being served popcorn. Who knows what exciting innovations Falkirk might have in place for their fans over the winter break? Watching the game from the dugout alongside Paul Hartley? Or maybe suspended above the ground from a bungee?
Mark "Mr Goals" McGuigan
Before joining Stenhousemuir in the summer, Mark McGuigan had enjoyed a modest scoring record. The striker, who was sometimes misused as a wide forward in the past, had only ever netted a handful of goals during his spells at Partick Thistle, Albion Rovers and Stranraer (a rare spurt of form for the Stair Park club in 2015/16 aside). Now? He just cannot stop scoring and has earned the nickname “Mr Goals” by the Ochilview faithful after netting 18 times in all competitions this season. It is not just the volume, but the nature of his goals that have impressed – as well the standard fare of penalty kicks, close-range headers and tap-ins, Mr Goals scored a stunning half-volley against Berwick Rangers, and, even better, a remarkable strike from 35 yards against Clyde. Thriker!
St Mirren's Rejuvenation
Just a little over a year ago, fresh from another all-too-familiar-defeat, St Mirren were sitting on the bottom rung of the Championship, with just four points from 14 games. It seemed a forlorn hope that The Buddies could even contemplate being in the second tier this time around, and yet under the tutelage of Jack Ross, the Paisley side are now top of the table. The excellent results have continued from the second half of last term, while the young, dynamic squad are producing a vibrant style of football. Changed days down Paisley way.
Stark's Park
Whichever way you approach the home of Raith Rovers, your first instinct is probably that it looks fairly generic. The blue metallic North and South stands are the identikit style that are pretty much ten-a-penny in modern builds, but once inside, you’ll notice the curios which makes Rovers' home since 1891 such a unique venue. The old wooden Archibald Leitch designed Main Stand is unusual enough on its own, with its right-angled L-shape stretching around the touchline to meet one of the corner flags. That’s not all though, with the Railway Stand situated right next to the main Edinburgh to Aberdeen line, meaning trains regularly rumble past the action, giving the stadium a one-of-a-kind feel.
Jai Quitongo
Jai Quitogo is one of the most exciting young players in Scottish football. The son of Hearts legend, Jose, Jai exploded on to the scene last season, helping Morton reach the semi finals of the Betfred Cup. He suffered a serious injury which curtailed his 2016/17 season but has returned to action this campaign. Although his scoring record is down on last season, he remains a hot prospect capable of moments of magic, like his goal at Palmerston in September.
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/
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