Old Anniesland
Rugby
Pre-Season
Glasgow
Score:
31
Overview
Early in the second half, I run into the group that sits next to me at Scotstoun. The man who occupies the seat immediately next to mine during the regular season opines that, while he hasn’t been able to see much of the rugby whilst stood at the side of the pitch, there is something quite special, nostalgic even, about the smell of rain-soaked grass and recently upturned mud that you can’t replicate in a stadium with a 4G pitch. He’s right. It is reminiscent of schooldays spent toiling through scrum and line-out drills – somehow relatable, as if you could be called up from pitch side to finish out the final ten minutes just like you were back in your youth. This is a – very fancy – school ground, after all. And that is central to both its charm and its considerable drawbacks. Seeing pros play at such a humble location with a crowd limited to just 2,000 is a rare treat, like you’ve scored tickets to some intimate gig by one of your favourite bands. You will, however, need to endure Portaloo’s, a limited catering offer, and exposure to the cruelty of the Scottish elements – all whilst potentially not being able to see much of anything happening on the pitch if you’re not quick enough to snap up a seat in the single stand or its adjacent terraces.
Score Summaries
Atmosphere & Experience: 5
There’s a low ceiling for atmosphere at a pre-season match, particularly one in which the home team is fielding its academy side against a surprising number of first team starters from the opposition. It’s real men against boys stuff and doesn’t make for compelling viewing. Pair this with having to stand in the spitting rain and cold for two hours and it can feel a little grim at points. That said, it isn’t often that you can stand just a few feet from Finn Russell as he lines up a conversion and that’s pretty cool. Lower your expectations a bit and wrap up warm – it’s better than staying home.
Seats: 4
There are seats, but not many of them. Book early if you want one, or you’ll be condemned to two hours of exposure to the unforgiving Scottish elements. What’s more, depending on your stature, you may find you don’t see much of the match. Once the crowd at the pitch side barriers gets more than three or four people deep, your view is highly likely to be almost completely obstructed. There are small terraces on either side of the lone stand which offer a better perspective on the action, but which are uncovered.
Catering: 5
Options are limited to a single burger stand and a coffee stall serving some pretty delicious brownies. Several temporary bars are dotted around the ground, but queues soon build up as they are staffed by volunteers who aren’t the fastest pourers of pints.
Facilities: 3
Portaloo’s are your only option, and there aren’t a lot of them to choose from.
Getting There: 6
It’s roughly a 20-minute walk from Jordanhill station, which is served by fairly regular trains from Glasgow Central. The number 6 bus will get you to just outside the ground from the city centre and the west end. It is also possible to drive and park along Anniesland Road.
Getting Away: 6
Opt for the train from Jordanhill if you can as the 6 runs much less frequently later in the evening. The small crowd means you’re unlikely to face a queue for the train. If you’ve driven, getting away is pretty easy with only limited chaos as people pull out from their roadside parking spots.
Weekend Potential: 2
Glasgow is great. One of the best cities in the UK. This score is purely a reflection of the fact that there is little to no point to planning an entire weekend around spending Friday night standing in the freezing cold and rain watching academy players unless one of them happens to be your offspring and you’re trying to be a supportive parent.