TT No.36: Mike Latham - Sat 9 November 2013, West of Scotland Cup Round 1: Dunipace 3-2 Rutherglen Glencairn; Attendance: 92 (h/c); Admission: £4; Raffle ticket: £1; No programme; FGIF match rating: 3*

Matchday images (16) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/DunipaceFC

The rain is coming down in torrents north of Moffat, the M74 resembles a lake and the temperature gauge dips below three degrees.  In other words it’s November in Scotland, and a time when winter’s icy grip is beginning to take hold.  Amazingly, most junior games survive the deluge and the long journey to Denny, seven miles or so from Falkirk is rewarded by the welcome sight and sound of footballers kicking a ball around in their warm-ups; today’s West of Scotland cup-tie goes ahead.

The River Carron separates Denny from the neighbouring village Dunipace, from when the local junior football team takes its name. The area was once a bustling centre of industry, with iron foundries, brickworks, a coal mine and paper mills all operating 40 years or so ago. These days, little remains and it’s clear the town centre is urgently in need of some regeneration.

The Dunipace ground is one of the more modern in the juniors, opening in the early 1970s. It is located just a few hundred yards from the crossroads in the centre of Denny alongside a facility known as the Denny Centre. Dunipace, formed in 1888 played in three Junior Cup finals between 1912 and 1931 and played previously at Green Park. The current ground is known as Westfield Park and a farm by that name is located just up the road.

The playing pitch is well grassed, heavy (especially in the goalmouths) but playable, the ground badly in need of some loving care and attention. In fact it’s one of the least-loved grounds I’ve been on in the last few years spent watching junior football in Scotland. The visitor is met by the site of what appears to a burnt-out social club, the shell still standing, and the surrounds are littered by all sorts of rubbish, most of which appears to have festered there for some time.

The spectator standing areas are mostly overgrown and uncared for.  There’s a cover on the far side and a dressing room block on the nearside with a pie hut.  The homemade chicken and rice soup wins a thumbs-up from my travelling companion, but the down side is that they run out of Bovril before half-time, and thus in my friend’s eyes should be immediately disqualified from the cup for failing to observe the basics.

Bizarrely the spectator is offered a free sweet on entering the ground; rather more commonly there is a raffle ticket on sale which adds to the modest admission price- but not for the first time visiting the juniors there is no apparent communication as to the winner of the raffle.  I’d be far happier to pay £5 admission and have done with it that £4 and then an extra pound to a raffle that I’ve no idea whether I’ve won or lost.  If I won I would donate the winnings back to the club anyway.

My friend informs me that with one bookie the home side are 11/4 to win the game, surprising odds considering their form in Central First Division (tier three) as visitors Rutherglen are struggling at level two. The game isn’t the best, the referee (who I’d seen several times before and been impressed by) not having the best game of his career.

Without looking convincing Rutherglen led 1-0 at halftime. Dunipace then had a purple patch, scoring three goals in a rousing comeback and though the visitors pulled a goal back they never really troubled again.

It may have been the weather or the depressing walk around Denny before kick-off but after so many positive visits to Scottish junior grounds lately this was all a bit flat. Dunipace clearly have a hard working committee who keep the club going and a decent team looking to get back to former glories. But on a raw November day it wasn’t the best time to see Westfield Park at its best.

contributed on 09/11/13