Glasgow diary 2014: Firhill - the stadium you won't see unless you're looking for it.

Following Jon’s instructions, we made our way back to the Ibrox subway station and headed for St. George’s Cross in Glasgow’s West End. A twenty minute slog along Maryhill Road awaited us. 

We had reached the end of the road which then began to veer left away from where we knew our destination to be and were wondering where the hell it was when I caught a glimpse of the Main Stand between two buildings.

The sign on the Main Stand of Firhill which caught my attention.

Apparently, Firhill was the first Scottish ground in modern times to be used by more than one club when Clyde moved in following their eviction from Shawfield for being unruly – in the eyes of the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) anyway, whose redevelopment plans for Shawfield, which had been used for grey hound racing and football since 1932, did not include their ball playing tenants.

Clyde played in Firhill until 1991 when they moved into Hamilton Academical F.C.’s Douglas Park as tenants before finally finding a permanent home halfway through the 1994/95 season at Broadwood Stadium – where they have been ever since. Ironically, Hamilton would end up becoming tenants at Firhill themselves in 1994 when the implementation of the Taylor Report across UK grounds forced them to vacate Douglas Park.

Anto at the front entrance of Firhill on Firhill Road.

Firhill also has the odd distinction of hosting the first ever European Cup match in Glasgow in November 1955 during the competition’s inaugural season, though they didn’t participate in it themselves – Swedish club Djurgårdens move the home leg of their quarter-final tie against Hibernian to Firhill due to freezing conditions in Sweden at the time. It wouldn’t work out well for them as Hibs ran out 4-1 aggregate winners, winning the ‘away’ leg 3-1.

Anto making his way towards the Jackie Husband Stand.

The 'D' at the end of Husband's name looks to be in danger of falling off.

The current capacity of the stadium is 10,102, with only two of the four stands in regular use: the disused terracing at the south end, formerly known as the City End but now commonly referred to as ‘The Bing’ by Partick supporters, is still the subject of attempted redevelopment planning, while the Main Stand is no longer used on match days due to maintenance and stewarding costs (though exceptions have been made depending on the nature of the game).

The Jackie Husband Stand and the North Stand are in regular use, with the former housing the home fans. The stadium was closed when we got there – it only opens on match days, apparently, which meant the club shop was shut too, much to our devastation. 

Throwing my Oud-Heverlee Leuven scarf to the ground in disgust. Apologies to their supporters, this wasn't OHL's fault.

However, we were fortunate that the gate towards the Jackie Husband Stand was open, giving us a chance to look at the stadium at close-quarters.

The Main Stand, as seen through a fence. 

The seating of the Jackie Husband Stand, as seen through a fence.

The entrance to the Jackie Husband Stand.

Situated beside the Forth and Clyde Canal, Firhill is quite picture-esq once you pass through the main gates. The new stands are modern, but the south end is in disrepair almost. The Main Stand still has a small enclosure of terracing at the front. There was nobody home to enquire about getting a pendant for the collection, but there was a guy fishing in the canal on the other side of the fence.

Gone fishing.

Anto, though, was inconsolable about the club shop being closed.

"THAT WASN'T PART OF THE DEAL, PARTICK!"