A Homeless Nation

Scottish Football never seems to fail when it comes to debate. Sports journalists who follow and write daily or weekly, covering the main issues and talking points of our game rarely have little to choose from to fill the column inches. Even today (Friday 31st August) as I’m writing this, it already feels like old news considering how much has happened in five days.

This week started with the news of the discussions taking place between the SFA and representatives from Hampden Park and Murrayfled over the issue of where Scottish Football will call home. Admittedly, this had crept up on me with very little warning. The last time we were discussing/debating/arguing over this topic was well over 7 months ago at the turn of the year. Since the news broke in January that the SFA were considering a move from the ‘Home of Scottish Football’, the thought had never really crossed my mind of where I would want to see Scotland play.

My loyalties on the matter were completely split down the middle. It has to be said that I don’t particularly like Hampden Park and other than a Raith Rovers 1–0 victory over Queens Park in 2009 to win the Scottish Second Division, I can’t say that I’ve ever had much to celebrate at the famous stadium. The truth is, I made a conscious decision to not go back to Hampden Park for an international match, unless it was a qualifying decider. This choice was made after the final straw of waiting for well over an hour for a train from Mount Florida to Glasgow Queens St, to wait another 2 hours for a train back to Edinburgh. Unfortunately there was one more train to catch before I could get back home to Kirkcaldy but by the time the Glasgow to Edinburgh train I was on was pulling out of Falkirk High, the last train to Kirkcaldy was pulling out of Haymarket.

Many people will complain about the ‘restricted’ views at Hampden Park and the disappointing atmospheres. I would have to disagree. I’ve sat in all of the stands at the National Stadium and can’t say that there is any restrictions of views. As with any stadia around the world, there are seating areas with good views and seating areas with not so god views. The choice of what view you want to have is down to how much you’re willing to pay for a ticket.

As Christain Panucci headed the ball into the back the net on a cold and wet November night, a stadium rocking and bouncing was silenced. Anyone who will argue that Hampden Park doesn’t generate an atmosphere will be pointed to the electric atmosphere that night and more recently ‘that’ game against England last summer. However, the lack of success for the national sides endeavours to get us to a competition over the last 20 years has definitely created a lack of interest. On top of this, the increase in pricing and the changed fixture dates and times has meant that empty seats around Hampden Park have been something people are getting more and more used to seeing. Regardless of the die-hard Tartan Army fans who continue to put themselves through the torture of watching Scotland play the likes of Malta and Lithuania at home, it is impossible to generate anything close to that once famous ‘Hampden Roar’ when less than half of the stadium is full.

Hampden Park is steeped in history and it is that history that seems to be one of the driving factors for it to remain as the home for Scottish Football. Famous games between Scotland and England, world record attendances and cup finals that will never be forgotten have all been held in the cauldron like stadium. Kenny Dalglish’s goal against Spain in the World Cup Qualifier, Zinedine Zedanes Champions League Final volley and even David Greys last minute winner for Hibs against Rangers will always be remember by not just Scottish Football fans but fans all over the world. Would it be fair to lose this history and the hallowed turf where so many iconic moments have happened?

I’m not privy to the full details of the deals that are on the table between Hampden and Murrayfiled but from what I have heard and read in different media outlets, the financial aspect is obviously the main contributing factor to the decision being made. In todays football climate, money talks. If renting Hampden Park from Queens Park for another term is not an option for the SFA then they will need to buy the stadium from owners Queens Park Football Club. However, once this has been purchased, the SFA will be the ones responsible for the stadium upkeep and the much needed refurbishments which will all be an extra cosst to the association. The Murrayfiled option gives the SFA a bigger stadium, no upkeep charges and the potential to maximise revenue thanks to the extra 15,278 seats that Murrayfiled has over Hampden Park.

Transportation links have been another major talking point; with Murrayfiled being within just a couple of miles of Haymarket train station as well as having a direct tram link to the stadium, it has been said that this would make the stadium much more accessible for supporters from all over the country. Defenders of Hampden will argue though, that there are just as many accessible transport links to the areas surrounding the stadium, the issue is actually with how often and regular the train services are. Bearing in mind that not only is the hosting of international football matches a requirement of the deal but also Scottish Cup and League Cup semi-finals and finals. Many would argue that Glasgow is much better equipped when dealing with the Old Firm clubs playing each other and this has become something that may be an issue for the policing and transportation of large groups of supporters travelling to and from Murrayfiled in the event of an Old Firm cup semi final or final.

The list of pros and cons between both stadiums could go on and on, and as with anything football related, there will always be a difference in opinion. From my point of view, I am a very torn individual when it comes to this decision. For selfish reasons, Murrayfild would be great as it’s much easier for me to get to than it is for Hampden and I’m sure I’m not the only supporter who would be much more inclined to go to international matches at home if they were easier to get to and from. Murrayfiled has been famous for generating pre match atmosphere and now that Scottish Rugby seems to be on the up again, the atmosphere during games have become much better. But if the national football team are struggling to sell out a stadium of 51,866 then how will they expect to sell out a stadium with 67,144? And if they don’t sell it out then what kind of atmosphere would a crowd of 20,000 manage to generate in an even bigger stadium?

As it got further and further into Tuesday afternoon, I had given up on the constant refreshing of my Twitter feed to see what the outcome would be. Sometimes, tossing a coin to make a decision is an easy way to tell exactly what outcome you were really wanting. If I’m disappointed with heads then I know that the option I wanted was actually the one that tails represented. This was exactly how I was feeling about the national stadium decision, would I be happy with Hampden staying or is change exactly what our game needs right now? So when the result finally did come back as ‘more time and information’, I have to admit, I felt very dissapointed. Another week to wait until the decision will be finalised and then we will know the fate of where we will gather once again to watch Scotland try to qualify for another tournament.

Three days have passed and my emotions have settled down slightly, my jumping from Hampden to Murrayfiled has slowed down and I’m pretty sure of the decision I am hoping for. I almost feel more pressure to cast my allegiances on this matter than I did for the referendum over Scottish Independence.

My decision to support the move to Murrayfiled is not because of selfish reasons regarding transportation or locality, nor is it based on the financial or historical arguments. After Tuesdays decision to delay the outcome, it seems that the question has changed from; ‘where would be the best home of Scottish Football?’ To; ‘why shouldn’t we play at Hampden Park?’.

I’m not a voter for Murrayfiled, I’m a voter for change. Change has long been something we as Scots have been afraid or apprehensive of. History will show that once upon a time it was Scotland who were teaching the world how to play the beautiful game, England may have invented the sport but it was us who showed them how to play it. From the early 1900’s world football history is littered with Scottish players, teams and managers who have innovated and influenced the game and how it is played. We live in an era where everything is moving at ferocious speed, if you can’t keep up then you are left behind.

Are the SFA tearing up the roots of Scottish Football or cutting down a dead tree?

It’s time for Scotland to move with the times, Hampden park will always be the spiritual home of Scottish Football and the memories we have of the great games and atmospheres will never be forgotten. But there comes a time when new memories and atmospheres need a chance to be created. A new era of our game is touching distance away, I just hope the leaders can stand up and be counted when it comes to making history and moving us together to the next level.