Ipswich Town and Lincoln City both win as they get ready for the replay that will decide who hosts Brighton in a fortnight

On Tuesday night Lincoln City and Ipswich Town will cross swords once again to find out who will earn the right to host Brighton in a fortnight on the next stop on the Road to Wembley from Scotland. Yesterday they were both in action as they warmed up for the big one in two days time. Lincoln City travelled to Gateshead  for an FA Trophy tie and Ipswich were at home in a Championship fixture with Blackburn Rovers providing the opposition.

The Red Imps from Lincoln were in green on Tyneside yesterday. With their biggest match for many years to be played out at their Sincil Bank ground on Tuesday the Imps boss made 6 changes as he looked to rest key players. Despite fielding a 'mix and match' side Lincoln City won their FA Trophy tie handsomely and they can now look forward to the visit of Ipswich with great anticipation

Red Imps in Lincoln green as they celebrate on Tyneside yesterday

Down in East Anglia, the Tractor Boys ploughed through the opposition to gain 3 valuable Championship league points. They saw off Blackburn Rovers 3-2 and have moved up a couple of places in the league and are now comfortably mid table. On the goal trail for Ipswich was Scotsman Christophe Berra who notched their second goal. The Scotland internationalist will no doubt be looking to get on the scoresheet again on Tuesday night.

Scot Christophe Berra: a central defender who can also score goals

No significant injuries picked up by Ipswich yesterday and they too look forward to Tuesday with optimism.

Meanwhile my new team on the ‘Road’, Brighton and Hove Albion, were also in Championship action. The Seagulls from the south coast have been on a long unbeaten run lately but they finally came unstuck yesterday, losing away at Preston.

Brighton's garish change strip fails to unsettle Preston 

The heroes from the cup win against MK Dons last weekend were benched again as the Seagulls boss Hughton reverted to his first choice XI for a league match. The club’s top priority is promotion to the Premier Division. This meant that Scot Jamie Murphy was named as a substitute after starting, and playing well, against the Dons. The Scottish winger was brought on after 70 minutes with the Seagulls trailing by two goals but he was unable to change the match and the home team ran out 2-0 winners.

Brighton and Hove Albion now lie in wait for the winners of the FA Cup replay at Lincoln on Tuesday evening. It has been announced that the replay is being shown live on BBC TV and I will be tuned in. I will know late on Tuesday night whether I will be heading for Ipswich or Lincoln on the 28^th January. Can the Red Imps defy the odds and ensure that their agricultural style of play is too much for the Tractor Boys? Will Ipswich assert their superiority at the second attempt and end the Imps fairy story? Come back here on Wednesday and all will be revealed. Keep reading.

The Seagulls will play either the Tractor Boys or the Red Imps in the next round. Will I be heading for Ipswich or Lincoln?

The draw for round 4 of the FA Cup was made last night and the next stop on the Road to Wembley is going to be either Lincoln or Ipswich. The winners of the Lincoln City versus Ipswich town replay will host Brighton and Hove Albion on the 28^th January and I will be there whether it is in East Anglia or Lincolnshire.

As those of you who have been following this journey for some time will know I have already been to Lincoln. In October I was at the 4^th Qualifying Round tie between Lincoln United and Spennymoor Town. If I do go back to Lincoln later this month it will be to see the city’s ‘big team’. But first the Red Imps have got to overcome Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys from East Anglia currently lie in 15^th place in the Championship Division, 54 places above Lincoln City who currently top the Vanarama National League. The East Anglians will start as strong favourites for the replay. Lincoln City played well on Saturday to hold Ipswich to a draw but it is unlikely that lightning will strike twice.

After the draw was made I had a quick scan through the squads of both the Red Imps and the Tractor Boys and Lincoln do not have a single Scot on their rosta and Ipswich only have one Jock … but it is Christophe Berra.

He's all Heart! A young Christophe Berra celebrates scoring for the Jambos

Berra, born and brought up in Edinburgh, is a former captain of my beloved Hearts. He left Tynecastle in 2009 to seek fame and fortune down south. Initially he served Wolves with distinction before joining Ipswich in 2013. He has played almost 300 games in England and he has also been capped 34 times by Scotland, most recently in the match against the ‘Auld Enemy’ at Wembley in November. I remember him playing with an authority beyond his years at Tynecastle. However, my strongest memory of Christophe is a memorable performance off the pitch.

Berra reads a letter from the front at the WW1 Memorial Service at Haymarket in 2008

On the 11^th November 2008 my son Brian and I went to the annual remembrance service at the War Memorial at Haymarket in Edinburgh. This is a big deal for all Hearts fans. In 1915 with the first world war raging and professional football still being played in front of dwindling attendances and a growing resentment towards the football clubs, the entire Hearts squad volunteered for active service and became part of the legendary McCrae’s Battalion. Of the 16 who enlisted very few came home alive at the end of the war. At the service in 2008, as Hearts captain, the youthful Berra read out a poignant letter home from the front from one of the players who never returned. Word perfect and sombre – an impressive performance from the young man.

Will I get to see Berra play for Ipswich against the Seagulls or will Lincoln be my destination later this month. I will be tuned in to the replay with great interest. Come back here at the weekend for more … and keep reading.

Goodbye to new friends and hello to an old friend as Brighton are victorious and Dons bow out with heads held high

Saturday the 7^th January 2017

FA Cup Round Three

Brighton and Hove Albion 2 Milton Keynes Dons 0

It was the longest journey so far on the Road to Wembley from Scotland yesterday as I took in the Brighton v MK Dons match. Another 1006 miles racked up on the ‘Road’. It was a bitter sweet day on the south coast. I had to say a sad goodbye to some fantastic new friends from Milton Keynes but I was able to say hello again to an old friend from Stirling University. The Seagulls from Brighton progressed in the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory against the valiant Dons. This is how the day panned out.

When I dreamed that I would be cuddled by two birds in Brighton this is not what I had in mind!

Pre Match Communications: From the day the draw for round 1 was made 11 weeks ago I have been in constant contact with the Dons from Milton Keynes I am very much at home on their facebook forums and in turn the Dons fans have provided with me all sorts of stuff about their much misunderstood football club. Although the Dons cup campaign is over I will continue to contribute to their internet forums look forward to reading of their progress up the table in League One.

Brighton and Hove Albion fans too have been very generous in helping me understand more about their club. The Albion Roar twitter feed (@albionroar) has provided me with a lot of the detail concerning the history of the club and their links with Scotland. Through the magic of the internet I was able to hook up on facebook with Clifford Murray Vagnolini, the grandson of the Scots centre half in the Brighton team that won the 1910 Charity Shield.   9/10

Pre Match Pint: The pub of choice for the pre match pint was the Evening Star close to Brighton Station. A great wee pub with an olde-worldy feel to it. This was the pub of choice of my old pal, and now Brighton resident, Joe Black. Apparently the pub was named after an old Fripp and Eno album – so that works for me.

The Evening Star: A progressive pub in central Brighton

I sampled the Dark Star ‘Hophead’ beer and mighty fine it was too. According to the spiel ‘an extremely clean-drinking pale golden ale with a strong floral aroma and elderflower notes from the Cascade hops’. Ya beauty! So good I had to have a second pre match pint. If anyone is visiting the Amex for the first time I would recommend drinking in Brighton first and getting the train out to the ground as the beer drinking facilities on the concourse are a bit basic and overpriced. 9/10

Programme: All the same comments I made about the Charlton Athletic programme five weeks ago apply here too. The match day magazine was priced at £2.00. It was a fairly standard and relatively unimaginative publication for a club of Brighton’s size and history. Also there was only a minimal amount of reading in it. I flew back from Gatwick after the match and I was looking forward to something to read on the hour long plane flight. Thirty minutes into the flight I had finished reading the programme.

There was a good article about the Baldock brothers (Sam of the Seagulls and George of the Dons) but nothing about the magic of the FA Cup. This was a major surprise as Albion have an interesting FA Cup history and they also have a very good record in the third round of the competition in recent years. 4/10

Ground: The Amex is a very impressive, modern all seater football stadium. I particularly like the sweeping curving design. There are good catering facilities inside the ground although the food and drink is overpriced. With a capacity of more than 30,000 it looks and feels like a Premier Division ground.

The impressive Amex Stadium: Stewarded by Aliens

There may be an issue with access for disabled fans. I noted on the MK Dons fans facebook page this morning this post: “Although I am sound of limb, I have to say that the treatment of the ambulant disabled at Brighton today was nothing short of scandalous! Firstly the disabled visiting fans get no kind of half decent treatment, being made to walk over 1000 mtrs to the stadium from an overpriced car park , which had a head steward shrug his shoulders when I asked him how was a disabled fan meant to get to the ground! Secondly, the walkways were soaking wet with no signs apparent ! Those were the two main beefs in my mind! If that's how a team that aspires to reach the top level in football treats its fans, then god help them !” This comment certainly chimes with my own experience where we had to walk about 1k back to the overpriced car park and then sit in the car for 40 minutes before we could get out of the concourse. In short a great stadium but with some yet to be resolved infrastructure issues. 6/10

Atmosphere: The atmosphere in the MK Dons end was pretty good. The 750 visitors from Milton Keynes gave their favourites some great vocal encouragement. As I was in the away end it is impossible to guage what the atmosphere was like in the other parts of the ground. I suspect it would have been a bit soporific. For the fourth match in a row I have been in a very big ground with relatively few spectators in. The attendance yesterday was just over 11000 and the average attendance for a Brighton home league game is in excess of 27000. The gate yesterday was 59% down on the average. With the Seagulls attempting to fly into the Premier League and hence not prioritising the FA Cup and the manager stating in advance that he would be fielding a weakened team the attendance figure is understandable. However, it does not help to spark a rocking and rolling atmosphere. Also, the early goal for Brighton took some of the tension out of the tie 5/10

Scottishness: With the Seagulls manager seeing this match as an opportunity to ‘use the squad’ it was inevitable that Glaswegian Jamie Murphy would start. Murphy has been on the subs bench for the last few weeks and the highly rated winger needed game time. Jamie was the only Scot on the pitch yesterday and played well. He runs at defenders with pace and purpose and he linked up with colleagues in some slick Brighton passing moves. A more tenuous link with Bella Caledonia is that the opening goal was scored by ex Celtic Israeli international Beram Kayal.

Jamie Murphy on the ball yesterday

MK Dons did not have any Scots on the pitch but an unused sub was the 18 year old Scotland youth international Conor Furlong. Although he was not deployed yesterday the fact he was warming the bench is a positive indication that he is rated by the Dons management team. A young Scot to keep an eye on. The Dons have a number of Scots within their footballing community. I have previously met Scottish Dons fans and the Scots Dons photographer Tom Stewart. Yesterday I met the former Partick Thistle player and MK Dons Liaison Officer Gordon McNicol

Your blogger and ex-Jag Gordon McNicol at the Amex yesterday

Gordon is a well known face around Stadium MK and although he hung up his boots some years ago he still walks with the bow legged gait of the ex professional footballer. It was great to have a chat with Gordon yesterday. The main Scots connection between MK Dons and Scotland is of course the management team where Robbie Neilson and Stevie Crawford have been in charge for about five weeks now. By an amazing coincidence I was able to round off my time with the Dons with a quick chat with Robbie and Steve. At the departure gate at Gatwick for the 1945 flight to Edinburgh I found myself standing next to Stevie. Not being shy I engaged him in conversation and told him I thought that the Dons were a wee bit unlucky. He was not so sure explaining that they (Seagulls) started better and it was only in the second half that the Dons got the control they were looking for. Then we were joined by Robbie. Not one to miss an opportunity I told him I was a Hearts fan and was sorry to see him go and he thanked me for that. I asked him if he was enjoying his time at MK and he replied ‘Aye’ and quickly added ‘all we need to do now is start winning football games … and get a few more bodies in’. Dons fans should look out for some imminent arrivals in the transfer window – probably from north of the border. I wished them both luck. Very polite, friendly, quietly spoken, committed football men. They are a credit to themselves and to the Dons. I predict good times ahead for the MK Dons under their stewardship. 8/10

Entertainment:

This was a high quality football match played in a good spirit. Only two bookings testify to the fact that the teams were keen to play football rather than kick lumps out of each other. Both sides passed the ball well and players on both teams looked comfortable in possession. The underdog Dons matched their opponents in terms of possession and shots. The real difference was in the ‘shots on target’ stat where Brighton had double the number of strikes that tested the keeper. A 2-0 scoreline flatters the home side and the Dons could count themselves as a wee bit unlucky. The higher level of quality in the final third of the pitch was the decisive factor and the forward play by the Seagulls was more incisive.

Ex Celtic man Kayal opened the scoring for Brighton when he placed a shot from outside of the box just inside the post. The Dons keeper Martin appeared to see it late and made no real attempt to save it.

Hooping and hollering: Ex Celtic man Kayal celebrates opening the scoring

Both teams enjoyed long spells of possession without looking threatening in the first half although the Dons did create a few chances. Unfortunately for them they all fell to the skillful Reeves who had chosen FA Cup day to leave his shooting boots at home. Half time Seagulls 1 Dons 0.

In the second half the mercurial Chuks Aneke became more influential and the Dons created a few half chances with dangerous crosses flashing across the Brighton goalmouth. Chuks is built like a brick shithouse and has good close control. He could become the Dons talisman if he gets himself fully fit and chooses not to play with gloves on when the weather is mild.

The gloves are on! Chuks Aneke surrounded by a flock of Seagulls

Against the run of play Brighton doubled their advantage in the 72^nd minute. With the Dons defence caught napping a free header from 10 yards from Tomer Hemed settled the tie. Hemed later missed an absolute sitter, but a 3-0 scoreline would have been extremely harsh on the gallant Dons. Full time Seagulls 2 Dons 0  8/10

Match Day Catering: The pies on offer inside The Amex were the so-called ‘gourmet pies’. I think this is just a not-so-cunning excuse to charge a ridiculous amount of money for the traditional match day snack. I had a ‘steak and ale’ pie and it was great but I just can’t get used to paying more than a couple of quid for a pie. The price of £4.20 for a pie is scandalous. 6/10

Value for Money: The admission price of £12 was good value for an important FA Cup tie in good surroundings. I noted from the programme that league match prices start at £25 so congratulations to Brighton and Hove Albion for making the match more accessible. It is just a shame that so few turned up and given the history and romance of the FA Cup I find this hard to understand. 8/10

The je ne sais quoi factor: As has been the case so many times on the Road to Wembley from Scotland some highlights have nothing to do with the football. I really liked the idea of Brighton and Hove Albion hiring a young rock band to entertain fans arriving early before the kick off. These boys could play too.

Its only foot and ball but I like it!

The big highlight for me for this fixture was catching up with old friends. On the Friday night before the match I stopped over in Sussex with my old pal Derek Poots and his family and enjoyed a great meal and a few scoops

Derek Poots, Kay Poots, Emily Poots and Tim the rabid Brighton fan

Then on Saturday Adam Poots drove me in to central Brighton where Adam and I had a couple of pints with Joe Black. Joe and I were at Stirling University together in the 1970s and have somehow survived those years of utter debauchery to reach our late fifties. I have not seen Joe for about 35 years and it was great to catch up with him and swap stories about our stark depravity from the past.

 In the picture above there is a Celtic fan and a Hearts fan wearing Boston United and Albion Rovers hats on a train to watch a match between Brighton and MK Dons. Its a funny old game. It was great also to catch up with Adam Poots and Peter Tissington. I have not seen Adam since we were at the Euros together last summer and Peter is becoming a good pal as our ‘roads to Wembley’ collided a few rounds ago.

The fab four: L-R Peter Tissington, Adam Poots, Joe Black and your blogger

There is of course now a 50% chance that I will be seeing Joe, Adam and Peter in Brighton again in three weeks time. 8/10

Overall Road to Wembley from Scotland Rating 71/100

At this point I have to bid a very fond farewell to the good people of Milton Keynes Dons Football Club. An often maligned and much misunderstood club the Dons are heroes in my eyes. In a short space of time they have built a club with a family focus, a strong link to their local community and a team on the pitch who are well coached and play good football. I wish them every success in the future. A special note of thanks to all of the Dons fans who have helped me with this fun and nonsense. Specifically the wonderful Colin Butler and his fabulous sidekick Nick Hedges – thanks for organising that unforgettable night at Stadium MK last month. Steven Mannion and John Farnham have also become big pals of mine and I hope to see you all again soon – maybe in the play-offs in May? For years to come I will be following the fortunes of MK Dons with great interest.

So, Brighton and Hove Albion are now my team on the Road to Wembley from Scotland. I have a feeling I might be spending some time with the Seagulls. They could go a long way in the FA Cup if they choose to prioritise the competition. Who will they play in the next round? Will I be back at the Evening Star pub in Brighton in three weeks time or will the Road take me to a new destination. The draw for round 4 of the FA Cup is made on BBC 2 at 7.00 pm tomorrow evening. Tune in and then come back here on Tuesday for reaction to the draw … and most important of all … keep reading!

Miles on the clock for this match by road, rail and plane 1006

Total Miles on the Road to Wembley from Scotland so far 5871

Never Mind the Baldocks! There will be no brotherly love when Brighton face the MK Dons tomorrow.

I feel like I used to feel on Christmas Eve as a kid! One day to go before the 12^th match on the Road to Wembley from Scotland at the Amex Stadium where Brighton and Hove Albion will host the MK Dons in the third round of the FA Cup. The two protagonists are approaching this match in different ways. The Seagulls are totally focussed on gaining promotion to the Premier League and will take this opportunity to rest a few players whereas the Dons will be going for it lock, stock and two smoking Baldocks.

The Brighton boss Chris Hughton has just appeared on Sky Sports News as I am typing this and revealed that he will be looking at this match as “an opportunity to use the squad”. We all know what that means. Brighton are hence expected to rest their key players and give game time to those who have been either warming the bench or sat in the stands recently. From the Scots links perspective this is good news as it means he will almost certainly start with Flying Scotsman Jamie Murphy on the left wing

Jamie Murphy: Now following me on twitter (ta Jamie)

The ex-Motherwell man Murphy has been named as a substitute recently and will use this match as a chance to impress the gaffer. I am predicting a man-of-the-match performance from the talented Glaswegian.

If Chris Hughton has a sense of occasion he will also select Sam Baldock to lead the line. Sam is the first choice striker for the Seagulls and has recently been in great goal scoring form. He is 27 years old, born in Buckinghamshire and he came through the youth ranks with his local team – Milton Keynes Dons. The Dons sold him to West Ham in 2011 and he has arrived at the Amex via a subsequent spell with Bristol City. George Baldock is Sam’s younger brother. The 23 year old has also progressed from the MK Dons youth ranks. Unlike Sam, George is still plying his trade at Stadium MK where he is the first choice right back and many Dons fans consider that he is currently their best player.

What a load of Baldocks: Sam and George expected to go head to head tomorrow

With Sam on the lookout for goals and George determined to stop Brighton scoring what are the chances of a few meaty 50 / 50 challenges between the brothers tomorrow?

If Dons’ Scots boss Robbie Neilson is as good as his word and puts out his strongest 11 then that probably will mean that the young Scots centre back Jack Hendry is once again consigned to the subs bench. However, according to rumours up here in Bella Caledonia it won’t be long before Scots feature in the starting XI for the Dons. Neilson is expected to sign Dundee goalie Scott Bain and Hearts forward Robbie Muirhead (see Dec 1^st post on this blog) within the next week.

One additional note from the Joe McGhie story reported on this blog last week (Scots centre half for Brighton in the 1910 Charity Shield match). I have continued the dialogue with his grandson Clifford on facebook and he tells me that Joe was an ‘unbelievably hard hard man’. Apparently before he was able to make a living as a professional footballer he worked down the pit. First making his ‘debut’ in the coalmines at the age of 9! Changed days …

Who will successfully dig in for victory tomorrow? Which players will put in a good shift? When Brighton and Hove Albion take on the MK Dons tomorrow it could be the most exciting match yet on the Road to Wembley from Scotland. Come back here on Sunday evening to find out how it all pans out. Keep reading …

A Happy New Year for Seagulls and Dons as both secure useful results on the road

Yesterday on New Year Bank Holiday Monday the Seagulls and the Dons were in league action for the last time before they meet in Brighton on Saturday in the FA Cup round 3. They both secured good results away from home.

Brighton and Hove Albion travelled up to The Big Smoke to take on Fulham in a Championship fixture. The Seagulls were under the cosh for most of this game but the indefatigable Albion still found a way to win. Goalie Stockdale saved a penalty in the first half to keep the score blank at half time. Ten minutes into the second period the home team opened the scoring and with Fulham still 1-0 ahead with 16 minutes to play it looked as if the Seagulls long unbeaten record was coming to an end. However the men from Brighton are not top of the Championship table for nothing and they came storming back with two goals within two minutes in the final quarter of an hour of the match. First Hemed scored a penalty and then centre back Dunk headed in the winning goal.

 

Dunk has spunk! A brave header from Seagull's centre back sparks wild celebrations

 Brighton’s second goal prompted wild celebrations in the away end where 7000 Brighton fans were housed having made the journey up from the south coast. It now seems very likely indeed that the Seagulls will clinch promotion and will be playing their football in the land of milk and honey that is the English Premier League next season.

Brighton fans in huge numbers in South London yesterday

Scot watch: Brighton’s Scots winger Jamie Murphy is still on the comeback trail and he was given a further 10 minutes of playing time yesterday when manager Chris Hughton introduced him to the action as a late substitute. My guess is that Murphy will start on Saturday in the Big One against the MK Dons.

Meanwhile further north in Chesterfield the MK Dons took on the local side in a League One match. Chesterfield is a place I am particularly fond of and it holds some great memories for me. Yesterday, under the shadow of the crooked spire, the Dons also enjoyed themselves. By all accounts the Dons dominated the match against the Spireites. The men from MK had more possession, more shots and more corners but on this occasion could not turn their dominance into goals and the match finished 0-0.

An acrobatic effort from Dons Goal Machine Maynard is well saved yesterday

A noisy travelling support from Milton Keynes had made the 200 mile round trip up the M1 to cheer on their favourites. A draw is not a perfect result but another point is useful for the Dons who have now moved 6 points clear of the relegation zone.

Dons in Derbyshire: Top fans Nick Hedges and Colin Butler are back row just left of the steward

Scot watch: Scots Dons boss Robbie Neilson set up the team well and they were unlucky not to win. Scottish centre back Jack Hendry again warmed the bench yesterday and once more he was an unused sub. Maybe Neilson is holding Jack back to be a secret  weapon on Saturday. Away from the field of play Neilson is wheeling and dealing in the transfer market. Midfielder Carruthers has been sold to Sheffield United and the rumour up here north of the border is that his first signing will be Scott Bain the talented young goalkeeper who is currently the custodian of the onion bag for Dundee FC in the Scottish Premier League.

The next match for both teams is the Big One. The FA Cup 3^rd round tie between Brighton and Hove Albion and the MK Dons at the Amex Stadium on Saturday the 7^th January 2017. The 12^th stop on the Road to Wembley from Scotland

Only 4 sleeps until matchday - cannae wait

I am looking forward to catching up with all the Dons fans in the away end at The Amex and also catching up with Adam Poots, Joe Black and Peter Tissington. It should be a great day out and it could be a classic match. Come back here on Friday for the big match preview. Keep reading. 

For fogs sake! Nicky Maynard scores for the MK Dons!!

With only a week to go until they meet in the FA Cup in Brighton next weekend the MK Dons and the Seagulls were both expected to be in league action last night. The Dons did strut their stuff at their hallowed two acres in Milton Keynes but the Seagulls were foiled by fog!

For the game against Swindon the MK Dons changed their formation to an old fashioned 4-4-2 formation and it worked a treat. Both of the front men were on target as they ran out 3-2 winners and moved 6 points clear of the relegation zone. Kieran Agard notched up a brace and the third was scored by the recalled Nicky Maynard. Maynard divides opinion among the Dons support but by all accounts he was on form yesterday

Marmite Man Nicky Maynard celebrates scoring for the MK Dons yesterday

Scot Watch: The only Scot in the Dons first team squad, Jack Hendry, was once again named as a substitute yesterday and once more the ex Partick Thistle man was not required to show his paces. The Dons Scots manager Robbie Neilson is being lauded for the tactical switch that apparently turned the MK men into a more potent attacking force. Neilson also drew praise for selecting marmite man Maynard. Maynard’s goal yesterday was the 100^th of his career but prior to the match yesterday had only scored 6 times in 52 outings for MK Dons.

The big match at the Amex Stadium in Brighton where Cardiff City were in town did not go ahead. With only two hours to kick off the referee deemed that the fog that had descended on the south coast was too much of a pea-souper for a football match to be played. 

The Ref and the Brighton boss Hughton agree - 'game is fogged off'

With such short notice of the postponement logistical problems abound. The food for the match had already been prepared. In a noble festive gesture Brighton and Hove Albion arranged for the food to be delivered to a hostel for the homeless in central Brighton. Nice one Seagulls.

And finally for 2016 … the last picture from that amazing night on the 13^th December in Milton Keynes … and yes … that is me and Colin Butler on the pitch with the match officials and the team captains just prior to kick off !

Your blogger, Colin Butler on the pitch before the MK Dons v Charlton FA Cup tie

The Dons and the Seagulls are in action for one last time before the cup clash. They both play important league matches on Monday. Come back here on Tuesday to find out how they fared and what sort of form they are in ahead of the FA Cup tie next Saturday when they meet on The Road to Wembley from Scotland. A happy New Year to all. Keep reading …. 

In praise of Joe McGhie: The Scot who played a pivotal role in the development of Brighton and Hove Albion

As regular readers will know, for each match on The Road to Wembley from Scotland I am looking for a link between the clubs involved and Bella Caledonia. On Saturday 7^th January 2017 Brighton and Hove Albion take on the boys from Stadium MK. MK Dons are a young club but already have strong Scottish connections and indeed now have a Scottish manager. By contrast the Seagulls from Brighton have been around since 1901 and the Scottish influence on the Albion also goes back over 100 years. Arguably the greatest day in the Seagulls history was on the 5^th September 1910 when a Scotsman, Joe McGhie, played a pivotal role in the Charity Shield victory against Aston Villa – a victory which saw Albion win a national major honour for the first and only time. Mentioned in passing in Wednesday’s post it is now time to pay homage to Joe McGhie, the legendary centre half from Ayrshire.

Joe McGhie: The Brighton and Hove Albion Pivot

Joe McGhie was born in Kilbirnie in Ayrshire in 1884. He began his football career with colourfully named junior team ‘Vale of Garnock Strollers FC’ where he developed a reputation as ball playing half back. In season 1905-06 Joe helped the Vale win the Ayrshire Junior Cup. For those readers not familiar with the nuances of Scottish football the term ‘junior’ to this day refers to a playing standard just below league level and junior football is not to be confused with juvenile football. On the odd occasions when I have watched my local team Penicuik Athletic I have seen some very old and ugly ‘juniors’ in action.

The Vale of Garnock Strollers team 1905-06: More committee men than players!

 In the above photo I am almost certain that a young Joe McGhie is pictured second left in the second from back row next to the man with the towel over his shoulder. Joe’s reputation travelled beyond the boundaries of the North Ayrshire League and he won caps for the Scotland Junior international team. The scouts from the big rich clubs of that era took notice and he was courted by Celtic, Bradford City and Sunderland. It was the Mackems who walked him down the footballing aisle . Joe signed for Sunderland in 1906 and played 41 league matches for the Roker Park side over the next two seasons.

Joe McGhie of Sunderland: Cigarette card hero

In 1908 Joe signed for Sheffield United for a then massive fee of £250 but he failed to produce the form that had earned him the big money move and a year later he was on the move again – heading for the south coast and his date with destiny. He signed for Brighton in the summer of 1909 and he was highly regarded at the Goldstone Ground where he spent four seasons. He helped the Seagulls win the Southern League in season 1909-10. This feat qualified the club to compete in the prestigious Charity Shield match in September 1910 when the winners of the Southern League were invited to take on the winners of the Football League in a challenge match with the victors taking the famous Shield home. In a tense competitive match at Stamford Bridge in London the Seagulls beat the all-conquering Aston Villa 1-0.

Joe played a total of 156 times for Brighton and Hove Albion and scored 3 goals. It is clear that it was on the south coast where Joe McGhie played the best football of his illustrious career. In four years he was never rivalled for the centre half spot.

Play up Brighton in 1911. Joe is third from left - second back row

However, life goes on and in May 2013 Joe refused the extended contract terms offered by the Seagulls and signed for Lancashire team Stalybridge Celtic who were competing in the Central League. In truth, his football career had all but run it’s course.

In his later years devout church-goer Joe returned to his native Ayrshire and became a pillar of the local community.

Joe in later life: with his wife back in Ayrshire

He was regularly seen travelling around the beautiful Ayrshire countryside riding his bicycle well into his dotage. He passed away in Largs in 1976 at the ripe old age of 92.

I must record huge, humungous, enormous thanks to Joes’ grandson Clifford Murray Vagnolini who I found on facebook. We are now fb friends and I am so grateful for all the information and pictures that Clifford has sent to me. Clifford is a Preston North End fan and I may see him on The Road if PNE can beat Arsenal in round 3.  I am also grateful for help from the Albion Roar twitter feed and Scottish football historian David Ross in putting together the above article. Special thanks too to my good friend William Yaris for signposting me towards Clifford and David. Nice one WY!

In the olden days the centre half was known as the ‘pivot’. It would appear that Joe McGhie played a pivotal role in the development of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club. The modern day Seagulls are in action tonight when they entertain Cardiff in a Championship fixture. The MK Dons are also at home this evening with Swindon visiting Stadium MK. On a big night of football north and south of the border I will be at the ‘Cathedral of Soccer’ as the Scottish Dons will be at Tynecastle to take on my beloved Hearts. Who will be the pivotal figures in tonight’s matches? Will the MK Dons and the Seagulls record important victories ahead of their cup showdown in eight days time? Come back here over the weekend to find out. Keep reading.