Hearts

Ground: Tynecastle Park

Visits: 1

Date: 31st October 2018

Match: Hearts - Hibernian 0-0 (Scottish Premier League)

Attendance: 19 410

The game I built this trip around was the Edinburgh derby, Hearts v Hibernian. In January 2014 I attended the reversed fixture and since then I have looked at going to the derby at Tynecastle. Sometimes you need a booking history for games like this one and to avoid disappointment I bought a cheap ticket for one of Hearts´ home games in the League Cup in August. With that booking history I had no problems buying a ticket for the derby. The game sold-out quickly and I knew I had a game with a great atmosphere looking forward to. My day started in Dumfries and via Carlisle I arrived in the Scottish capital at 13.30. My hotel was next to Haymarket station and from there it was then a 20-minute walk to the ground. Once I had eaten a delicious steak I headed towards Tyncastle and like so many other old British grounds it is located next to houses. The ground was opened in 1896 but has of course been renovated several times since then. The latest development, the rebuilding of the Main Stand, was completed in November 2017 and the ground nowadays has a capacity of around 20 000. Away fans are located in the Roseburn Stand and for big games the entire stand is given to visiting fans. I took a few exterior pictures before heading back to my hotel where I rested for a few hours.

As I later in the evening once again made the walk to Tynecastle I was in a good mood. Derby, floodlight game at a sold-out ground and a lot of excited fans outside Tynecastle. What more can you ask for? My seat was in the Wheatfield Stand and as I arrived the coach carrying the Hibs´ team arrived as well. I was a bit surprised the dressing rooms are not in the new modern stand but someone explained to me they will eventually be moved there. As kick-off approached the ground was buzzing and a few smoke bombs were thrown onto the pitch. A Hibs fans was on the pitch and as he was apprehended by a steward his friend tried to rescue him by punching the steward. It all ended with both fans being arrested (and a very long ban from football I guess). My seat neighbor informed me Hearts, currently top of the table, were missing three strikers and that was soon obvious. 0-0 at half-time and hardly any chances. In the second half the atmosphere was at times hostile, especially after a Hibs player was sent off. The Hearts goalkeeper went down on the ground after claiming he was punched as he tried to get the ball back from Hibs fans. He quickly recovered though. In stoppage time Hearts scored but it was controversially ruled to be offside. It all ended with the Hibs manager Neil Lennon being hit by a coin thrown from the Main stand which resulted in absolute mayhem inside Tynecastle. The game ended 0-0 and to be honest it was a pretty poor game. He atmosphere still made this a great evening for me and my seat neighbor was spot on when he said “You will remember this game – but not for the football”. This game at Tynecastle puts an end to part one on this tour and tomorrow I will continue with a flight to the Netherlands where I will attend three games over the weekend.

Rear of the Main Stand