‘3 o’clock on a Saturday’ by The Eisenhowers is a love letter to Scottish football, celebrating the cultural importance of our football grounds. These unique venues come in many shapes and sizes, but all are focal points for the hopes and dreams of communities throughout the country. Some of them are modern and sleek, others are ancient, perhaps even crumbling in places, but still in possession of their own ramshackle charm. The song features various fans reciting the beautiful, evocative names which just roll off the tongue, among them: Borough Briggs, Brig o’Lea, Cappielow, Duncansfield, Tannadice.
Generations of supporters have shared countless moments of drama, heroism and joy at their football grounds, along with moments of boredom, frustration and pain; it is all part of the football experience. But in the current climate, the inconsistencies of government policy -wherein one kind of gathering is allowed, but another one isn’t- evoke a different kind of frustration. As our historic community hubs lie empty, the video focuses on the theme of denial of access. The featured fans all make the same frustrating journey and make the same symbolic statement: These grounds belong to us; our rituals will continue, because they must. It is here that we celebrate who we are, here where history and hope fire the imagination.
Jock Stein famously said that “football without fans is nothing”, but what are fans without football? And what might take root in the absence of hope?
Match report needed urgently on Fraserburgh v Turriff Utd.!!!
“How did your game go today, son?”
“Er … we shared 14 goals”
…” but I did score, Dad”.