Another midweek game. Tony had sourced this hospitality opportunity through a friend who has a table available most Dunfermline matches. Free hospitality experience but a paid bar. We turn up in same attire as Raith but without the ties. Tony has opted to drive.

Like Raith Rovers, we’re unsure of where to go. First entering the Legends Lounge to then be told it’s the next door along. An older man greets us at the door, checks our name on the list and points us upstairs. We head through to the lounge and are pointed in the direction of our table. We were clearly spoiled by the Raith Rovers experience as there was nowhere near the enthusiasm of Graeme from the Dunfermline staff. Pretty much a case of find your table and sit down.

We’re at the table nearest to the bar, sat with two guys on a works night out, one owned a facilities management business and was treating his sole employee and 9-year-old son. None of them support Dunfermline and both the CEO and his son were widos!

First course was soup, followed by Steak Pie and a nice chocolate cake. Decent three course meal. Drinks was a paid bar, so they flowed as much as you asked for them. Apart from the servers and bar staff and someone briefly taking our money for the 50/50 draw, nobody else interacted with us. We may have missed a Q&A with manager James McPake beforehand but if we did, it must have been brief as we weren’t that late to the stadium. No host to guide us through the evening. I miss Graeme!

10 minutes before kick-off and we notice people starting to leave the lounge. The room was looking sparse, so we start to leave too. We ask one of the ladies where to go who just points us in the directions of the stairs.

We figure out the route and arrive in the stand as the game is about to kick off. Without any clear guidance, we assume a seat next to others we had seen in the lounge. Can’t be helped but we had a pole blocking some of our view. To be fair the football was that bad I could have done with it blocking more! The old man directly next to Tony was sporting a Raith Rovers badge. We asked him if he was a fan and he replied yes, ready for a square go. Tony deescalated the situation by explain I also supported the Rovers, but we were ready to take on the 70-year-old if needed.

Half time and back down to the lounge. I tried to resist speaking to our fellow guests at the table, but Tony can’t help but engage with the widos. A really nice pie and a cup of tea or coffee on offer at half time and back up to the stand for the second half. Again, no guidance as to when to leave the lounge so started to head up as the lounge starts to empty.

Full time whistle and we head back down to the lounge. We pay for one more drink and leave. There was an expectation of someone from the team to come and chat after, but nobody seemed to appear. It was in the car home that the hospitality rating scheme was created. I had 0s in my head for the Dunfermline experience with clear 5s for the Raith but with further discussion we have balanced and fair scores in place.

Ratings

Entertainment 2/5

A generous score for the 50/50 draw

Hosting 1/5

That’s for the man at the door who smiled and marked off our name.

Seating 3/5

Similar set up to Raith. Standard seats in an old stand

Meal 3/5

Very similar to Starks Park, 3 course pub grub.

Half time refreshment 4/5

Highlight of the evening, A really good steak pie

Drinks 3/5

Asked for a drink and you got it. Not too pricey

Value for Money 2/5

If we had paid for this, I’d no be happy!

Total 18