Brechin City F.C. Hospitality

The Northern Hotel

Glebe Park

Our second paid hospitality date takes us to Brechin, in particular Brechin’s Northern hotel. Food, drink and entertainment starts here before a walk to Glebe Park. It’s the last game of the season and a big day for ‘The Hedgemen’ who could potentially enter the playoffs for entry into the Scottish Second Division if they manage to get a convincing win. We manage to secure a lift there and decide to deal with how to get home later. Arrival at the hotel is 13:00 with complimentary bar until 14:30 and again after the match until 17:45. Two course meal provided. Dress code, smart casual. £90 each.

We arrive at the hotel a bit unsure if we are in the right place as we’re sat downstairs in the same room next to others having a meal, no obvious football fans in place. We’re then shown upstairs. Darren Taylor is our host who greets us on arrival. He welcomes Tony by first and second name like an old school friend and takes us to our table. He remembers my name too and gives a warm welcome. We’re sat at a table with three other men. Brothers Stan and Stuart from Birmingham and Stan’s son Tom. It’s the third hospitality visit for the brothers but the first for Tom who purchased a Brechin City top to celebrate. We bully him in to putting it on. Stan and Stuart are Birmingham City fans and first started following Brechin as youngsters after checking the football scores in the paper one day and noticed that both teams had the initials BCFC. Darren introduces all the tables, welcoming Stan, and Stuart like they were good friends he meets regularly and then telling, mine and Tony’s £40 a month in the pot story. Before we settle for drinks and the meal, I nip to the cash machine. Previous experiences, and envelopes on the table, reminds me that cash may be needed for any raffles or entertainment. Chances of Tony remembering his wallet, never mind cash, are slim.

There’s a bottle of wine on the table but staff are ready to serve and pints or bottles of lager are freely available. Tony however opts for a vodka and cranberry juice. The girl behind the bar looks confused and disappears. Another person appears and confirms the drink that Tony is asking for. It appears that cranberry juice is not a common request in not only hospitality but in the Northern Hotel. Other fruit juices are offered but Tony is determined to get his cranberry fix. A final person appears along with Tony’s drink. Cranberry juice has been found. Vegetable soup is the first course and fairly tasty, followed by, you guessed it, steak pie. Our fourth experience of football hospitality and our fourth steak pie meal.

The entertainment begins and we have a game of heads or tails. Same rules as Arbroath, last person standing gets a prize. Even with our experience of playing the game before, neither myself or Tony win anything. There’s also a raffle with some decent Brechin City prizes including a golf towel, football tops and a picture of the stadium from the Scottish cup game v Hearts earlier in the season. A slight sigh of relief that we didn’t win as I didn’t fancy carrying a framed photo of Glebe Park around for the rest of the day. After the games, Darren introduces former player Craig Molloy, a club legend who earned over 300 appearances for Brechin in 6 seasons. Darren interviews him well and Craig tells some amusing anecdotes of his time at the club.

2:30 and it’s time to leave for Glebe Park. A 5-minute walk down the main street. It’s a cracking day, with the sun splitting the pavement so you don’t mind the walk. On a typical dreich mid-season game though, you’d maybe grudge the march down. Arrival to the stadium and we visit the club shop. One of many portacabins scattered around the David Will Stand side of the ground. I grab a badge and we head round to the main stand. There are two seated stands at Glebe Park, the most recent built stand behind the goals which hosts the Brechin Ultras and the original main stand with around 300 seats. You’ll also find the directors box and underneath, the board room and changing rooms. Take a wrong turn when going to the toilet and you could end up with the players. Basic plastic seats with no back but well positioned at the halfway line. Plenty of leg room compared to Arbroath.

Half time and we’re ushered to the behind the stand portacabins. One of them is the venue for the hospitality. A cup of tea, a few sandwiches, and a penguin bar or Tunnock’s tea cake were the options. This was shared amongst a table of 8 though and if you’re not fast your last. A very friendly atmosphere and a half time raffle. Again, glad not to win a prize as I didn’t know where I would keep a signed match ball. I don’t know if it was the walk from the stand to the portacabin, but it seemed rushed at half time, barely sat down and it was time to go back to our seats in the main stand.

Full time and it’s back to the portacabin arena. The area has been set up like a giant beer garden. Tables and chairs with a gazebo covered band. We find our table and get our drinks ordered. Hoping to take advantage of the 45 minutes open bar. Beers are straight from the tin and fairly warm but the general atmosphere with the live band is great. The club were unable to gain promotion today, but everyone was out to celebrate the season. Me and Tony hadn’t quite figured out how to get home yet so headed into town to a pub for a plan of action. We say farewell to our new Brummie mates and head to the Brechin town centre. A drink in the Hudson’s bar and we source the Ember bus. Finishing the day by saving the planet on electric transport.

A great day. Good company and nice weather definitely helped with the experience.

Glebe Park’s Hospitality Ratings

Entertainment 4/5

Raffles and heads or tails game were good at the hotel, but the live band was the highlight. This probably doesn’t happen every week, but the club did well to take advantage of the weather and set up the outside area for the post-match experience. Pre match interview with former player was also good.

Hosting 4/5

Darren was a great host. Very welcoming from the start. Clearly made the effort to remember people’s names before they visited and referred to people who have attended before. Kept the day going before the walk to the stadium.

Seating 3/5

Standard plastic seat with a good view

Meal 3/5

2 courses were fine. Another steak pie, pretty much the same as every other stadium so far.

Half Time refreshments 2/5

Not great. We had to get people’s attention for the tea and coffee and only a few chocolate bars to choose from. Sandwiches had already been touched before we arrived.

Drinks 3/5

Drinks were readily available and free flowing. Wine also on the table. The cranberry juice mission and warm beer at full time, knocked it down a point.

Value for money 4/5

A good day, not too expensive

Total 23