Sleepless in Cowden

First of all, my massive appologies for the dire upkeep of this blog during the course of this season. This is due to me and my wife adding to our family, our 2nd son, Matthew was born on the 1st of October last year. Now i first thought it would be a piece of cake balancing between updating this blog and caring for our new arrival, how wrong was i, the wee man had other ideas. Now with him sleeping more at nights, my energy levels are slowly creeping back to normal, and i will have a little time to myself to update the blog a little more frequently.
But a big thanks to my wife for still allowing me to go out on a Saturday and follow the other love of my life, the mighty Blue Brazil.

Wow! What a season, another championship title 6 years on from winning the 3rd Division Championship, and a jump straight back to the 1st Division at the first time of asking. A big congratulations to everyone at Cowdenbeath F.C for all the hard work on and off the pitch.

I will be updating the blog in the next few weeks with pictures and a comprehensive review of the season where Cowden finished the season as 2nd Division Champions.

                                    Cowden star of the future, wee Matthew

Cowdenbeath 2  Stenhousemuir 2
(After extra time, Stenhousemuir win 4-3 on penalties)

Cowden find themselves out of two cup competitions in the space of a week, after the defeat to the warriors on penalties in the Scottish Communities League Cup at Central Park on Saturday. With penalty misses from manager Colin Cameron and Greg Stewart proving fatal. While both teams looked even in the ninety minutes, Cowden dominated the thirty minutes of extra time. Only inspiring goalkeeping from Stenny’s keeper stopped Cowden from reaching the next round.

With a crowd harking back to usual attendances of the mid to late nineties, this was a chance for Cowden to progress to the next round and the possibility of being paired with one of the better supported SPL clubs who enter from round two, which of course would bring a financial boost to the club. However, Cowden were chasing this possibility when they went a goal behind after just four minutes. With Cowden pinned back deep in their own half, Cowden keeper Yossi Bejaoui came out for a cross but horrendously misjudged it, which allowed Warrior Stewart Kean to rise above Kenny Adamson for an easy header in to the net. It was the kind of goal we gave away regularly in the first division last season. It took Cowden several minutes to get settled back on to the ball after conceding the early goal. A lovely pass was played into Jordan Morton on the wing, which he controlled before turning the advancing Stenny defender, he played a low cross in but the Stenny keeper easily smothered the ball. Stenny were awarded a free kick just outside the box which was played expertly around the Cowden wall, but it crept just wide.

Stenhousemuir were dominating play and were confidently passing the ball around. Just before the half hour mark though, Cowden drew level. Colin Cameron dispossessed a Stenny player just inside Cowden’s half, some fine one touch passing was being played by Cowden before the ball found Mark Ramsay in the box, who neatly nutmeged the stenny defender before coolly putting the ball past the keeper, who did get a hand to the ball. Cowden were now taking charge of dominating play and twelve minutes later they went ahead. Again Stenny were dispossessed in midfield, Adamson brought the ball down the wing, and a neat cross found Ramsay, who brilliantly controlled the ball with his chest, before firing low past the Stenny’s keeper. Half Time 2-1 to Cowden.

The first few minutes of the second half saw both teams scrapping for possession, but eight minutes in to the second half, Stenny drew level. Some neat play in midfield saw a perfect pass in to Eric Paton who brushed aside Cowden’s defence before chipping over Cowden’s keeper Bejaoui. Stenny keeper McCluskey somehow got a full stretch finger tip save to deny Joe Mbu heading Cowden in to the lead from a free kick. At the other end, a stenny cross caught Cowden’s defence dosing, but an overhead kick went sailing over the bar. Both teams at this point were creating chances, but they could not find the net. Again McCluskey came to Stenny’s rescue when a Dean Brett cross was headed towards goal by a Stenny defender and as Greg Stewart was ready to pounce, the keeper tipped it over the bar. The whistle went shortly after this and with score at 2-2, extra time would be played.

Cowden dominated the extra time period, but the biggest talking point during this was Scott Linton’s miss with the goal at his mercy. A long ball forward found Greg Stewart who beat a Stenny defender for pace, the Stenny keeper came out to the ball, and Stewart found the run of Linton in the box, but his shot trickled wide of the gaping goal. A real hole in the ground to open up moment. The score remained 2-2 at the close of extra time, and the tie would now be settled by penalty kicks.

Stenny were first to take a penalty, and it was put in the right hand side of the net, with Bejaoui going the right way. Up next was Cowden manager Cameron but his shot was saved by McCluskey. Stenny scored with their second, but Cowden’s Jon Robertson pulled it back to 2-1 by finding the net. Stenny scored with their third penalty with again, Bejaoui going the right way. Mark Ramsay scored for Cowden to bring it to 3-2 before Stenny put away their fourth penalty to make it 4-2. McKenzie then scored for Cowden to make it 4-3. Bejaoui then dived to his right to keep out Stenny’s fifth penalty and it was all down to Greg Stewart to bring the scores level, but his poor penalty hit the outside of the post and Cowden were out. Stenhousemuir now progress to the next round of the competition.

Cowden’s attention will now turn to league duty this Saturday, with a tricky away fixture against Forfar Athletic at Station Park, Kick off 3pm.

Scottish Communities League Cup, First Round
Saturday 30^th July, 2011
Central Park, Cowdenbeath

COWDENBEATH (2)2  STENHOUSEMUIR (1)2
Ramsay (28,40)            Kean (4), Paton (53)
(After Extra Time, Stenny  win 4-3 on Penalties)
 Att: 293

1      Bejaoui,      
2      Brett,           
3      Adamson,  
4      Cameron,   
5      Mbu,            
6      Winter,       
7      Morton (Linton,79),               
8      Robertson,
9      Ramsay,      
10    Stewart,     
11    Coult (McKenzie,72).

Referee  J. McKendrick

Central Park

Dubbed by some supporters as the Fife Maracanã because of its similar oval shape to the Maracanã stadium in Brazil, Central Park has been the home of Cowdenbeath Football Club since 1917. Before this, they played at North End Park, just off the North end of the High Street. Football was still played here up until the last few years, but plans are to develop this in to a superstore in the near future.

Cowden moved to Central Park at the beginning of the 1917-1918 Eastern League season, in that inaugural season at Central Park, Cowden finished joint champions with Dundee. In 1921 a 120 yard grandstand was erected that would accommodate 3500 supporters, as can be seen in the picture below.

 An older photo of Central Park (Picture from www.cowdenbeath.net)

Thousands of supporters squeezed into Central Park in the 20’s and 30’s as Cowden played top flight football, how older supporters must crave for those days to return. In 1949, Central Park recorded its highest ever attendance of 25,000, when Rangers rolled into town for a league cup match, Rangers won the match 3-1. Ironically, the last five figure attendance was for a league cup match again, against Rangers, with the Gers repeating the 3-1 score line. In 1968, the floodlights were put into place, and Celtic played Cowden to mark this.

Many of the surrounding parts of Central Park were once owned by the club, but where sold to Fife Council. These areas are the ground behind the main terracing where the red ash pitch is, and the wasteland behind the west terracing which was sold in the late eighties. The car park outside the main entrance to Central Park was owned by the club until around the mid nineties, but this was also sold off to Fife Council who re energised the piece of land.

The west terracing was for years a covered enclosure, nicknamed the Coo Shed, but with decline from the elements, the roof of the enclosure was blown away in 1983. This part of the ground was reduced in height and its look drastically changed in the nineties. I never got to experience the Coo Shed, but I do remember standing at the highest point at the back wall to see over the fence around the track in the late 80’s and 90’s before taking my regular place by the pie shop on the main terracing.

The main terracing, where most supporters congregate at matches today, was once just ash and some railway sleepers, in 1982, concrete terracing was built.

 A view from this terracing (minus the tall fence) sometime in 1983 is seen in the picture below, which also shows how the old stand used to look like. (The contributor of this photos is Richard Webb, Copyright Richard Webb and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)

In 1985, a minor fire broke out in the main stand, but it survived this. In 1991, the main stand was given an overhaul, with recladding work carried out, but on the 25^th March, 1992 a large part of the stand was destroyed by fire, with the changing rooms and other facilities all gone, Cowden and visiting teams had to change in portacabins for nearly two years. I once used the portacabin when I took part Cowden’s soccer schools with Graham Buckley in the summer of 1992, and no wonder you heard stories of players going home right after matches , they were well cramped. Half the stand was saved and it still stands today.

 The damage the main stand suffered from the fire in 1992
(Pictures from www.gmpscotland.co.uk website)

Clearing and building of the new stand started shortly afterwards, but it was almost two years before it would be completed. The new stand was officially opened on March 29^th, 1995. Just over 3 years on from the fire, when a Rangers XI outplayed Cowden to win 5-0. The stand was named the Alex Menzies stand.

Most recently, the floodlight lamps were replaced, as the old ones did not have the required lux set out by the SFA, the new ones were installed in November 2010 bringing it up to the required 500 lux.

The ground was also used for Greyhound racing some years ago, but was replaced by stock car racing around 1965. In 1989 GMP Racewall moved to Central Park, this also brought about the concrete wall that surrounds the track. The stock cars still use the stadium today.

A move away from Central park for the football club is still something being looked at for the future, it will be a sad time when that day finally comes along. It would feel quite strange not seeing Central there anymore, it got me thinking the other day when I was at the Muirton Asda in Perth, where St Johnstone’s old stadium used to be, how you have so many memories of a place, then to see something else replace it. But at least we will have the memories with us forever of seeing different era’s of Cowdenbeath teams to have graced Central Park, and also promotion and title winning parties. But sometimes things have to change to move forward. Hopefully, the old place will see one more title season before it has completed its service.

 How Central Park looks today (Picture from www.cowdenbeath.net)

Raith Rovers 2 Cowdenbeath 1

Well, Cowden could not repeat last year’s 1-0 win in the same cup, as John Baird, who was the thorn in Cowden’s side in last season’s league encounters, helped himself to a double. Although Cowden looked the better side in the first half, they could not repeat the form they showed in the pre season’s matches.

It was a beautiful day, but that was not enough to attract the crowds which these games usually pull in, maybe something to do with the entrance fee? Official attendance is given as 1098, but looked well less than that.

Cowden came out in their new away kit to a chorus of when the sun shines, but within a minute into the game, Toorie Winter miss kicks, but keeper Bejaoui saves us from any danger. Cowden are looking decent on the break, but Raith are making it hard for us to break them down. Both teams’s had a few chances, but the first half finished at deadlock, 0-0.

Raith look a different side in the second half, as they dominate possession, and they take the lead through that man John Baird ten minutes into the second half, as he takes the chance to head the ball into the net at the back post from a Joe Hamill cross. It’s all Raith, and they double their advantage in 80 minutes, with Baird again, as he pounces to stroke the ball home after Hamill’s volley cannon’s of the post.

Cowden look down and out, but they slowly come back in to the match, and grab a goal with six minutes left, when Lewis Coult rises to head home a Dean Brett cross. Raith nearly added a third when Winter was short with a pass back, but the Raith striker shot wide.

So Cowden go out of the Ramsden’s cup at the first hurdle, Cowden’s attention will now turn to this Saturday’s Communities Scottish League Cup tie versus Stenhousemuir at Central, kick off 3pm.

Ramsdens Cup, First Round
Saturday 23^rd July, 2011
Starks Park, Kirkcaldy

RAITH ROVERS  (0)2    COWDENBEATH (0)1
Baird (55,80)                 Coult (83)
 Att: 1098

1   Bejaoui,
2   Brett,
3   Adamson,
4   Cameron (Miller,84),
5   Winter,
6   Mbu,
7   Morton,
8   Robertson     ,
9   Ramsay (Coult,62),
10 Stewart          ,
11 Linton (Milne,72).

Referee M. Tumilty 

Cowdenbeath 3 St Mirren 1

Another friendly and another win, most satisfying was the result last night, as it was against a near enough full strength Saints side. I was not there however, as other commitments saw to that. But what I have heard from my reliable reporter who was there, that it was an easy win for the Blue Brazil. And that they were easily the best team in the second half.

Scorers were, Jon Robertson and Greg Stewart with two.

Cowdenbeath;

Flynn, Brett, Adamson, Cameron (Makel,66), Winter (Armstrong,64), Mbu, Morton, Robertson, Ramsay, Stewart, Linton (McKenzie,75).

So, pre season is finished for another year then, and the first real test comes this Saturday down the road at Starks Park in the Ramsdens Challenge Cup. A repeat of last year’s gritty 1-0 victory at the same venue would be most welcoming. Kick Off 3PM. 

Cowdenbeath 4  Dundee United XI 0

Another superb performance and another SPL team put the sword yesterday afternoon at Central Park. Albeit, it was a young Dundee United side with a sprinkle of first team players. Although I am not getting carried away with pre season results, as I am sure most of us know, they count for nothing when the real stuff begins. But we are looking in good shape for the forthcoming season.

The manager sat this game out, along with a few others, but the line up still looked strong, and it took Cowden only took two minutes to open the scoring, when Marc McKenzie neatly slid the ball in the net. Both teams then settled into the game, but Cowden went two up in nine minutes, Coult finding space to turn and finding the net with a fine strike. Yossi Bejaoui in Cowden’s goal is having a great game with several superb saves, he is turning out to be a great find. The heavens open up with some hail, glad I am under cover in the stand. Coult gets himself behind United’s defence, but his cut back is just missed by Ramsay. Cowden went 3-0 three minutes before half time with a penalty. Lewis Milne was ready to put the ball in the net when he was fouled and Ramsay stroked the ball home. 3-0 to Cowden at half time and we are cruising.

John Ferguson and Paul Byrne come on for Coult and Milne at half time, and we have rain along with thunder and lightning as the second half starts. Cowden go 4-0 up in sixty minutes as Marc McKenzie grabs his second of the afternoon after rounding the keeper. As the half continues both sides have chances, and with two minutes remaining, McKenzie nearly completes his hat trick, but his shot is saved for a corner.

Not a great day weather wise, but it was another great work out for Cowden, and again, stand out was Jon Robertson in midfield, he controlled the game, and looks as though he will be a key player this season.

One more pre season friendly to go, when ex manager Danny Lennon, brings his St Mirren team to Central this Tuesday night. Kick Off 7.30PM

Cowdenbeath;
 
Bejaoui, Miller, Linton, Makel, Winter, Adamson, McKenzie, Robertson (Callaghan,71), Ramsay, Coult (Ferguson,45) Milne (Byrne,45).

Hearts youngster signs on for 6 months

I said to the old man at the friendly against Spartans last Saturday that the Hearts youngster looks decent and would be a fantastic addition to the squad. So I was delighted when news broke that Cowden had signed him for 6 months.

I believe he will be a stand out in Division two this season if he continues to perform to the high standard he has showed in the friendlies. He has pace and the ability to take on defenders on either wing, and has bagged 3 goals in two games.

Jordan came through the youth setup at Clyde, and Hearts signed him in April 2009.