GAME DAY 168 - SUNDAY 3rd APRIL 2022 - SPFL TRUST TROPHY!

Game 168 - Red Rovers!

Queen of the South 1 Vs 3 Raith Rovers

STADIUM - Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

COMPETITION - SPFL Trust Trophy 2022

DATE - Sunday 3rd April 2022

KICK OFF - 16:10

PITCH -Artificial

PROGRAMME - Yes

COST - £15 Me, Sam and Mason

SCORE BOARD - Yes

CLOCK - Not visual from where we were if there was

ATTENDANCE - ?

PENALTY - No

RED CARD - No

GOALS - QOS (A.Roy 45+3') - Raith Rovers (M. Poplatnik 16'70' E.Ross 78')

MILES TRAVELLED - 32 approx 

VIDEOS - QOS Equaliser - Raith Rovers Presentation - Mason tries to steal Trophy
Looking forward to this for a while, we nearly missed out due to illness and the lack of tickets sold on the day. Called in on the friday, but both clubs were collection only from their stadiums, with no eTickets available. There was no way we could make either before the game, luckily Ewan Lithgow from QOS sorted it and we were able to collect from the front office, a huge thanks.

That explains why we ended up in the Queen of the South end instead of Raith, as we initially intended. The rules of our hop means, we support whichever end we are seated, with only a few exceptions. So come on you DOONHAMMERS it was!

Was a great atmosphere, both crowds bringing the noise all game, even during the half for the QOS fans, a real festival atmosphere.

Prediction for this one was a 2-2 draw with it being decided on penalties. Had a strong feeling heading in that no matter what happened, the winning team would need at least two to win it.

As for the game, QOS had so many chances, even being 1-0 down for a most of the first half they looked the better team, just struggling to put it away. They did get one right before the half, sending them in 1-1 at the break and leaving their fans believing it was on. (video at top)

Second half and they came close again early on, but Raith always looked more threatening/clinical. This would prove to be the case, as Rovers would score again on the 70' minute mark, WHAT A PLAYER that Matej Poplatnik is! The 78th minute would see them crush all hopes of a win for QOS as they made it 3-1 and secured themselves as the 2022 SPFL Trust Trophy champions.

Great day out to a very nice stadium, Queen of the South had their moments and perhaps on another day, or if Poplatnik never turned up it could have been different. A huge congratulations to Raith Rovers who ended up worthy winners.

Well done for the SPFL Trust for putting this on, they do great work and I particularly like their Festive Freinds program.

first decent view of the stadium on our trip

Random burnt out buses, double decker looks in better nic that my old school bus!

you grow old, you never grow up lol

love these far away shots

excitment builds as we get closer

plenty to keep the kids entertained...and the adults

was cool to see the fire juggling

Mason and Lomond the Lion

Mascot showdown, turned fist bump

Half n Half, Programme and some entertainment for the wee man

More entertrainment all around stadium

Dougie the Doonhammer and Mason, so many people with cameras and talking, nobody knew where to look.

LED boards made it tough for disabled fans to view, could actually do with some improvements here for disabled fans. Something we will cover on our travels.

Pretty much in the dugout for the game

Excelsior Airdrie, love it

Should be able to keep these if fired into the crowd, like at baseball ⚽

Red Rovers practicing the Can Can for the celebrations!

Nice stadium starting to fill up

Always think to myself, which official is going to make an arse of this today?

anticipation as the game draws close

QOS getting ready

More mascot action!

Willie Gibson literally sweats the blue of QOS

The flares on during warm up

Mascot and....what stunned/shocked this QOS fan? answers in the messages

The SPFL Trust Trophy, what it's all about!

Didnae get booed like alot of teams do to champions league one lol

Mason actually liked the opening ceremony performers

Match lineup, trophy to the right

QOS team pic with Raith fans behind

Raith/ Red Rovers prep for team pic

Turnstiles and Terraces from the dugout!

Stewards please sit during the game, wasn't too bad but there are seats at your designated areas

1-0 Raith Rovers

Raith celebrating the opener with their fans

QOS fans applauing their team for a valiant effort, South fans were loud all game

A view from the wrong side lol

Waiting to celebrate with the team

Some Raith fans in the QOS side

Raith TV Volunteer Molli Handcock on the podium after presenting the SPFL Trust Trophy to Raith.

Celebrations for a well earned victory

Sam Stanton

Just the day before on way home from a game on the bus, a guy came up to Mason because he had his Hibs hat on and started chatting about Pat Stanton, was funny our first pic was with a Stanton!

Frankie Masonda

Dario Zanatta

Reghan Tumilty

Grieg Young and Sean Mackie let Mason wear a winner Medal 👍👍👍

Ross laughing as just when Jamie was saying we will get a pic together, Mason said I will get you next lol Thanks again guys and well done!

Ross Matthews

was sick of seeing this guys face for a while, as we seemed to get him in nearly every packets of TOPPS SPFL football stickers, were sure glad to see him here though (Mason tried to steal the trophy from him)

The two stewards pictured in the middle here were absolutely first class in helping us get all the pictures, Thank you very much 💓

Super John McGlynn were the chants and you would struggle to argue given the result and him spending time with the fans 👍

Young ones and their signs to nad players shirts eh lol he told us if he got it, he would give it to Mason.

The last pages of the TOPPS SPFL sticker album predicted this match, as the last two pages are this.

Grabbed a half n half scarf to upset the adults who hate them 😂 #footballtourist lol