A SCOTTISH ODYSSEY

MICHAEL GRIMES REFLECTS ON THE LATEST LEG OF HIS FOOTBALL MARATHON...

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AFTER completing 'the 92' in 2017-18, I needed another project, so ventured into Non-League football.

I ended up writing for Late Tackle's sister publication The Non-League Paper, which was an education and a learning curve as I'm not a trained journalist.

It was enjoyable and I covered 60 games, usually filling in and doing cup games etc. I also hopped around Wales in the 2020-21 season and published a book about my travels, which subsequently sold out.

This term I decided to visit Scotland. Living in London, crossing the border is not so easy. I need to work during the week, and sometimes weekends too, and transport costs aren't always kind on the pocket.

I'd been to Hearts twice and the Falkirk Stadium, the latter for the Scottish Challenge Cup final last season.

Was it possible to do the 42? Well it could, in theory, be done in a season, but that would require more of a commitment, time and money wise, than I could manage. Over two seasons? Yes, tough for me, but doable.

This was helped in early August when a friend invited me up for a weekend of football. He came up with a ticket for the opening game for his beloved Celtic versus Kilmarnock.