Elgin City F.C. - Matchday Programme #15
The Tour ticked off the most northerly league ground in the UK on our latest venture
‘Are you guys journalists or what?’ asked the curious Dave Allan as he caught us on our pitch side jaunt around Borough Briggs. Well Dave, not quite. For the day we were simply fans. Hardcore Elgin City fans.
Fans? Journalists? Football obsessed nerds? It did not matter. We certainly left the most northerly league ground in the UK feeling like we had big news to break to the rest of the Scottish footballing world…
That news?
Elgin City are back.
Not only are they back, but they are different. Renewed. Refurbished. It was quite astonishing to believe that this club sat ninth in League Two the day we visited. We have toured clubs in the past who are desperately attempting to stave off the spectre of relegation. Despite their unflattering league position, Elgin did not seem to be that club.
A huge sense of positivity, easiness and professionalism flourished behind the scenes. Forward facing and changing for the better – this felt like a club on the up. New(ish) manager Allan Hale and Assistant Stefan Laird are just about getting their talons into the Black & Whites. The effect behind the scenes was starting to take shape.
Let us take you with us then, on our 15th ‘Matchday Programme’ as we don our Elgin tops for the day, tour the legendary Borough Briggs and interview Club Chairwoman Isla Benzie.
The alarm sounded at 7:30AM sharp for the 200 mile plus trip from Edinburgh to Moray. Less than half an hour later, the Tour’s almighty chariot had arrived. Just like that we were off on our holidays.
A quick change of driver when we reached Aberdeenshire meant it was time to welcome Tour cult hero Tom Burt. Tour Chauffeur and loyal member of our Northern Tour contingent.
From there it was straight sailin’ as we zipped along the A91 in the growing sunshine of the day, stopping briefly at The Pitstop for a coffee and roll. Highly recommend this joint to any travellers heading towards Borough Briggs, a converted bus turned café. Filling scran, great value, great service. It really hit the holy trinity.
Black Pudding roll consumed (questionable) and it was finally time for us to make our arrival in Elgin. The sun was fully out and promised a gorgeous day of League Two football.
The town itself was absolutely buzzing it must be said. The busyness of the town centre was quite something, as we slugged along in the Elgin traffic. It was great to see a small town so alive with people.
Elgin is a town replete with history - a town at the centre of the Scottish Wars of Independence, a town known for its connections to the ancient Picts. Most famously Elgin is known for its once magnificent cathedral, (from which the ‘City’ element of Elgin City comes from) the ruins of which are a reminder of this town’s historical importance.
The football club itself is not far from ancient history, having been formed in 1893. Just a wee while ago!
Dominant in the Highland League, Elgin picked up 14 Highland League titles, 18 North of Scotland Cups, 5 Highland League Cups and reached the last 16 of the Scottish Cup as recently as 2023. Not bad for a club which was only elected to the league in 2000.
Since then, the success has dried up somewhat.
No promotions, no relegations. City remain stuck in a League Two limbo, unable to break out or sink away. Yet this season, the threat of relegation seemed more real than ever.
The club seemed to have recruited well, now under the stewardship of Manager Allan Hale. A local figure who had previously led the nearby Huntly. Young and making a name for himself, we were impressed by the appointment at the time. Even still, Elgin’s league position had remained frighteningly the same.
Just then, she appeared on our left. Borough Briggs. The gleaming white main stand towered above the surroundings, flanked on either side by rippling SPFL flags. It was truly a sight to behold.
Even from the outside, it was a structure ripped straight from the era of Jimmy Shand and Beach Ballrooms.
We could not wait to see it up close.
Greeted in the sun-filled reception by Vicky, we were told that Mrs. Benzie was still in a meeting and would be out to see us in a moment. In the meantime, we wandered the foyer, taking as many pictures of the room as we could. The trophy cabinet in the reception area was a particularly nice touch, as was the Elgin City themed red carpet.
You know you’re in your mid 20’s when you start to admire a good carpet.
Receptionist Vicky then took us into the corridors between the changing rooms. We stood chatting with her and her wee boy Rory in the corridor between ‘Home’ and ‘Away’, even locking eyes with club legend Russell Dingwall and getting a tasty little ‘aryt?!’ out of him.
Next it was out onto the pitch. Wee Rory mentioned that the seats Elgin use were actually donated by Newcastle United to the club back in the day. Great wee factoid.
Taking in the pitch and the surrounding ground, it was a spectacular sight. We could see why Borough Briggs has such a reputation. The home of Elgin since 1921 and you could feel every bit of history those years had brought with them. You could imagine the ground as almost identical when it opened over 100 years ago. More card machines and QR codes now. But the authenticity remained.
The old terrace opposite the main stand was decked out with Elgin City flags and NO SMOKING signs. The main stand hugged the touchline and the terrace ran right alongside the pitch, barely meters from the action.
Given the close proximity of the terrace and main stand to the pitch we hoped for a decent atmosphere.
We were not wrong.
One unique feature were the HOME and AWAY dugouts each being at either end of the main stand. AWAY on the right, HOME on the left; a dugout and shelter complete with exercise bikes!
It blew Balmoor out of the water and is by far the best ground we have visited since restarting the Tour.. It was easy to say Borough Briggs captured our hearts and imagination.
After that it was back inside. We had left the Chauffeur and the Producer in the lounge whilst we waited for Mrs Benzie to finish her pre-match board meeting.
Before long, the lady of the moment swanned into the reception.
‘Alright boys!’
Very sharply dressed, the swift suit could not hide Mrs Benzie’s causal nature. Warm and very personable from the off, she led us into the boardroom whilst chatting away.
It is always an honour to be shown the inner workings of any club and that feeling becomes especially true whenever we enter a club’s boardroom. Elgin City’s was particularly impressive.
Silverware from their Highland League days adorned the shelves and pictures of past glories. Most importantly, a couple of lovely golden malts decorated the boardroom. Oh, to be a fly on the wall when they finally win a promotion.
Isla took us out to the pitch where we had a discussion with her about her recent rise to the top of the Elgin City mountain and how she had found her new post as ‘interim’ Chairwoman.
‘I used to come here as a season ticket holder when I was wee and watch Elgin from the terrace with my dad.’ Smiling at the memory of her humble start in life, ‘I eventually left for Uni and ended up as a banker – when the club was struggling, I had a few ideas on how to generate some money. I suggested it to a friend of a friend who was on the board. A few days later I get a call asking for me to present the ideas to the board.’
Not long after that, Isla Benzie was made the first female Director in the history of Elgin City. A proper Elgin lassie from a humble start on the terraces. Now here she was reigning supreme at the top, remaking her club in her own image.
Since Isla stepped into the club, they have started an Elgin City Women’s team, acquired new training facilities next to the ground from local mogul David Allan and of course, hired new boss Allan Hale. Forward thinking, positive and exciting. Things that Elgin City have desperately needed if they are to progress.
We asked her about the recent managerial search that resulted in the appointment of Hale.
‘We had a lot of applicants, obviously local guys looking to step up but guys from England as well. Allan had the best interview, and we loved his vision for the Club.’ We could quite imagine, having heard him speak before. Impressive to think of the allure that a club like Elgin has for ambitious managers all across the UK.
A club with soul, a community’s pride. Something that money cannot buy.
Just as we were winding down our time with Isla, I felt it was appropriate to ask her about her thoughts on becoming the first female Director at Elgin City and of course first Chairwoman. If there was anything she would like to add on that front.
‘Hugely proud obviously. But there is still an old boys’ network at this level. One of my first games when I had just become a director, a packed stand away from home and we get assigned seats as board members. So, I eventually find my seat and there’s this old guy, SPFL official sat in my seat and I say… “excuse me I think you’re in my seat” and then he goes, “but this seat is for directors only?”
…
As shocking as Mrs Benzie’s story was, we were sadly un-surprised. Yet the slowly changing attitudes and sentiment in the game is squarely down to people like her. We were highly impressed with what we had been shown.
All that was left to be had was the Elgin City lounge.
Finally, wrapping our lips around an Ice-Cold T for only £3.30 a pop and sticking our weekly losing accas on. We were all set. Borough Briggs was calling and we couldn’t wait to see what this old bastion of sports had to offer The Tour.
THE MATCH
ELGIN CITY v EAST FIFE – CINCH SPFL LEAGUE TWO
The teams walked out to rapturous applause. A full main stand and packed terrace. Easily over 600 fans. East Fife were also backed by a healthy following.
Already the atmosphere was on par with at least Gayfield, decent praise for a League Two club.
The game kicked off and Elgin were instantly on the front foot. Passing well and with a high intensity to their game. The Chauffeur, Tom Burt even commented that this was ‘actually really exciting,’.
Big words from a rugby man.
We had been very excited to see new star man and instant fan favourite Dayshonne Golding in action, but it was his partner in crime on the opposite wing getting the early attention. Number 17 Mitch Taylor was like the proverbial Duracell Bunny, running and running; dropping inside and going hard into tackles. Not a skill-set that every winger has in their locker, but the desire was evident early on.
The Black & Whites continued to probe and push, with CM Mark Gallagher starting to run the show in the centre of the park. I don’t think he lost possession once in the first half. A Brian Cameron shot cleared off the line and a Ross Draper disallowed goal for offside were testament to the home sides early dominance.
On the flipside, East Fife looked lethargic and completely overwhelmed by City. A Mitch Taylor free-kick was well saved by East Fife’s Fleming before Elgin were forced into an early change due to an injury for skipper Matthew Cooper.
Almost immediately after the change, Mitch Taylor’s corner was cleared to the edge of the box. Draper smashed a volley from the D which slammed into the left side post. Record appearance holder Brian Cameron reacted fastest and slotted the ball into a gaping net.
Scenes all around.
It was crazy to think this side had been mired in a relegation struggle up until now. The team were tidy, slick and full of heart. The crowd matched that passion and then some.
The City were looking up.
PIE REPORT
Options for half-time scran were simple but effective. We opted for a good old fashioned Scotch Pie. Extremely solid effort. Well-cooked and nicely filled. Followed up with a meaty and well brewed Bovril. Excellent prices and a card machine at the kiosk. Lovely work all round from the catering staff.
Strong 7/10
SECOND HALF
The second half started in very much the same manner as the first. Elgin on top. Hungry for a second that would put daylight between themselves and this rather depressing East Fife side.
Taylor’s engine had not slowed at all during the interval and the big winger was back at it. Gallagher too was growing in confidence in the centre of the park, holding the ball, taking men on and spraying passes around like a Moray Maldini.
There was also more involvement from the marquee man Dayshonne Golding who looked to get on the ball after a quiet first half. Every time he got the ball the East Fife left-back was bricking it. The sort of player who can produce magic from nothing.
He very nearly did just that. Golding cut inside past his man and fired a shot narrowly over, before Mitch Taylor attempted a similar manoeuvre, blazing wildly over from his angle.
After that the match began to slow considerably, with neither team able to dominate the last half hour.
As the game approached the last ten East Fife finally woke up a little. Still, long balls to Nathan Austin and Schiavone were appropriately dealt with by the Elgin backline. It was a reminder though, East Fife could SOMEHOW steal a point here.
Going right into the death an East Fife corner was whipped in. The ball was knocked back across the face of goal and a bullet header from Nathan Austin was miraculously saved at point-blank range from Thomas McHale. The keeper who had been mostly quiet all day showing his immense shot stopping quality with an unbelievable reflex save in the dying moments. It really was one of the best saves we have ever seen live. Gordon Banks fuck you!
It was almost enough to single handedly award McHale The Tour MotM.
Alas, that honour was reserved for the most steadfast player on the park. Mr. Mark Gallagher. Mitch Taylor somewhat unlucky to not get his hands on the coveted prize – instead we settled on the skillful box-to-box man as the 15th member of The Tour Hall of Fame. Congratulations Marko!
TOUR MOTM – MARK GALLAGHER
FINAL SCORE - ELGIN 1-0 EAST FIFE
A truly grand day at the football comes to a close then. I was lucky enough to receive a phone-call from Elgin legend and previous Chairman Graham Tatters on my way out. We spoke on the grassy bank behind the goals for a while about the club and how he is finding life away from the game. A true gent, clearly still loved by the supporters who all acknowledged him on the way out.
The final image before we retired back into the Borough Briggs lounge was a fantastic one. The man himself Mitchy Taylor walking across to the fans in his tracksuit. Fist pumping in the air, roaring an impassioned ‘COME ON!!!’ toward the terraces. A huge result for a club that started the day in 9th place.
Only a few weeks later at time of writing and there are whispers of a late charge toward the playoffs.
We did not expect to find what we did at Elgin City. The way that the club was being run and the positive atmosphere behind the scenes was not becoming of a club near the bottom of the league. You can imagine, it is often not a very dynamic or exciting environment. An environment of desperation.
Elgin City were quite the opposite. New manager, new look, new direction. We both felt like we arrived at a perfect turning point in the club’s season. Something which has proven itself to be true since as the club continue to put their early season form to rest.
Most of all we enjoyed the fans. The sensational feeling when they scored and the clear desire for success is far bigger than what we have felt at any other club at this level. The 600 inside Borough Briggs that day will testify to that. Even more impressively, the next home game they had 800 fans inside the famous old arena.
The love is so potent for this club, this team, this town. If Allan Hale can harness it, they will be a very dangerous outfit indeed.
CLUB RATING – 71/100
Message from Graham Tatters:
Excellent Frank. Certainly missed nothing. Full of everything that is good about the Club.
Thank them for me for a great article.
Excellent read Mikey, deserves to be seen on a far greater forum.