Cameron Thomson
My first memory of going to the old Douglas Park is a Wednesday evening when I was about five. Scooby Doo was on telly and I was having fish fingers for dinner.
Dad came home from work and said he was taking me to see Accies play Celtic – a Celtic led by Jock Stein! It was a friendly, I can’t remember the score , but I do remember asking regularly which team Accies were!
Since then there have been a few highlights and perhaps more low lights!
Some of the high’s are:
- Semi-final against Meadowbank Thistle that we won on penalties (the only time I ever ran on the hallowed turf)
- Successive B & Q Cup Final wins against Ayr and Morton (and after the victory the first time we won the cup, the cup got stolen from the Boardroom)
- Promotion at Forfar
- Coming home to Douglas Park 10 years ago
- That magical first night in the SPL when, live on Sky, we managed to defeat Dundee Utd 3-1, and my son was the mascot
Forty years after that first night Dad and I still go. We have met some lovely people over the years (some of whom we don’t even know the names of, we just nod and say “hi” every week) – we love the banter and the comraderie.
Dad was diagnosed a few months ago with early stage dementia. I know there is going to come a time when we can’t go together anymore and that frightens me a lot. I love my dad, I love our Accies, and I love what they have given our lives.
We have a brick at New Douglas Park, but we have so much more than that – happy times, happy memories and some sad ones too.
I’ve smiled and cried as I’ve typed this. Thank you Accies, and “Thanks Dad” – I love you very much.
