Bayview Stadium
Harbour View
Methil
Fife
KY8 3RW
Ground Number: 1281
Sunday 17th March 2024
East Fife GWFC 14-2 Hutchison Vale
SWF Championship
EAST FIFE GWFC - A BRIEF HISTORY
East Fife Girls and Women's Football Club are a Scottish women's football team based in the Fife coastal town of Leven. The team, established in 2000, were originally named Kirkland Ladies and changed to East Fife Ladies in 2002. They currently compete in the SWF Championship the third tier of Scottish Women's football. East Fife won the SWFL North in 2016 and were promoted to the SWPL 2. The team finished in 7th place out of 8 teams in the SWPL 2 in 2017 and were relegated back into the SWFL North for the 2018 season. Following the completion of the 21/22 season East Fife finished 2nd in the SWFL championship north and won the play-off final winning promotion to the SWPL 2 for the following season.
The club is a fork of East Fife FC. The semi-professional side play in the Scottish League 2 and was established in 1903. Their highest placing came in 1973 when they finished 9th in Scotland's top tier. They won the Scottish Cup in 1938 and the Scottish League Cup three times.
MY VISIT
If I had free choice on this rare Sunday off, I would have gone to Whitburn on the Scottish Hop. This looked like a cracker of a ground and it's always nice to go when clubs put in the extra effort to welcome fans as they do on organised hop games. However, both of our drivers had been there. There was slight compensation in that we would get a potential double and originally, the plan was to hunt for a Sunday League game for our first one. However, that plan changed when we found that East Fife GWFC were at home and with the Rangers v Celtic game at 4, the 12.30 kick-off was perfect. There would be no need for advance ticket purchase for this one although it would be another off the Scottish 42.
We were in Perth following two nights in Scotland and this allowed us a lie in. Even so, I awoke around 7.30, two hours before we were due to leave. It was a case of getting organised as there would be plenty of stuff that could stay in the boot of Richard's car until we got back south. I'd only need one small bag for tonight and another for in the car. It was a case of winding down before going back to work on Wednesday and this would most likely mean a sober day for me too. At around 8.45, Colin woke up Daniel via phone as he was still asleep. I'd have thought that sleep addicts would have more consideration for each other. I got on starting this blog as due to being busy, I'd not had a chance. We left at 9.30 and via the petrol station, headed to Perth Wetherspoons, The Capital Asset. A full Scottish breakfast was ordered with a side of Haggis and a blackcurrant cordial. It was excellent, far better than the English version. I'd had a large one like Daniel and Richard. Colin was his usual strange self ordering milk, apple juice, porridge, pancakes and a children's beans on toast. He then headed back to the car after leaving his phone on the table but was lucky Daniel spotted it and picked it up. Of course, we kept quiet and he went back to the pub to find it gone before returning to find it in the seat pocket. It was a pleasant town and a scenic drive to Methil where the East Fife ground was located. We were there 40 minutes before kickoff, paying £3 to get in and £1 for a can of Irn Bru.
East Fife GWFC were in third and had a fairly respectable record this season. The hosts had won 8-1 at Westdyke in their last game but had also been thumped 10-0 at Hearts in the Scottish Cup recently. For poor Hutchison Vale, it had been very much the latter for this season. They'd lost all 14 league games and had a -100 goal difference. Their last game was an 11-0 defeat to Renfrew Ladies in their last game, though before that they'd restricted Dryburgh Athletic to a 2-1 win. Things didn't look like changing as Thomson headed home a Guppy cross in the opening minute to give East Fife the lead. Further goals from Anderson and Burke made it 3-0 with less than ten minutes gone. On 16 minutes, it was 4-0 when Corke headed home Wilson's corner. Wilson set up Corke again as the ball was headed over the keeper on 22 minutes. It was 6-0 on 25 minutes when Burke set up Thomson for her second. On 27 minutes it was 7-0, Burke setting up Guppy to finish from close range. On 33 minutes, Corke headed home a Wilson corner for her hat trick and 8-0. It was 9-0 via the penalty spot on 36 minutes, scorer Wallace. Thomson made it 10-0 on 42 minutes. Wilson set up Burke again on 49 minutes and it was 12-0 a minute later when Wilson got a goal herself. It was 13-0 a minute later, Wilson again with a shot from the edge of the area.
THE GROUND
BAYVIEW is a one-sided ground although it is a large stand holding just under 2,000. There's lots of parking and a bus stop right outside. The ground is on a gloomy industrial estate but views from the stand are nice - rolling hills and the sea. Facilities inside the ground include a basic tea bar which was closed on our visit though there was a table selling drinks and snacks at good value prices.
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