On Saturday, it was the Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Dunfermline Athletic (my team). I was born in Dunfermline, I work in Dunfermline, I socialise in Dunfermline. It is home. Sport is known for having communities of fans. Something that has spread throughout culture, to theatre, music, tv shows, movies, even sweet companies have fan-based communities around them these days. When I have been at my lowest, it has been sport that has been the thing that distracted me. That took my mind off my own failures. Even when you attend sports events on your own, you become a part of the collective, something that makes you feel not so alone. You don’t get that community when you follow behind a TV screen. Nothing compares to being in the crowd, cheering on your team in person.

The last time Dunfermline reached the Scottish Cup final was 2007. Since then the club have had some severe downs. The club went into administration, but were saved from the brink. Things had to build up again. There is a thing in Scottish football, where most clubs have a singing section. Something there has been varying degrees of during the years at Dunfermline. But over the last several years Section North West, a singing section based in North West Stand at East End Park, have been bringing the songs and the vibes to matchday. They help create the atmosphere, and help get everyone behind the teams. There are teenagers, all the way up to older guys within the group, and they are a great asset to Dunfermline Athletic.

Section North West also have a TIFO group, who put together fan displays for games. Often it is a few flags, but big games, they organise something bigger. At the cup final they lay out flags at every seat, to create a display of black and white stripes, Dunfermline’s colours, with the Scottish Cup in the middle.

Game day for me and my family, involved us getting a bus at 10 am. Me and my Dad arrived in Glasgow first, and ended up finding a beer garden for a couple of pints. Every pub was pre-booked, so we ended up going to try and find somewhere else as everything got busier. We ended up struggling to find anywhere, so we got a few drinks from Tesco, and going to sit on the grass outside Hampden Park. It was really sunny, so it was chill. Was also then able to see the Dunfermline team bus go by. There were guys singing songs, and it was such a great atmosphere. We went into the stadium, there was over 15,000 Dunfermline fans there, and it was great. Until a 6 foot tall guy stood in front of me. It was okay, I did manage to see the game. Though, Celtic scored 2 goals in the first half, so maybe I would have been better off hiding behind Hen Broon, in front of me.

The second have had a lot of substitutes, and a much better performance. In fact, there were times Dunfermline were the bigger team. And Josh Cooper scored, with his first touch of the game. The stands were euphoric. I think, we dreamed of a win, however unlikely would be. But, as long as we didn’t embarrass ourselves. The game ended 3-1 to Celtic, which is what we expected. At full-time, there was still a lot of singing, fans left happy after getting a trip to Hampden. Something that we did not think was going to happen at all. The team did well, against much stronger opposition. And it was a good turnout for squad that doesn’t look like will be together next season. With a lot of players having received offers from other clubs, after what has been a successful season for them. So there is a bit of sadness, but the players deserve every success. The way the season started, I never thought we’d not only get to the Scottish Cup Final, but the semis of the Play-offs for promotion to the Premier League.

The fans are what make events like this so special. The people cheering on their local club. The ones who attend weekday matches in the freezing cold of winter, the guys who attend every single match, the ones who buy merchandise, who play the 50/50 lottery, who pay into the centenary club, those who make it to an odd match when their schedule allows it… everyone. As the late great Jock Stein said, ‘without fans paying at the turnstiles, football is nothing’. And he is correct. It’s the fans who help football clubs to exist. And it is the same with every sport. If no eyes were on the matches and the races, there would be no sponsorship, no money, nothing. I do think some sports organisations *cough* FIFA *cough* FIA*cough* need realise who it is who keeps sports going. And it’s not the sponsors from the conglomerates, it’s the attention from fans. And some need to treat the fans better.