BSC Glasgow are preparing for the biggest game in the club’s history as they welcome Hibs to the Indodrill Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Lowland League side only formed in 2016 and currently sit fourth in the table, with two games in hand over leaders Kelty Hearts, who are 11 points clear at the top. Lowland League competition will take a break this week though as Hibs come to town.
The Hibees are coming to town. (Photo by Ewan Bootman/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
With such a big game comes increased pressure off the park and Michael Park knows it. He deals with media at BSC and has been working tirelessly over the last few weeks to prepare for the enormity of this occasion.
Park has told NTOF of how it’s been preparing for this clash, what logistics are involved and how joy and stress have come in equal measures.
“We went from the way we just sell tickets in the club shop to having to spend two-and-a-half hours implementing a ticket system on the website,” said Park. “It’s challenges like that. Usually we just turn up at the Indodrill, open the turnstiles, and that’s that.
New experiences for BSC Glasgow. (Photo by Colin McPherson/Corbis via Getty Images)
“The level of logistics that go into a match like this are incredible. We’re sort of a five-man band in terms of organising this. I understand now why clubs have so many full-time staff. I’ve pretty much been working ten-hour days on it because there’s so much to get done.
“I think if you’re used to this size of game then you roll into it week after week. For us it’s a complete first time doing a game of this size. Everything we are trying to implement is completely alien to us as a club.
“When you look at the infrastructure we have, which is pretty good for a Lowland League club, we are light on manpower compared to other clubs. When you look at us compared to how Hibs would deal with this at Easter Road, it wouldn’t even be a blip on their radar.
Juggling different things. (Photo by Ewan Bootman/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“Meanwhile, I’m sitting here with a to-do list that’s probably in the hundreds. We need to do all our usual stuff for games plus all this logistical stuff. Its a good challenge and good fun, but it’s terrifying!”
How BSC Glasgow are coping with increased media attention
For 90 minutes on Sunday and in the buildup to this huge clash, new fans will arrive, cameras will roll in and journalists will flock to see this special occasion.
It’s all new to BSC and Park is in the middle dealing with it all. However, the BSC media manager says that it’s a huge chance to put BSC on a platform for further engagement.
This is where the game will take place this Sunday. (Photo by Colin McPherson/Corbis via Getty Images)
If, and it’s most likely a big one, BSC can do the unthinkable on Sunday, Park already has some plans in place: “I’ve already said on the off-chance we get a draw or something, that my mum’s to phone me on the Friday night to see where I am!
“Even a replay would be huge. We don’t want to think about that kind of thing because there’s no pressure on us. There’s a wee bit of you though that thinks ‘Am I professional enough to go home on Sunday night to start thinking about the replay.’ We’ll see!
“It’s been ok dealing with the media stuff. In reality, there’s a lot more interest than what we normally have but I’ve got experience from other jobs so it’s not been overwhelming.
BSC Glasgow will be live on the BBC. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
“It’s about keeping the attention on the players without overwhelming them. There’s a lot of people who want to see us and do interviews. Being a part-time club, we only really have access to the players twice a week and on a matchday.
“It has to be in training if they want to do these things. There’s a bit of juggling but apart from that it’s been ok. Everyone is nice to us! There’s a lot of interest in the game, there’s a lot of interest in us suddenly, which is fantastic.”