Philosophically speaking...

For the first time since John Coughlin stepped into Campbell Money's shoes, I will be making the long trip to Ochilview on Saturday. I am looking forward to this match for a number of reasons: will we get to see Willie McCulloch swing the bar one last time? Will the pie shop be selling mince pies? Will the East Fife fans be dressed up as Santa Claus?

Unexpectedly, though, recent events have led me to look forward to the action on the park as well. A game against this East Fife side is a difficult task at the best of times, but who'd have thought we'd be going into the game on the back of 3 wins in the last 4 outings? The recent upturn in fortunes is testament, first and foremost, to John's undoubted talents as a manager, but also, in no small measure, to the inherent unpredictability of the beautiful game.

We football fans are a fickle bunch. Back in October, many of us were forecasting one of the worst seasons on record, yet now we are looking towards the play-offs. In my time as a Stenny supporter, I've often defined our performance in extreme terms. Whilst I've always given enthusiastic support to the players on the park, there have been times when even modest success seemed unachievable. The flip side of the coin, of course, is that at other times, the team seemed almost to have an aura of invicibility about it.

In either case, my predictions have tended to be inaccurate. Whatever happened in 2005-6, when we couldn't *possibly* fail to win the title, yet somehow managed to finish behind both Cowdenbeath and Berwick? How about in 1998, when our relegation on the final day was nothing short of a catastrophe? It was a catatsrophe at the time, of course, but we came back stronger the following year.

The fact is that lurching from glory to disaster, and back again, is what being a football fan is all about. And, however much it might seem otherwise, this is not a uniquely Stenhousemuir phenomenon. The turbulent nature of the last couple of seasons has made me more philosophical about our progress, and I'm enjoying the football more as a result. I'm a more committed fan than ever before, but perhaps one with a better sense of perspective. If we lose, never doubt that we will bounce back next week. And if we win - well, why miss an opportunity to celebrate?