AS many of the Evening Times’ loyal readers have pointed out to me, it is quite incredible that I get paid to write about football. Although, come to think of it, they may not mean that for the same reasons I do.

I love it, even though the hours make a mockery of the notion that if you do something you love you will never work a day in your life. And every now and again there are genuine reasons to pinch yourself at some of the opportunities that come your way.

This week provided such a moment, as I got to run out at Hampden for the legendary Scottish Football Writer’s Association eleven as we took on the staff of the SFA. It is the second time that I have played there now, and trust me, the stardust doesn’t wear off.

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This time the pitch was in better nick than the first time I played there, given that game came two days after the ‘over-exuberance’ of the Hibs versus Rangers Scottish Cup final, and although I played like a donkey as the SFA snatched a controversial and fortuitous 4-2 victory, it was still a magical experience for someone who has grown up immersed in Scottish football and worshipping the legends that played on the hallowed turf.

Some weeks ago, the SFWA were also invited to play at Murrayfield against the SRU, with the rugby body still right in the running to host major football matches such as Scotland internationals and cup finals.

That experience was also unforgettable, getting to run out and play at such an impressive stadium. The SRU must really want to curry favour, because somehow our ragtag bunch won quite comfortably, and it is easy to see why the SFA’s decision has come down to a straight shootout between the two venues.

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That issue will be one of the first things weighed up by new SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell, who revealed at his unveiling this week that a final call will be made by the end of June. And as unthinkable as it may be to many football fans, seeing what the SRU had to offer from the inside was a compelling eye-opener.

The facilities are astounding. The capacity is significantly higher than Hampden. The hybrid pitch - though hard - provides a consistent and true surface that wouldn’t require the constant ripping up and replacing that has plagued Hampden in recent years. The transport links are impressive and in line with what you would expect at a major sporting venue, with the stadium easily accessible by tram, train, road and even by walking from Edinburgh city centre. At Hampden, this has long been an issue, with the supporter experience getting in and out of the ground often inspiring a new-found empathy for cattle.

And there is space all around the ground at Murrayfield, ripe for a massive fan zone which could profit significantly from the famous thirst of the Tartan Army, while also providing family fun zones in order to turn the experience of going to a game into an all-day event.

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Cards on the table, if football was starting tomorrow and I was in charge of the SFA, then in all likelihood I would plump for Murrayfield as the base for the national association, the national team and major cup finals. But therein lies the rub.

Murrayfield may well be able to trump Hampden in almost every practical aspect, but the SRU is fighting against 140 years of tradition and history.

If the decision was one of head over heart, then Murrayfield would win hands down, but I just fancy that the emotional ties that bind our national game to Hampden will prevail. I must admit, as someone whose lifelong passion has been Scottish football rather than rugby, it was standing in the Hampden tunnel that the hairs were standing on end. There is a history around the place that still stirs the soul.

That being said, perhaps emotion shouldn’t stand in the way of progress. If the SFA are to remain at Hampden, then significant improvements should be forthcoming. The sight lines, which admittedly for football aren’t significantly better in places at Murrayfield, will have to be addressed. Would the funds be there to bring in the East and West stands closer to the pitch, for example? Stuttgart’s Mercedes-Benz Arena is a prime example of what can be done to turn a historic old bowl into an atmospheric modern stadium, but it came at a considerable cost.

If it came right down to it, that is the course I would prefer the SFA to travel down. But it says so much for Murrayfield and the SRU, that if they are to win the day, even an old romantic like myself wouldn’t be averse to watching my football there.