Strathmore Cricket Union Handbook 2003

50 unqualified success almost immediately and extremely competitive. Early teething troubles were soon smoothed out, the rules changed, sometimes drastically and others not so. However, under the very capable guidance of John Foster and Sam McGowan, who is still secretary, it is now on a very solid foundation and perhaps as keenly a contested league as can be found anywhere. Strathearn have unfortunately never been one of the leaders in the league as yet but have always played their part. On many occasions they have come out on the wrong end of the points in what were excellent matches. One such occasion springs readily to mind. On a baking hot July Saturday at Luncarty on a batting paradise, almost four hundred runs were scored and the match was precipitously balanced right up to the final overs with Strathie just failing to overtake the first innings total. Just one example that we do compete - although usually entrenched in the lower half of the league at the final count. One of the sadder and harder to understand trends of this excellent team game is that in the late sixties and up to the present day there has been a general decline in popularity by way of the numbers taking part. Thankfully the signs at present are that once again the younger element are showing signs of re- gaining an appetite for the game and it may be that local administration may have to rethink the timing of the matches to allow for earlier finishes. Strathearn suffered along with many others during this general decline and probably more than most. That and a spot of bad off-the-field management led to the abysmal decline of the club to the point of almost total eclipse. Since 1977 however things have improved and though not yet reaching their former stature, the jokes have almost disappeared. The eternal struggle to field eleven players at the one time has thankfully passed and the bowed heads are on the up. Strathie are once more alive, there is a great spirit in the club at present and the recruitment of youngsters is under way. The complete resurrection will obviously take a few years but hopefully by 1982/83 we will once more be one of the more respected clubs and sufficiently strong to carry us through to our sesquicentennial.