Strathmore Cricket Union: the first 90 years a history 1928-2018

8 professional was now a different game altogether from the still amateur Rugby Union. They feared this might happen to cricket as well. Thus it was that the founding fathers of the Strathmore Union were forced back to what was de facto a resurrection of the old and ill-lamented Forfar County Union of the pre-war days of more than 20 years ago. This time however there was a determination that it would work. The inaugural meeting of the Strathmore Union was held in the New Club, Lour Road, Forfar on 21st November 1928. Strathmore, Montrose, Arbroath, Meigle and Blairgowrie sent two representatives each, whereas Brechin, apparently more enthusiastic than the others, sent four! Mr J H Melville of Strathmore was the host and a driving force, and welcomed everyone, explaining that the reason for the meeting was “to obtain an interchange of opinion regarding the possibility of forming a cricket league”. Mr R W Sievwright, already a legend, was appointed Chairman. Although some reservations were expressed that six teams might be too few, and that Forfarshire, Aberdeenshire, Perthshire and Cupar should be approached as well, it was agreed that in the meantime if these clubs opted not to enter a team, a six team League should be formed for the year 1929 at least and that fixtures should be arranged accordingly making use of weeknights and holidays if necessary. Other points included a discussion that the tea interval should be a short one, and that captains should ensure that their batsmen crossed on the field of play at the fall of wicket – all in the cause of speeding up the game; there was apparently a trophy “which had been competed for by Junior clubs a good many years ago” which was now in possession of “2nd Brechin” (this was the silver cup donated by Mrs Farquharson of Houghton mentioned earlier in this chapter); that Lord Strathmore should be invited to be the Honorary President of the Strathmore Union; the subscription should be 10 shillings per club; and that Dundee Downfield might be interested in joining the League if they could find a permanent home. Further meetings took place in December 1928 and March 1929. There was a long discussion on whether the tea interval should be 10 or 15 minutes, (they could have had a three-course meal by the time they decided on the length of the tea interval!) but the idea of Brechin that the side batting first should not bat for longer than 2 and a half hours was not entertained. Games were to be time-related of five hours actual