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

132 that would have been not unlike Hamlet without the Prince, had not Strathmore promised to field a Strathmore XI and a Strathmore 2nd XI in the Union. The reason for Strathmore’s departure was because they were now joining the Scottish Counties. Frustrated perhaps by repeated attempts to reform the League structure, or maybe simply through ambition, Strathmore had applied to the Scottish Counties and been accepted. There could be little doubt that their ground was acceptable – indeed it would soon become a Scotland venue – and this year of 1983 they proved their point by winning both the 1st and the 2nd Division Championships. Their application to join the Counties and to become Strathmore County – a name which was patently absurd – says something about the 1980s as well, in that Strathmore now felt able to take on the travelling that playing in the Counties Championship involved. They were indeed ambitious. Arbroath would follow them a few years later, the main reason being that there was a danger of losing their star players to the Counties who did offer them what was seen, rightly or wrongly, as a higher standard of cricket – and more chance of International recognition. Nevertheless, it was a blow to the Strathmore Union – indeed it was the biggest blow sustained since 1929 – and it was a blow which was the first step on the road to the Strathmore Union becoming a feeder League to the National League. The subsequent history of the League structure of Scottish cricket has been tortuous, complicated, characterised by many choppings and changings, and indeed more than a little depressing. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that things might have been a great deal better if the League structure had been left alone. It was the opinion of many people that the standard of cricket in the Strathmore Union was as good as any before the dark days of the 1980s. Be that as it may, Strathmore won the League well in 1983, going through the whole season undefeated and ending up 15 percentage points ahead of Aberdeen Grammar School FP. Not only that, but Strathie players topped the Batting and the Bowling Averages with Kenny McKay winning the bowling and veteran Don Crighton winning the batting. But they did lose the final of the Three Counties Cup, which was won by Meigle, while Cliftonbank delighted their supporters by winning the Two Counties Cup. Brechin won the Six-A-Side Tournament, and Forthill won the Under 18 League.