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

140 at their ground the following year on a well-prepared pitch. Norwood won the 2nd Division Championship, and Meigle the Six-A-Side Tournament in 1986, even though the tournament finished in virtual darkness. The Second Division was graced this season by the presence in the Grove FP side of Dundee United and Scotland great, Richard Gough. It was almost too much for Lawside, chock-full of ‘Arabs’ to take when he turned out against them at Lochee Park, breaking a window in the pavilion during a kick-about with them before the match. Unfortunately, he was transferred to Tottenham soon after and the local parks cricketers were denied further opportunities to rub shoulders with one of their heros. The big issue at the November AGM concerned “professionals’ friends”. It was not unknown for a professional to bring along a friend or two to play the occasional game, as an amateur, of course. The problem was that these friends were sometimes very good players – occasionally a Test Match player – and it was felt to be unfair. We have already seen several examples of this. On the other hand, it was surely a good thing for a major Test match player to play in the Strathmore Union. We have seen how Desmond Haynes of the West Indies played once for Arbroath. On another occasion Derek Randall, admittedly past his prime, also played for them in a game against Meigle. Meigle actually won that game, but the point was that the appearance of Randall, well known for his constant good humour, brilliant cover point fielding and fidgety demeanour at the crease when he batted, increased the attendance and raised the profile of the Strathmore Union in the Scottish Press. The debate at the AGM is euphemistically described as “lively”, and the vote to stop this practise was won by 23 to 12. Unfortunately, this fell marginally short of the two-thirds required, and the practice was allowed to continue. Sparks flew in1987 in connectionwith theThreeCounties Cupfinal between Arbroath United and Dundee High School FP, not so much in connection with the game itself, won eventually by Dundee High School FP, as with the date and venue of the game. There were quite a few complicating factors – the sheer amount of cricket being played in midsummer rendering some grounds unavailable, Arbroath’s own Centenary celebrations and of course the weather had been a bit of a menace (as always) all through the tournament.