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

155 problem a great deal earlier. If 1994 was a good year for the city of Aberdeen, it was the city of Dundee which didwell in 1995withDundeeHigh School FPwinning the First Division and Kinloch taking the Second Division. The High School won comfortably, but it was notable that of the top six in the League, four places were occupied by “Aberdeen” teams with newcomers Inverurie the runners up. The key to the success of Dundee High School was their strength in depth. Their professional Steven Wark was 2nd in both the Batting and the Bowling averages, but Dyer, Kennedy and Heather all featured prominently in the Averages list as well while GrahamMcLaren provided a great deal of all round support to the excellent captain John Bennett. Inverurie continued to impress with Dave Johnston topping the Batting Averages at a barely credible 150.25, but last year’s champions Gordonians fell badly down to 6th. The Three Counties Cup was won by the Grades Select, winning the trophy in a close final at Brechin against Forthill XI. Kinloch’s triumph in the Second Division was a well merited one, and they had tough luck in the Two Counties Cup when they lost to Montrose at Lochlands, Arbroath. The Under 18s Tournament was shared between Strathmore and Arbroath and Brechin won the Six-A-Side Tournament. But, ominously perhaps for the Strathmore Union, this was all happening while major changes were going on in the background to the structure of Scottish cricket. 1996 would see for the first time a Scottish League, consisting mainly of an amalgamation of the Scottish Counties and the East of Scotland League. For the moment, conservative as always, the Western Union stayed out, although Ayr broke ranks to join the new League. For the Strathmore Union, there was the chance of promotion, possibly after a play-off. Sadly, this story was likely to run and run, for it has almost become a national obsession of cricket administrators over the past 20 years to tinker with the Leagues in those boring winter months! On the very eve of the 1996 season, the Strathmore Union lost one of its greatest characters and arguably its best ever player in Nigel Hazel sr. at the age of 75. He had been the professional for Strathmore for 18 seasons between 1955 and 1972, during which time he amassed a phenomenal number of runs – 10,785 at an average of 53.13, and possibly more importantly retained his popularity in the town of Forfar to the very end. To see Nigel Hazel on song remains a sight that would stay with many