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

176 2010 saw the welcome re-appearance of Gordonians. Their history in the competition was well recorded – they had joined just at the start of the Second World War - but they had earlier in this century amalgamated with Aberdeen Grammar School FP – a union which had not really worked all that well, and now they were back. The Union was also delighted to welcome Freuchie into Division Three, having first applied for membership of the Union back in 1978 when their request to join Division One had been rejected by the Management Committee as it had been received less than three weeks prior to the AGM on 5th November. The letter had been dated 9th October so must have missed the cut-off by a day or two at the most. Their neighbours Falkland were already there, and the competition would be much welcomed. Freuchie of course were the club which had made history 25 years previously in 1985 when they won the Village Cup at Lord’s, and they were a well-established team with a long pedigree. On the other hand, it was sad to see two grand old teams in Cupar and Kirriemuir giving up on League cricket. Cupar were fairly recent members of the Strathmore Union, being more identified with the East League where they had performed with distinction. Now they were struggling to get players and felt compelled to withdraw from the League although they intended to keep playing at Duffus Park. Even that did not last long, and Cupar have now joined Kirkcaldy as one of the ghost clubs of Fife. Kirriemuir’s demise caused even more distress. They had never shown any pretensions of rising above the Second Division, but they were a team of character, playing on their lovely ground called The Hill, where once JM Barrie acted as “marker” and of course provided for them the pavilion. As with Cupar, the hope was expressed that cricket in Kirriemuir might be continued and even that someday there might be a resurrection. In what was a slightly more pleasant summer, weather wise, than had been the case in recent seasons, Mannofield in 2010 continued their impressive form this century by winning the Premier Division once again, while the First Division was won by the fast developing Kinross, reaping the rewards for having focussed on youth development, while the newly returned Gordonians won the Second Division and Almond Valley beat off the challenge of the Fife pair Freuchie XI and Falkland XI to win the Third Division. Aberdeenshire Cricket Association continued their love affair with the Three Counties Cup, while the Two Counties Cup was won by Dalnacraig, the reserve teamof DundeeHigh School FP. Arbroath continued