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

16 102 with professional Jack Stark (whose Benefit day this was) scoring 37, few in the sizeable Union Park crowd doubted that Brechin could reach this total. But Laing, after scoring 34, fell lbw to Stark, and then with ES Luke bowling in inspirational form to take 7 for 23, Brechin’s inexperienced tail collapsed from 90 for 6 to 94 all out, the last three men all being out for a duck. The result may well have “turned all the Gable Ends the other way round” as the Press put it, but it was greeted with incredulity and shock in Brechin. Suggestions were made that a telegram should be sent to Davie Chapman at once to bring him home, lest the team suffer any more bad results and lose the League. However two days later on the Holiday Monday, Brechin, still without Chapman, faced the touring Clydesdale team who had last year won the Western Union. Brechin won handsomely with Willie Eddie scoring a fine century. No further mistakes were made by Brechin in 1930. A close game against Strathmore at Guthrie Park was won by 6 runs, and at Lochlands, although Sievwright took 9 wickets for Arbroath as Brechin toiled to 97 with 40 scored by Charlie Moir, Arbroath’s batting collapsed pitifully to 54 all out in the face of Laing and Awty. Once again the charge could be laid against Sievwright’s Arbroath that they were a “one man team”. The Championship was won for the second time on 6th September 1930 against Blairgowrie. Opening pair Walker and Chapman (Brechin’s “Hobbs and Sutcliffe” according to The Brechin Advertiser) were both dismissed cheaply as Brechin were dismissed for the low score of 66, but then Willie Eddie took 7 for 11 and Blairgowrie collapsed for 27 to ensure that Brechin had won the Championship once again. We who live in a more egalitarian age might be a little shocked to read the Minute Book of the AGM on 17th October 1930. The Earl of Strathmore and Lord Glamis appeared, and the deferential sycophancy shown to them seems excessive, as they were thanked repeatedly for their appearance and support. It is important to realise, though, that the Earl, a genuine cricket and football fan (frequently seen at Station Park to watch Forfar Athletic, for example) was no aloof aristocrat. He took a real interest in the fortunes of the Union, which of course was named after him, congratulated Brechin once again on their success and wished everyone all the best in the future, being particularly delighted in the amount of young men playing the game.