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

45 box? The Government had originally insisted on everyone carrying a gas mask, then relented to “encouraging” before giving up this well-meaning but sadly impracticable idea. Besides, who would want to bomb Forfar? In fact a couple of bombs did land on Balmashanner in August 1940, and there was even one which caused a little damage on Lochlands Cricket Ground in Arbroath in October of that year, but it would be true to say that the “blitz” did not really reach the Strathmore Union, and certainly had not reached anywhere else in Britain in spring 1940. In these circumstances, the AGM decided to resurrect cricket for the 1940 season on the grounds that most clubs were in a position to play friendlies in any case, and there was no harm in trying to run a League competitions. In fact, although Blairgowrie were compelled to pack in after a few games, the 1st Division was played, as indeed was the Three Counties Cup but it was decided that a 2nd Division championship would not be possible. Ironically Gordonians, refused entrance in 1939 to the League but controversial winners of the Three Counties Cup, were now admitted. Thus throughout 1940, the worst year of the war, cricket was played. Some might have thought that it was in bad taste for the game to be played while soldiers were being evacuated from the Dunkirk beaches or when the RAF engaged the Luftwaffe over the skies of Kent for the future of civilization, but the counter argument was that entertainments like sports and the cinema were good for civilian morale and for that of soldiers on leave. Indeed, in the case of cricket, was it not a symbol of what Great Britain was fighting for? There was no Scottish Counties Championship that year, so it was hardly surprising that Forthill XI and Mannofield XI did well in the Strathmore Union, for they could call upon some players who would normally have played for the County side. Forthill XI won the Three Counties Cup as well as the Strathmore Union, thus becoming the first team to win a League and Cup Double in one year. The final of the Three Counties Cup was held at Forfar on the night of 8th August 1940 and it was a fairly easywin for Forthill XI for whomGD Burrows scored 41 and D Robb took 3 for 39, although The Courier is understandably more interested in the 53 German aeroplanes shot down over the English Channel that day. On Saturday 7th September (the day predicted by many as the day of the invasion) Forthill XI defeated Gordonians at Seafield