Falkland 150th Anniversary Book

Review of “Falkland Cricket Club” 1860-2010

Falkland Cricket Club are celebrating their 150th anniversary in 2010. The club, of course, had a great year in 2009 with their convincing win of the Division Two title and their annexing of the Fife Cup, so it is somehow appropriate that this year should see the publication of the history of their 150 years.

The book has been written by two stalwarts and former players of the club David Grant and Charlie McGarrie, and what a great job they have done! Strenuous efforts have been made to find the first actual game of the club, and it may be that cricket was played in Falkland even earlier than 1860 for which there is “a strong oral tradition”. The authors however have been hampered by the lack of adequate reporting on cricket matches in the 1860s, and they quote a brilliant example of the laconic nature of Falkland news in “a cuckoo was heard on the East Lomond”. Very interesting, I'm sure for ornithologists, but Grant and McGarrie would have wanted more about the cricket! And so, of course, would we!

From the 1890s onwards, more detail is available and the book is rich in pictures of grim faced men, some of them wearing the old polo neck jerseys that we used to associate with goalkeepers, and quite a few of them (farm labourers, presumably) wearing ordinary trousers rather than whites. And how did the Umpires manage not to trip over these long white coats? The club moved to the present ground at Scroggie Park in 1909 after a somewhat nomadic existence including some time at Lower Scroggie, the field that lies between the present ground and the road to Strathmiglo. This is all detailed in the book.

There is also for future historians a picture of current captain Ryan Hepburn receiving the 2009 Division Two trophy from the much respected Umpire Sandy Scotland, and many pictures of recent teams, but my favourite picture must be the Tea House which stood with its thatched roof in the north-east corner of the ground. Why did they ever let it disappear?

The authors have been diligent in compiling a list of captains and prize winners, and the cover pictures have excellent views of the hill and the ground, much admired by men like Doug Insole. The tea ladies are also given their deserved praise, as are a list of men who have served the club including the great Wattie Venters (seen as a schoolboy with short trousers in 1908) who went on to become a legend at Kirkcaldy and was considered very unlucky not to have won a Scottish cap.

The book is light hearted, resisting the temptation to get bogged down in “anorak” stuff of averages and statistics, and contains quite a few poems and songs including a hilarious one to the tune of Bonnie Dundee on the subject of the new pavilion in 1957 whereby

“No longer shall Freuchie and Strath claim as feats
They've had handier places for changing their breeks”

The authors are much to be commended for their diligent research and their production of a charming, readable book which will be a valuable addition to the library of any cricket fan, and is a fitting and appropriate commemoration of a lovely wee club. The book will cost £10.00, and will be available from any member of the club.

David W Potter