A CONCISE POST WAR HISTORY OF THE RED LICHTIES

© Fraser Clyne

Part Eight: 1952-53

Goalkeeper George Robertson signed for the Lichties at the beginning of the season to begin what would be a long career as Arbroath’s last line of defence. The 25 year-old 6ft Fifer joined Alec Cheyne’s side from Bowhill Rovers. He had previously been with Cowdenbeath but dropped out of the professional game for a while after suffering a slipped disc but was now considered fully fit again and ready to help the Lichties embark upon their best league campaign for some time.

The season got off to its customary gloomy start, however, as the Maroons began with a 5-0  home defeat at the hands of Dunfermline in the League Cup. That maintained Arbroath’s unenviable record of  losing every post war opening match of the season.. The slow starting Gayfield side managed just one victory from their six group stage matches, defeating Kilmarnock 2-0. Both goals came from ex-Rangers and Grimsby player  Don MacKenzie  who was set up on both occasions by Jimmy Clyne. (I had to mention this). Killie remarkably went on to defeat Rangers in the semi final of the competition before losing to Dundee in the final.

The league campaign got off to a mixed start with the low point being a record 7-2 drubbing from Ayr United at Somerset Park  in early October. Later that month, however, Cheyne’s men set off on a remarkable 15 game unbeaten run in the league  which propelled them up the table and into the promotion chase. The sequence started with a remarkable 5-5 draw at Dumbarton. John McBain (2), Hugh Friel, Hugh Gallacher and Bill Rennet gave Arbroath a 5-2 lead early in the second half but the home side hauled themselves back into the game with three  goals. Arbroath survived a last minute penalty claim to take a point. Stirling Albion and Hamilton Accies, who were eventually to occupy the top two places in the table, were both beaten at Gayfield as confidence grew among the players and  fans alike. A crowd of 5000 turned up for the New Year’s day derby with Forfar which ended 0-0.

By the end of February everything looked good, but then the Maroons’ form deserted them and the team experienced a dramatic loss of form., losing seven of their final eight matches to slip down the table, finishing in seventh place. It was a disappointing end to a campaign that promised so much. Even the Forfarshire Cup failed to provide any respite from the series of poor results as non-league Montrose dumped Arbroath 6-3 on aggregate over the two legged first round tie at the tail end of the season.

For the second year in a row Arbroath were drawn with Rangers in the Scottish Cup, but on this occasion the tie was played in Glasgow. A crowd of 44,000, including an estimated 3000 fans from Arbroath, ensured the Lichties treasurer would go home happy. The visitors were well and truly thumped, however, with goals from Hubbard (5min), Prentice (15min), McCulloch (30min) and Simpson (67min) giving the Gers a comfortable victory. Goalkeeper Robertson was hailed one of Arbroath’s heroes with a succession of fine saves which kept the score down. The Ibrox  men went on to win the League and Cup double.

Next: Back among the bottom dogs.

SCOTTISH LEAGUE B DIVISION 1952-53