A CONCISE POST WAR HISTORY OF THE RED LICHTIES

© Fraser Clyne

Part Ten: 1954-55

Alec Cheyne's six year reign as manager came to an end after yet another traumatic season  which ended with the Lichties struggling once again in the lower reaches of B Division. The former Aberdeen and Chelsea star, who won nine Scottish international caps during his playing days, hadn't enjoyed much success at Gayfield. Arbroath won just 48 of the 180 league games played under his guidance and only once finished in the top half of the league.

Cheyne's final season at the helm got off to its customary poor start, with Arbroath finishing bottom of a League Cup group that featured Alloa, Morton and Albion Rovers. The Lichties won one, drew two and lost three of their six games.

The most memorable game of a dreary league campaign came at Glebe Park in late November when Brechin City were defeated 5-4 in a remarkable match  played in front of a big crowd. The Lichties were 3-1 down at half-time, (Arbroath's goal coming from Dunkie Smith), and within 30 seconds of the restart City's junior trialist Jacky Neilson put his side into what seemed to be a decisive 4-1 lead. The Maroons came storming back, however, with Don Mackenzie, Smith and Tommy Donegan striking to level the scores. With just eight minutes remaining the visiting fans went wild with delight when Mackenzie got on the end of a Smith cross to bundle the ball, Brechin keeper George Tidy and his two full-backs, over the line to claim Arbroath's winning goal.

Unfortunately, this rousing performance failed to ignite Arbroath's season and the team continued to stutter along near the foot of the division with a series of inconsistent performances.  The Scottish Cup provided little relief. Arbroath didn't enter the competition until the fourth round when two goals from Mackenzie were enough to defeat Brechin in front of  4,766 spectators at Gayfield. Mackenzie, who ended the season as Arbroath's top scorer with 24 league and cup games from the 38 games played, was one of the club's most consistent performers. Hopes of a good cup run were, however, well and truly wrecked in the next round when St Johnstone came to Gayfield and won 4-0.

The league campaign stuttered to an end, but not before a struggling Dundee United side thrashed Arbroath 6-1 at Tannadice. The Arbroath Herald reporter at the game was not impressed by either side. He wrote: “Of all the pathetic, calamitous attempts at football ever inflicted on a long suffering public, the record must surely go to the Dundee United – Arbroath game. The match reached the lowest possible of the abysmal depths. United were an abject apology for a football team, yet they beat Arbroath 6-1.”

Cheyne resigned at the end of the season and as an economy measure it was decided not to replace him. The club was suffering from serious  financial difficulties.which threatened the very future of professional football in the town and fans were encouraged to come up with as many fund raising ideas as possible to avoid the possibility of closure.

Long serving captain Tommy Gray announced his retirement from playing, having made 173 appearances for the Maroons. His testimonial match against A Division champions Aberdeen attracted a crowd of 3000. The Dons won 2-1. Shortly afterwards it was announced that Gray would be staying at Gayfield and would be given responsibility for picking future teams.

© Fraser Clyne 2002

Next: League Reconstruction – but little change at Gayfield.

SCOTTISH LEAGUE B DIVISION 1954-55