DOWN MEMORY LANE

25^th December 1965 v East Stirlingshire (League) at Gayfield

with Davie Dewar

 

Back in the 60’s they did play on Christmas Day and for many people in Scotland it was just another working day. In England, depending on when Christmas day fell, they could be playing four times in the space of a week. For example, Saturday, Christmas Day, Boxing day and then the following Saturday again. How would the pampered superstars of today have dealt with such a hectic schedule?

ARBROATH: - Samson, Cameron, Hughes, Kennedy, Stirling, Pierson, Henderson, Cant, Jack, Sandeman, Wilkie.

E STIRLINGSHIRE: - Gray, Simpson, McQueen, Gillespie, Craig, Laird, Hamill, McDonald, Jones, Ross, Gerrard.

East Stirling were first to show in this game. Hamill beat Hughes but his shot was too straight and Simpson saved easily. At the other end Henderson’s low shot across the box went just inches wide. Then a shot from Ross hit the side netting.

After twenty minutes, Arbroath almost took the lead. From corner on the left, Henderson rose to head the ball but as it was entering the goal, Simpson popped up to head it off the line. However, seven minutes later, the Lichties did take the lead after Jack was brought down by Craig in the penalty area. Laird was booked for protesting against the decision but the penalty stood and KENNEDY netted from the spot.

Arbroath doubled their lead in thirty five minutes. A corner on the right from Cant was side footed home by HENDERSON.

Early in the second half, Arbroath went three up. De Ja Vu played its part when Jack was upended in the box by Craig for a second time and KENNEDY again converted from the spot.  But this time it was McQueen who was booked for protesting.

In seventy nine minutes Pierson brought down Hamill in the box and the referee awarded a penalty to the Shire. GILLESPIE scored from the spot kick to make the scoreline more respectable. Kennedy was booked in the dying minutes of the game for fouling McQueen.

 

Final Score: - ARBROATH 3 E STIRLINGSHIRE 1

 

ON THIS DAY 22^nd December

1945 v  Cowdenbeath                 A (League)                    2-4 Robertson, Newman

1951 v   Cowdenbeath                 A (League)                    1-8 Swan

1956 v  Third Lanark                  H (League)                    2-0 McGrory, Fernie

1962 v   Morton                          A (League)                    2-3 Kennedy, Murray

1973 v   Aberdeen                      H (League)                    1-3 Sellars

1979 v   Ayr United                     H (League)                    1-1 Yule

1984 v  Stranraer                        A (League)                    1-7 Brown

1990 v   Queens Park                 H (League)                    3-1 Morton, Bulloch 2