DOWN MEMORY LANE

with Davie Dewar

27-28 August's

Arbroath played Inverness Caledonian Thistle away from home at the same stage in the competition last season, on 28^th August 2007 with the Premier Division side running out 3 -1 winners on that occasion. The teams that night were:-

INVERNESS CT: - Fraser, Tokeley, McBain, Black, Watt, McCaffrey, Wilson, Duncan, Wyness, Niculae, Cowie. Subs: - Morgan, Rankin, McAllister.

ARBROATH: - Morrison, McKay, Ferguson, Raeside, Bishop, Tulley, Hegarty, Scott, Tosh, Sellars, Watson. Subs: - Reilly, Rennie, Webster.

As the last game against tonight's opposition was fairly recent, I have gone back in the record books to a match against a club that we have not met very often (for obvious reasons) The team being hailed as one of the greatest sides in England at the time, Preston North End, who two years later became the first English team to win the double.

August 27^th 1886 v Preston North End (Friendly) at Gayfield

There are no team line ups for this game as the Arbroath Guide of that time very seldom printed them and although the Arbroath Herald had been in circulation for a year by that time, the local library has no records that far back.

In the opening minutes, Preston scored the first goal. Coming from a shy on the left, the ball was worked over to the right side of the field, where the goal eventually came from. Then Robertson, Petrie and Muddies combined well but the Preston keeper saved well. He quickly released the ball upfield and Preston scored their second goal of the game. Buick had two hard shots in quick succession with the keeper saving the first one and the second attempt went narrowly over the crossbar.

Doig then saved a shot from one of the Preston forwards as play was switching from end to end. Then just before half time, Preston secured a third goal.

Into the second half and Rennie sent in a long looping shot that evaded the Preston keeper with Crawford waiting nearby and having the effect of distracting the keeper. This lifted the Maroon's spirits and soon after, Buick had a chance. He duly leathered the ball past the keeper for number two. There followed some exciting skirmishes in front of the Preston goalmouth but it was Preston that added to their tally.

Crawford then thought he had scored but it was chalked off for offside. Just before the end, Preston added a sixth goal to their tally.

Final Score - ARBROATH 2 v PRESTON north end 6

Three days later, Arbroath played Aston Villa in a friendly that ended in a 5-4 victory for the visitors.

ON THIS DAY 27th August

1947 v  Hamilton                       H League          2-4 Collins, Smith

1949 v  Dumbarton                    H League Cup   3-1 Ross 3

1952 v  Alloa Athletic                 H League Cup   1-1 Clyne

1955 v  Alloa Athletic                 H League Cup   1-2 Smith

1958 v Queens Park                 H League Cup   4-0 Sharp 2, Brown, Shirreffs

1960 v  Falkirk                           H League Cup   2-2 Murray 2

1966 v  Third Lanark                  A League Cup   1-1 Jack

1969 v  Falkirk                          H League Cup   1-3 Jack           

1975 v  Clydebank                    A League Cup   0-1

1977 v  Hamilton                       A League          1-3 Cargill

1983 v  Albion R                       H League          3-0 Dunlop, Harley 2

1988 v  Alloa Athletic                 H League          2-2 Jack, Richardson (pen)

1994 v  Forfar Athletic               H League          0-1