History - History 1
GORDONIANS C.C.
Gordonians Cricket Club entered Grade 1 in 1927. Some Robert Gordon's College (RGC) school former pupils (FP's) founded the club in the 1920s led by George Dickie and others. The club formation was probably helped along by FP's providing our former Seafield ground in Thorngrove Avenue as a gift to the school. This gesture was a memorial to those who had died in the Great War and the school opened Seafield in 1925.
We then brought our second eleven into Grade cricket in 1928. Within the very short time space of three years the first eleven were to become Grade 1 champions - a distinction gained on three more occasions in 1937, 1938 and in 1945. We also captured the Grade 2 title in 1950. Having run two sides until 1938, from then until 2002 the club fielded three sides. The club joined the Strathmore Union in 1938 thanks to Ted Mathieson and John (JCS) Bisset. John later became grade president and was club secretary for 33 years.
Our first XI then played clubs primarily outside the Aberdeen area with the club second XI becoming our senior grade side. Until 1991 the grade sides shared with their Strathmore side the excellent facilities Gordonians have at Seafield although prior to 1991 the Reserve Grade XI was rendered 'homeless' through developments at Seafield and depended on the Association to provide it with a home ground thus affecting club unity and spirit. In common with several other larger clubs that field grade sides, it is fair to say that our grade endeavours are only part of the club's story. The reader should please forgive the writer for the occasional "Strathmore" mention. Those interested in reading more about the club's history and characters may want to read Chapter 59 of Jack Websters book "The Auld Hoose" titled "The Heyday of Cricket".
In cup competitions, Gordonians' senior grade side had an impressive record through 1930-1950. We were winners of the Aberdeenshire Cup on seven occasions. The first time we lifted this trophy was in 1935. In 1937, 1938 and 1945 we added the Aberdeenshire Cup to the Grade 1 championships and thereby became winners in these three years of the Thomson Shield for sides completing the double - an achievement we were to accomplish yet again adding the Bon-Accord Cup to the Grade 2 championship in 1955. Between their double achievements in the late 1930s and in 1945 Gordonians won the Aberdeenshire Cup on its own in 1944 and 1947. The "final" occasion we won this trophy was in 1951. There was then a "slight" gap of 40 years until the next top cup triumph. While in Grade 2, we were winners of the Bon-Accord Cup in 1954 and again in 1975. Our junior grade side (the club third eleven) over the years has operated primarily as a breeding ground for young players guided my "veterans" coming to the end of their careers and therefore by comparison has enjoyed much less success, sharing the Reserve Grade championship with St. Ronald in 1938 and winning the Johnston Rose Bowl in 1956.
At individual level, Gordonians' players were successful in the Reserve Grade batting averages in 1956 - Bob Irvine won with an average of 41.8; 1968 saw Colin Rae, Junior, their successful batsman with an average of 59; 1978 saw their final success when Andy McIntosh with an average of 31.2 uplifted this award. During the club's stay in Grade 1, players were successful in the batting averages: in 1938 (Ted Mathieson 26.7); 1943 (Alfie Emslie 59.3); 1947 (Abbie Nuttin 28.3); 1951 (Ted Mathieson 44.5); 1953 (Harold Emslie 29.2); 1960 (Gordon Emslie 61.20). Two bowlers were also successful while in Grade 1. In their first season in the Grade, Charlie Emslie finished top with an average of 3.28 and in 1934, Jimmy Low topped the averages with 5.08. In Grade 2 W. Johnston in 1955 achieved an astonishing batting average of 186.00. In 1950, John McHardy was the season's top bowler with 3.7 for his average. Whilst in Grade 3 - H. Ellington won that Grade's bowling averages in 1971 with an average of 2.48.
The club is proud of its track record of providing the Association with no less than three Presidents in the late J. C. Bisset (1968-69); W. D. (Buff) Hardie (1972-73); and the late Iain Brown (1980-81). Iain Brown (affectionately known as the Broon") played for more than 40 years for the club, was Club President for a period until 1988 and retired in 1991, even taking two hat tricks in 1987 and a further one in his last season. He played with his grandson Jamie Helme in 1990, the latter showing great promise as a grade and then Strathmore Union bowler before moving away from Aberdeen. Iain for many years was the GreenFinal's correspondent on cricket in the Grades. The grade sides experienced a fairly lean period in the early 1980's, playing our cricket in Grade 3 and in the Reserve Grade. Fortunately the experience of Malcolm Shepherd, Hugh Lennox, Mike Pocock and Roy Angus, and some encouraging perfor mances by some of the very young players such as the brothers Duncan and Richard Shepherd making their way through from the reserves, made sure our stay in that lean period did not prove to be too long.
They say things move in cycles. The 25 years from 1984 have marked some major milestones, many highlights, major challenges, some lowlights and a further extended period of great on field camaraderie and team spirit. The key milestones and significant player developments during that period were as follows. Former Aberdeenshire and Scotland fast bowler and FP, Frank Robertson, returned in 1984 and took on the role of club captain from Colin Johnston in 1985 providing belief to the players before he retired in 1991. Anju Mudkavi joined as club professional and coach in 1987, was club captain 1997-2000 and proved a prolific Strathmore run getter and wicket taker until his retirement in 2001. Two FP's George Bews (in 1990) previously of Dyce and a Grade committee stalwart and Craig Pettitt (in 1988) returned to the fold from Anchorians. George latterly was Club President fro 1997 to 2001. Our senior grade team won the Aberdeenshire Cup in 1991. Our first XI won the Strathmore Union in 1994. The club secured a hat trick of trophies year in 1999. We embarked on the ill-fated Grammar/Gordonians merger in 2001. The Gordonians (aka Gordo's) revival kicked off in late 2007 spearheaded by Blair Thomson's ambitious and dedicated leadership, The challenges we faced along the way were caused by, amongst other things, being forced to leave behind the club's "soul" at Seafield and moving to Counteswells in 1991.
We tried to keep the playing side positive despite the off field costs of employing a professional and the resulting unrealistic financial burden to retain use of the school facilities and the decline in popularity of cricket at RGC. Many generous sponsors including Sysdrill, AC Yule and Marcliffe at Pitfodels supported us through this period. A feature over that period was the annual high turnover of players as some left the area to pursue education and job interests putting pressure to recruit new blood. Gordonians have been an open club for many years and has an increased reliance on non-RGC players. We now hope to attract back some school players with the improved club product. At the same time, although possibly still regarded by some as a "privileged" club, we are just a group of unpaid volunteers enjoying our cricket at the weekend. The school and the Gordonian Association have been particularly supportive in recent years, reducing the financial pressures.
Gordonians Cricket Club entered Grade 1 in 1927. Some Robert Gordon's College (RGC) school former pupils (FP's) founded the club in the 1920s led by George Dickie and others. The club formation was probably helped along by FP's providing our former Seafield ground in Thorngrove Avenue as a gift to the school. This gesture was a memorial to those who had died in the Great War and the school opened Seafield in 1925.
We then brought our second eleven into Grade cricket in 1928. Within the very short time space of three years the first eleven were to become Grade 1 champions - a distinction gained on three more occasions in 1937, 1938 and in 1945. We also captured the Grade 2 title in 1950. Having run two sides until 1938, from then until 2002 the club fielded three sides. The club joined the Strathmore Union in 1938 thanks to Ted Mathieson and John (JCS) Bisset. John later became grade president and was club secretary for 33 years.
Our first XI then played clubs primarily outside the Aberdeen area with the club second XI becoming our senior grade side. Until 1991 the grade sides shared with their Strathmore side the excellent facilities Gordonians have at Seafield although prior to 1991 the Reserve Grade XI was rendered 'homeless' through developments at Seafield and depended on the Association to provide it with a home ground thus affecting club unity and spirit. In common with several other larger clubs that field grade sides, it is fair to say that our grade endeavours are only part of the club's story. The reader should please forgive the writer for the occasional "Strathmore" mention. Those interested in reading more about the club's history and characters may want to read Chapter 59 of Jack Websters book "The Auld Hoose" titled "The Heyday of Cricket".
In cup competitions, Gordonians' senior grade side had an impressive record through 1930-1950. We were winners of the Aberdeenshire Cup on seven occasions. The first time we lifted this trophy was in 1935. In 1937, 1938 and 1945 we added the Aberdeenshire Cup to the Grade 1 championships and thereby became winners in these three years of the Thomson Shield for sides completing the double - an achievement we were to accomplish yet again adding the Bon-Accord Cup to the Grade 2 championship in 1955. Between their double achievements in the late 1930s and in 1945 Gordonians won the Aberdeenshire Cup on its own in 1944 and 1947. The "final" occasion we won this trophy was in 1951. There was then a "slight" gap of 40 years until the next top cup triumph. While in Grade 2, we were winners of the Bon-Accord Cup in 1954 and again in 1975. Our junior grade side (the club third eleven) over the years has operated primarily as a breeding ground for young players guided my "veterans" coming to the end of their careers and therefore by comparison has enjoyed much less success, sharing the Reserve Grade championship with St. Ronald in 1938 and winning the Johnston Rose Bowl in 1956.
At individual level, Gordonians' players were successful in the Reserve Grade batting averages in 1956 - Bob Irvine won with an average of 41.8; 1968 saw Colin Rae, Junior, their successful batsman with an average of 59; 1978 saw their final success when Andy McIntosh with an average of 31.2 uplifted this award. During the club's stay in Grade 1, players were successful in the batting averages: in 1938 (Ted Mathieson 26.7); 1943 (Alfie Emslie 59.3); 1947 (Abbie Nuttin 28.3); 1951 (Ted Mathieson 44.5); 1953 (Harold Emslie 29.2); 1960 (Gordon Emslie 61.20). Two bowlers were also successful while in Grade 1. In their first season in the Grade, Charlie Emslie finished top with an average of 3.28 and in 1934, Jimmy Low topped the averages with 5.08. In Grade 2 W. Johnston in 1955 achieved an astonishing batting average of 186.00. In 1950, John McHardy was the season's top bowler with 3.7 for his average. Whilst in Grade 3 - H. Ellington won that Grade's bowling averages in 1971 with an average of 2.48.
The club is proud of its track record of providing the Association with no less than three Presidents in the late J. C. Bisset (1968-69); W. D. (Buff) Hardie (1972-73); and the late Iain Brown (1980-81). Iain Brown (affectionately known as the Broon") played for more than 40 years for the club, was Club President for a period until 1988 and retired in 1991, even taking two hat tricks in 1987 and a further one in his last season. He played with his grandson Jamie Helme in 1990, the latter showing great promise as a grade and then Strathmore Union bowler before moving away from Aberdeen. Iain for many years was the GreenFinal's correspondent on cricket in the Grades. The grade sides experienced a fairly lean period in the early 1980's, playing our cricket in Grade 3 and in the Reserve Grade. Fortunately the experience of Malcolm Shepherd, Hugh Lennox, Mike Pocock and Roy Angus, and some encouraging perfor mances by some of the very young players such as the brothers Duncan and Richard Shepherd making their way through from the reserves, made sure our stay in that lean period did not prove to be too long.
They say things move in cycles. The 25 years from 1984 have marked some major milestones, many highlights, major challenges, some lowlights and a further extended period of great on field camaraderie and team spirit. The key milestones and significant player developments during that period were as follows. Former Aberdeenshire and Scotland fast bowler and FP, Frank Robertson, returned in 1984 and took on the role of club captain from Colin Johnston in 1985 providing belief to the players before he retired in 1991. Anju Mudkavi joined as club professional and coach in 1987, was club captain 1997-2000 and proved a prolific Strathmore run getter and wicket taker until his retirement in 2001. Two FP's George Bews (in 1990) previously of Dyce and a Grade committee stalwart and Craig Pettitt (in 1988) returned to the fold from Anchorians. George latterly was Club President fro 1997 to 2001. Our senior grade team won the Aberdeenshire Cup in 1991. Our first XI won the Strathmore Union in 1994. The club secured a hat trick of trophies year in 1999. We embarked on the ill-fated Grammar/Gordonians merger in 2001. The Gordonians (aka Gordo's) revival kicked off in late 2007 spearheaded by Blair Thomson's ambitious and dedicated leadership, The challenges we faced along the way were caused by, amongst other things, being forced to leave behind the club's "soul" at Seafield and moving to Counteswells in 1991.
We tried to keep the playing side positive despite the off field costs of employing a professional and the resulting unrealistic financial burden to retain use of the school facilities and the decline in popularity of cricket at RGC. Many generous sponsors including Sysdrill, AC Yule and Marcliffe at Pitfodels supported us through this period. A feature over that period was the annual high turnover of players as some left the area to pursue education and job interests putting pressure to recruit new blood. Gordonians have been an open club for many years and has an increased reliance on non-RGC players. We now hope to attract back some school players with the improved club product. At the same time, although possibly still regarded by some as a "privileged" club, we are just a group of unpaid volunteers enjoying our cricket at the weekend. The school and the Gordonian Association have been particularly supportive in recent years, reducing the financial pressures.
RSS Feeds