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"The History of Crieff" by Alexander Porteous
Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier Edinburgh & London 1912
In 1853 the game of cricket was introduced into Crieff, but by whom it is now impossible to ascertain, and a club was formed. Lord and Lady Willoughby de Eresby granted the use of a park at the Bridgend, and the game was indulged in there for some time. Great difficulties, however, were encountered regarding the use of this park, and the club came to an end for the time being. At last, in 1860, it was resuscitated; but, except for the meadow (which was not suitable, being then scored with open drains), no park on the Drummond Estate could be obtained. Nothing daunted, the local cricketers renewed their efforts in 1861; and on the 16th of March, at a meeting presided over by the late Mr William Thomson, chemist, the club was set on a sounder footing. Mr H. B. Farnie, the then editor of the Stratheam Herald, was elected president; Mr George Ferguson, draper, vice-president; Mr John M'Nab, then accountant, and afterwards agent, of the Bank of Scotland, secretary and treasurer; while Mr George M'Culloch, bookseller, and Mr Thomson acted as the committee.
Lady Willoughby de Eresby consented to be patroness, and gave a donation of £5; while Lord Willoughby de Eresby, the Hon. Gilbert Heathcote, M.P. (the late Earl of Ancaster), the Hon A. D. Willoughby, Sir William Keith Murray, Bart. of Ochtertyre, David R.Williamson, Esq. of Lawers, Alexander Monteath, Esq. of Broich, and .J Wright, Esq. of Ferntower, became patrons; while twenty other gentlemen joined as players, and many of the proprietors round about gave handsomely to the funds. A park on the Dollerie Road near the "Bogle House" was secured, and everything seemed to promise well for the success of the club. For all that, the game was not taken up with such enthusiasm as its promoters desired. Indeed, there was a lament made " that the young men of Crieff, as a class, are so very backward in joining the club for the practice of this man1y sport If you say to some of them as they are lounging about the street corners,
Come and have a game, the only answer you get is a shake of the head and a smile, as if the idea were perfectly ridiculous". This expostulation appears to have been taken to heart, as afterwards the membership increased and the play improved. The first match between members of the club, seven on each side, took place on the 29th of July 1861, and the players showed much skill and energy. As a result the club now began to think much of themselves, and in September they challenged the officers and men of the Ordnance Survey (who were then stationed at Perth) to a match. Their opponents were renowned cricketers; but in spite of this the Crieif Club acquitted themselves with great credit, being defeated by only twenty-one runs. This match was played on a field at Duchlage, lent by Mr Herron for the occasion. Some years after another cricket club was formed, which bore the name of the "Albert," and in 1872 these two clubs joined together and formed one called the" Crieff United." Various other clubs have flourished since these days, both juvenile and adult, and the various school cricket clubs have rnade themselves faruous beyond the confines of the strath. |