Building For Future

 

DURING the war years, Mr James Adams and his committee continued to raise money through dances and other entertainments in preparation for a resumption. An unofficial Qualifying Cup competition was held, Stranraer fielding an almost wholly servicemen's team. They were beaten at Kirkcowan after two drawn matches. In the first post-war team were local lads who went on to achieve a measure of fame-Andy McGuffie, Willie Gibson, who received an Irish League cap, and John (Lolly) McCutcheon, whose scoring feats are recounted elsewhere in this booklet. Supporters contributed clothing coupons.

Mr Adams resigned as chairman to be succeeded by the ubiquitous Mr Murray and immediately reapplication was made for recognition and admission to a higher sphere.

To this end, Mr Murray, accompanied by a Press man, made a special tour of all clubs in the West and Central belt and while they missed the boat by a week or two, the foundation was laid for a successful application in the near future.

In the meantime the team had to be content with local ties and in a Cree Lodge Cup tie against Newton Stewart, Dave Wilson, former Hamilton Academical leader and one of the finest centre forwards in the country in his day, made his appearance in a blue jersey. His scoring feats were legion. He had a hat trick on his debut and then scored five against Duns in a Qualifying Cup tie. In all, he claimed 12 out of 21 Qualifying Cup goals yet he seldom chased a ball. The team reached the final of the cup, losing rather sensationally to Edinburgh City by the only goal of the game. Dave Wilson was injured and did not appear. The team that season was one of the finest and most polished: Bedford; Kirkland and Gater; Cox, Keatt and Hay; Park, Nelson, Wilson, Murphy and Sinclair. The team played 17 games without defeat. It may be remarked that Alex Nelson was the younger brother of John, the cup medal winner.

And mention must be made of Cox. Jackie was a former Academical too who had gone to Preston North End at a huge fee in the early days. He was undoubtedly the hardest and most fearless right half ever played by Stranraer. His name is one that must be recorded in the history of the club. With a traditional weakness for ignoring local players, McCutcheon, who had scored thrice in the trial, was in and out of the team for a season or two. In this season he scored five goals in a match against Whithorn.

Nor was the club without its troubles. A special meeting was called in December with a view to abandoning the club. There were six motions forward, one of which recommended the committee to resign en bloc. None of the motions was carried. The club was not without support, for the Supporters' Club donated £100, nor was the team without success. It went for nine league games without defeat, ultimately losing to Wigtown. It must be emphasised, of course, that this was really a professional team.

Stranraer, unbeaten, won the championship of the Western Section of the league but lost the play-off to Ayr, after a 1-1 draw, by 2-1. Ayr United and Kilmarnock were in the other section. In all, 40 league goals were scored for the loss of four and altogether 149 goals were scored in 33 games and of these the lethal, lethargic Dave Wilson had 69.

There was a credit balance of £7. The withdrawal of Nithsdale Wanderers, Solway Star and Dalbeattie Star from the eastern section left one league in the following season and again Ayr were winners of the shield and Stranraer were third. Mr Murray was elected vice-president of the SCFA.

Though on the way to their second successive Qualifying Cup final, Stranraer beat the holders, they again fell unexpectedly in the last round, this time to Berwick Rangers. This season marked the start of the weekly sweepstake, organised by Mr D. Gellately, which was to form the financial foundation for later years. Mr J. Park, a serviceman, wrote asking for a trial and this was to give him a measure of fame, for he became one of the 11 heroes who faced the mighty Glasgow Rangers, holders, in the first round of the Scottish Cup in January, 1948; but prior to that Stranraer had played 20 games, winning 13 of them and drawing two. One of the draws deserves mention. At Somerset Stranraer were down by 5-0 at the interval, had had a player ordered off and almost snatched the winner in the dying seconds. Alex Nelson was the hero of that display, scoring twice. Two of the other goals came from penalties. Nelson had a personal record of five goals out of seven at Newton Stewart.

There was great excitement when the draw decreed Rangers would pay their first visit to Stranraer on Scottish Cup business. Rangers had met a Wigtownshire Select in 1899 and a Galloway Select in 1902 and had visited Stair Park in 1910 and their Alliance side, including Willie Woodburn and big Jimmy Smith had also appeared at Stair Park,, but this was the big one.

In preparation for it, terracing work was carried out voluntarily and ammunition boxes were laid around the track for seats. Rangers scored late in the game when Willie Waddell, their present manager, crossed for Willie Thornton, now his assistant, to head past Park. Willie Milliken, one of the greatest servants the club has had, had only that season been signed (he is trainer at present) and he maintained that Thornton pulled him by the jersey. However, even worse was Willie Woodburn handling in the penalty box out of sight of the referee and, to rub it in, admitting the offence years later.

As this was the most outstanding performance of the club it is worthwhile recalling both teams:

Stranraer - J. Park; M. Kirkland and J. Dyer; J. Cox, W. Milliken and T. Haxton; W. McCormack, G. Jeffrey, Dr Logan, J. Jones and A. McGuffie.

Rangers - R. Brown; G. Young and J. Shaw; 1. McColl, W. Woodburn and S. Cox; W. Waddell, T. Gillick, W. Thornton, J. Duncanson and J. Caskie.

A goal-mouth scramble where Stranraer's 'keeper, Archy Park, covers a dangerous goal attempt by Willie Thornton.

Player and committee members pose in front of the camera before their historic game against the mighty Glasgow Rangers.

This was a record season with 28 wins and two draws in 38 games, an income of £4200 and a profit of £205, even though £150 was lost in four local cup finals.

Off the field Stranraer were still fighting for recognition and again an application for admission to 'C' League was refused without even the courtesy of discussion. An effort was made to get the team included in the 'B' Reserve League but that project fell through.

It was a most remarkable season. Stranraer either won all the cups entered or the teams which defeated them did. They annexed the Southern Counties, Tweedie and Wigtownshire and were beaten in the final rounds of the Qualifying and Wigtownshire and District and, of course, Rangers won the Scottish Cup.

There was an attendance of 4000 at Palmerston for the Southern Counties final against St Cuthberts.

At the end of the season, in June, there were great hopes in Stranraer that the team would be permitted to play in the newly reformed Scottish Alliance. Support was forthcoming from Mr Alex Hastings, then Kilmarnock manager, Mr Wm. Struth, who had friends in Stranraer, but whose club, Rangers, later were to figure as opponents of Stranraer, and Mr David Gray, then Airdrie manager. The realisation of the club's hopes was postponed a year.

The semi-final of the Qualifying Cup was reached the following season, but after a drawn game with Montrose, in which they shared six goals, Montrose ousted them by scoring one more in the replay. The side gave a great display at Motherwell in the Scottish Cup and were cheered off the field for their sporting acceptance of the result George Jeffrey was appearing against his old club and received a special welcome from the fair-minded fans of Motherwell.

Among the players there were two changes of note. Keeper Dave Hanson from Morton was to give exceptionally good service and centre forward Tommy Stephenson, five feet of energy and enthusiasm, was a great leader. He was signed on the eve of the game at Montrose and opened the scoring. He went on to net 43 more and George Jeffrey had 30. Incidentally, McCutcheon, who had been released, scored 36 goals, but for Tarff Rovers.

Of the 39 games played, 30 took place at Stair Park and 24 were won and six drawn. Stephenson scored 42 out of 142 goals. More than £400 was lost in local ties and Stranraer scratched in several of the competitions. This action led to their suspension by the Wigtownshire and District FA, but the SFA secretary intervened and the ban was lifted. Results were obtained at a dreadful financial loss.

By beating St Cuthberts at Palmerston in the final of the Potts, the side continued a remarkable record in this competition. The withdrawal of Ayr United and Kilmarnock left Stranraer first South winners of the league shield.

When the 'C' League was reshuffled and made into two sections, Stranraer achieved their ambition of league membership and were admitted to the South-West section. They acquitted themselves well, playing seven games without defeat and losing only then by the odd goal in nine. On the financial front, there were Jeremiahs who feared the worst. However, a guarantee fund was instituted by Mr Adams and local shopkeepers and businessmen promised aid if needed. It was not required. Stranraer was the only non-Alliance side in the league which comprised. Airdrie, Albion Rovers, Ayr United, Celtic, Clyde, Dumbarton, Falkirk, Hamilton, Kilmarnock, Morton, Motherwell, Partick Thistle, Queen of the South, Queen's Park, Rangers, St Mirren and Third Lanark.

C Division at last! The Stranraer team from season 1949-50. Tommy Stephenson (front row, second from right) scored 44 goals that season. It would not be until season 1977-78 that Derek Frye would score more goals, 47.

In the first match Stranraer beat Ayr United amidst scenes of great fervour. McCutcheon scored the equalising goal and Stephenson had the winner. The team showed considerable changes from that which had ended the South of Scotland days. Only Hanson, Milliken and Stephenson were retained. The full side was: Hanson; Young and Smith; J. Agnew, Milliken (Miller) and Fletcher; J. H. Bertram, Elliott, Stephenson, W. Agnew and McCutcheon. After the game, Mr J. Frew of Ayr United said Stranraer had at last gained their rightful place in football. Mr G. M. Wyllie was appointed manager. The gate at the first match totalled 2000. Tommy Stephenson maintained his scoring record with 44 and McCutcheon had 26. The club was not exempt from the Qualifying. Tommy Stephenson scored six out of eight goals against Edinburgh University and the team again reached the semi-final before losing heavily to Leith after a 1-1 draw. It was to be their second last appearance in the Qualifying Cup. In the Scottish, Falkirk won 3-1 at Stair Park, the first post-war Scottish Cup goal was scored by Stephenson.

The Potts Cup final, though played at Stair Park, was lost to Tarff Rovers, but the Cree Lodge and Tweedie Cups were won.

 

Chapter 6: Into The Fifties

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