King’s Park Inaugural Dewar Shield Winners 1899
King’s Park qualified for the Dewar Shield competition by winning the Stirlingshire Cup earlier in the same season The first Dewar Shield match was played on 22nd April 1899 between the champions of Aberdeenshire and Stirlingshire, Orion versus King’s Park. It was played at Forthbank in Stirling before a large crowd. King’s Park fielded a makeshift side due to accidents, with a half back, R. McDonald playing as a forward and a King’s Park Junior, W. McIntosh playing at half back. King’s Park won the match, W. Clarkson scoring the only goal of the game. Orion missed a penalty with 10 minutes remaining, the keeper Thomson making the save. £31 5s 5d was taken at the gate.
On Saturday 29th April at Muirton Park, Perth, Arbroath took on the Fair City Athletic to decide who would meet King’s Park in the final. Arbroath won by 3 v 2 goals. £20 19s 6d was taken at the gate.
On the day of the final, Saturday the 13th of May, a special train took approximately 400 sons of the rock, supporters of King’s Park to Perth for the final at Recreation Park,. The train left Stirling at 2:30pm and stopped at Bridge of Allan and Dunblane before proceeding to Perth. Tickets cost 2/-.
The King’s Park team and officials drove to the Victoria Hotel on arrival for a reception provided by a keen King’s Park supporter, the landlord, Mr James McCracken who was formerly of the Crown Hotel in Stirling. From there, they proceeded to the match ground.
The Lord Provost and other magistrates of Perth took their place in the Grand Stand before the match commenced at 4:00pm. King’s Park took the field on time and had twenty minutes of goal practice before the Arbroath team, or the ‘Red Lichties’ as they were known, took the field.
The officials were: Referee: Mr J. Baillie, Edinburgh. Linesmen: Mr John Davie, Perthshire Football Association, Mr F. Lindsay, President of Stirlingshire Football Association.
On Saturday 29th April at Muirton Park, Perth, Arbroath took on the Fair City Athletic to decide who would meet King’s Park in the final. Arbroath won by 3 v 2 goals. £20 19s 6d was taken at the gate.
On the day of the final, Saturday the 13th of May, a special train took approximately 400 sons of the rock, supporters of King’s Park to Perth for the final at Recreation Park,. The train left Stirling at 2:30pm and stopped at Bridge of Allan and Dunblane before proceeding to Perth. Tickets cost 2/-.
The King’s Park team and officials drove to the Victoria Hotel on arrival for a reception provided by a keen King’s Park supporter, the landlord, Mr James McCracken who was formerly of the Crown Hotel in Stirling. From there, they proceeded to the match ground.
The Lord Provost and other magistrates of Perth took their place in the Grand Stand before the match commenced at 4:00pm. King’s Park took the field on time and had twenty minutes of goal practice before the Arbroath team, or the ‘Red Lichties’ as they were known, took the field.
The officials were: Referee: Mr J. Baillie, Edinburgh. Linesmen: Mr John Davie, Perthshire Football Association, Mr F. Lindsay, President of Stirlingshire Football Association.
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The King’s Park team were:
Goalkeeper: J. Thomson, Fullbacks: J. Mirk, J. Taylor. Halfbacks: J. Kinross, J. Wilkie, W. Thomson. Right wing: J. Bell, W. Clarkson, Centre: J. Duncan, Left wing: J. Bain, A. Scotland. Arbroath team were: Goalkeeper: Harris, Fullbacks: Currie, Clark. Halfbacks: McGlashan, Cargill, Davidson. Right wing: Milne, Middleton, Centre: Sinclair, Left wing: Brown, Leuchars. |
The Dewar Shield
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The game kicked off in front of almost 1500 supporters. Middleton of Arbroath scored first with a header from a free kick and it was noted by the reporter that Arbroath had the beating of King’s Park in the air. Before half time, Bain for King’s Park equalised with a long drooping shot at goal. There were three disallowed goals from Leuchars of Arbroath, two due to off-side and one for a hand ball foul. Bell scored the winner for King’s Park in the second half, with a shot like a rocket that touched the referee on route to the net.
At the conclusion of the match the teams and guests took tea together at the Waverley Hotel. Mr P.M. Dewar, chairman of the Dewar Shield Committee presided, presenting the 11 gold badges to the King’s Park Captain James Mirk. He also presented 11 silver replicas to the losers at his own expense.
The special train left Perth at 8:20pm and arrived in Stirling an hour later. A brake (carriage) was in waiting at the station for the team and officials and driven, preceded by a piper, to the King Street entrance of the Arcade where King’s Park President McKerchar spoke a few words to the cheering crowd. The party then adjourned to the Crown Hotel to celebrate.
References:Stirling Journal, Friday, April 28, 1899, Friday, May 5, 1899, Friday, May 13, 1899, Friday, May 19, 1899.
The Dundee Courier & Argus, Monday 6 March 1899, Monday 13 March 1899, Monday 20 March 1899, Saturday, April 15, 1899, Monday, May 01, 1899, Monday, May 15, 1899.
All the Dewar Shield Winners.
At the conclusion of the match the teams and guests took tea together at the Waverley Hotel. Mr P.M. Dewar, chairman of the Dewar Shield Committee presided, presenting the 11 gold badges to the King’s Park Captain James Mirk. He also presented 11 silver replicas to the losers at his own expense.
The special train left Perth at 8:20pm and arrived in Stirling an hour later. A brake (carriage) was in waiting at the station for the team and officials and driven, preceded by a piper, to the King Street entrance of the Arcade where King’s Park President McKerchar spoke a few words to the cheering crowd. The party then adjourned to the Crown Hotel to celebrate.
References:Stirling Journal, Friday, April 28, 1899, Friday, May 5, 1899, Friday, May 13, 1899, Friday, May 19, 1899.
The Dundee Courier & Argus, Monday 6 March 1899, Monday 13 March 1899, Monday 20 March 1899, Saturday, April 15, 1899, Monday, May 01, 1899, Monday, May 15, 1899.
All the Dewar Shield Winners.