The
tradition and romance of the Scottish Cup never fails to enthuse
Scottish football fans with the hope that come the month of May that
their club’s name will be added to the coveted trophy – the oldest
National trophy in the world. Since the Scottish Cup was first presented
to Queen’s Park in season 1873/74 only one team, from out-with the top
division, has ever won the trophy – East Fife in season 1937/38. The
2006 Scottish Cup Final on Saturday 13 May provides the opportunity for
a club to emulate The Fife’s historic achievement when Second Division
Champions Gretna FC, in only their fourth season in the Scottish League,
face up to the pride of one half of Edinburgh – Hearts of Midlothian.
Next week we will look at the meteoric rise of Gretna FC as they face up
to their first-ever Scottish Cup Final against opponents who are seeking
their seventh success in the tournament. A real David versus Goliath
contest with which to end the 2005/06 season. On Tuesday 9 May 2006 the
first part, of a two-part documentary, on the fairy tale rise of Gretna
will be televised on BBC 2 at 9pm.
But
this week we turn the clock back to Wednesday 27 April 1938 when a crowd
of 91,700 watched East Fife replay First Division Kilmarnock for the
Scottish Cup, following a 1-1 draw. Drawn games and replays had been the
hallmark of the Second Division teams march to the final, apart from
rounds one (a 2-1 away victory over Airdrieonians) and two (5-0 home
thrashing of Dundee United). In round three a home draw (1-1) was
followed by a fighting 2-1 victory against the previous season’s beaten
finallists Aberdeen at Pittodrie. Round four saw a similar story against
local rivals Raith Rovers – a 2-2 draw at Bayview was followed by a 3-2
victory over the Kirkcaldy team at Stark’s Park. The semi-final saw a
massive tussle with Edinburgh side St Bernards (now defunct). The three
games, all played at Hearts ground Tynecastle Park, resulted in two 1-1
draws but eventually the Men from Methil triumphed 2-1 and set up their
second ever visit to Hampden Park in a Scottish Cup Final. They had been
defeated 3-1 in 1927 by Celtic in the very first Scottish Cup final to
be broadcast live on the wireless.
Almost
predictably the final against Kilmarnock on Saturday 23 April 1938, in
front of 79,000 spectators, resulted in a 1-1 draw. Even in the replay
the teams were tied at 2-2 after 90 minutes, but in extra time East Fife
stepped up a gear against their First Division opponents and goals from
Larry Millar and Danny McKellerell ensured that the Scottish Cup came to
the Kingdom of Fife for the first-ever time. The celebrations when the
Cup came to Methil are still the talk of the steamie. Over the eleven
games played in the successful cup run, some 373,000 spectators watched
the Second Division team march to glory and the names of the winning
team are still recited with pride by East Fife supporters of a certain
vintage!
Milton; Laird, Tait; Russell, Sneddon, Harvey; Adams, McLeod,
McCartney, Millar, McKerrell
This was
indeed basically the team which took The Fife to their history-making
victory, with the exception of Harvey. In a move that wouldn’t be
allowed today, John Harvey was a last minute signing from Hearts to
replace Andy Herd (Left-half0 who had sustained a knee injury in the
drawn final. John Harvey only signed for East Fife on Tuesday 26 April
and made his one-and-only appearance for the Black and Gold in the final
replay, picking up a Scottish Cup winner’s medal in the process. Much to
the delight of the Methil faithful the SFA approved a request from East
Fife to present a cup medal to Andy Herd.
East
Fife’s reputation as doughty cup fighters was further enhanced in season
1947/48 when they became the first Second Division team to win the
Scottish League Cup. Promoted as champions to the First Division they
went to win the League Cup again in 1949/50 and became the first-ever
club to win that trophy for a third time in season 1953/54. Thus
traditions and reputations are made but sadly the glory days for East
Fife are now lie in the past, but for true football fans hope always
springs eternally!
The
Scottish Cup is the jam on the cake as far as the finalists are
concerned, after a long hard league programme, and appropriately a
preserve recipe – Strawberry Jam – is just the ticket for this week as
we look forward to yet another Scottish cup Final.
Strawberry Jam
Ingredients: 6 lb (2 ¾ kg) strawberries; 4 ½ lb (2 kg) sugar
Method:
Pick over and hull berries, then boil, without water, for 20 minutes.
Remove from heat, add sugar, stir till dissolved, then return to heat.
Bring to boil and boil for 10 minutes. Pot and seal, Store in a cool,
dry, airy place.
