Stevenston - On This Day In History

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
13 MARCH 1893

FOOTBALL
STEVENSTON THISTLE vs BLACK WATCH

At Stevenston, and resulted in favour of Thistle by 6 goals to 1.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
17 MARCH 1884

FOOTBALL
IRVINE HAWTHORN v. DYNAMITE (STEVENSTON)

The latter won by two goals to none.

[down south]

SATURDAY 17th MARCH 1973

KILBIRNIE IN EASY STREET AS THEY MAINTAIN LEAGUE CHALLENGE

ARDEER THISTLE 2 KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 6

Scorers : Ardeer - Ellis ( 41 ), Dickson ( 49 )

Kilbirnie - Smith ( 12 ), Kerr ( 14 ), Davidson ( 19, 34, 75 ), Clark ( 85 ).

Kilbirnie were always in easy street against Ardeer at Ardchoille last Saturday due to ferocious forward play and authoritative defending.

Ardeer did not know how to control Davie Clark and Bobby Davidson, who got a hat-trick, while Peter Mulheron received some rough treatment. It was surprising that Thistle did grab two goals because the big Ladeside defence was never pressurised.

In the second minute of the match Peter Mulheron sustained a gashed eye after a collision with Robert Anderson, and Sandy Millar saved a certain goal by diving at the feet of Clark.

Typical Kilbirnie power play exposed weaknesses in the Ardeer rearguard and after 12 minutes the first blow was struck. Charlie Oliphant took a free kick and Jimmy Smith appeared from nowhere to head the ball into the net from six yards.

Smith played a part in the second goal two minutes later when he forced the ball down the left and Kerr broke through to score from close range.

Thistle were naturally disillusioned at losing two quick goals and Kilbirnie continued to torment their defence. An appalling pass by Hamish Robertson in midfield in the 19th minute allowed Kerr to carry the ball 30 yards and to beat Miller, and although the ball looked like going in, Davidson made sure.

It really looked as though Ladeside would run riot but due to good goalkeeping and several glaring misses another goal was averted until the 34th minute. Davidson seemed to have lost the ball in the penalty box but he chipped from the by-line and Miller was rooted to the spot as the ball sailed over his head into the rigging.

After this Ardeer created their first attacks of the first half with Ellis, Graham and Wilson pushing towards the Kilbirnie goalmouth. Four minutes before the interval a Wilson shot rebounded to Ellis who scored with a clever lob.

Thistle displayed fighting spirit at the start of the second half and scored again when Wilson's tenacity in the box let Dickson crash a shot into the net.

This knocked Ladeside off their Stride but they continued to look dangerous on the offensive and in the 60th minute Kerr was racing goalwards when felled by McMahon. Owen Boyle sent the resultant penalty wide.

Ardeer replaced H Robertson with Tom Robertson and there was hope in the home ranks that a fight-back might be on the cards. However on the 68th minute young outside-right Dave McEwan was injured and before Ardeer realised he had to be taken off they made a second substitution of Paterson for Graham.

With 10 men, Ardeer lost the little hope they had and Kilbirnie stepped up the pace. Davidson hit the fifth goal with a well-placed shot from 15 yards.

Five minutes from the end, slack marking let Clark take the opportunity of scoring a sixth from close range.

The Kilbirnie defence and Davidson, Clark and Kerr were impressive while Ardeer were best served by McCulloch, Anderson, J McEwan, Ellis and Wilson.

Ardeer Thistle : Millar; McMahon, McCulloch, J McEwan, Anderson, H Roberston, D McEwan, Graham, Wilson, Ellis and Dickson.

Kilbirnie Ladeside : McNeil; Young, Boyle, Oliphant, McLean, Smith, Davidson, Trialist, Mulheron, Clark and Kerr.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 23rd March 1973

Susan

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
19 MARCH 1861

THE AYRSHIRE HARRIERS

The Ayrshire Harriers will meet, weather permitting, on Wednesday 27th at Seabank, by Stevenston, at half past eleven in the morning.

[Penny Tray]

CASUALTY OF WAR
21 MARCH 1918

THOMAS GRIER

Killed in Action, Private THOMAS GRIER, Royal Scots Fusilier – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – husband of Rachel Chisholm Grier, Moorpark Road West, Stevenston; brother of Sam and Christina Grier, 5 Hirst Place, Saltcoats.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
22 MARCH 1883

FATAL ACCIDENT

On Tuesday forenoon an accident occurred at Nobel’s Explosives Works, Stevenston, by which a man named JOHN BRYAN received injuries to which he succumbed a few hours after.

He went into a stove to remove some iron glycerine drums which were being warmed to thin a little glycerine which remained in them, and while handling one of them the end blew out, injuring him very severely.

It appears that a screw plug of the drum had not been eased back when it was put into the stove, and that in consequence the heated air that could not escape, hence the accident.

It was Bryan’s duty to ease the plug before putting the drum into the stove.

Another man, who was assisting Bryan in the stove, escaped unhurt.

The injured man was attended to immediately by three medical men, but he expired about four hours after the accident.

He was 45 years of age, and leaves a widow and six children.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
23 MARCH 1891

FOOTBALL
IRVINE EGLINTON vs STEVENSTON THISTLE
Played at Irvine

Eglinton, 3; Thistle, 1.

[down south]

SATURDAY 24th MARCH 1973

OWN GOAL WINS SCRAPPY GAME

DALRY THISTLE 1 ARDEER THISTLE 2

Scorers : Dalry - Boylan ( 62 min )

Ardeer - Newman ( 76 min, og ), H Robertson ( 89 min )

In a very untidy match at Merksworth Park neither side really deserved to win and it was only due to a couple of late goals, one an own goal by a Dalry defender, that Ardeer did come out on top.

Throughout the match both teams found difficulty in combining defence and attack. There also seemed little confidence in either side, a trade mark of bottom of the table sides.

In the early part of the match the Ardeer forwards missed many good chances after splitting the home defence but at the other end the Dalry side just could not find a way past a strong Ardeer defence.

Dalry's best attempt came midway through the half when a shot taken on the turn by Riley was brilliantly saved by keeper Ferguson. Then twice within a minute, penalty claims were turned down. First J Muggins was pulled down in the box and at the other end Wilson received the same treatment but on both occasions play was waved on.

The second half was much the same as the first with neither side providing very much entertainment for the spectators. In fact the best save of the game came 10 minutes into the half when an overhit pass-back by Anderson of Ardeer brought out a tremendous save from Ferguson.

In the 62nd minute the game suddenly livened up. A Galt cross was met by Boylan who turned the ball into the net off the body of Ferguson.

Another overhit pass-back, this time by Newman of Dalry, gave Ardeer the equaliser in the 76th minute.

Disaster came for the Valley side a minute from time when Hamish Robertson sent in a shot which hit McMillan on its way to the net.

Dalry Thistle : McWilliams; Gundry, Little, A Muggins, McMillan, Boylan, Galt, Cunningham, J Muggins, Riley and Whyte.

Ardeer Thistle : Ferguson; McCulloch, Anderson, McEwan, Houlison, H Robertson, Paterson, Wilson, T Robertson, Ellis and Dickson.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 30th March 1973

Susan

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
25 MARCH 1889

FOOTBALL
STEVENSTON THISTLE v. ANCIENT PILGRIMS
Played at Stevenston

Thistle, 4; Pilgrims, 0.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
25 MARCH 1932

CROSS-COUNTRY
WINDING UP THE SEASON

Tomorrow will, for most of the cross-country clubs, mark the cessation of their work over the plough for another season.

There is, however, quite an attractive and full club card.

EGLINTON HARRIERS – six mile handicap from Stevenston Institute.

[Penny Tray]

CASUALTY OF WAR
25 MARCH 1918

DONALD WILSON

Died of wounds, Private DONALD WILSON, (23), Royal Scots Fusilier – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – adopted son of the late Matthew and Elizabeth Wilson, Stevenston, and brother of John.

[down south]

SATURDAY 25th MARCH 1972

SALTCOATS JUST ESCAPE DROP TO THE BOTTOM

SALTCOATS VICTORIA 2 ARDEER THISTLE 2

Scorers : Saltcoats - Gold 48 mins and Tierney 55 mins.

Ardeer - Robertson 41 mins and Stewart 78 mins.

Saltcoats came very close to slipping to the bottom of the league in a hard fought tussle at Campbell Park. Ardeer, who have been at the bottom all season, saw their chance of pushing Vics to the foot of the table and came very close to doing it.

In the opening stages Vics had the upper hand and Tierney and Shaw came through with a few good moves which tested the Ardeer defence.

Tierney had Millar diving across his goal in the 17th minute when he sent in a fierce shot, but the ball skimmed over the bar. Two minutes later McCartney and Smith broke away for Thistle and the centre tried a shot from the wing which McIlwham saved well.

For most of the first half play raged around midfield. Both sides built up some neat moves but seemed to lack striking power and some perfect opportunities were lost as forwards hesitated or found themselves without enough support.

Thistle piled on the pressure in the closing minutes of the first half. Following a clearance from Millar McCartney broke away and tried a 20-yard drive but McIlwham brought off a fine save. Two minutes later Robertson put Thistle in the lead . Wilson started the move weaving through the Vics defence before flicking the ball to Robertson. As the Saltcoats men appealed for offside Robertson hit a fine drive giving McIlwham no chance.

Saltcoats wasted no time on the re-start and mounted a heavy attack on the Ardeer goal. Their efforts were rewarded in the 48th minute when Gold snatched the equaliser. Thompson started the move from deep in midfield, carrying the ball into the Ardeer half he tried a long shot. Millar fumbled the clearance and Gold was on hand to hit the ball home.

Vics now had the bit between their teeth and only seven minutes later Tierney put them one up. From a corner Shaw sent over a perfect cross, Sheridan tried a shot and then Gold set the ball up for Tierney to blast home a powerful drive.

Moments later Clarke almost put Saltcoats two up. He managed to get his head to a free-kick taken by Caughey and Millar made a frantic dash across his goal to stop the ball on the line.

Tierney was working well for Vics on the left wing with Shaw and Clarke giving some good support and McCartney, Chester and Robertson seemed to be the danger men for Thistle.

In the 72nd minute Smith made a solo run and beat McIlwham with a well placed shot, but, fortunately for Saltcoats, Sheridan was on hand to clear the ball off the line. However, Ardeer were not to be cheated and after maintaining a period of some good attacks Stewart grabbed the equaliser seven minutes before the final whistle. Rab Eliis made the move carrying the ball into the home penalty area before crossing the ball into the goalmouth. Stewart picked up the cross and sent McIlwham diving the wrong way with a well-placed shot into the back of the net.

Saltcoats made frantic efforts to get back on top and in the dying seconds Clarke missed one of their best chances. Tierney sent him through on his own and with only the keeper to beat he sent his shot wide of the post.

On the whole a draw was a fair result but one felt that had Saltcoats taken all their chances they would have notched up a comfortable win, certainly Vics appeared to be a bit more settled, especially in defence, than they have been in recent games.

Saltcoats Victoria - McIlwham; Sheridan and Thompson; Nicol, Caughey and Hepburn; Young, Clarke, Gold, Shaw and Tierney.

Ardeer Thistle - Millar; McCullock and Barr; J Ellis, R Ellis and Robertson; McCartney, Chester, Smith, Wilson and Stewart.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 31st March 1972

Susan