In his history of the parish of Strathblane, published in 1886, John Guthrie Smith remarked: “A Cricket Club has been formed in the parish once or twice, but has never succeeded in getting a proper field. There is now a prospect, however, as in the case of the Football Club, of suitable ground being secured.”
By 1895 a pitch had been created, though its location is currently unknown. It is likely to have been on one of the big estates that dominated the area. In 1897 it was returfed “at considerable expense”, we are told. Fifteen fixtures were arranged between May and August. Opponents included Kirkintilloch, Shettleston and the Deaf and Dumb Institute in Mount Florida, according to the Bridge of Allan Gazette of 8 May.
By 1898, its fourth season, the fixture list had swollen to 19, including Lennox Castle and the club had joined the Glasgow and District Junior Cricket League. A pavilion was planned and a match was arranged for Fair Saturday (16 July).
It has been said that it is hard to guess the backgrounds of members of a village cricket team in their whites, at least until you hear them speak. The list of office bearers of Strathblane Cricket Club reads like a catalogue of the local “great and the good” including Sir Archibald Edmonstone, QC John Cameron Graham of Ballewan, Sir James Buchanan of Criagend Castle and parish minister the Rev William Moyes. However, members came from all walks of life. Andrew Marshall was a warehouseman, Robert Wright a draper’s assistant, Donald Wright a joiner and John Jolly a stone mason. An article in the Stirling Saturday Observer on 30 April declares that the 60-strong membership “speaks well for such a small country village”. However, the closure of the printworks in 1898 resulted in Strathblane’s population falling by around a half, which probably impacted recruitment to the cricket team.
There is a single photograph of a Strathblane team, taken around 1900. William Reid Gardner is holding the ball and Robert Lindsay Gardner had the bat. They were the sons of John Smith Gardner who had been manager of the Blanefield printworks for a number of years. It is not known how long the club was in existence. Any information would be welcome. Contact Us