The first game in 1885 was due to be played against Keith on 2 May but it did not take place and Buckie eventually opened their season on 8 August with a game against Lhanbryde at Peter Fair Park. The match was drawn with Lhanbryde scoring 113 against Buckie's 72 for 7, as was the return game at Lhanbryde with the home side scoring 85 to Buckie's 34 for 4.
Buckie's third and final game was with Keith and they lost by 2 runs. 48-46.
The following year saw even less cricket played with the only matches reported being a game between Cairnfield and Visitor and a game at Cathay Park, Cullen featuring Cullen and a scratch team from Buckie. Cullen totalled 47 while Buckie scored 43 and 18 for 2 and the match report described the result as a draw in favour of Cullen.
Buckie CC did not rate a mention during 1887 but Cairnfield, who resolved at their pre-season meeting that no beer would be supplied as refreshments, lost to Fochabers 34 to 80 and to Cullen 48 to 51, both games being played at Peter Fair. They also drew at Cullen scoring 22 and 27 for 6 in reply to Cullen's 30 and 80 and at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Buckie hit 102 while the home side had reached 43 for 5 when time was called.
They also held three games between the married and single men which the bachelors won on each occasion and in the second of these, T S Pringle scored 95 not out for the single men.
A 2nd XI game with Cullen resulted in defeat for the Buckie side by 25 runs. 34 to 59.
At the Cairnfield Club meeting in April 1888, there was a large attendance and practice was to commence immediately since the weather was so fine yet there is trace of only one game being played, that at Peter Fair against Keith School. Cairnfield totalled 31 in both their innings while the scholars came out on top, scoring 38 and 59-2.
Another Club, Glendonwyn CC, held their annual meeting in the Committee Room of St Andrews Hall. President was Sir R G Gordon, Captain was James Mayne and although play for the season was to commence immediately, this is the one and only mention this Club receives in the local press.
Two games between Town folk and Students/Visitors at The Bents resulted in a double win for the local players.
The only games played in 1889 were home and away fixtures between Buckie Apprentices Club and Cullen Asher Club with victory going to the Buckie boys on both occasions.
Cairnfield held their customary meeting in April 1890 and appointed W Geddes Captain but there is no record of them playing any games that year.
A new club Buckie Star CC was formed, captained by J Geddes and they appeared to have been in action only once. They entertained Royal CC from Keith at Peter Fair and even that game had to have a premature end "owing to a football match about to take place".
1891 saw the formation of yet another club, Buckie Union CC, whose president was Mr James Wilson, Inchgower and Captain was William Geddes. Games home and away with Fochabers were arranged early in the season but neither took place and an explanation for the lack of cricket being played in the town may be found in the following letter which appeared in the Banffshire Advertiser:
A PUBLIC PARK FOR BUCKIE SIR, - Allow me through your column to say a few words in regard to this matter. Summer is again upon us, and we bear nothing of a piece of ground for recreation purposes. In fact we are now worse off in this respect than ever, seeing that the Bents is being used up for feuing purposes. There are now quite a number of football clubs in the town, and a cricket club was formed a few days ago. But where, Mr Editor, can any of the games be played? The football clubs this season have been indebted to Mr Wilson, Inchgower, and Mr Hector, Mill of Buckie, for fields to play matches on, and I think it is very hard that private individuals outside the burgh should have to be asked to provide a field for the youth of the town. Some people may say that we have Peter Fair Stance to fall back upon; but I understand that Mr Garden, Rannachy, has been approached this year as usual with the view of securing the field, and that he has refused to grant the request.. Mr Garden has kindly given the use of the stance to cricket clubs for a number of years, without any remuneration for same and we cannot blame him for now refusing. This question was brought up at the Buckie heckling meeting in October 1889 when all the candidates except one were in favour of a public park for the town. Mr Gibson, at a meeting of the Police Commissioners, brought forward a motion that a public park be provided for the town. The Commissioners were in favour of the motion, but at that time the extension of the Cluny Harbour was an urgent question before them and it was resolved to shelve the motion till the harbour question should be settled. It seems that we are to have no improvement made on the harbour, and I think the matter of a public park for Buckie should again be broached, and I trust some member of the Commission will take the question up and carry it to, a successful issue. It is all very well to say that our youth have now got an institute where they can get as much recreation as they like; they have a library and a newsroom for their intellectual benefit; while the recreative section abounds with games of all sorts - billiards, bagatelle, draughts, etc. But what youth in Buckie, who has any desire to have his body in a good physical state is going to coop himself up in any institute every evening after toiling for nine or ten hours in a close atmosphere? There may a few who do so, but I venture to say that they are unaware of the harm they are doing to themselves. Apologising for trespassing so far on your space - I am yours etc RECREATION |
Union did take the field that year when they visited Fochabers and defeated the home side scoring 50 and 31 for 6 to Fochabers 36. The visitors in those days were often referred to as "The Strangers" and, on this occasion, the Strangers won due mainly to their fielding which "they accomplished with great smartness and drew forth the praise of their opponents".
Union also played Cullen House who appeared to be one of the most active teams in the area and defeated their hosts by 6 wickets. Cullen scored 54 with W Perry taking 6 wickets and Union followed up with 56 for 4.
If cricket was played during the next four years, then it was not reported but this would have been highly unlikely since, at that time, everything that happened was considered worthy of mention in the local paper. Items such as lists of visitors coming to the town and thunder being heard on Sunday night were regularly covered.
During this time facilities had improved as the following report in the Elgin Courant to 30 June 1893 shows:
Elgin Courant 30 June 1893 PUBLIC PARK - As Convener of the Buckie Public Park Committee, the Rev Mr Whyte received a letter from Mr Ranald MacDonald, factor for the Cluny Trustees, intimating that he had an opportunity of explaining to Lady Cathcart the particulars connected with a meeting he (Mr MacDonald) had with the Park Committee and that her Ladyship is to give a park near the farm of Mains of Buckie, free of charge, to be used as a public park for Buckie during her Ladyship's pleasure, and under some trifling conditions. The burgh of Buckie and surroundings will feel very grateful to Lady Cathcart for this great boon when it is made known to them. The letter only arrived on Wednesday night, and has not got properly circulated yet. The want of a public park or any such place for public amusement has been a great drawback to the enjoyment of the young, and it is one more item of Lady Cathcart's kindness to the town. Mr MacDonald, the factor, takes a great interest also in Buckie, and does much for its advancement. |
