Book Review: 36-0, by Fraser Clyne

It is the cruel fare of small-town Scots football clubs that their wider fame derives not from League or Cup triumphs or even notable former players, but quirks of fate, such as Brechin's hedge, Raith's street dancing, Stenhousemuir's exotic name and Arbroath's 36-0 victory over an obscure Aberdeen team called Bon Accord in September 1885.

The Lichties' record-setting Scottish Cup result in the centrepiece of Fraser Clyne's latest book on the club's history. 36-0 delves deeply into the match and those who played in it, not least John Petrie who scored 13 of the goals, another record.

Arbroath Football Club was formed in the summer of 1878, its first committee and players drawn from what could be termed the lower middle classes and skilled tradesmen. Somem of them may have been cricketers looking for a winter sport who preferred the new round-ball game, recently popularised and polished by Queen's Park, to rugby. Over the next decade, the spread of the half-day working Saturday and the fruits of the industrial revolution to the more lowly-born brought the introduction of the working class to football on both sides of the pitch-side ropes.

The 36-0 team, for instance, comprised a mill overseer, a carrier, a boot-maker, show-maker (John Petrie), foundry iron moulder, leather factory machine operator, flax dresser, cabinet-maker, two blacksmiths and a stonemason. There were no general labourers, miners, agricultural labourers or even fishermen among the group.

The author describes the evolution of the new club over this era and the lives of its players and officials, producing a colourful and interesting narratigve that is as easy to read as it is enlightening.

Petrie's life has been well-documented in the Scottish Football Historian magazine previously and the book gives coverage of other notrable, early team-mates. Goalkeeper Ned Doig was a contemporary, although he did not play in the famous Scottish Cup tie, and in February 1887 he became the first, and so far only, Arbroath player to be capped by Scotland. Albert Buick later won Scotland caps after he followed Doig south of the border, where both enjoyed great success.

Arbroath appeared to have met little opposition in their town, but their fierce rivalry with Dundonian clubs and players is well-covered in the book's 228 pages, particularly the often violent matches against Dundee Harp. Friendly matches against famous English teams are also well covered, as is the infamous protested Scottish Cup tie victory over Rangers, the various ground moves and improvements, and the history of the Northern League, which Arbroath won in 1893-4.

This delightful and informative book is available from Amazon for £12 plus p&p, Search for '36-0'.

John Litster, editor, Scottish Football Historian

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