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Burghead Thistle legends honoured as surviving members of all-conquering North Region junior football team meet 50 years on from greatest-ever season





One of the most successful teams in north junior football history was remembered by their club - 50 years on.

Burghead Thistle’s side from the 1973-74 season is still spoken about in the town today.

The Burghead Thistle team which won nine trophies in 1973-74. Picture: Burghead Thistle FC
The Burghead Thistle team which won nine trophies in 1973-74. Picture: Burghead Thistle FC

Managed by Harry Owens, they claimed eight trophies that year as part of a dominance of the north junior scene in the mid-70s which saw Thistle win every piece of silverware available to them except the Scottish Junior Cup.

Even that prize wasn’t a completely distant dream, as the boys of ‘74 reached the last sixteen of the tourney and were unlucky to lose to Newburgh in Fife with the quarter-finals in their sights.

The Moray coast club decided to honour their greatest-ever side with a slightly late 50th anniversary gathering of as many of the surviving members of the squad as they could for a special day at their Forest Park ground on Saturday.

Family members of those sadly no longer with us were also invited along for the day, with the Thistle legends piped from the pavilion to the hospitality lounge as guests of honour.

Present on the day were legends from the all-conquering team including Doug Rae, Gordon Watson, Dennis Main, Ian Moore, Raymond Cruickshank, Donald Robertson, Mike Cumming, Robbie Russell and Kenny Ingram.

The Burghead Thistle legends gather at the Forest Park ground where they made club history. Picture: Tyler McNeill
The Burghead Thistle legends gather at the Forest Park ground where they made club history. Picture: Tyler McNeill

The jewel in the crown of that Thistle team’s achievements was not just retaining their North Region junior league (North) title, but defeating the East league champions Parkvale 3-2 in a play-off at Mosset Park, Forres to earn the title of Kings of the North.

The North Region was split geographically into North (Highland, Moray and Banffshire) and East (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire) leagues

Burghead’s goalscorers in the play-off success, Gordon Watson who scored their opener and Dennis Main who netted twice including the second half winner, were back at Forest Park to enjoy a special day with their former colleagues.

That Burghead team also played in front of a record of crowd of 800 who crammed into Forest Park to see the Brochers bring down Aberdeen giants and now Highland League front runners Banks o’ Dee in a Scottish Junior Cup clash.

It’s reported that Burghead had a bigger crowd that day than Elgin City, who were playing at home that day.

Burghead Thistle FC Facebook.
Burghead Thistle FC Facebook.


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