History of Gala Cricket Club, 1853 to 1939

12
H
IS
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O
RY GF G
AL
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CLU9.
GROUND COMPLAINTS.
In the local Press this year appeared
several letters regarding the unsatisfac-
tory state of the cricket field. From these
one gathers the complaints were that the
field was too small, and as no lease could
be secured, the Club were reluctant to
engage in ground improvements. The
dissatisfaction was so great that at a
meeting of members held in March, 1880,
it was decided that no matches could be
arranged, as the ground was in such an
unsatisfactory condition.
Nevertheless, T. Fairgrieve was ap-
pointed captain, W. Wear secretary, and
J. Hardie treasurer. The only match re-
corded this year is one at Selkirk, when
the scores were:—Selkirk, 64; Gala, 38;
A. M. Grieve scoring 25 and taking 8
wickets for 31 runs.
There seems to have been quite a num-
ber of junior teams in the town about
this time, as matches are recorded with
Leabrae, Wanderers, Galabank, and the
Union Clubs. The opposition encoun-
tered by these were the Victoria Club,
Selkirk, Selkirk 2nd XI., Innerleithen,
Walkerburn, St Boswells, and St Cuth-
bert's, Hawick,
On these clubs of Gala juniors in 1881
devolved the function of keeping the game
alive in the town, as a report appeared
in the Press of 30th March, 1881, of a
meeting of the Gala Club, in which it is
stated a field at Mossilee had been secured
and was to be prepared and turfed. It
was hoped that this field would be in a
playing condition later in the year or
early the following year.
Two matches with Selkirk are the only
activity reported this year, but the juniors
carried out their usual programmes.
In the Galabank team one notes the
names of J. Messer and J. Brownlee, the
latter and J. Welsh being in charge of
the attack; while in the Wanderers team
one observes their leading batsman was
T. Douglas. In a match between Gala-
bank and St Cuthbert's, Hawick, the
name also appears of J. Montgomery,
who later was to become a leading
Hawick batsman.
On 29th March, 1882, a meeting of the
Gala Club was held, at which rules were
drawn up and the officials of the previous
year re-elected. It, was stated that re-
turfing of the new field at Mossilee was
nearly finished, but that the ground
would not be fit for play for some time.
In the early part of the season Gala
played Selkirk at Selkirk, when T. War-
dall, professional, was too much for
Gala, scoring 67 runs and taking five
wickets. Wardall later played in the
Yorkshire eleven.
The new field was formally opened on
10th June, 1882, the Grange Club pro-
viding the opposition. At the luncheon,
Captain Sime of Thornidean presided,
and in a few remarks referred to the
steps that had been taken to secure the
field. The cost of £600 had been entirely
defrayed by subscription, Mr Scott of
Gala heading the list with £200, and con-
tributions from several manufacturing
firms had been received of £30 to £15.
The field extended to eight acres, and
the report states there was ample room
for spectators. The Volunteer brass band
discoursed music; during the afternoon,
but the weather was not too kind, as
several drenching showers caused con-
siderable discomfort to the large crowd
of spectators who were present.
As this was rather an important event
in the history of the Club, the scores are
given herewith, and one observes in the
report of the match as notable features.
the bowling of T. Fairgrieve and J.
Messer (a young promising player), the
fielding of W. Mack, and the batting of.
Harry Murray.
Gala.
W. Mack, run out, 5; A. M. Grieve, b Mac-
nair, 2; W. Wear, b Graham, 7; Smith (prof.),
c Lang, b Macnair, 5; W. S. Brown, b Graham,
0; T. Fairgrieve (capt.) , b Worsley, 10; H. S.
Murray, not out, 22; J. Hay, b Worsley, 0; T.
Douglas, b Worsley, 0
;
J. Buchan, c Fleming,
b Worsley, 3;, J. Messer, b Worsley, 0; extras,
2. Total-56.