Scottish Sporting History

[Richard]

18th April 1923.
Rugby.
W.I.D.Elliot, (Dougie Elliot).
Born on this day. We don't make them like this, anymore !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Elliot

18th April 1957.
Athletics.
Arthur James Robertson, (Archie).
The first Scotsman to win an Olympic Gold Medal, died on this day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Robertson_(athlete)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscot ... rint.shtml

[Richard]

19th April.
Football.
Hampden Park In Glasgow was, on this day in 2005, chosen for the second time to host a
top European Football Final. The final is to be played in 2007. The previous final was in 2002.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 462407.stm

19th April.
Cycling.
Graeme Obree, (The Flying Scotsman).
Obree broke the world hour record, on this day in 1994, for the second time.
Not only was this man a world record breaker, Innovative genius and a human speed machine
with a single minded obsession, he also lives in Saltcoats.
Outside of Boxing, Obree has to be my favourite sportsman.
There is a fine line, or so they say, between madness & genius.
IMO, Obree walks that line very well.
Read his story and see exactly what I mean.
Shame this country of ours never gave him more backing than we did.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graeme_Obree
http://www.humansinvent.com/#!/6131/ret ... eme-obree/

19th April.
Mountaineering.
Dougal Haston.
Born on this day in 1940, Haston was noted for achieving a few firsts.
One of them being: The first Scotsman to climb Mount Everest via the South-West face.
http://www.edinburghcam.co.uk/2011/07/t ... ton-stone/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dougal_Haston

[Hughie]

19th April.
Cycling.
Graeme Obree, (The Flying Scotsman).

Had a quick glance through those links, Richard. Wow! I'll have a closer look after my morning ramble. It looks very interesting. Will pass the links to my No2 son who is a professional sportsman.

[Penny Tray]

Graeme Obree, unless I'm mistaken, was born south of the border (maybe Nuneaton, Warwickshire) in which vicinity his dad was a policeman. His dad, John, unless I'm further mistaken, then transferred to the Ayrshire Constabulary and was stationed at Green Street, Saltcoats circa 1970/1971. This would substantiate Richard's view that Graeme lived, certainly at one time, in Saltcoats. I think however, that the Obree family were centred around Kilwinning as opposed to the Threetowns.

Irrespective of where he was born, when, where he lived or whatever issues Graeme might have had in his personal life, I think he was a great sportsman who brought credit upon Scotland during his time as a cyclist!

[Richard]

Hughie,
Hope your son found them enjoyable & interesting.
Also found this one:
http://www.obree.com/


PT,
Excellent addition to the Obree story, regarding his fathers career moves and the families Ayrshire base.

[Hughie]

Richard, my son tells me he knew the story having seen the movie a few years ago.

[Richard]

20th April 1851.
Golf.
(young) Tom Morris.
THE greatest golfer that ever lived, was born on this day.
Some of his golfing records STILL stand to this day.
His life was tragically cut short, at the age of 24.
There are conflicting reports on where this man was born.
Some say St.Andrews, others say Ayrshire.
Either way, Morris spent most of his life in Ayrshire.
Being educated in Ayr and learning the game at Prestwick.
Amazing & tragic story that leaves you wondering what
might have been, had he lived longer ?
http://www.thefifepost.com/?page_id=37
http://www.golftoday.co.uk/golf_a_z/art ... nners.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Tom_Morris

[Richard]

22nd April.
Horse Racing.
The new two million pound grandstand at Perth racecourse was opened on this day in 2005,
by racing fan and leader of the Scottish National Party, Alex Salmond.
http://www.vrun.co.uk/UK_horse_advice_r ... _info.html

[Richard]

23rd April.
Football.
James Gibson.
Maybole and one time Hamilton Accies defender, James Gibson, was born on this day in 1989.
The following link also gives access links to information on some of Ayrshire's football teams.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Gibson_(footballer)

[Richard]

24th April.
Football.
Eilish McSorley.
This woman was born in Girvan, Ayrshire, on this day in 1993.
She went on to become a Scottish Internationalist, in women's football.
She played for Girvan, Ayr and Kilmarnock before moving on to Glasgow City
and participating in the UEFA Women's Champions League.
For anybody who does not understand football & the level of her achievement,
playing for your country in a World Cup Tournament is the only level that tops
playing in the Champions League.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eilish_McSorley

24th April.
Football.
Scottish Cup Final.
Aberdeen 1 Celtic 2.
On this day in 1937, a European record for a club match was made; Att:146433.
Other sources, such as thecelticwiki.com, put the attendance at; "147365(likely even more)".
The previous Saturday, seen 149415, set another European record. This time between Scotland
and our old friends south of the border, (England). Scotland won 3.1.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_f ... ce_records

24th April 1965.
Football.
Scottish Cup Final.
Dunfermline 2 Celtic 3.
Celtic win their first trophy since 1957 and their first under one of THE greatest Scottish Football
managers of all time, Jock Stein.
Little did Celtic fans realise but this was to be the start of a success laden journey that would
quickly lead to THE greatest achievement in their clubs history. They would soon become European
Cup Winners,(a tournament that is now known as; The UEFA Champions League).

[Richard]

25th April 1950.
Football.
Irvine Meadow X1 beat Glasgow Celtic (3.2), in a friendly match.

25th April 1953.
Football.
Ayr United beat Glasgow Celtic (3.1), in a friendly match.

I could not find any match reports for the above two games but they are both listed on thecelticwiki.com
site. Although these 2 games are listed as "friendlies", the results should NOT be underestimated due to
the far superior finances & resources of the Glasgow club.
I have come across the following link that shows that Irvine Meadow X1, were nobodies mugs, having won
the West of Scotland Cup twice in the 1950':
http://www.stuart.mcaulay.dsl.pipex.com ... NNERS.html


25th April 2005.
Rugby.
Matt Williams.
Scotland's first ever foreign head coach of the Scottish National Rugby team, was sacked on this day.
The whole Williams episode was a major disaster for Scottish Rugby but are we any further forward ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Williams_(rugby_coach)

[Richard]

26th April.
Golf.
On this day, in 2005, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St.Andrews,
confirmed "an agreement in principle" to allow female golfers to
enter a competition which had been open to men only since 1860.
That was very nice of them, eh ?
http://www.golftoday.co.uk/news/yeartod ... anda2.html

There is a very good sitemap at the bottom of this link:
http://www.randa.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Royal_ ... St_Andrews