TT No.77: Mike Latham - Sat 1 Nov 2008; St Cuthbert Wanderers 4-1 Abbey Vale; South of Scotland League; Attendance: 70 (h/c); Admission: £3; No programme; FGIF Match Rating: 3* 

 

 

 

Matchday Images (8) >view>

 

For once Saturday dawns bright and dry and after a pretty good few days weather-wise a lot of the sodden football grounds of Scotland will have dried out sufficiently for matches to be undertaken.

 

That’s the theory anyway, though a check call to the St Cuthbert Wanderers secretary was still made after crossing the border- a wise thing to do given the dreadful weather over the last few months.  St Cuthbert’s game goes ahead, in fact the secretary was already down at the ground making preparations, but several matches failed to survive in the East of Scotland League.

 

St Cuthbert Wanderers FC are an old-established club, founded in 1879, and they play at St Mary’s Park in Kirkcudbright, a pleasant town situated on the mouth of the River Dee about 25 miles west of Dumfries and six miles from the sea.  Established as a Royal Burgh in the 15th century Kirkcudbright is best known through links with the fishing industry though more recently it has also become known as the Artist’s Town with its wide main streets, interesting architecture and pastel coloured buildings.  It is in the part of Dumfries and Galloway known as the Stewartry and the sheltered harbour and nearby Galloway hills make it an ideal tourist destination from far and wide in the summer months.

 

A dry but chilly afternoon that heralds the onset of November is an altogether different matter and Kirkcudbright’s streets are quiet as the path to St Mary’s Park is trodden.  Located about one mile out of the centre, found best by following signs for the swimming baths, St Mary’s Park enjoys a scenic location on one side backing onto the banks of the Dee with stunning views though the view inland towards an unremarkable looking housing estate is rather less pleasing to the eye.

 

St Cuthbert Wanderers take their name from St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne who had an association with the town. They have an impressive club website but sadly do not produce programmes for home games.  A club official is waiting at the entrance to collect the admission money and, with four floodlight poles either side of the field, the kick-off is at 3pm, an hour later than many in the South of Scotland League in the winter months.

 

The main feature of St Marys Park is a wonderful old grandstand, painted in the club colours of blue and white on the far side of the ground backing onto the River Dee. Bearing the legend ‘St Cuthbert Wanderers FC, est 1879’ it gives the ground a feeling of importance and stature.

 

The club buildings, including dressing rooms, a committee room and a tea bar, staffed by a pleasant and efficient lady called Morag, are opposite the stand.

 

By kick-off time a crowd of around 70 has gathered, 30 or so less than the average here according to a local. The playing area is well grassed, undulating and heavy- it’s not difficult to understand why some games here are postponed due to water-logging with the location next to the river.

 

The visitors, Abbey Vale, survive an early bombardment and then take the lead when their left full-back heads home a free-kick.  They prove good value for their interval advantage, but the second half is a different story.  The Saints never look back after getting back on level terms after 65 minutes and go onto record a convincing victory.

 

News and fixtures for the South of Scotland League are not easy to find, with Solway Press Services excellent web-site and Bill Berry’s Traveller magazine the best sources.  But visits to grounds in this league are invariably worthwhile, especially on such glorious afternoons as this one.  The chance to see a game at St Cuthbert Wanderers is definitely not one to be passed up.

 

contributed on 01/11/08