Forfarshire Cup Winners Medal 1897-98

Photographs reproduced with the kind permission of the family of David Fleming.

This is not strictly Dundee FC related, but Dundee did take part in this competition and were defeated at the semi-final stage by Arbroath. This item is the winners medal from the 1897-98 Forfarshire Cup and was awarded to David Fleming of Dundee Wanderers. David was from a sporting family and as well as football he enjoyed cricket. He, and a number of his relatives, were heavily involved with Elmwood Cricket Club.

The Forfarshire Cup final of 1898 was settled after a replay when the first tie ended 1-1. The replay was played at Dundee FC’s Carolina Port and was a much higher scoring encounter than the initial tie.

Arbroath took the lead through Middleton only for Dundee Wanderers’ Stewart to level the tie. Middleton once again struck to give Arbroath the lead. Arbroath opted to play against the wind down at ‘the ‘Port‘ in the first half, but it didn’t seem to phase the Red Lichties – and why would it given the conditions subjected to Gayfield on a regular basis? Middleton completed his hat trick to give the Maroons a 3-1 lead. Wanderers were not beaten yet and leveled the score with two goals within a minute of each other.

After the commencement of the second half Wanderers took the initiative and raced to a 5-3 lead. It was now Arbroath on the back foot, but that man Middleton once again scored, this time a header, to give the visiting team some hope. Arbroath leveled the game before the end which prompted the referee to decide a further half an hour’s extra time was in order.

Peat and Dorward of the Wanderers used this time to greatest effect, scoring the goals which brought the trophy back to Clepington Park.

The prestige of the tournament in those days is no better exemplified by David Fleming himself who took pride in his winners medal wearing it at all times as a fob on a waistcoat chain.

15 Jan 1898

Dundee Wanderers 1-1 Arbroath

19 Feb 1898 | Carolina Port

Dundee Wanderers 7-5 Arbroath [AET, 5-5 90 mins, 3-3 HT]

Wanderers: Stewart; Robertson, Fergusson; Fleming, Ireland, McColl; Peat, Graham, Dorward, Williamson, Simpson.

Arbroath: McWattie; Carrie, Cargill; Ford, McGlashan, Davidson; Leuchars, Middleton, Stewart, Milne, Ford.