Ellon Gordon president, Ean Mackie. A non believer.

(Editor's note: the accuracy of this article has been questioned and is currently under review)

In recent years, many cricket historians have been sent scurrying to the dusty bookcases in their studies to try and trace the true origins of certain cricket clubs names. Many of these clubs had existed for millennia, known by one nom de guerre, whilst maintaining a secret identity. One such club is Stonehaven Thistle C.C. (whose "Thistle" appendage is merely a frivolity). Another is Ellon C.C., who, in recent times, have been revealed as Ellon Gordon C.C..

So what is the genesis of this "Gordon" annex? Most serious historians point to the town of Ellon's close agricultural and feudal ties to the powerful Gordon family. There is much evidence in the parish records to support this and some to suggest that a cricket club, by the name of Ellon Gordon, did indeed exist as far back as 1862. This extract of a report, from the June 14th 1862 edition of the Buchan Herald, recounting an agricultural fete, lends further support;

"...and moreover, the finest of ales and many delicate candied pastries, were festooned, as fit reward apon the hardy sportsmen of the Ellon Gordon cricket club, whose considerable efforts in the tossing of the honourable gentleman's prize Charolais bull, "Lord Scott of Middleham", across the Ythan river, proved most serendipitous to the fine village folk."

Although this (and more) is compelling evidence for the feudal connection, some historians now believe that the Ellon Gordon name has its roots in more recent times and that, in fact, the Ellon Gordon name only came into being as a tribute (of sorts) to a well known television soap opera and, in particular, its main character.

Crossroads

Actress Noele Gordon who may have given her name to the cricket club.

The "Crossroads Hypothesis" goes thus: Ellon C.C. in the mid 70s were going through a period of transition. They had reached a plateau in their Grade 1 status and although established as a mid table side, real, tangible success seemed distant and so, it was decided, to seek inspiration to further the club's ambitions. It would come from an unlikely source. The television soap, "Crossroads", was a big hit with the Ellon population (the womenfolk in particular) and the main character, called Meg Richardson, (a strong matriarch who ran a motel on the outskirts of Birmingham) was looked upon as a strong role model with her determination in the face of many adversities and personal tragedy. A wife of one of the Ellon C.C. players noted that the actress who played Meg Richardson, was called Noell Gordon (actually Noele) and observed that Ellon was an anagram of Noell and was of the impression that "Ellon Gordon" would be a far more impressive name for a cricket club.

Ellon Gordons Scott Middleton.

This idea took root and the added coincidence that one of the most influential families within the club was the Middletons, and that Crossroads was set in a Midlands town (middle town, middleton), convinced the club membership that the omens for success were good and so, it is believed, at the next AGM, Ellon C.C. became Ellon Gordon C.C.. An even stranger coincidence is the remarkable physical and facial resemblance of the shows other standout character, the dim-witted Benny, to that of current player Scott Middleton.

As it was, the name change paid almost instant dividends with the club, in 1979, finishing runners up in Grade 1 and winning the prestigious Aberdeenshire Cup. That the Crossroads origin has been kept secret (although to this day denied) is proof, to many, that the club, somehow, had stumbled across a means of divining success and did not want rival clubs to benefit from their knowledge and good fortune.

As if to further support the Crossroads Hypothesis, when the TV show's fortunes slumped, so, correspondingly, did those of the cricket club and it has yet to repeat the successes of 1979, although they have maintained their Grade 1 status. That the club have tried to associate themselves, in recent years, with other soaps, Emmerdale for example, is seen as an attempt to repeat the formula.

Historical background

A market town at the centre of rich farming land in East Aberdeenshire, Ellon is situated at a crossing of the River Ythan 17 miles (27.3 km) north of Aberdeen. Once the main settlement of the Pictish province of Buchan, it was the scene of courts held in the Middle Ages by the Comyn Earls of Buchan who dispensed justice at the Moot or Earl's Hill, a site now marked by a monument beside the car park in Market Street. Ellon was one of the settlements burned in the so called 'Harrying of Buchan' following the defeat of the Comyns near Oldmeldrum by Robert the Bruce in 1308..

This page was last updated Tuesday, 13 March 2007