The "offending" map of Guam.

A week before Grade 1 champions, Bon Accord, were due to play perennial also rans, Ellon Gordon, The Bons website published, on their main News page, a map of the Western Pacific Ocean territory of Guam with the caption "Ellon visit the Links, this Saturday, so while they're playing for the draw, here's a map of Guam to keep you entertained. Guam. G-U-A-M."

Ellon players were, reportedly, so incensed by this seemingly throwaway witticism, that, during the game in question, many of them played in a deliberately reckless and attacking fashion, during their innings, albeit for just a few overs, before ending their brief protest and returning to their avoid defeat at all costs tactics.

Background

The draw, referred to in the map of Guam caption, is an outcome of a cricket match, seemingly much hated amongst Grades cricketers and abolished, as a valid result, by most of the remaining Scottish leagues and associations, but stubbornly retained by the Aberdeenshire Cricket Association (The Grades).

During the 2003 post-season, a group of concerned Grades cricketers had a series of meetings, with a view to drawing up a set of proposals to, principally, abolish the draw and amend other aspects of the game at Grades level. These cricketers, thereafter called "The Draw Abolitionists", were led, somewhat surprisingly, by then Ellon Gordon skipper, Steve Anderson, supposedly with the backing of the majority of his team mates.

The proposals were presented before the ACA for approval but, while some elements were adopted (early start time for example), the abolition of the draw was voted down, thanks, crucially, to the two votes cast by Ellon Gordon (2nd X1s are allowed a vote) against. Their votes had been taken for granted by the abolitionist faction, the whole process having been instigated by that club. However, it is believed that Ellon Gordon had, at their own meetings, rejected the idea although many of those within the club, reputedly in favour of the proposals, were unable to attend and denied a vote.

For years after, games between Bon Accord (staunch draw abolitionists) and Ellon featured much draw related banter and sledging. The protestations of many of the Ellon players that they wanted rid of the draw were generally treated with scorn.

Why Guam?

No official explanation has been given by The Bons creative staff as to why Guam was chosen. Certainly, there is no correlation between Ellon Gordon and Guam or any other Western Pacific landmass and the general belief is that Guam was chosen for surrealistic comedic effect. Main contributor to the site, Andy Meres, was known for such "humour" frequently using images to accompany articles that bore no relation to the content presented. One match report featured a picture of penguins with the caption "Apparently, it's fun!"

Meres may have drawn inspiration from a stand up routine by Bolton comedian, Peter Kay: