STONEHAVEN THISTLE CRICKET CLUB play in Grade 1 (a 2nd X1 plays in Grade 4) and have an unusually large contingent of English players although a recent influx of South African youngsters has added more colour to the onfield activities. There are few Scottish members given the nature of their cachement area (the lovely coastal village of Stonehaven or "Little England"). They also have a vibrant junior section.

Home for Stonehaven is Mineralwells, an exposed but picturesque setting with a well tended wicket (minimal Council involvement) including rudimentary covers, a welcome element. Changing facilities are excellent although often shared with football which can be fraught with security concerns.

A highlight of any visit to Mineralwells is the tea interval which involves many tasty home baked treats. In purely cricketing terms, there has been a history of low scoring games although of late, the bowling of Clive Hinchcliffe, in particular, has meant more runs are readily available.

They are a very sociable club and generally, well liked amongst Grades clubs. One aspect of their game, however, that most clubs find off putting (Banchory excluded) is their unusual "Morris Dancing" celebrations on the rare occasions a wicket is taken. The current crop of players are fairly tolerable but they have had their "characters" in the past, most notably the bloke with the high, squeaky, effeminate voice and Drew Hinchcliffe's tendency to whack opposition bowlers into the river (at the North end of the ground) wins few friends. Andy Wilson is, well, self-explanatory.

Club history
The following historical data was submitted by David Long Snr. on August 15th 2006 and has been published with a minimal amount of stylistic editing. All the information published here is unverified but assumed to be historically factual.

Stonehaven Thistle Cricket Club - AN ILLUSTRIOUS PAST

Arthur Bisset wrote: “The palmy days of Stonehaven Cricket began in 1891, when the club acquired a new ground at Cowie House. Prior to this they played at Old Lodge ParkUrie, upon which Mackie Academy stands. Raising over £500 from a bazaar the people of Stonehaven erected a handsome pavilion and excellent pitch in lovely surroundings that was to be the envy of many.” (The field is still impressive to this day, despite the wall having been moved back to accommodate the coast road.)

Opened in 1893, the pitch was 150 yards in diameter with the pavilion on a raised bank with a fine view of the town, bay and Dunottar Castle. It had 2 changing rooms, a spacious dining hall and verandah. Among the contractors were Burness & Son and James Burness. (any relation?) In the opening game, Thistle beat a select side led by a Dr. Anderson of Aberdeenshire, W. Walker taking 10 wickets.

The Thistle played and could defeat Aberdeenshire and touring MCC sides visited. In 1908, their Captain Palairet remarked that it was the best ground they had played on. In those days, Stonehaven possessed some of the leading batsmen in the country. Alfie Wood, a batsmen of considerable prowess who played for Scotland and the Ritchies (of Dunottar and Netherley)and Tommy Mitchell were some of the leading players in the country. For example, one occasion versus Brechin C.C. Thistle batted first scoring 220 for 6 declared, Wood 145 not out. Brechin replied with 138 for 6.

Came the war (WW1) and the Cowie Ground was ploughed up, so closing the finest chapter in the club's history.

Sources: Article in Mackie Academy F.P. magazine, 67 edition, by Arthur Bisset, D.Long Snr. (STCC Inside Edge Magazine 1996)

1929 to the Present Day

After WW1, the lease expired and the ground at Cowie was given over to food production. Little is known of the period between the wars, as names like Tony D’Agostino and Wallace Burness carried the torch until World War II. Were it not for the passion of one Arthur Bisset (who resurrected the Club in 1955) there would have been no more to write about and we should thank him and others like Willie Gall and Harry Allen for their fortitude.

Having spent years wandering from ground to ground, Thistle finally moved to their present  location of Mineralwell Park (well known for its lively bounce) and a new Sports Pavilion was built in 1994, partly with STCC funding.

Of the modern era, Alan Bisset (Arthur’s son) guided the club through some inglorious years to 1983. More recently, since 1993, the club has achieved success; having grown to over 50 members in 1998. The Club reached the Small Clubs Cup Final in 1999, won the Johnston Cup in 2000, and, in 2001, the 1st XI (playing in Grade 2) and Under 13’s both achieved their league and Cup doubles.

 Though the once lethal bounce of the wicket has been tamed, for the club (always knocking on the door of Grade 1 success) the elusive prize still awaits.

Two caps for Scotland - A (Alfie) Lyon Wood

A little more on Stonehaven’s most famous player of all time, who was reputed to have represented his country. According to “Fifty years of Reminiscences of Scottish Cricket” (published in 1898) Mr A. Lyon Wood of STCC, and formally of Royal High School F.P’s, was, and I quote: “a grand bowler, and one of the steadiest batsmen in Scotland for a long time, also played in many of the big events in the capital, and took part in the Scotland V Australians in 1880, where he both bowled and batted, scoring 35 in the second innings. He also played against the Colonials on their second visit to that city, and put on 22 in the second innings.” He must have been at his peak in the 1880’s, it was yet a further 13 years before the inaugural match at Cowie in 1893.

The century that never was

Club records declare that the Thistle Club was established in 1872; the centenary being celebrated in 1971. However, the Stonehaven Journal purports that a Stonehaven team defeated Laurencekirk, at cricket, in 1858. There was also a case to be argued for the club being formed in 1867. Certainly, from 1891 to 1914, the club flourished, acquiring a new ground at Cowie, pavilion and even went so far as to employ a cricket professional, a Mr. Dramfield (or Drawfield). At least one player, Alfie Wood, played cricket for Scotland.

From the time that the club shot itself in the foot by providing the funds to establish Stonehaven Golf Club (our man Alfie Wood had a part to play here), the downward spiral began. Since the First World War, the cricket club has become the poor man of Stonehaven, shunted around the town like an unwanted leper. From Old Lodge Park,to Glenury, to Cowie, to Baird Park, to Glenury (Mineralwell? Or did we move again).

Then there are the two World wars to consider. The fields that the club had been shunted to, were ploughed up during both wars, and in both cases it was many years after wars end that the grounds were re-established: 1929 and 1955 respectively - presumably no such fate befell the Golf Club. Therefore, depending on whether the club was born in 1858, 1867 or 1872 and depending on whether you count (or discount) the dormant years,1915-1929 and 1939-1955, Stonehaven Thistle Cricket Club will be 94, 99, 108, 125, 130 or 139 years old in 1997. Take your pick!

Source: D.Long Snr. (STCC Inside Edge Magazine 1996)

Famous players