Part of the AFC Heritage Trust ‘Tales of the Unexpected’ series run in Red Matchday Magazine
On this day, 27th May 1949, The Dons created a bit of Orkney history by becoming the first ‘A’ Division club to travel north for a match against the Orcadians.
There was a first for the Aberdeen party too as they travelled by plane, arriving in time for a sight-seeing tour before the game in Kirkwall.
Dons Hit Five at Kirkwall
Diminutive 24-year-old Davie Fox, right-half, and 31-year-old Willie Smith, goalkeeper, both of the Thorfinn Club, were the bright stars of the Kirkwall Hotspur eleven that played the Dons at Bignold Park, Kirkwall, last night.
The Pittodrie team never moved faster than half-throttle.
They won 5-0, but that does not truly indicate the disparity in the standard of play. The 5,000 Orcadians were having their first glimpse of Scottish “A” Division football, and most were impressed with two things – the clever positional play and ground passing of the Dons and the clean and sporting spirit of the visiting players.
The two Pittodrie footballers who made the most appeal were left-winger Tommy Pearson and inside-right George Hamilton. The ball control and shrewd distribution of this pair captivated the islanders.
Energy and Spirit
Aberdeen F.C. players and officials alike admired the boundless energy and courageous spirit of 5ft. 4in. Davie Fox. He was perhaps lacking in polish, but he has pluck in abundance. Willie Smith in goal was beaten five times, but a less experienced ‘keeper than the former Scottish Juvenile internationalist would have lost more goals.
It was pity that the team was not more representative of the Orkneys. The match was arranged by the Hotspur Club, and they enlisted the services of only four players from other teams.
Without exerting themselves, the Dons were two goals ahead at the interval. Pearson got the first in five minutes. A perfectly placed ground pass by Hamilton gave the left-winger his chance.
Pearson cut in from the wing and beat the ‘keeper.
On eleven minutes Linklater, the Orkney centre half, failed to clear a speculative shot by Rice and Smith prodded the ball into the net.
Exhibition Stuff
Aberdeen turned on the exhibition stuff in the second half, and had they cared could have had more than three goals. Within seven minutes of the restart Williams took advantage of a slip from Hamilton, and a minute later the inside-right hit home a cross from the South African. Rice completed the scoring when he netted from close in after an Inter change movement.
The best shot from the Hotspurs came in the closing minutes when centre-forward John Donaldson raced away on the left and tested Curran with a fierce drive.
Hotspurs: Smith (Thorfinn); Adam (Hotspur), Kemp (Hotspur); Fox (Thorfinn). Linklater (Hotspur), Tait (Hotspur); Clark (Hotspur), Murray (Hotspur), Donaldson (Thorfinn), Dainty (Holm), Grieve (Hotspur).
Aberdeen: Curran; Emery, McKenna; Stenhouse, Roy, Glen; Rice, Hamilton, Williams, Smith, Pearson
Referee: Capt Edwards. Hatston Garrison
Source: Press and Journal 28th May 1949.
Many thanks to Mrs Joey Tait of Tankerness for the photographs.
