Coldstream challenge Wick over longest trip

In 1954, Coldstream embarked on a journey to face Wick Academy in the Scottish Cup, albeit in the first preliminary round, that stretched to almost 400 miles each way due to the absence of road bridges and motorways.

With no Forth Road Bridge, the Coldstream coach – which set off more than 48 hours before the cup tie in Wick – was forced to cross at Kincardine before heading to Perth and north via the Moray, Cromarty and Dornoch Firths, all the while adding countless mileage on to the 307 miles between the two towns as the crow flies.

Lifelong Coldstream supporter John Elliot explained: "The cup draw was a free-for-all in those days, before it was a split into north and south regional sections for qualifying. Unluckily for Coldstream, we drew Wick."

And so, on Thursday, 9 September 1954, committee, supporters and players – including dedicated reserve Will Common, taken purely as cover on those pre-substitute days – clambered on board a bus, complete with all-important toilet facilities for the unfeasibly long trip north.

"The bus could only go at a maximum of 40mph and it took them an hour to get to Soutra Hill and three hours to get to Edinburgh alone," said Elliot. "Because there was no Forth Bridge and the ferries couldn't take buses, the party had to head to Kincardine, through Fife and Perthshire, then up the old A9 passing through every village on the way. The bus also had to skirt along the coast, around the three firths and by my calculations that would add up to 400 miles."

To keep costs down, the bus travelled through the night and the weary Borderers arrived in Caithness in plenty of time to enjoy a training session in the town on the Friday afternoon.

"It was actually the Wick team who had problems arriving in time for the game," added Elliot. "Two of their players were coming from Thurso (20 miles away) and they never made it in time. Wick kicked off with nine men and the missing pair only turned up and made it on to the pitch after seven minutes play."

Just as Gary "Chucky" Weir stole the show for Wick in Saturday's 3-0 win over St Cuthbert Wanderers, Coldstream had their own Cup hero – centre forward George "Spuddie" McElwraith banging in all of his side's goals in a 4-2 win.

The parallels do not stop there. Wick's dubious reward for their heroics in Kirkcudbright is another arduous away trip to face in Edinburgh City in the next round.

Coldstream also had a bittersweet experience 54 years ago, earning themselves a return trip to the Highlands to face Brora Rangers. This proved a journey too far, however, and they lost 2-0, but 77-year-old Reg Fairbairn – right-back in both these matches – treasures the experience.

"It was quite an adventure. They were long-hauls that's for sure – and just for good measure we drew Ross County away the following year," he recalled.

"There was not much going on on the trip heading up as it was overnight, and we were sleeping for most of the way, but the trip back was spent singing, playing cards and all the usual patter."

Fairbairn, who had to take time off his work as a joiner to make the trip added: "It was good for the players, who were all local lads, to mix with the officials and supporters.

"It was a tough game too. We had a good side and played against teams like Hibs, Hearts, Dunfermline and East Fife in the East of Scotland League. I remember playing against Bobby Johnstone, who was from Selkirk and turned up with his boots under his arm to play for Hibs – that's the kind of player we were up against.

"But Wick kept pushing us all the way and to be honest it was four breakaways that Spuddie scored. It made for a lovely trip back though."

News of Coldstream's claim to the record was taken sportingly by Wick. Club spokesman Alistair Ross joked: "Maybe we will need the Forth Road to be shut to have another crack at the record. Or maybe we should just relocate to John O'Groats!"