After winning the Scottish Junior Cup in 1963, Irvine Meadow XI were, inevitably, amongst the favourites to win the cup the following season. So, when they were drawn away to their now defunct local rivals, Dreghorn Juniors, in the first round no-one, other than the most devoted Dreghorn fans, foresaw anything other than an easy passage to the second round for the cup holders.
The teams at Dreghorn’s Fordside Park were as follows :-
Dreghorn Juniors :- Potten; Currie, Milligan; Morrison, Carswell, Haggerty; Richmond, Litster, McQueen, Bingham, Hubble.
Irvine Meadow XI :- Prentice; Miller, McVean; Dickie, Monan, Rae; Henderson, Murney, McPike, Fyfe, Paterson.
Meadow certainly were not helped by the absences of Johnny McIntyre (ill), Tommy “Hookey” Walker (injured) and Tommy Murray who, amazingly, made a mistake about the kick-off time, but were still widely expected to win by the proverbial barrow load. No one seemed bothered that their first defeat of the season had come the previous Saturday, when Irvine Victoria, of all teams, had won 2-1 at Meadow Park after Billy McPike had put Meadow into the lead.
Meadow started on the heavy pitch by forcing three corners in the first few minutes and proceeded to miss chance after chance. When they did get the ball on target they found Potten in inspired form. Arthur Paterson and Billy McPike both hit woodwork and McPike blasted the ball over the bar when it seemed easier to score, but Dreghorn held on till half time.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with wave after wave of Meadow attacks. Billy McPike almost burst through on goal but was pulled down in a rugby tackle, then hit the post from the resultant free kick. Time ran out and a replay was required.
The Irvine Herald’s reporter summed the game up when he wrote: “Dreghorn have to thank their defence and Potten, in particular, for giving the Villagers a replay in this rousing match. Most of the attacking was done by Meadow, but many chances were thrown away and Potten dealt with everything that came his way.”
Alex Milligan, who played at left back for Dreghorn Juniors that day, recalls that the home side was really under the cosh for the whole match and that Meadow did everything but score.
For the following Saturday’s replay, Johnny McIntyre returned to the team in place of Murray. Alex Milligan remembers Meadow putting on the pressure right from the kick-off and forcing some early corners. From one of them McPike clattered into Dreghorn’s ‘keeper, Potten, and sent him into the back of the net. He didn’t know where he was for a while and by the time he had regained his senses the game was well and truly won and lost.
With the keeper seeing stars, the goals flew into the visitors’ net. McPike scored in 10 minutes, then followed a three goals in five minutes burst, which included two more from McPike and one from Fyfe. Murney completed the first half scoring to give Meadow a five goal lead.
The Irvine Herald reported that, “Meadow continued on their merry way after the interval.” Paterson and Murney raised the scoreline to 7-0, then Potten, who had partially recovered, had at least three great saves before Henderson made it eight.
According to Alex Milligan, Billy McPike was a hard centre-forward to play against, as he was very physical and always in about the defenders, never giving them a moment’s rest. It was just that pressure which enabled him to increase Meadow’s lead; “A stray pass back brought goal number nine. McPike nipping in to touch the ball past Podden.” (The Irvine Herald) McPike would go on to score an incredible 82 goals for Meadow that season.
A late goal from Henderson seemed to have wrapped up the scoring, but the plucky young Dreghorn side had the last word, McQueen netting for them in the 90th minute to make the final score 10-1.. Meadow went on to beat Perthshire (8-0), Whitburn (7-2), Clydebank (4-1), Beith (2-1) and Ashfield (4-2), before falling to Cambuslang Rangers in the semi-final at Firhill.