The following post was kindly submitted to us by Gordon McCreath, who is a keen Ayrshire junior football historian.
Over the years Meadow XI has dominated the traditional Marymass Derby against local rivals Irvine Victoria, but it wasn’t like that right at the start. Up until 1921 both clubs had enjoyed free Marymass Saturdays to allow the people of the town head out to Irvine Moor for the races. However, in 1921 the Irvine rivals were given a league fixture for that weekend and the decision was taken to play it on the Friday evening. The decision turned out to be a great success, as The Irvine Herald reported, ‘Fortunately the night was ideal and there was a great crowd in Meadow Park as the teams took the field.’
The teams who took part on the first Marymass Derby were (in the 2-3-5 formation of the time):
Irvine Meadow XI: Syme; Paton and Wilson; Wylie, Bobbins and McDonald; Ness, Page, Scott, Ferguson and Leiper.
Irvine Victoria: McKenzie; Wilson and Dickson; Craig, Dunlop and Gibson; McLaughlan, Galloway, Knox, Livingston and Beaton.
The game was ‘fought out with all the old rivalry that exists between the teams and supporters of Irvine’s two leading clubs.’ It was a fairly even, end-to-end game then the referee awarded Meadow a penalty. ‘Victoria protested vehemently against the decision and their linesman argued the matter with the referee, who, after wavering in so far as to consult the other linesman (a Meadow XI official) decided to adhere to his decision.’ It all came to nothing when Victoria’s McKenzie saved Scott’s spot kick.
After a goalless first half Galloway headed the Vics into the lead. Meadow then had their best period of the game and, after some great defending from the visitors, Scott made up for his penalty miss by netting the equaliser. However, Vics were not to be denied and seven minutes before the end Livingston grabbed the winner.
The following year Vics repeated their success in front of 2,000 fans at Victoria Park, winning 1-0 in what was described in the local press as a ‘tame game for a local derby.’ It was a game which Meadow completely dominated, but missed chance after chance, including two penalty kicks. Vics showed how it was done two minutes after the break when Hopkins scored with a header. From then on, Vics hardly got over the halfway line and Meadow forced corner after corner, but the Vics defence held on heroically and secured a 1-0 win.
It was only at the third attempt that Meadow got their first Marymass win. The Irvine Herald of the time described the build up for the game like this, ‘The first local ‘Derby’ of the season, which has now become known as the ‘Marymass Derby,’ took place at Meadow Park last Friday evening. Greater interest was attached to this game from the fact that the Vics, as prospective league champions, were leading their nearest and dearest rivals by one point on the League table. While the Halfway lads were able to field a team built on their usual lines, the Meadowites seemed in a great quandary to fix their eleven. Injuries and ‘desertions’ had certainly left their mark.’ In fact, to make up their numbers, Meadow had to field a right back called Nisbet, who was borrowed from Springside Thistle.
When the derby kicked off, again in front of 2,000 spectators, play was described as being ‘of a vigorous nature with exciting moments at both ends.’ Meadow, with the wind behind them, soon got on top and began applying constant pressure, but it was Vics who broke away and took the lead. “Spence again lofted the sphere back into the centre, from whence it was rushed into the net.” Davidson nearly had Vics two goals ahead, but was foiled by Meadow’s ‘keeper, Syme, who produced a great save. However, it was Meadow who scored when a corner kick was deflected past the Vics’ goalkeeper by one of his own defenders
Vics, with the wind behind them, began the second half on the attack and looked like potential winners, but, as so often happens, they didn’t take their chances and were caught out when ‘Elliot (the Vics’ ‘keeper) in clutching to save, pulled the ball down, only to find Muir rushing in to head out of his hands into the net.’ (The Irvine Herald). The goal wouldn’t have been allowed nowadays, but in 1923 goalkeepers didn’t get the protection they do now. The goal stood and Meadow had their first Marymass win. In the first eight years of the Marymass Derby, Vics had four wins to Meadow’s three, with the other game finishing in a 3-3 draw. From 1928 onwards, though, Meadow began their domination of the fixture, even managing a 20-game unbeaten run from 1955 up to 1974 (one game, 1969, was drawn).