A Day to Remember – Saturday April 7th, 1984

Forty years ago this coming weekend was one that will never be forgotten in the annals of Forfar Athletic Football Club.

Their all conquering side of that season finally clinched the Second Division title in a carnival atmosphere at Station Park, an achievement that brought a dream to reality for Chairman Sam Smith in particular after he had taken over the running of a club who had hit quite simply rock bottom as far as results and league standings were concerned in the mid seventies.

The ‘Loons’ went into the game with Stranraer who were sitting in seventh place in the fourteen club league with still six games remaining knowing that victory over the Stair Park side would clinch the title.

Doug Houston’s troops had not been unbeaten on home soil all season and had in fact only lost at that point two league games away from home against Stenhousemuir and Cowdenbeath.
Stranraer however had not read the script and they silenced the crowd of 2, 142 when Joe O’Donnell opened the scoring in the Station Park sun shine in the third minute of the contest.

The visitors undoubtedly had the best of the early action against a nervous looking home side, the turning point of the contest in many an eye that afternoon a wonder save by big Stewart Kennedy on the half hour mark from a Tommy Bryce header.

That seemed to settle the ‘Loons’ and by the half time whistle goals from Jimmy Liddle and Ronnie Scott had restored some semblance of order.
The home side extended that lead four minutes into the second period, Billy Gallacher netting from close range, but Stranraer would not surrender, Keith Knox scoring their second following home defensive slackness on the hour mark.

However there was no stopping the home side now, cheered on by their ecstatic support, John Clark from the penalty spot restoring the two goal advantage from the penalty spot, prior to Jimmy Liddle netting number five.

A consolation counter by Tommy Bryce for the visitors who played their part in a superb ninety minutes of football did nothing to dampen the celebrations when referee Alan Ferguson blew the final whistle.

It was indeed a never to be forgotten occasion for all present as the legendary SFL President of the time David Letham from Queens Park handed over the Second Division Championship trophy to Ian McPhee, the celebrations for the Officials, Players and so importantly the Supporters many of whom had seen the club through some hard times went on long into the night and beyond.

The ‘Loons’ team on that day, although it has to be emphasised all of the very strong squad of the time played their part at some point in the so successful campaign was;-Kennedy, Lorimer, McPhee, Brown, Brash, Scott, Liddle, Farningham Gallacher(MacDonald), Bell (Cormack), Clark