A north-east football team that swept the opposition aside to win the Highland League before having the honour stripped from them has reunited – 25 years on from the controversy.
Elgin City finished top of the Highland League in 1993 in what was the centenary of the competition.
However, the record books show the title was withheld in the landmark year after the league committee opted to punish the Moray team for bringing a match forward 24 hours to allow two players, who would otherwise have been suspended, to play.
A campaign has been launched by fans to have the honour restored to the club as recognition of the side’s achievements and as an acknowledgement that the punishment administered at the time was “excessive” – with fines of £100 to £300 common for similar offences at the time.
At the weekend, members of the table-topping side reunited for an evening of memories at Borough Briggs.
Organiser Mike Teasdale, who played in defence before starring for Dundee and Inverness Caley Thistle, said: “The team spirit in that squad was the biggest factor in us winning the title, but being stripped of it sucked the life out of many of us and unfortunately the squad started to break up in the months following.
“The reunion has been a long time coming, it was a fantastic period in our careers.
“We’re all hopeful that, as a result of the fans’ campaign, the decision can be overturned. In any case, the reunion has been a chance to catch up and talk about our time playing together.”
John Teasdale, who was player-manager in 1993, travelled back to Moray for the reunion from his home in the USA.
More than 600 people have now backed a petition calling on the Scottish Football Association to return the players’ medals.
Goalkeeper Craig Hinchcliffe, who is now coach at Motherwell, revealed the club was threatened with punishment unless the players handed back their personal prizes.
He said: “The chairman had to ask us quite nicely to hand the medal back because there might have been further repercussions on the club.
“When we went back the following season the place was hollow, I will always remember that.
“I would love the medal back but I think more importantly there should be an acknowledgement the punishment was not right.”
