An inkling that there was a good story behind Inverurie’s leading football team led supporter David Fasken to research and write this history of “the Locos”.
What has unravelled is a wonderful tale of the trials and tribulations of a Works team, founded in 1902 by the railway workers of the Great North of Scotland Railway Company, which moved on from Junior to Senior football after 99 years and which has become a major community club along the way.
Over the years “the Locos” has become an Inverurie institution held in high regard and affection by the people of the town.
The book title relates to Harlaw Park. “The Locos” are the only North-East Junior (and now Senior) team to have played continuously at their original ground for 113 years. From the pioneering days, as the Locomotive Works and Junior football were established in the early years of last century, to the halcyon days of the 1930s, to survival through the Second World War, to the closure of the Works in 1969 and the troubled times which ensued, and to the move into Senior football after 71 years of flirting with the Highland League – it’s all covered in detail.
Inverurie Locos, as a country club, always had to stand up for itself before the football authorities in Aberdeen and Glasgow and was never afraid to make its voice heard. Various “spats” as well as the successes and failures on the pitch are all included.
The players are covered in detail. There is a separate chapter on Andy Beattie who played for the club from 1930 to 1935, before transferring to Preston North End, playing for Scotland, and being appointed the first manager of the Scotland national team.
Locos’ first goalkeeper, the wonderful Sandy Mutch, won an FA Cup winners medal with Huddersfield Town in 1922, goalkeeper Jack Reilly won 35 caps for Australia and faced Gerd Muller and Franz Beckenbauer of West Germany at the 1974 World Cup Finals, and centre-forward Norrie “Podge” Davidson played for both Aberdeen and Hearts, scoring the winning goal for the latter in the 1962 Scottish League Cup Final against Kilmarnock at Hampden Park. And there were the great players of the 1920s and 1930s – players like Willie “Winkie” Young, Norman Law and Henry Ross, more popularly known as “Corker”. And many more….
David Fasken is from Inverness and has a wide knowledge of the Highland League.
He has combined another personal interest in railways to set the scene. The book includes a foreword by current Scottish Football Association President and former Locos’ player Alan McRae.
“If Goalposts Could Talk….” costs £20:00 (£24 for a posted copy) and all sales proceeds go to Inverurie Loco. Works Football Club.
The book can be purchased from Harlaw Park, or Gibbs Menswear and Strachans Newsagents in Inverurie town centre; or, for a posted copy, e-mail the club at inverurielocoworksfc@highlandleague.com with your name and full address for a PAYPAL payment request; or, send your details with a cheque payable to “Inverurie Loco. Works F.C.” to Billy Thomson, 7 Birch Drive, Osprey Village, Inverurie AB51 6AN.
