Ian Watson has been encouraged by the progress made by his former side Fraserburgh Cricket Club and hopes the club are on the brink of a golden era.
Watson, who was part of the Broch side that won the Aberdeenshire Cup in 1973, played as an all-rounder with the club from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Fraserburgh play in the second tier of the Aberdeenshire Cricket Association Grades and Watson reckons they are capable of challenging for the title.
He said: “There is a great tradition of cricket in the Broch, going back to when the club was formed in 1962.
“Since then we have enjoyed not just playing the game, but having great success in the 1970s when we not only graced Grade 1, but won the prestigious Aberdeenshire Cup.
“From what I can see the current crop of players who include youngsters and female cricketers, are well capable of going back to Grade 1 and holding their own.
“It could be another golden era for the club is on the horizon, and they are all Broch born.”
The new-look Fraserburgh set up has been preparing for the 2020 season under the quiet, but authoritative leadership of president Michael Watson, son of Ian, and club captain Liam Bowie, hoping that there will be some play in the summer.
Club president Watson said: “The club has come to recognise that to survive we needed to effect culture and modernisation from within.
“It was decided to focus on youth, starting by embracing as many national and local inititatives as we possibly can, working closely with local primary schools, and Tony McKenna, the local Cricket Scotland development officer and our own club coach Alan Rennie, who is a leading light in the promotion of cricket in schools.
“The Covid-19 outbreak has put paid to these schemes, but they are only on hold, and once we are safe, we will go again.”
Bowie expressed his frustrations at the current hold up, but said: “We will just have to adjust. We have been badly hit by the delay in getting the season under way, but we have a strong club core and we shall wait it out as one.’’
If the Broch are to emulate the feats of Ian Watson, they should be aware he topped both the batting (33.30) and bowling (4.78) averages in Grade 1 in 1970 while as regular in Grades Select teams.
He opened the batting with Ian McCrae of Stoneywood-Dyce, who also played six times for Scotland at rugby.
Watson said: “It’s not about personal glory, but putting the club on the cricket map, as we did in 1973 when we were delighted to enjoy centre stage with Fraserburgh Football Club who in the same season, also won the Aberdeenshire Cup.
“Our joint reward was a civic reception laid in by the Town Council. It was a proud occasion for the Broch.”
