Yesterday's heroes...

Heroes Index

Foyers 1912

Pictured Back Row L to R; D. MacLean, John Fraser (Jock Brisk), Angie Kennedy, Alec MacLaren.
Middle Row L to R; Colonel Laughton, Alister Dow, Duncan MacDonald (Dunc Slash), D Cameron, Andrew Maclean. Roddie Reid?
Front Row L to R; John MacInnes (Jock Fort), James Fraser (Swallow), Duncan MacDonald (Birch), Charlie MacMillan, Alec MacKenzie (Cabers).

The Foyers team with The Strathdearn Cup (upper) and The Ledingham Cup

The Foyers team pictured in front of the Aluminium Factory in 1912 after winning the Strathdearn Cup (Scotland's North area Junior Championship). The other cup has been identified as the Ledingham Cup, presented by Mr Ledingham himself and to be played for between the 'Macs' of the surrounding area and the 'Non Macs' also known as the 'Crops'.  (ie Mr Mac Donald and MacKenzie and MacMannus versus Mr Campbell or Stewart or Blair or anyone without a Mac in their history!)
It's inclusion in the photograph is therefore a little strange, unless there was a lack of 'Crops' in the area to compete that year .
The game may have been played against local rivals Stratherrick so as to continue the tradition of a curtain raiser to the new season, any more information would be most welcome.

This was only the second year of play in the new Strathdearn Cup Competition, having being previously won by Inverness in it's inaugural year, 1911, then followed by this teams success the following year. Foyers went on to successfully defend the cup in 1913, followed by Carrbridge in 1914. The Great War intervened and when the competition was again held, Stratherrick were the 1920 Champions. Between the two local teams they have won the Strathdearn Cup a total of Nine times, Foyers five times Champions, Stratherrick Champions twice, Straths Athletic once and Boleskine once. If we count the 1930 Champions, Strathdearn, then that is a total of 10 Championships for local teams! Only Kingussie have managed to match this feat!

Duncan MacDonald (Birch) is the father of George (Teep) MacDonald and grandfather to Duncan MacDonald... the current president of the club and the last of three generations of his family to Captain their local team.
He also penned many fine poems and we hope to bring you a selection from time to time on this web site.

© D M D 2000