Aberdeen 13 - 0 Peterhead

Peterhead's Team Difficulties

Aberdeen defeated Peterhead by thirteen goals to nothing. Play was Gilbertian in its character, and the spectators laughed heartily when Peterhead players found themselves diving after the ball into pools of water, and when they saw Blackwell, Aberdeen's goalkeeper, who was walking between his goalposts with an overcoat on to shelter himself from the heavy rain, blown on his back by the fierce easterly hurricane. The game meant financial loss for the victors. The Peterhead club had stipulated for a guarantee of £200 to forgo their ground advantage and come to play at Pittodrie. The total drawings from 3241 spectators, exclusive of tax, and including the stand amounted to £181. Saturday's five scorers in the first half were Grant, Thomson (twice), Dr Milne (from a penalty), and Rankine. In the second half the scorers were Dr Milne (twice), Grant (thrice), Thomson, Middleton, and Smith. The excuse given for what was evidently considered might prove an unlucky thirteenth goal was that the left winger could not help it. The Peterhead club had great difficulty in getting together a side, and it is understood that some of their players refused to turn out unless the club conceded the terms they demanded. They wanted £10, no matter what the result was.

Source: The Scotsman, 12th February 1923

At Pittodrie, Aberdeen registered the record score in this season's Scottish Cup competition, when in the third round they defeated Peterhead by 13 goals 0.
Consequent upon having trouble with certain of the players over the amount of remuneration to be paid for the game, Peterhead dispensed with the services of eight of the usual cup-tie team, and a scratch eleven did duty. These included Hume, the ex-Aberdeen back, who was specially transferred from the Arbroath club for the occasion, and C. P. Murray and A. J. T. Wiseman, the secretary and captain respectively of the Aberdeen University team. The names of the two latter were not given to the press before the game, although their identity was well known, and it was also ascertained that their names did not appear on the official list given to the home captain on the field, although the list contained eleven names.
A player cannot play for two clubs in the Scottish Cup competition, and as the two University players named had assisted Aberdeen University in the second round of the Qualifying competition against Peterhead they were ineligible to participate in Saturday's game?a fact which ought to have been recognised by those concerned. Those circumstances only added to the farcical element of the tie, as had Peterhead by any chance won, they would have been liable to disqualification.

One-Sided Game.

With the fierce gale in their favour in the first half, Aberdeen attacked practically throughout, and the fact that Blackwell only once had occasion to dispense with a waterproof coat which afforded him some protection from the elements, reflected the one-sided nature of the game. Grant opened the scoring after persistent pressure, and shortly afterwards, Thomson added a second, and the same player obtained a third. From a penalty, Milne got a fourth goal, and before the interval Rankin headed a fifth. But for good defensive play by Hume, who intercepted numerous shots with head and feet, and on one occasion was stunned heading away a scoring-like effort by Grant, the Aberdeen lead at the interval would have exceeded 5-0. Even that commanding lead did not appear too substantial for the home team, considering that the visitors would have the elements in their favour in the second half, but as events proved it was amply sufficient. Inferior training, not to mention inferior ability, told its tale, and in the second period the superiority of the Aberdeen team, even in the face of the gale was more marked than it had been earlier. Milne quickly shot a goal, and subsequently the Aberdeen players simply toyed with the opposition. Grant walked through a seventh goal, and a drive by Milne brought the total up to eight and his contribution three. Grant added other two, making his own total four. Thomson put through an eleventh to bring his contribution up to three, and before the finish Middleton and Smith scored. McRobbie and Buchan of the visitors retired before the end. Peterhead were outplayed at every point of the game, and apart from two excellent tries by Wiseman ("Allan") which Blackwell had to save, were never really dangerous.

Aberdeen's Financial Loss.

The number who actually paid for admission to the game was 3241, and the receipts, including stand but not entertainments tax, amounted to £181 8s 111/2d. Peterhead were guaranteed a sum of £200 and travelling expenses in lieu of their agreeing to a change of venue, the Aberdeen club will lose heavily on the transaction.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 12th February 1923

Aberdeen v. Peterhead Football Fiasco.

Sir,- Feeling has been running high in Peterhead during the past week over the farcical proceedings in connection with this Scottish Cup tie. Whatever may be the merits of the case, there is general agreement that money is the bottom of the regrettable situation that has arisen. As Mr R. G. Campbell, the Rangers' ex-captain, said at a public meeting in Aberdeen the other day, " there is too much dividend, bonus, remuneration, and coupon in football nowadays," and the proceedings in connection with this Cup tie are a striking confirmation of Mr Campbell's warning.
Neither of the clubs concerned in the tie is to be complimented on the way in which they have conducted the negotiations; it has been a sordid affair so far as that is concerned from beginning to end, and the conditions under which the match was played on Saturday seemed to many sportsmen a fitting reward for their efforts.
It is said that Buchan, the Peterhead goalkeeper, from the very start of the negotiations, took up the attitude that he would not go to Aberdeen to play the tie even if he were offered the whole guarantee of £250. One can understand this sportsmanlike attitude, and I think is pity the other members of the team did not adopt it, instead of demanding their pound of flesh in the shape of a £10 bonus. If they had done so one could not have said word against them, as they were not consulted by the directors as to whether they were willing go to Aberdeen or not. While that is so, the general feeling in Peterhead seems to be one of hostility to the directors for selling the right of ground to Aberdeen, and that hostility is all the greater owing to the fact that it was at first given out that the tie would played at Peterhead. The negotiations and explanations by the directors, which resulted in the tie being played at Aberdeen have only served to emphasise the fact that money and not sport is the most important factor in the management of the club.
Another element that has caused considerable indignation in Peterhead among shopkeepers and others is the fact that if the tie had been played at Peterhead it would have brought a considerable amount of money into the town, whereas the transference to Aberdeen took a lot of money out of the town. This may appear a somewhat selfish attitude on the part of shopkeepers, refreshment room keepers, Hotel keepers, public-house keepers, and others, but when it is pointed out that it has been customary for those people to close their places of business on gala days got up to raise funds for the recreation Park their Indignation can be more readily understood?especiallv when through such a period of depression as it is present.
It will be interesting to watch what effect this rumpus will have on the attitude of shopkeepers and others as to closing when another gala day comes round, and on the supporters of the team which has carried the team into the third round of the Scottish Cup ties. One hears on every had that the club is bound to suffer, but we had better wait and see. A more serious situation will be created if the Aberdeen club, as stated in the press, report the Peterhead club to the Scottish Football Association for playing certain men who were ineligible. I have an impression that if this is done the Association will order an inquiry to be held in regard to the whole matter , and if the inquiry results in the Association making it unlawful in the future for a club to sell its ground right, this unfortunate affair will have done something for the good of football and for the cleansing of sport general.
Yours, etc,

Veritas Vincit.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 13th February 1923