A goal to cherish

Mar 20 2009 by Iain Pollock, Dumfries Standard Friday

FOR once, Gayfield was bathed in sunshine. Arbroath FC’s home is better known for horizontal rain whipped crossfield by gales from the North Sea.

But Saturday, April 19, 1986 was Spring like, much to the relief of the large band of Queens fans who had made the long trip to the north east.

The season’s end was rapidly approaching and the table topping Doonhamers were involved in the mother of all tussles with Dunfermline for the division three championship.

It was an important day. Two points for the win would ensure promotion. The title could wait.

Ebullient Red Lichties’ boss Jimmy Bone had promised no quarter, a fight to the very end. His side were not going to lay down and gift the Dumfries outfit anything.

And so it was in a stuffy first half when defences were on top and, frankly, neither side looked like making the breakthrough.

Queens’ manager Nobby Clarke gave his customary calm, analytical half-time team talk, reminding the side of the opportunity there for the grabbing.

The second half got under way in the pretty much the same fashion as the first. Big occasions can work out like that.

Then a moment of inspiration. Wee Tommy Bryce picked up a loose ball inside the Abroath half.

Big Stewart Cochrane was already running. Tommy’s perfect pass found the striker.

“Tommy Bryce put me through,” Stewart recalled. “I went round two defenders and was one on one with the keeper.

“I kind of shimmied, went to the right and slotted in. It was quite an acute angle. Right foot.

“That was the only goal of the game and we were promoted.

“The thing I really remember about it was it was a really good goal.

“What also sticks in my mind was the great day. It was sunny. The previous time we had been there was a midweek night game and it had been blowing a gale.”

It was a cracking day for Queens and, especially, for Stewart who had celebrated his 23rd birthday on the Friday.

He still has the programme amongst a wealth of Queens’ memorabilia from his playing days. Less than a season later, Stewart’s football career came to an abrupt, premature end with a nasty knee injury.

But he looks back with fond memories on that particular season.

“I think we had a team that could have been developed into one for the first division at the time,” he said.

“My ever lasting memory of the team was the high number of local players.”