1926 Kirk Hill Football (Soccer) Club
The organization of the Glengarry Football (Soccer) Association took place in 1924. In 1927 the Kirk Hill Football Club rose up to become the first dominant team in the fledgling football league.
After playing exhibition matches in 1925 Kirk Hill held an organizational meeting on Saturday, May 5, 1926 to enter a team in the GFL. Election of officers was as follows: President J.W. MacLeod, Vice-president W.A. Dewar, Secretary-Treasurer W.D. MacLeod, Coach H.J MacGillivray and Captain Neil Blair Kirk Hill’s first game was held on a cold, rainy evening June 21, 1926 against defending champs McCrimmon. Second-half corner kicks taken by Eddie Carter resulted in two goals, one headed in by Neil Blair, the other booted by Robbie Dewar. Final score: Kirk Hill 2, McCrimmon 0.
On July 15, Kirk Hill defeated Dalkeith 3-0 to clinch first place in the East Division (which included Laggan, McCrimmon, Lochiel, and Dalkeith as well as Kirk Hill), finishing league play with 13 of a possible 16 points.
In the championship finals, Kirk Hill met Greenfield – the West Division champions – who had defeated Maxville 2-1. On Monday, August 23 at Kirk Hill, goalie Angus MacGillivray recorded a strong game against the fast Greenfield forwards, resulting in a 0-0 draw.
From the files of The Glengarry News of the day, a description of the second game follows: “On Friday evening, August 27th, 1926 Krikhill Football team journeyed to Greenfield to meet the Greenfield Eleven, championships of the Western League in the last home and home game to decide (the) Glengarry Championship. The game started at 6:30, Kirkhill taking the kick-off carried the ball to the Greenfield end, play came to the middle field but the Black and Orange (Kirk Hill) had the best of the play in the first period although the Red and Whites (Greenfield) made brilliant rushes but found the Kirkhill backs hard to beat.
The second period started with Greenfield taking the kick-off. Kirkhill’s left wing Eddie Carter dribbled the ball down the left flank and drove the ball to the centre field where the Greenfield back missed the ball. Kirkhill’s centre Neil Blair drove a hard one through the Greenfield goal, the goalie having no chance to save at all, scoring the memorable 1-0 for Kirkhill.”
On July 9 of the following year, 1927, Kirk Hill defeated Lochiel 2-0, Captain Normie John MacLeod scoring both goals in the first half. This result allowed Kirk Hill to repeat as champions and they narrowly missed a third, losing in the final playoff game to Lochiel in 1928.
According to the records of a club treasurer, it was a time to 25-cent admission prices (children free) and loyal, enthusiastic fans. A match between Laggan and Kirk Hill attracted gate receipts of over 60 dollars. It cost $3.50 for a football and 50 cents for a bladder to inflate the ball. Attesting to an era of hospitality, the visiting team was treated to salmon sandwiches, tea and coffee after the game.
Local clubs – as exemplified by Kirk Hill – came from small, closely – knit communities with players ranging in age from 16 to 45, coming from almost each and every farm in that community. This unfortunately led to the demise of the Kirk Hill team after the 1928 season as young players moved away to seek work and could not be replaced. The Kirk Hill team of 1926 was defined by superb goaltending, a stalwart back line, as well as skilled and speedy forwards and a gentlemanly style of play. There were several key players on this championship team. Goalie Angus MacGillivray and centre halfback Alexander ‘Sandy’ MacLeod were invalubable. Forwards Eddie Carter and Neil Blair, both born in Great Britain, were two of the outstanding players of the day.
Eddie Carter went on to play for Maxville and Greenfield teams. Neil Blair helped form and coach the powerful Grove club of the late 1930’s. H.J. (John Archie) MacGillivray was described by Hall of Fame historian Angus H. McDonell as one of the all-time great fullbacks.
These men invested many hours in the following years to work on club and league executives and performed the challenging task of refereeing as the Glengarry League flourished. In Carter’s case, this contribution eventually turned from years into decades.
Perhaps the finest compliment the Kirk Hill team of 1926 received was from Eddie Carter, who was quoted by a good friend as saying it was the greatest team on which he had ever played.
Members of the Kirk Hill Champions are as follows: Angus MacGillivray, H.J. MacGillivray, Donnie MacMillian, Norman J. MacLeod, Mack MacCuaig, Alexander MacLeod, Neil Blair, Evans MacGillivray, William D. MacLeod, Eddie Carter, Robbie Dewar, J.D. MacGillivray, John A. MacLeod, A.N. MacMillian and William Claremont.
