Ok, so you’ve probably seen this unusual illustration when clicking on this article and wondering what this is all about. The picture is fairly accurate, the story imagined by AI and yes, this IS to do with Blantyre and YES…those are clowns!
This was a fundraiser in May 1897 to raise money for the Blantyre Ambulance Association. With the growing popularity of football, a special, “charity” football match was arranged at Castle Park, Forrest Street, Blantyre, which ended up raising £2 10s. The teams were Mr J.McKenzie’s Theatre Group and the Shop Assistants of Glasgow Road. To identify players who were all in fancy dress, Mr McKenzie’s team dressed as clowns, the other team dressing in amusing costumes such as old women and police officers. Spectators were invited to the ground to witness the football match and this proved a most amusing event, owing mostly to the theatre group maintaining their clown personas on the football pitch at all times, acting out to much hilarity. The shop assistants made good viewing too, trying particularly hard to win, their portly and older appearances, not the usual common sight for players on this pitch.
Mr McDonald acted as referee. Amongst the players were JC Howton (Old Woman), J Scott (Clown), R. Tinning (Clown), Andrew (Policeman). Other costumes included a couple which would allowed or seen as politically correct these days.
The game, however at the time was reported in newspapers as “most amusing throughout” and ended up a fair draw at 4 -4 each. The Ambulance Association benefiting in an amount of money equivalent to £500 or so today.
