You Couldn't Make It Up!

by Jack Little

At the SFL monthly meeting on 18/12/1913 the meeting agreed to set up a committee to investigate a complaint by Tom Adams the Thistle defender that a linesman at the Morton v Thistle match on 13/12 was involved in coupon betting. It was also agreed that the League would write to all clubs and officials reminding them that betting was not allowed. The match in question was a 1-0 defeat in which Morton scored with a bitterly disputed penalty which was awarded after the referee had consulted a linesman 4 minutes from time. History does not record which linesman was involved but it's possible the decision may have been influenced by an ulterior motive! However…On 14/1/1914 the "Daily Record" published a letter issued by the SFA Referee Committee. It was from Adams to the linesman offering an abject apology stating that the accusation was made in the heat of the moment when he awarded the penalty. It seems the apology was accepted. At the SFL meeting on 22/1/1914 Adams was fined £5 and censured. Perhaps his written apology helped reduce the fine.

Publishing date An original Thistle Archive publication, 07-Sep-2020.
Latest edit date Latest edit version 02-Jun-2020.

© The Thistle Archive 2015-2024. All rights reserved. Third-party trademarks and content are the property of their respective owners, and subject to their own copyright terms and conditions. See the website links provided in each case.