‘Quivering excitement’ at being so close to history in hard-fought final

For the final, Freuchie were marched through the gates of Lord’s by Pipe Major Alistair Pirnie and the whole occasion was described as a “sweet September song” by Dave Christie, who recognised, at the age of 48, that he was in the twilight of his career.

Both he and his son were in the thick of the battle.

Brian said: “I never forgot being reassured by my dad as I walked in to bat and noticing this steely look on his face.

“Sure, there was frustration that he wasn’t there at the end, but there was also this quivering excitement at us being so close to history.

“I was nervous inside, of course I was, but all we required was common sense and if only I had managed to play a shot to the ball which sparked the pitch invasion, my dad wouldn’t have needed to get on the tannoy and ask the spectators to get off the pitch.

“But, in a way, it only added to the drama and the spectacle and the climactic scenes were pure unadulterated magic for all of us.

“When we returned home, the celebrations were incredible.

“But nothing really changed. I can look out on to the pitch and all the houses around it in this community and I pretty much know all the folk who live in them and who come along to support us. You can’t do that in a big city. But you can in a wee village like Freuchie.”

The club has struggled in recent years, and several of the victorious team have died, but the Christies are one of the most famous families in their domain.