It's A Funny Old Game - Believe it or not.

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In September 1885 When Arbroath recorded their famous 36-0 victory over Aberdeen Bon Accord in a Scottish Cup tie, the largest margin of victory in senior football history, Dundee Harp were hammering Aberdeen Rovers 35-0 on the SAME day

 

What makes that outcome ever more interesting is that, according to Fraser Clyne, the Arbroath FC historian who researched both matches in detail, the referee had noted that 37 goals had been scored. However, Harp's secretary insisted the correct result was two goals less. The referee is said to have acknowledged difficulty keeping track of the offensive onslaught and acceded to Harp's lower total â?? completely unaware that a club down the road was establishing the record ... and having the last laugh.

 

Dundee Harp full back Tom O'Kane was an ex-Arbroath player, and persuaded the Dundee club's officials to send a telegram to his former colleagues at Gayfield Park boasting of his team's record breaking achievement. The Harp players and officials were not to know that Arbroath had actually gone one better against another unfortunate Aberdeen side on that same afternoon.

 

On receiving the Harp telegram, Arbroath officials took great delight in sending a reply boasting of the Angus sideâ??s superior achievement. Both parties had a good laugh over the exchange of messages, each believing the other was playing a humorous trick.

 

It was only when O'Kane arrived back in Arbroath on the late Saturday evening train that he discovered the truth. Locals were quick to tell him that the Arbroath result was no joke and Harpâ??s record-breaking claim was about to be lost.

 

The following morning, O'Kane got up early and jogged the 18 miles along the coast to Dundee to alert Harp officials to the situation. The Dundonians now seriously regretted correcting the referee's account of the goal tally, and although it isnâ??t clear what efforts they made to get the result altered, the score was left as it had been recorded on the Saturday.