League 2 leaders Arbroath have enjoyed a terrific start to the season under new manager Allan Moore, opening up a five-point lead over Albion Rovers thanks to six wins from seven games.
Next up for the Red Lichties is a William Hill Scottish Cup second-round tie against local rivals Montrose on Saturday. Here are 10 things you might not know about the Gayfield club.
1 Formed in 1878 following a meeting at the George Hotel on Commerce Street, Arbroath played their early games in black and white hoops before adopting the traditional maroon jerseys in 1882.
2 Arbroath secured the biggest ever Scottish Cup victory when they handed out a 36-0 thrashing to Aberdeen side Bon Accord in September 1885. Jocky Petrie scored 13 of the goals.
3 Arbroath have earned two nicknames - the first is the ‘Red Lichties’ which came about due to the red light used to guide fishing boats back to the safety of the harbour. The alternative nickname is the ‘Smokies’ which comes from the local delicacy of smoked haddock.
4 Goalkeeper Ned Doig, who made his debut in 1886, is the club’s most decorated internationalist - in fact he is the only one. Doig gained two of his six Scotland caps at Arbroath before he made moves to Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland and Liverpool.
5 One of the biggest heroes in the club’s history is Albert Henderson, who was the manager from September 1962 to January 1980. Prior to the formation of the Premier Division in 1975, Henderson guided Arbroath to two promotions and kept them in Scotland’s top flight for four seasons. His team played an exciting brand of football and claimed their first and only win over Rangers – a 3-2 success in Glasgow, with the winner coming from John Fletcher.
6 After two unsuccessful play-off attempts, Arbroath were promoted to Division Two in 2008 under John McGlashan, who had played for the club over 100 times as a striker. Cowdenbeath were defeated in the semi-finals and Stranraer were seen off 2-1 in the final, with Arbroath just hanging on with 10 men after current East Stirlingshire boss Craig Tully was sent off.
7 Gayfield’s record attendance was set in season 1951/52 when 13,510 crammed in for a Scottish Cup tie against Rangers, which the visitors won 2-0.
8 Paul Sheerin guided Arbroath to their first ever trophy in 2010/11 when they clinched the Third Division title with a 4-1 win over local rivals Montrose at Gayfield.
9 Gayfield is the closest senior football ground to the sea in Britain. The stadium lies just five metres away when the tide is at its highest and players have been known to be splashed with salty water on very windy days!
10 The current management team of Allan Moore and Todd Lumsden not only work together at Gayfield - they work together during the day. Lumsden is in charge of lecturer Moore at the Football Performance Course at New College Lanarkshire.
Craig Stewart
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