GLASGOW Academicals, who had been more used to the role of underachievers in recent times despite their prestigious name, top the Western Union en route to the play-offs and a coveted SNCL slot.
They have lost but once in the season, vanquished at Irvine by a last-ball six, and next Sunday the vibrant New Anniesland club will contest the Rowan Cup final against Clydesdale of the Premiership. Accies last won the trophy in 1932, and it is 38 years since they previously contested the final.
Why the remarkable change in fortunes?
"We've managed to put together a pretty good team of relatively young players, who have no fear and are hungry for success," notes captain Fraser Murray. Apart from a veteran slow bowler in Nigel Campbell, the squad largely is comprised of enthusiasts in their 20s and talented teenagers.
Former SMRH opener Ed Hunter, Richard Andrew, Andy Dodson and Murray himself have been consistently among the runs, and Australian overseas amateur Dan Scott, from Ballarat in Victoria, has made an enormous impact with nearly 600 league runs at an average of more than 60, including an unbeaten 137 fashioned in 112 balls against GHK. His 66 not out was also the mainstay of the innings in a last-over win against Partick at Hamilton Crescent, and all-rounder Euan Sheridan and former Scotland under-13 player Roddy Kelso have added useful scores.
Murray says: "Our varied bowling attack has also stepped up to the plate, not least recently against Hillhead, one of our major challengers, when we defended a low total. Seamer Kash Rashid has been a revelation in his first season with us, forming a potent opening attack with Ally Miller."
Andrew Smith, once a Durham trialist, offers off-breaks, Euan Sheridan dispenses left-arm spin, and the evergreen Campbell continues to provide his idiosyncratic brand of slow deliveries with remarkable success.
Youth convener Colin Dawson says: "Huge credit should go to Fraser Murray for bringing this side together, gelling them and generating some grand performances, especially given their relative youthful inexperience." He reveals that the club have implemented an ambitious five-year plan, with a key focus on youth development, in which school coach Vedam 'Hari' Hariharan has worked wonders for many years.
Hari, a senior coach at the Australian Sports Gateway Academy with Ashley Mallet and a director of the International Cricket School in Bangalore, India, is one of the most experienced development coaches in world cricket, and it is testimony to his outstanding work that in 2004 Glasgow Academy won the Henry Grierson award open to all UK schools: they were judged best for captaincy, batting, bowling, fielding, turnout and behaviour.
Hari's conveyor belt of talent flows on, with Sam Page holding the Scotland under-13s' innings together against Denmark, and Accies' league-topping under-18s providing four members of the West district squad. A further measure of the club's burgeoning popularity is that next season ten junior and senior teams will be fielded.
Accies can boast a handful of international players. The 1920s and 30s saw Andy Innes, George Crerar and Alex Forrester in Scotland colours, and more recently batsman-wicketkeeper Dougie Lockhart gained the first of his 147 caps out of New Anniesland.
But if the bandwagon keeps up its momentum, there is every chance that the club's honours board will require a signwriter once more. The rejuvenated Academicals are a force to be reckoned with, without doubt - and they are here for the long haul.
Sandy Strang, Scotland on Sunday, Sunday 13th August 2006