A riotous 1879 Dundee cricket match which was abandoned after its clown-costumed players were attacked by a spectator will be restaged this month.
An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people turned up for the Baxter Park match after one of the sides, a team of clowns from a travelling circus, promised to play in their outfits.
But as the huge crowd surged dangerously close to the wickets, a man took exception to the clowns’ “grotesque appearance” and tried to hit two of them.
The ensuing chaos caused the match to be abandoned, but the Friends of Baxter Park will stage a hopefully more sedate version at 2pm on August 24.
Chairwoman Irene Shearer said: “We loved the idea that so many people in Dundee wanted to see a cricket match, when Dundee is not well known for its love of cricket.
“That amount of people is like Bonfire Night. We’ve been able to get Norwood and Dundee High and one of the teams will be wearing cricketing whites and the other will come in elements of clown fancy dress.
“As soon as they admitted they wanted 11 full clown outfits to play cricket, they were turned down by the fancy dress shops.
“Maybe somebody reading this will be able to help out.”
The original tie took place on September 27 1879 between Mr Paul’s Eleven and a team of clowns from Mr Watson’s equestrian troupe from Newsome’s Circus.
Crowds packed the park for a glimpse of the clowns, who characteristically treated the match none-too-seriously.
The Dundee Advertiser, one of the Courier’s predecessors, reported (click here for full PDF of page): “The park was densely crowded and considerable difficulty was experienced in clearing the space where the wicket was pitched.
“Mace took Craik’s middle stump shortly afterwards and great excitement was created.
“The clowns by a series of somersaults reached the unlucky batsman and before he could remonstrate, was carried shoulder high off the field amid the cheers of onlookers.
“By this time, the crowd, who had been pressing in towards the wickets, became so close that the batsmen were afraid to strike the balls (in case they) injure anyone.”
The Advertiser reports the game ended shortly afterwards, prompting subsequent readers’ letters about the crowd’s “disgraceful conduct.”
It reads: “A man who was evidently out for a holiday attempted to interfere with two of the clowns, whose grotesque appearance did not seem to please him.
“He tried to strike, but this was soon prevented by his apprehension.
“The little incident caused much commotion. The crowd, breaking over the space where the wickets were pitched, necessitated the drawing of the stumps.”
Irene said the new event is the brainchild of secretary Colin Donald, who also hopes hospital radio presenters will commentate.
She said: “We’re asking people to come along with a picnic basket and watch the cricket. It’s going to be 20 overs, then a break and then another 20 overs. We hope to have a trophy for the winning team and man of the match.”