Strathmore Cricket Club News story


George Myles

22 Feb 2024

George Myles

Undoubtedly one of the finest players to represent Strathmore Cricket Club in it's long and proud history, George Myles passed away at his home in Forfar last Friday at the age of 91.

A Korean veteran, George played for ‘Strathie’ during the golden generation of the fifties, sixties and seventies.

A right arm medium pace bowler of unerring accuracy, he formed an opening partnership with his great friend Neil Prophet that was envied throughout the length and breadth of Scotland.

George, a fierce but fair competitor, respected by team mates and opponents alike, had by the end of his career at Strathmore taken, astonishingly, just short of 1,700 wickets.  

Into the bargain he was a hard hitting, to say the least, left-handed middle order batsmen; particularly potent in 25 over a side Three Counties Cup matches, where his all round attributes played a major part in many a midweek success.

For many years George was courted by the high ‘heid yins’ of the time at Forthill to move into the Scottish County scene, but a couple of ‘guest’ appearances apart, he never gave serious consideration to moving from his beloved Strathmore.

There were however two regrets in his career.

Firstly the Scottish cap that he richly deserved never came his way, although he was reckoned, rightly, by many to be the best uncapped cricketer of his generation.

Secondly injury struck at the worst time ever for George. Despite having played a massive part in the success story at the club in the sixties, injury robbed him of his spot in the Rothman Quaich (Scottish Cup) winning side at Hamilton Crescent in August of 1971, this after he had ironically appeared in every game the club had played in the competition over the seven seasons since it’s inception in 1965.

In later life, work commitments took him over to the Leven area before returning to the ‘toonie’ and George finished his cricketing journey by turning out for the local side on a number of occasions including a fixture in the Kingdom against a young Strathmore 3rd XI side of the time, many of whom that Sunday afternoon were in awe at facing up to a Lochside ‘legend’.

One of George’s surviving colleagues from his playing days paid the following tribute:- ‘George was a fantastic cricketer for Strathie, without doubt the club’s number one bowler of all time, but as importantly a good man both on and off the field of play - another of the great generation gone.’

At this sad time for the family, all at Strathmore Cricket Club would like to pass on their sympathy and respects to Eileen his wife of seventy years, son Bruce and daughter in law Linda.

George’s funeral service will take place at Parkgrove Crematorium on Tuesday February 27th at 3.30p.m.