An incredible discovery at Blairgowrie High School by the Live Active staff has unearthed a fascinating piece of local sporting history, connecting us to a prominent figure in Perth’s past.
While tidying up, an old bag revealed some vintage cricket kit, including a bat bearing the name Joe Anderson. A quick search led to Joseph Anderson, a cricketer for Perthshire County Cricket Club, who made his first-class debut for Scotland against the touring West Indians in Edinburgh in 1906!
But the story doesn’t end there. Joe wasn’t just a talented sportsman – he also ran a sports outfitting shop in Perth. And in a heartwarming display of community spirit, Joe was known for equipping aspiring young cricketers with a free bat if they couldn’t afford one themselves.
Though Joe passed away in 1961, his daughter kept the shop on St John Street running until around 1980. The cricket bat found at Blairgowrie High School has been identified as a late 1960s or early 1970s model, supplied by the shop – a true testament to the enduring legacy of his business.
Steven Greig, Development Manager at The Gannochy Trust, has hailed this find as an “absolutely excellent addition” to an upcoming exhibition at Doo’cot Park on 30th July. The day will feature two thrilling games, Perth Select Team v Marylebone CC, followed by the exhibition where both teams played together in 1876.
The entire staff is delighted that this bat has found a good home and won’t just be sitting in a dark bag anymore.
