Sports By Mary Mitchell

The first highly publicised sports in Liddesdale were in 1834, the year after the Duke of Buccleuch visited when he had suggested there was a need for some kind of sport. The programme shows leaping of all kinds, foot racing, weight throwing, wrestling, hitch and kick.

In 1835 many improvements had been made and the games carried on from 10.00 a.m. till 7.00 p.m. with Lord John Scott and his Company of Archers in attendance on the Mangerton Holm. Enormous crowds attended.

Lord John Scott continued to support these annual games and appears to have been very popular. Other sports were ‘the strayed sheep’ games at Billhope (Billhope Gathering), quoits, curling and golf. There was also greyhound coursing on the Holm Hill.

Organised football began in Newcastleton in 1880 and the players travelled long distances to matches sometimes with considerable success. A special train was laid on for one match.

There is a green bowling club, a carpet bowling club, and the golf club now has a new club house.

Curling was also a very popular sport in the earlier days and fishing always has its devotees but the Liddle is not particularly well stocked with fish.