Inverness Citadel ?

[+snorbens_caleyman]

IBM, what makes you think that could be Citadel?  Do you have some other information about the photo?

I have to say that to me they look big, sleek, well-fed, well-groomed - to me they just don't look like a Highland team from, at the latest, the mid 1930s.

Why would Citadel have had a strip with "A" on it?

If this was taken in Inverness, I'd hazard a guess that this is some professional team - maybe an "A" team, possibly not Scottish or even British - up to play an exhibition.  Not sure if these things happened in Citadel's time. 

[IBM]

It was in with my father in laws old photos and his father had played for Citadel although he is not in th photo. I had a look at all his army photos and there is nobody from them in the team so I can't think what other team it might be although as you suggested it might be a national team. 

[+snorbens_caleyman]

Well, if you have a few hours to spare...  http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/

Though that won't help you if it's not an English or Scottish club. 

It's an unusual and exotic (ie possibly expensive) strip for back then.  Hence my thoughts about it being a professional team.

[dougiedanger]

The strip doesn't match up with any on that site for clubs starting with 'A'.

If anyone has eagle eyes they might decipher the tattoos sported by five of the players. The only one I can make out appears to be a character with a Tam O'Shanter.

[Yngwie]

A for Army?!

Would that also explain the prevalence of tattoos?

[IBM]

Thanks for the help and suggestions, I had a look at the tattoos on the original photo using a magnifying glass and then at his old army photos and found the guy rear right in uniform with the same tattoo!  He served in the Seaforth Highlanders from 1947 to 1953 so that will be the time frame and know it is not Citadel. 

[+snorbens_caleyman]

I wondered if it was the Seaforths. One or two of them had tattoos suggestive of the Seaforths' stag, but I couldn't quite convince myself.   

Time frame interesting too, because it didn't look pre-WW2. 

Now playing: "Caber Feidh" 

[IBM]

19 minutes ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

I wondered if it was the Seaforths. One or two of them had tattoos suggestive of the Seaforths' stag, but I couldn't quite convince myself.   

Time frame interesting too, because it didn't look pre-WW2. 

Now playing: "Caber Feidh" 

Great tune I know it well.  I am better sticking with Transport 

[Scarlet Pimple]

Well, this is quite a walk through yester-years. very interesting though and very absorbing !

Thanks for all the references which did bring back some memories I must admit.     

 

[JockWatt]

Getting back to the Citadel - I know that my mate, Donnie Nelson's (goalkeeper of Dalneigh United) father - Henry Nelson - was goalkeeper for the Citadel, but I do not know in which years. They lived about 5 or 7 Laurel Avenue.

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

The Olde

 

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

And the New 

[+snorbens_caleyman]

This time with names.   The "M Smith" in the back row is my grandfather, Murd Smith.  He played left-half, and had been with Citadel for a few years by 1928.  He went on to become their trainer for a while, and was also trainer for Inverness Thistle for a time in the 1950s.