A DIEHARD Irvine Meadow fan last week presented the club with some historic memorabilia.

Lex Cousar handed over an Ayrshire Juvenile Cup winners' medal, which was won by his grandfather John Cousar in 1896-97. Meadow beat Hurlford Star 2-0 in that season's Juvenile Cup final, which was played at Irvine's Cochrane Park.

And he gifted the club some vintage team photos which were viewed at a meeting of the Meadow Memories Wednesday Club at the Irvine Meadow Social Club.

John and his brother William Cousar were founder members of the club in 1895 when they left another Irvine juvenile club called Hill Rangers.

Their new club, Meadow XI, had a mixed first season, but then everything clicked in their second and they went through their fixtures unbeaten and won the three competitions they entered.

John was a centre forward and was known to be a regular goalscorer. He is believed to have been the record scorer for a single season until at least the 1920s.

William was also a forward, but took on the dual role of Player/Secretary.

When Meadow decided to turn junior in 1897, William Cousar - along with Hugh Allan - was given the task of going to Lumley’s Sports Outfitters in Glasgow to buy a new set of royal blue jerseys. Previously the club had played in light blue shirts.

Lex’s uncle, Robert Cousar, a right half or inside right, signed up for Third Lanark from Meadow, but his senior career was curtailed by the outbreak of war.

In 1946 he returned to Meadow Park and helped the club to a Scottish Cup semi-final. The following season they went all the way to the final at Hampden, but lost 2-1 to Bo’ness United.

When not playing for Meadow, the Cousars have been in the stand and on the terracing supporting the team.