Former Highland League official believes season 1992-93 should remain in "the history books"

25 years since perhaps the most controversial season in the history of the Highland Football League, a long-running debate has resurfaced over who were the true champions back in season 1992-93.

Elgin City brought forward a match at Mosset Park, where they played second-bottom Forres, winning convincingly 6-0. However in playing the match on the Friday night the Black & Whites fielded two ineligible players.

City, who 'won' the title by four points from Cove Rangers were then stripped of their Championship, but the second-place side decided they didn't want the 1992-93 title by default. Ever since the season has been listed in the yearbooks as "not awarded".

Now a petition by fans aims to reverse the Highland League decision and re-instate Elgin City as Champions from that season. It's a campaign that has seen support from a number of ex-Elgin City players, although one former Highland League official believes the past is best left in the past.

Donnie MacBean was senior vice president back in 1992-93 and believes there was a lot of "bad blood" for many years after that infamous incident.

Speaking to MFR News he said, "The players - I felt sorry for them - they were pretty upset with it all, but Elgin were a very good team that season"

"We looked at the points and I'm not sure what we would've done if there was a deduction as there was four between first and second place. Cove were clear they didn't want the title by default"

Former player Mike Teasdale has spoken of his "disbelief" at first, followed by anger, having already had the trophy and medal presentation.

Donnie MacBean says all medals were recovered - although remembers that one had been defaced - but he's adamant that the action taken was right.

"We did what we had to do. I know it's still there 25 years on. It was hugely disappointing for Elgin, it was their centenary, then the following season it was the Highland League's centenary. No, it wasn't a very nice episode at all"

Donnie has followed the news of the recent petition with interest, but believes it's destined to fall on deaf ears.

"The people that were there 25 years ago, it's a completely different set of officials, I just don't think there's any point in going to the Highland Football League because I doubt they'd reverse such a decision"

Speaking of the decision, Donnie can't actually recall how the judgement was reached, although he believes the resignation of the Elgin City Chairman at the time made it a fait accompli, with many believing it to be an acceptance of guilt.

"I really can't remember whether it was a show of hands or what it was, but the chairman (who had earlier resigned) came along to the meeting, said his piece, and everybody thought - oh well!"

"That was a big percentage of what swung procedings in that meeting"

One good thing - if you can look for positives from the events of 25 years ago - was that the SFA instructed the Highland League to tighten regulations so the constitution was made more water-tight. It has never happened before 1993 and hopefully no such situation will happen again.

Donnie concedes that he can't understand the need to re-instate Elgin as 1992-93 Champions, as they now play in SPFL League Two, and says he'd thought it was "dead in the water" and should be "consigned to the history books"

One thing is for sure, the debate over the controversy is set to continue, but whether it continues for another 25 years may be down to the success or failure of the petition.

The petition is here