Links With The Past: Adam Black's Medals
Born in Denny near Stirling in 1898, Adam joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as a 16-year-old and served for four years on the Western Front during the First World War. On 21 March, 1918, he won the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry.
After the war, he won a Scottish Qualifying Cup winners’ medal in January 1920, playing for the Scottish Central League club, Bathgate. This medal is in the Club’s collection (above). Engraved on the reverse side of the medal are the words: ‘Qualifying Cup. Season 1919-20. Won by Bathgate FC. A. Black’
A few days later, on 7 January, 1920, Adam signed for Second Division side Leicester City. In the Club’s archive is a very small article from the Leicester Mercury which announced that: ‘Mr Peter Hodge, the City secretary, yesterday negotiated the transfer from Bathgate, a Scottish Central League Club, of Adam Black a full-back. Black is 22 years of age, is 5ft 8 ¾ inches tall and weighs 11 stone.’
Despite this low-key arrival at Filbert Street, Adam became a fixture in the side for the next 16 seasons.
He was a key member of the Leicester City side which won the Second Division title in 1925. Along with his team-mates, he was awarded a gold medal to commemorate the achievement.
He was then virtually an ever-present in the sides which finished third in the top flight in 1928 and runners-up in the Football League in 1929, before becoming Club captain in the early 1930s, prior to retiring from football in 1935.