Beginnings

Arbroath competed in the Central League for six seasons up to the outbreak, and including the first year of World War I. Their highest place was 2nd in the last tournament, and in only three of the six seasons did they complete their allotted fixtures. This was common for many of the clubs who were out of the running for the title. In 1909/10, Arbroath were reported to have concluded their fixtures but one match remains outstanding. By the same token, in 1911/12, the club were three matches, and in 1912/13, two matches short, when it was reported that the season had closed.

They were also lean years in the Qualifying Cup, with 1912/13 the exception when the club again reached the final.

Arbroath began their Central League participation with a home match with Bathgate. The result was a 2-1 win for the maroons.

Central League										Qualifying Cup
			P	W	L	D	F	A	Pts	1	Montrose	h	2-0
1909/10	5	Arbroath	21	8	9	4	39	27	20	2	Dundee Wanderers	a	1-0	played at Gayfield
										3	Leith Ath.	a	0-2

1910/11	7	Arbroath	22	9	9	4	42	49	22	1	Dundee Hibs	a	2-1
										2	Forfar Ath.	a	0-1

1911/12		Arbroath	19	6	9	4	37	37	16	1	Montrose	h	4-2
										2	Brechin C.	a	0-2

										1	Dundee Wanderers	h	8-0
										2	Kirkcaldy Utd.	a	1-0
										3	Kings Park	h	3-0
			P	W	L	D	F	A	Pts	4	Peebles Rovers	h	1-0
1912/13	10	Arbroath	20	6	8	6	24	30	18	5	St Johnstone	a	1-0
										s/f	Inverness Caledonian	h	4-0
										final	Abercorn	n	1-1	Gymnasium Grounds, Edinburgh.
										replay		n	2-2	North End Park, Cowdenbeath.
										"		n	1-4	Cathkin Park, Glasgow

1913/14	11	Arbroath	26	8	12	6	40	58	22	1	Forfar Ath	a	1-2

1914/15	2	Arbroath	26	15	4	7	51	28	37	1	Arbroath Amateurs	h	5-1
										2	Cowdenbeath	h	1-4

back -J. McKenzie, W. Ford, J. Taylor, G. Scott, J. Peters, J. Pearson. front- J. Thomson, G. Dorward, A. Milne, D. Guild, F. Clark.

In the 1912/13 final with Abercorn, the Arbroath team which contested the first two matches was -

Scott, McKenzie, Pearson, Ford, Taylor, Peters, Thomson, Dorward, Milne, Guild, Clark.

Scorers were Milne in the 1-1 draw, and Guild and Milne again in the 2-2 draw.

Scott, McKenzie, Pearson, Ford, Taylor, Stirling, Cant, Dorward, Milne, Guild, Thomson.