By the time of the coronation of King Edward VII in summer 1902 (it had had to be postponed because of his operation for appendicitis), Forfar Athletic were in trouble having had two terrible seasons. Yet the crowd, although grumbling and complaining, remained loyal and they were rewarded on Burns Day 1902 by a visit from Glasgow's mighty Queen's Park in the Scottish Cup.

Queen's Park were a famous club, now slowly losing out to the other two Glasgow teams because of their obstinate refusal to turn professional. They brought with them to Forfar that day a huge crowd of largely middle class gentlemen with bowler hats and top coats, all of them intrigued at seeing this little town of Forfar. The Queen's Park supporters certainly needed their winter gear that day, for, as is the wont on 25th January, "the wind blew as it was blaw its last" and "faithless snaws ilk step betrayed whaur they had been". Forfar might have fancied their chances in the blizzard - indeed they had defeated Abercorn of Paisley in the last round - but the amateurs won 4-1.

The decade continued its weary way with Forfar seemingly stuck in mediocrity and more than once having to endure the humiliation of seeking re-election to the Northern Football League. There was of course little chance of Forfar being removed from the League. They had their own ground, good support, central position, proximity to the railway station and reputation for hospitality. James Black was also an influential character and knew how to "knock on a few doors", if necessary.

Black clung obstinately to his belief that, wherever possible, Forfar Athletic should field an all-Forfar-born team. He would eventually have to change his mind on that one, but in the meantime, Forfar continued to sink until the euphoric events of March 1906 when for the first time, Forfar won the Forfarshire Cup.

Change was in the air in 1906. A positive Liberal Government had been elected and Forfar's M.P. John Morley was in the Cabinet. Much overdue reforms were to be brought in to alleviate the plight of the poor. The Final of the Forfarshire Cup was between Forfar and their old rivals at Arbroath. The game was at Dens Park, Dundee and hundreds travelled on the special train that the Caledonian Railway laid on. The game was a draw - there were the usual allegations of "fiddles" for another big gate - but the Replay was at Links Park, Montrose on March 10th 1906.

It was to be Forfar's day, even though the boy wonder David McLean was unavailable through injury. Geordie "Purkie" Langlands opened the scoring off the crossbar - thankfully Montrose was one of the grounds which used a bar rather than a rope - then after "Jummer" Petrie "dirled" that same bar and Arbroath equalized, Willie Fairweather notched the winner after the goalkeeper could only parry Langlands' fierce shot. By the time that the train arrived back from Montrose with the triumphant players and supporters, a telegram had already brought home the joyous news, and the town proceeded to celebrate. In 1908, the team would once again win the Forfarshire Cup.

The team tended to qualify for the Scottish Cup, then lose to a big club. Queen's Park returned in 1906 to deal out a 0-4 beating, then there was trip to Edinburgh to Hibs in 1907 where they lost 0-5, and in 1910 there was a distinctly unlucky 0-1 defeat by Motherwell at Fir Park. The team thus got known throughout Scotland, and of course Jim Black with his endless politicking made sure that this remained the case. But it was the progress of two of Forfar's players with other clubs that made everyone sit up and take notice.

David McLean joined Celtic in 1907, and although he was not really good enough to break into the immortal forward line of Bennett, McMenemy, Quinn, Somers and Hamilton, he was a more than capable reserve, playing a glorious part in their Championship winning finale to the 1909 season when the team had to play 8 games in 12 days. McLean was outstanding in that run-in and more than a little put out to discover that he had not played enough games to win a medal. His career would however run for more than 20 years after that including several returns to Forfar. Part of the transfer deal in 1907 was a visit of the mighty Celtic to play a friendly at Station Park and to give locals the chance to see the mighty Jimmy Quinn.

The other Forfarian who did well was George "Purkie" Langlands who went to Dundee. The Dundee side of that era was a fine one, and in 1910 they won the Scottish Cup. It was Langlands who rescued them by scoring a late equalizer in the first game of the Final against Clyde, and his play generally thoroughly deserved a medal as they won at the third attempt. Langlands would soon return to Forfar.

The end of the decade saw Britain in a constitutional crisis as the Liberal Government eventually managed to reduce the powers of the House of Lords which had rejected their budget proposals. King Edward VII died in May 1910, and would be replaced by his son George V. Forfar now boasted a Reid Park, a Reid Hall and in 1910 public baths were opened by Andrew Carnegie in Chapel Street. It was a peaceful, prosperous place – although occasionally women arrived from Dundee with banners and flags wanting women to have the right to vote. What were things coming to?