And, sharing some of his thoughts on the game, he writes, “I have always thought that Bob Shankly was unlucky not to win the European Cup before Celtic.

“He constructed a great, well-balanced Dundee FC team, which achieved many great victories.

“We have the assets to do great things in Scotland and England, but there are too few coaches who could utilise players like Bob did.

“Later on, Jock Stein, Matt Busby, Bill Shankly and Alf Ramsay demonstrated how to build a successful team.

“Money and expensive foreign players is not the answer.

“If it was, why are so many struggling to avoid relegation and going bankrupt?

“Today’s coaches complicate a simple game and smother young talent.

“Watch Real Madrid. Their game is simplicity itself. Hold the ball, give it to a mate and move into space. They made Manchester United look very ordinary last season.

“Today’s game is faster, but it has not improved.

“Bob Shankly was a man of few words. He did his talking on the park and his team were inspired by a little tiger of a skipper called Bobby Cox.

“Similar to Nobby Styles, Bobby would run through a brick wall for his team. His tackling was perfection.

“I do not think the present crop of players are better than my generation. They are not so dedicated to the game and there are too many lucrative outside interests.

“Money is dominating our beautiful game and threatens to destroy it. Our talented youths are being frustrated and discouraged.

“However, all is not lost. Sir Alex Ferguson has produced a crop of players equal to any expensive foreign imports.

“David Moyes is another shrewd Scottish manager trying to protect his youngster Wayne Rooney.

“Gordon Strachan has done well, too, on a limited budget.”

Tom’s grandson Reece has followed his two sons as history has repeated itself.

“In the early 1970s, my sons Terry and Kevin played in the Keighley Cup Final at Turf Moor, home of Burnley FC,” continued George.

“Terry and Kevin were both prominent in Dundee schools football prior to leaving for Burnley.

“Reece played in the same final at the same ground this year.

“I never set the heather on fire as a player, but my late dad was a prominent left-back for St Andrews School in the 1920s.

“By the way, through your column, Bert Wilkie, the Spurs player of the 1950s, and I are to meet soon in Sussex.”

ANDY’S FIRST

Downfield’s Jim Nicholson (Junicus to all our Junior football page followers) confirms that Dundee and Hibs were the teams who officially opened Downfield Park.

“It definitely was Hibs v. Dundee, but I can’t remember the score,” he says.

“One thing I do remember is that the first official goal was scored by Dundee’s Andy Irvine, and he was presented with a half tea-set for his feat (changed days).

“As far as where Downfied played home games prior to their own park opening, they could have had a spell at Midmill.”

Reader William Grieve has a different theory on the old ground.

“Opposite where the current Doc Stewart’s pub (The Downfield Hotel) is situated on Strathmartine Road is a row of tenements,” said William, of Dundee’s West End.

“In the 1940s, behind these tenements were vegetable plots and also a football pitch.

“That would look out to what is now the top left-hand side of Balgowan Avenue. Downfield played games there.

“The players had to walk down Strathmartine Road from their changing-room, which was a house in Cloan Road.”

SPOT ON, AS USUAL!

Lochee reader Charles Walker takes us back to the Dundee v. Rangers SPL encounter at Dens Park last season when the visitors were awarded three penalties.

“There are many other teams who have been awarded three penalty-kicks in games,” he writes.

“I’ve sent in some to you — and these players scored with all three.”

1950 — Bobby Collins, Celtic v. Aberdeen.

1951 — Eddie Turnbull, Hibs v. Celtic.

1959 — Billy Price, Falkirk v. Hamilton.

1963 — Gordon Wallace, Montrose v. Hamilton.

1971 — Willie “Bud” Johnston, Rangers v. St Johnstone.

1973 — Donald Ford, Hearts v. Morton.

1974 — Bobby McKean, St Mirren v. Brechin.

1976 — Gerry Colgan, Queen’s Park v. Brechin.

Charles continues, “The fastest penalty treble scored was by Willie Johnston, who came on as a substitute with 18 minutes to go.

“When penalties were introduced into Scottish football, Airdrie were first to be awarded one.

“Pantelic, the Yugoslavian national goalkeeper, once scored a hat-trick of penalties for Radnichi against Zagreb.

“He also saved a spot-kick in his team’s 4-0 win.”

EAST END FC

The accompanying note from reader George Martin, of Dundee, to the photo below of EAST END FC was short and sweet . . . “Have you any information about this old football team photograph?” Over to you, readers.

Write to:

John Brown, Sports Desk, Evening Telegraph,

80 Kingway East, Dundee, DD4 8SL.

Phone 01382 575251. Fax 01382 454590.