CLEAN SHIRTS DO THE TRICK

Carnoustie Panmure committee member Dougie Mitchell was interested in Charlie Walker’s contribution about Saltcoats Vics playing 10 matches in 14 days (BwB, July 2).

“While our end to the season wasn’t quite as hectic as that, the Gowfers do have at least one claim to fame that the Vics won’t be able to match,” he offers.

“In 1963, we won the Keddie (Charity) Cup, but had to play the final twice in one day to do it.

“I don’t have the exact date, but it was the last day of the season, so it must have been around the middle of June.

“To quote from the cutting I have, ‘The dramatic finish to the season was due to bad weather and an unusual number of postponed and drawn ties, which had thrown back the fixtures. With all matches having to be tied up by midnight, any drawn ties would have to be replayed in the evening’.

“And this is exactly what happened” (for your younger readers, there was no extra-time and penalties in those days).

“Panmure were lucky to escape with a 1-1 draw in the first match, as their goal came from an own goal from one of the Osborne players.

“So, two hours after the conclusion of the first match, the two teams lined up again, although this time it was a very different story.

“Goals by Norrie and Martin (2) gave Panmure a three-goal lead inside the first 20 minutes and, by half-time, their lead had increased with a goal from Dave Ewen.

“Panmure added another in the second half through Davidson, and Osborne scored a consolation, but, in the end, Panmure came through with colours flying, even though it did take two attempts.

“I remember our club president, the late Jim Bremner, telling me that, after the end of the first game, he took the players down to the Cafe Val D’Or (remember it?) in Dundee’s City Square for a light snack while Jock Myles nipped back to Westfield for clean strips.

“Jim added that several of the players had said that playing in fresh strips in the second game had made all the difference, while the ‘Bourners’ had continued with the dirty, sweaty ones they had used in the first one.

“As you said in your headline . . . ‘it would never happen nowadays’.”

Those of you who know me personally might snigger at these next words . . . but I do still frequent a barber’s shop on occasion.

That shop is Tom Dolan’s on the Hilltown, Dundee, and my last visit to his establishment saw Dougie in the chair in front of me.

I didn’t recognise him at first as Dougie has now done away with his trademark ‘coke-bottle’ spectacles after recent surgery on his eyes.

He was, however, in fine form and, as you would expect, we traded several football tales before he headed east . . . short back-and-sides and all.

See photo at foot of column.

THE DAY THE LAST POST SOUNDED

JOHN ROLLO, manager of The Boars Rock public-house in Arbroath Road, Dundee, asks about the date of The Sporting Post’s final edition.

“There’s an argument raging in here regards the date of the final issue,” said John, whose establishment supports many amateur and junior football teams.

“Some say it was four, others five and some think six years ago — with one of our regulars actually claiming 16 years.

“I think it was around four years ago.”

John was spot on, with the date being May 27, 2000.

NEIL FINNIE, of Menzieshill, also got in touch.

“What was the name of the guy who wrote the amusing piece on the front of The Sporting Post for many years?” he asked.

“It was usually a round-up of the games played that day.”

That piece was written by The Sporting Post and Evening Telegraph writer, who went under the initials KDR, with input from other staff members.

Here are a selection of his gems, and I’ll print some more over the coming weeks.

. . . It was the kind of thriller which had the fans suffering from limp eyeballs by half-time.

. . . Hamish McAlpine stopped shots from all angles and Rangers must have thought he had hands as big as dustbin lids.

. . . When Rooney rounded keeper Stewart after half-an-hour and plunked the ball in the net, Rangers fans were as sick as if they’d eaten an unskinned hedgehog.

. . . Celtic went ahead against Airdrie before the teams had their chewing-gum properly softened.

. . . Reilly, racing in, scored from close range, leaving the Ibrox defenders as bewildered as a colour-blind snooker player.

GLENS PLAYED TIES AT DOVECOTE PARK

Reader ALAN DIGBY has offered to clarify Alan “Buck” Rogers’ recollections of Glenrothes’ Warout Stadium.

“I can’t help with the precise date, but Mr Rogers is confusing Warout Stadium in the Warout precinct, with Dovecote Park in the Auchmuty precinct,” said Mr Digby.

“Glenrothes Juniors played at Dovecote in the late 1960s/early 70s.

“Dovecote Park was — and still is — just opposite Auchmuty High School.

“It was a fine playing surface and hosted many local cup finals. Glenrothes being a new town, the facilities were excellent for the time.

“When the Glens were playing Scottish Cup ties around the New Year period, I’m sure Dovecote could accommodate crowds of a few thousand.”

TWO TOMS

Oops . . . did you spot my mistake last week?

I mentioned that Tom Elder got in touch regarding YM Anchorage names when, in fact, it should have been Tom Wilkie.

Mr Elder was, of course, another great local amateur football legend, working tirelessly for many decades for the Midlands AFA and clubs such as Wormit and Newport.