WHEN LOCHEE UNITED PLAYED HEARTS

Robert Bell’s query about Lochee United in their juvenile days was answered by DAVE PULLAR, former Dundee and District Juvenile president and match secretary.

“According to our records, Lochee United have never won the Scottish Juvenile Cup,” he said.

“Around the time of Mr Bell’s query, the Scottish Cup was won by a team called Bridgeton Waverley every year from 1921-24.

“The first Dundee team to win the Scottish Cup was Lochee Renton and that was in season 1964-65. Renton won it again two years later.

“The actual trophy — the senior Scottish Juvenile Cup — is worth £5000 by today’s valuation, and is currently in the SFA museum.

“Perhaps Mr Bell’s medal is a runners-up medal.

“The files we have don’t reveal who the losing teams were in those finals (1921-24).”

ANDY WALKER, of Lochee, Dundee, takes the debate on, and offers that Lochee United even played at senior professional level at one time.

“In 1896, Lochee United played three qualifying rounds in the Scottish Cup,” he said.

“This was the year they also opened their new ground in Lochee, St Margaret’s Park.

“In the first round proper, they drew Heart of Midlothian at home and were beaten 8-0.

“Consequently, are Lochee United the only team in existence to have played in all four levels of football in Scotland — amateur, juvenile, junior and senior?”

Andy listed the teams from that little-known Scottish Cup tie.

Lochee United — Roberts; Morris, Taylor; Reid, Robertson, Haxton; Morrice, A. Forrest, McLeish, Vignan, Forrest.

Hearts — Fairbairn; Allan, McArtney; Begbie, Marshall, Hogg; McLaren, Baird, Livingstone, J. Walker, Robertson.

Gordon Smailes’ book “Scottish Football Records” lists this game as having been played in season 1897-98 and shows Hearts as the home team.

ONLY ONE TEAM IN BROUGHTY

Broughty Ferry reader JIM McCOMBIE puts us to rights over an article about Alex Stott (BwB, August 8).

“Alex Stott did not play for Broughty Athletic, as stated in your article,” said Jim.

“During the war years, the only team playing in the Broughty area was Broughty Amateurs U/18.

“They played in the Angus Amatuer League and this was the team Alex played for, along with another Dens Park favourite Ally Gunn.

“I was the ‘bairn’ of the team at just 15 years old. In the 1942-43 season, we played against Ashdale at Orchar Park in a deciding match for the league championship.

“Alex had signed by that time for North End and Ally for Elmwood. However, at the time, neither were cup-tied for their junior clubs and were, therefore, eligible to play for their amateur team.

“Jack Ferrier and I were dropped to allow them to play. There were no substitutes in those days.

“Ashdale won the game and the title, but, give them their due, they were a great team.”

Jim sent in a paper photo of the Broughty Amatuers side of 42-43. Unfortunately, the quality is not good enough to reproduce.

In addition to Jim, Jack, Alex and Ally, others in the photo were P. Comline, G. Donnelly, J. Thomson, Fred Ireland, J. Bradley, J. Hutchison, G. Raitt, M. Goodfellow.

TATTOOS ON HIS TEETH

Some more extracts from Kenny Macdonald’s book Scottish Football Quotations (Mainstream):

“He’s so hard he’s got tattoos on his teeth” — Raith Rovers boss JIMMY NICHOLL on his defender David Sinclair (1995).

“It’s fair to say I was never a big believer in unnecessary exertion” — ALAN HANSEN (1997) on his days at Liverpool.

“He gave out the impression he could play with a gin and tonic in one hand and a book in the other” — Ex-Liverpool striker DAVID JOHNSTON (1999) on his Anfield team-mate Alan Hansen.

“Watching Chic Charnley is like watching a Quentin Tarantino movie. You know something terrible is going to happen, you’re just not sure when” — JOHN COLQUHOUN (1997).

“I felt the Press weren’t important, which was stupid. The media are far more important than I ever imagined” — Dundee United chairman JIM McLEAN (1996), 25 years after arriving at Tannadice.

“I can’t win. Every game I play I get hammered. Too fat. Too thin. Not beating five players, should be beating five players” — PAUL GASCOIGNE (1997).

L&S CUP FOUND

BwB readers wasted no time in finding the elusive Lindsay & Scott Cup.

It’s in safe keeping and I’ll reveal all next week — including a photograph.

MICKEY WOULD HAVE PICKED A TEAM OF WINNERS

Of the hundreds of mourners attending the funeral of Mickey Boyle last Friday at Barnhill Cemetery in Dundee, many were former footballers from all grades — amateur, juvenile, junior and senior.

Such was the array of talent on show that Mickey could have picked at least six sides — all of equal ability.

I might have sneaked a spot as subbie for the sixth team.

The photo below is when he was manager at Thomson Park as he led LOCHEE UNITED to the Tayside Junior First Division title in 1986-87.

Goalkeeper Graeme Finnan, now a colleague on the Tele sports desk, said, “That was some team, with some very talented individuals.

“Mickey was a great motivator, with a canny knack of finding the right balance. However, most importantly, he certainly knew how to put a winning team on the park.”

Back row (from left) — Sellars, D. Mitchell (president), Peacock, Geddes, Wilson, Nicoll, Traynor, Finnan, Spence, Stewart, Castle, Boyle, Morrison, W. Kydd (committee).

Front — Daly (coach), Malone, Fraser, Flynn, Mitchell, Anderson, McCallum, Stark.