RED CROSS POW CUP

Dundee West End reader ANDY HUGHES feels former Lochee Harp player Jim McCafferty may be mixed up regarding his claim that the Beechwood Park side won the Coronation Cup in 1953 (BwB, June 3).

“The Coronation Cup was played for by senior clubs,” said Andy. “Celtic won it by beating Hibs in the final.

“I’ve no knowledge of a junior version of the Coronation Cup.”

And, no sooner had Andy put the phone down than Jim McCafferty was back on.

“I’ve now established it was a juvenile cup competition,” said Jim. “The final was contested by Lochee Hibs and St John’s. Future Dundee FC captain Bobby Cox was playing for St John’s that day.

“I’d love to hear of more details of that final, in particular the Lochee Hibs team.”

Back to Andy Hughes and, touching on another subject, he continued, “Glancing through old records, I noticed that Carnoustie Panmure played in a tournament called the Red Cross Prisoner Of War Cup.

“They lost 4-1 to Blantyre Vics in the final, played at Hamilton in October 1944. I’ve no other information, but perhaps some of your readers may know a bit more about it.”

And, while he had my full attention, Andy moved on to yet another theme.

“In the early 1950s, there was a team called Gray’s United, who played in the Midlands AFA,” he recalled.

“They were made up of players who worked mainly for Charles Gray Builders.

“They had their own park, just off Longtown Street, and it was nicknamed the Orlit Stadium, after the Orlit factory which overlooked it.”

I, too, remember that pitch, and used to play games on it around the late 1950s and early 1960s.

However, at that time, it was known by my circle of friends simply as “Gray’s”.

GRANDFATHER WAS TREASURER

Reader Ian Robertson says his father John was interested in the BwB article about Dundee Celtic (May 6).

He writes, “My grandfather, also John, was treasurer of Dundee Celtic for two separate periods. The first was in the early 1920s, and the second sometime in the 1930s.

“My father can remember going to some games as a small boy during the 1930s and can also recall visiting their clubhouse.

“This was situated off Russell Street, which was, before redevelopment, opposite The Three Barrels in Strathmartine Road.

“Although my grandfather didn’t play, he seemed to be sought after for his ability to look after the finances, serving in the post of treasurer with Dundee Victoria, another junior team of the time.

“However, due to family and work commitments, my grandfather’s second term with Celtic didn’t last long and he resigned after a couple of seasons.

“My father thinks the team folded prior to World War Two, possibly in season 1938-39.

“The picture (at the bottom of the column) shows the team from the 1921-22 season, with the Consolation and Courier Cups.”

Back row — Unknown (com.), W. Inglis, G. Cooper, O. O’Rourke, J. Stark, G. Rae, A. Ogilvie (committee), R. Stephen (com.).

Middle row — J. Mooney (com.), F. Fagan (com.), A. Lindsay, J. Cameron, E. Thomson, W. Wyllie, W. Oswald, D. Lisco (trainer),

Front row — R. Finnigan (com.), J. Robertson (treasurer), P. Craig, G. Leitchman (president), J. Aimer (captain), J. Campbell (honorary president), W. Nicoll (secretary), W. Duffy (com.).

Sitting at front — T. Jackson, L. O’Shea.

THE GLENS AND DOUGLASPARK

CHARLIE SOMERS is A self-confessed “avid follower of Sunday afternoon amateur football”, and inquires if any readers know what happened to a team called FC Glens.

“They were a very good team and had a good bit of history behind them.

“I think they were formally known as Sandy’s Bar.

“I also think they held some form of record, going so many game unbeaten. I also recall they came all the way from the bottom divisions, and remember watching them a few year’s back.

“In the Glen’s Bar, there was a photo on the wall, with several trophies on display.

“It would be good to find out what became of this trophy-adorned team.”

ARCHIE MUIR is looking for a photo of his Douglaspark Amateur team of the 1960s, who played in the Angus AFA.

“We won the league and Fimister Cup,” he recalled.

“The guy who ran the team was called Gibby Malcolm.

“We had some great players at the time, including Ronnie Farnan, Jackie Brady, Mick McKeever and Mike Boyle.

“It would be great to uncover a photo of this side.”

DENS CAPACITY

Readers CHARLIE and PAT are having a friendly argument, and ask, “What is the current capacity of Dundee FC’s Dens Park?

“There’s a pint riding on this.”

In the SPL handbook, the Dens capacity is given as 11,506, while worldstadia.com currently list it as 12,085. To further confuse, sportnetwork. net have it as 13,565.

However, in the interests of perfection, I obtained the correct capacity straight from the horse’s mouth — that’s Dens Park operations manager Jim Thomson to you.

“11,856 — that is what is on our safety certificate,” he said.

SIX OF THE BEST

Reader ERIC DARGIE is looking for former players and officials of the Angus Amateur FA to help him with his query.

“I enjoy reading BwB and, through it, would like to ask a question about Windsor FC.

“I played for them when they won the League Champion-ship six years in a row — and I would like to know if that has since been equalled or bettered.”

DUNDEE HARP

Carnoustie reader BILLY DOCHERTY is looking for info a one-time professional team called Dundee Harp.

“They are not to be confused with Lochee Harp Juniors,” he explains.

“In James E. Handley’s book ‘The Celtic Story’, published in 1960, it says that, on October 15, 1888, ‘Glasgow Celtic played Dundee Harp at Dundee, defeating them 7-1’.

“Who founded Dundee Harp and when? Where did they play? When did they cease to exist? Perhaps some of your BwB readers could shed light on this team.”

INFO ON HARRY

Like many, English-based football broadcaster and journalist Dave Bracegirdle has turned to BwB for assistance.

“I’m writing a Notts County history book and am particularly interested in a player called Harry (Henry) Adamson, who played for Jeanfield Swifts in the 1940s,” he writes.

“Apart from his days with County, I can find out very little about him. I wonder if you could add anything to my knowledge of the player.”

Dave can be contacted on his email address — dave. bracegirdle@ntlworld.com

PANSIES’ COUNTER-PROTEST

The news that Arbroath FC player John McGlashan had recently been appointed player-manager of Dundee Violet prompted reader D. McINTOSH to get in touch.

“When your colleague Graeme Finnan wrote about John McGlashan taking over at Glenesk Park, he also mentioned that his dad, also John, captained Violet in the 1960s,” he said.

“I remember that team and they were very good.

“One match, in particular, which stands out for me was against Harp in one of the local cup finals.

“If my memory serves me correctly, it was played over two legs.

“Violet won the cup, only for Harp to appeal and be awarded the trophy.

“However, Violet counter-appealed and were re-awarded the cup.”

The photo (below, top) is not the Violet team from that particular era, but from 1971, and features John McGlashan, Sen.

Back row (from left) — J. Robertson (trainer), Don, Robertson, Gorrie, McGlashan, Jenkins, Dollan, W. Donnett (secretary).

Front row — Campbell, Mackay, Carlyle, Donnett, Gollan, Kiernan.