“LITTLE BLUE BAG” WAS WEEKLY WAGE

Andy Walker’s tale four weeks ago of Downfield being the first Dundee junior side to appear on TV provoked a response.

And, of course, this being BwB, others have a different take on the matter.

Two former goalkeepers got in touch.

GORDON MENZIES was the goalkeeper for Downfield in that tie, and confesses the actual score was 9-2, not 7-2 as Andy thought.

Gordon recalled the match fondly, despite the score, but did say that the tie took place at Meadow Park, Irvine, and not Downfield Park, Dundee.

“It was either January 2 or 3 in season 1961-62, and legendary Spiders secretary Alec Connolly phoned everyone the night before to say the game was on,” said Gordon, of Johnston Avenue, Dundee.

“We had to meet at the old Dundee West train station and journey to Glasgow by rail. We then went by coach to Ayrshire.

“When we arrived at the park, there were around 150 people clearing the snow off the park, and the Scotsport cameras were being set up.

“I also recall presenter Arthur Montford being in attendance.

“One of the Irvine players asked me what sort of crowd we regularly played to.

“I replied that the amount of people currently clearing the snow was our ANNUAL attendance.

“As it turned out, there was around 2500-3000 spectators at the game.

“The payments — ‘little blue bags with money in it’ was how Andy put it — the Irvine players received was not TV money but their weekly wage.”

Gordon was also able to remember the Downfield line-up that day — Menzies; Dailly, Lamb; Elder, Wilkie, Smith; Caragranda, Christie, Stephens, Shorrocks, Woods.

Former Cowdenbeath keeper SANDY HENDERSON, of Rankine Street, Dundee, also disputes Andy’s facts, and cites his own St Joseph’s team of 1960-61 as the first to appear on TV.

“I was in goal when St Joseph’s were beaten by Cambuslang Rangers in the semi-final of the Scottish Junior Cup in 1961,” he recalled.

“The game was at Muirton Park, Perth, and we were beaten 5-1.

“I remember watching the game on the TV at night and seeing myself pick the ball out of the net five times.

“Cambuslang didn’t win the trophy, though, as they were beaten 2-0 by Dunbar United in a replay after a 2-2 draw.”

Sandy continued with another gripe, but, this time, BwB was not to blame.

“Some time ago, a national newspaper’s ‘question and answer’ section said that two Glasgow teams were the first juniors to play under lights for league points,” he complained.

“I think they gave the year as 1964.

“I was in goal for St Joseph’s when we played Carnoustie Panmure in season 1960-61 under lights.

“The game was at Gillburn Park, Dundee, which was situated in Gillburn Road, just opposite where ASDA is now situated.”

TEAM PHOTO WAS THE FED

The first reponse to the “Unknown” photo of August 19 was from HAMISH McINROY, of Broughty Ferry, Dundee.

“That’s definitely my dad, also Hamish, in the front row, three from the right,” said Hamish.

“I can’t say for sure what the name of the team is, but it could be Forthill Athletic.

“I have one of dad’s watches and there is an inscription on the back which reads, ‘Courier Cup/Forfarshire Cup finalists 1930-31 Forthill Athletic’.

“My uncle Bob, dad’s brother, may also be in the photo, but I can’t say for sure.

“Mr Norrie is the chap in the middle row, second from right, while the player fourth from right in the same row is Webster.

“The young lad in the photo is called Allardice.”

While Hamish was unsure, former Dundee Schools FA secretary BILL FERRIER was in no doubt.

“That’s Broughty Ex-Service, the forerunner to the current Broughty Athletic,” he claimed.

“My dad David is on the committee and is at the back, fifth from left.

“They used to play their games at Castle Green, then Claypotts, along with Forthill Athletic.

“After the war, Forthill didn’t start up again and the Ex-Service changed their name to Broughty Athletic, which was a mixture of both team names.”

BOB FERRIER, of St Mary’s, Dundee, confirmed the side as Broughty Ex-Service and also recognised his father Chic in the photo.

He also reckoned there were two McInroys featured.

He said, “Some of the other names are Jim Neilsen, George Norrie, Dave Norrie, Tom Webster, John McCrimmond, Chic Ferrier, Jim Rodger, Charles Beattie, Geordie Gallacher and two with surnames Pattie and Merrilees.

“My dad and granddad were both involved in the team.

“My dad helped to run Broughty Athletic during Eddie Whitton’s time in charge of the Claypotts-based club.”

Broughty’s current home Whitton Park is, of course, named after Eddie.

GEORGE BEST IN A DUNDEE JERSEY

ISSIE SNEDDON, of Broughty Ferry, has had a long association with Dundee FC, and still helps out in the office on match days.

She’s sent in the photo (below) of the time George Best was at Dens Park.

It was as far back as July 22 that this column revealed Bestie was at Dens in 1982 for the club’s open day.

Among those pictured with the ex-Man. Utd. and Northern Ireland star was player Ray Stephen (third from left), coach Jocky Scott (third from right) and team manager Donald Mackay (second from right).