TWO DRAWS, SO ROCK CUP WAS SHARED

I had hardly settled down for my tea last Friday evening when the Rock Cup query of last week was answered.

To refresh, Dundee schoolteacher Nick Marra, who helps run schools football in the city, wanted the 1958 blank inscription in the Rock Cup to be filled in . . . nearly 50 years on.

And it was Dundee’s TERRY MITCHELL, well-known as one of the magnificent “Band of Brothers” who run Midlands AFA side SS Peter and Paul, who came forward to fill the void.

And, I suppose, as with most things in Terry’s life, it was the Paulies!

“I was part of the SS Peter and Paul primary school team which won the Rock Cup in 1957,” Terry revealed.

“I was also in the team a year later when we met St Mary’s Forebank in the final.

“We drew 1-1 at, I think, North End Park, then drew 1-1 again in the replay at Beechwood Park.

“We even played five minutes each way extra time in the replay, but the game ended in a draw.

“The organisers then decided that the schools would share the cup, six months each.

“So that may help Nick solve the mystery of the missing inscription.”

“I remember Mr Docherty was our headmaster at the time and he ran the football team.”

Terry is pictured at the foot of this column with his Rock Cup medal from 1958.

MYSTERY MAN UNVEILED

CRAIG MILLER, who plays in goal for Midlands AFA side Tayside Fire Brigade, has finally helped us to solve the mystery man in the George Best photo at Dens Park (BwB, Sept. 30).

“The person you can’t name on the left is my father, Ken Miller.

“My mum won a competition on Radio Tay to take part in a penalty shoot-out competition at Dens Park during the club’s Open Day.

“She couldn’t make it, so my dad took her place.

“This would probably explain why Radio Tay DJ Tony O’Donnell was there.

“The photo caused some embarrassment at the time, and again when it re-appeared a few weeks ago in BwB, as we are all of tangerine persuasion.”

MORE ON DUNDEE HARP

ANDY WALKER, of Lochee, Dundee, provides more insight on Dundee Harp, mentioned in BwB in August and September this year.

“They were formed in 1879 and, right from the start, they always seemed to be involved in ‘illegal manoeuvres’,” said Andy.

“They were run by an unscrupulous secretary called James Diamond, and played in the first Forfarshire Cup Final (1883), where they were defeated 2-1 by Arbroath.

“They then went on to win three Forfarshire Cup finals in a row from 1884-85, and this earned them the nickname “The Invincibles” by the Glasgow Press.

“Harp, who beat Aberdeen Rovers 35-0 on September 12, 1885 — the same day as Arbroath beat Bon Accord 36-0 — had a crowd of 10,000 at their match the following week when they played Our Boys at East Dock Street.

“In 1890, Harp lost nine players to England. They installed a new secretary Charles Mulholland in September 1890, and they also introduced players of any persuasion.

“However, this was abandoned in November 1890 when senior officials at the club were the Rev. Monsignor Clapperton, Rev. Father Holder, Father Harris and Father Van De Rydt. They also reinstated James Diamond as match secretary.

“Harp, through mismanagement and not being able to meet financial guarantees to other clubs, were suspended by the SFA on April 3, 1894, for ‘non-payment of guarantees’.

“In September 1894, a club was set up as Dundee Hibs, with a complete new committee with no connections with Harp.

“They lasted only two seasons, and Dundee Harp were back again in 1895. They finally folded in 1897 because they did not have a ground.”

Andy also poses the query, “Which of three local junior clubs — Lochee United, North End and Carnoustie — have had most players capped by Scotland at junior level?”

Staying on the subject of Dundee Harp, WILLIE SAMUEL, of Menzieshill, Dundee, reckons that the team didn’t win the Burns Cup in 1887 (BwB, Sept.), but were beaten in the final.

JUVENILE CUP

Burntisland’s STEVE INGLIS wants to idenfity a cup he has had in his possession for over 40 years, and wants to find out more about it.

“Yes, I’ve had it all those years and I’ve been advised to get in touch with BwB to see if any of your readers know anything about it,” said Steve.

“The inscription reads, ‘The Dundee Juvenile Football League Inaugurated 1894 Challenge Trophy . . . for annual competition. Presented by G. D. Brown, M.A., hon. President’.

“Team names on it are Inverarity, Myrtlebank, Glenesk, Edenbank, Arnot, Belmont Athletic, Northern and Balgay. It seems to finish in 1913.

“The trophy, which stands about one foot tall, has a small figure of a footballer and ball. He has a neckerchief and is wearing pantaloons.”

MEDICAL RECORDS

ANN SCOTT, of Clement Park Place Sheltered Housing, in Dundee, is hoping to trace some former Lochee Boys Club boxers.

“My husband Jim Scott trained and helped to run the boxing section for 35 years,” she said. “He had to retire due to illness.

“I have come across some medical cards and wondered if any of the boxers would like to have them.

“The names I have are P. Gowans, W. Milne, S. Meek, J. Williamson, G. Shepherd, M. Forry, S. McComiskie, D. Milne, A. Conway, M. Duffy, F. Fitzpatrick, A. Kidd, A. Elder, J. Rooney and W. Buchanan.”

LOCHEE HIBS IN BLUE?

Birkhill resident PETER QUINN asked the question, “When did Lochee Hibs play in blue?”

He then answered it himself by offering, “It was around 1947 or 48 when they met the Alhambra Hibs in the final of the Forfarshire Juvenile Cup at either North End or Beechwood Park.

“Both teams played in green, so tossed the coin to see who would change.

“Lochee lost the toss and borrowed strips from Lochee United.

“United’s colours, of course, were blue tops, white shorts and red socks.”

Peter (68), a former auxiliary worker at Liff Hospital, continued, “I believe Jimmy Traynor, who went on to have a long association with Lochee United, was responsible for getting the change strip.

“I was just a young lad at the time, but I remember a player called McCafferty scoring two goals in the final as Lochee Hibs won 3-1.

“The juveniles in those days was very competitive with some great players and some great teams.”

GEORGE BEST’S STRIP FOUND

There was never any doubt in my mind that, if George Best’s strip from the Stobswell JFC gala day in the mid-1970s was still in existence, it would be found.

And, sure enough, a BwB reader got in touch, proclaiming, “I’ve got that strip!”

JOHN LEDDIE, who instigated the story, also came on to say, “No work was done on Monday morning as the phone went non-stop over the Best jersey.”

Full story — and photo — in the coming weeks.

ASHGROVE (1933-34)

IAN CAMPBELL, of Sprinbank, Kellas, was rummaging through some family photos and came across this picture (beldow) of ASHGROVE FC.

“It’s from season 1933-34 and my late father Robert is third from left in the back row,” said Ian.

“I don’t know the name of the cup or, indeed, anything about the team.

“I reckon there won’t be many members of the team still with us.

“However, maybe some of your readers will recognise friends or relatives.

“My father was a painter and decorator from King Street, Dundee, and an avid football fan.

“Unusual nowadays, but he used to attend both Dens and Tannadice.”