JIMMY WOULD RUN THROUGH A BRICK WALL
The photo at the foot of this column of the ST MARY’S FOREBANK school football team has been sent in by reader TAM STEWART.
However, he fails to give the year and there are a couple of names missing.
“I enjoy your column every week, especially when you go back a few years,” said Tam.
“I recognised a lot of players in Gordon Menzies’ 1948-49 photograph of St Mary’s Forebank (BwB, Oct. 28) and I’ve uncovered another photo from another year of the school team.
“The Forebank St Mary’s chapel is called Our Lady of Victories and is well named as the school team won everything in sight and produced many fine players.
“Some of the names I remember are Billy McGann, who went on to be a goalkeeper with East Fife. Just look at the size of Billy.
“On his left is Tam Clink and John Nicholson and, in the front row, three players who scored hundreds of goals a season between them — Ray McKinnon, Laurie Ireland and Jim Hughes.
“Ray was a very skilful player, and played junior.
“Laurie scored a lot of goals and Jimmy would run through a brick wall for his side — look at his build even then).
“Also in photo are Michael Quinn, Jimmy Brown and Joe Lowden.
“Clink played for Lochee Harp, Ireland with Downfield, McKinnon went to North End, and Hughes turned out for Elmwood and Stobswell.
“I was only a bit-part player.
“Hope all the guys are still around and doing well.
“Unfortunately, there are two names I can’t recall.
The photo is captioned: Back row (from left) — Quinn, Unknown, McGann, Clink, Nicholson, Brown.
Front — Unknown, McKinnon, Ireland, Hughes, Lowden.
Billy McGann was at East Fife when I joined up at Bayview in 1969.
We were again team-mates at Broughty Athletic in the mid-1970s.
Billy was never the biggest of goalkeepers, but he was certainly very quick and agile, and a wonderful shot-stopper.
TREMENDOUS SHOT
PETER CAMERON, of Dunkeld, responded to an earlier article.
“A friend gave me a print-out of an article you wrote earlier this year on the Stanley Juniors team of 1952-53 (BwB, March 4), which you received from Ian Nimmo,” said Peter.
“I belong to Stanley, and was just nine years old when that photo was taken.
“However, I remember Ian playing for Stanley and I met him some 30 years later at a football dinner/dance in the Birnam Hotel.
“He was a good friend of Ian Allan, who was chairman of Dunkeld United and who had invited him to the function.
“I am also friendly with Ian Allan and he often speaks about Ian Nimmo.
“Another lad who sends Ian his regards is Frank Boyes, who was also in that photo, and (I recall) broke his leg playing for Stanley.
“Regarding some of the ‘Unknown’ names in the photo, the only ones I can help with are Davie Davidson at right-back and a lad Mitchell at inside-left.
“There was another Dunkeld lad, Ally McKay, who played for Stanley Juniors about this time and I am sure Ian will recall him as he was a character with a tremendous shot.
“Coincidentally, I now live in Dunkeld, but played all my football in Perth with Royal United Juveniles, Kinnoull Juniors, then Perth and Kinross Police.
“The photo Ian supplied is on a Stanley website (www.stanleyperth shire.co.uk), which was set up by a Stanley man, Jimmy Donaldson, who served his career in the Royal Navy, and now lives in Hartlepool.
“He is a nephew of Jim West, who was in Ian’s photo and captained Stanley Juniors for several years.
“There are lots of school photos and football photos in the website, which include Raymond Stewart (ex-Dundee United and West Ham United), who is a Stanley lad.
“I am also friendly with Tom Halley, Archie Stewart (Raymond’s dad), the Williamson brothers (Arthur, Jimmy and Andy — who all played senior football).
“Ian may well remember them.”
DOUG SEEKING INFO
CARNOUSTIE PANMURE JFC historian DOUG MITCHELL requires assistance with some queries.
“Over the years, BwB readers have gained a reputation for answering queries posed by other readers, and I wonder if they can come up with the goods for a few that I have,” he opens.
“Recently, I trawled through my files on the Gowfers and listed all the games they have played in the Scottish Junior Cup, or at least as many as I could.
“I now have a complete list going back to 1960, plus a few before that.
90 different clubs
“The list totals some 152 matches, covering 90 different clubs, and it is about four of these clubs that I am seeking information.
“On September 2, 1945, we played a first-round tie away to Railway Athletic, winning 11-0. Who were they and where did they play?
“On September, 4, 1949, we were again away from home in the first round and beat St Laurence 8-1. They may have come from Laurencekirk, but I don’t know for sure.
“In season 1967-68, we lost 1-7 to Valleyfield in a second-round tie. I would imagine they came from Fife, but where did they play?
“In 1969-70, we beat St Machar 2-1 away from home in a second-round tie. They probably came from Aberdeenshire, but where?
“I would be grateful if any of your readers could help me.”
DAVIE WATSON, from Toronto, Canada, who has sent in Butterburn and Lochee Harp photos in the past, reckons he could have played in a Rock Cup Final (BwB, Dec. 9).
“I think the Paulies (SS Peter and Paul) beat us (Butterburn Primary) 2-1 at Tannadice in that final,” he said.
“We even missed a penalty.
“In our team were players such as Jimmy Jack, Dode Edgar and Davie Fisher.
“I was a year younger than the rest of the boys, maybe even two years.
“It was nice to read about the Rock Cup.”
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