FLAG WAS OLD SOCK OR HANKIE

The response to DOUGIE M ITCHELL’S query (BwB, Dec. 16) regarding former Scottish Junior teams was swift.

Former East Region secretary JOCK MYLES was quick off the mark and got in touch before our final edition hit the street.

“St Machar were an Aberdeenshire junior side, who played down on the beachfront at Bridge of Don,” he said.

“It was always cold in that location, and I remember it being very much so when Carnoustie played there.

“St Laurence were from Laurenckirk and played in the Kincardineshire League. They lasted until the 1950s.

“High Valleyfield were based just outside Dunfermline, and were from the mining community. They played in the Fife League.”

JIM BALLANTINE, from Monifieth, also contributed.

“Railway Athletic were a Perth side and played in the Perthshire League,” he said.

“They played their home games on the South Inch, and their clubrooms were in St Leonard’s Bank.

“Along with St Johnstone juniors, they always seemed to be around the bottom of the league.

“They didn’t last very long.

“In those times, the Perthshire League was dominated by Jeanfield Swifts (see photo at foot of column).”

Perth’s CHARLIE GRIEVE was able to give more on the Railway club.

“Railway Athletic were one of the original 15 members of the Perthshire Junior Football Association on its resumption after the war for season 1946/47,” said Charlie, who is currently on the Kinnoull Juniors committee.

“I am not sure if they were active pre-war, but, obviously, were able to fulfil a Scottish Cup tie against Carnoustie during season 1945-46, even if they did lose 11-0.

“Railway played their home matches on pitch No. 2 on the South Inch in Perth.

“They had a keeper named Stewart, who was selected to play at St Johnstone’s Muirton Park on September 11, 1946, in aid of the National Boys Club (Select team A v. Select team B).

“Players known to have played for Railway in 1948-49 included Stephen, Syme and McMurray, while, the following year, Stephen, Karridge (or Kerridge), Lyall, Donaldson, Davies, Robb, Provan and goalkeeper Fergus all played for the side

“Railway also opted to play in the Perthshire Supplementary League, which started in season 1949/50, but this league was later abandoned after several matches had been played.

“Player Cormack is known to have turned out for Railway during season 1950-51, which proved to be their final season as a Junior team as the team folded at the end of that season, never to return.

“They had finished the season seventh of the nine clubs in the Perthshire B League.

“The league was split into two divisions at this time, with the winners of League A meeting the winners of League B to decide the Perthshire champions.

“The reason reported for the demise of the club was a lack of committee members and a shortage of players.

“Railway later emerged as a Juvenile club and, after the end of the Perthshire Juvenile League, became an amateur side.

“They were in existence until very recently, playing matches from changing-rooms inside the Railway Club in St Leonard’s Bank before it was closed and turned into flats.”

Doug himself was approached by several readers and, in addition to Big Jock and others, he took a call from JIM HAMILTON.

“Jim lives quite near me and, incidentally, used to cut the grass at Westfield,” he said.

“He also ran the line, back before the linesmen had fancy flags, and had to make do with a hankie or old sock.

“Jim originally hails from Laurencekirk and will remember watching St Laurence play when he was at primary school, but can’t remember exactly when they packed up.

“Later that evening, I received a call from my old friend IAN GORDON, in Perth, who told me that Railway Athletic were a Perth side, who, as the name suggests, consisted mainly of railway employees and played on the South Inch.

“Ian was even able to give me the Gowfers scorers in their 11-0 win back in 1944 — Kinder (6), Ruse (3), Dobbie and Sutherland.

“He revealed that St Machar did originally play in Aberdeen, but then changed their name to Balgonie Juniors for a time, before changing their name again and moving out to Inverurie as Inverurie Juniors, who then left the juniors at the end of the 1998/99 season — and they are now playing in the Highland League.

“According to Ian, Valleyfield played in the West Fife League, but went into abeyance, then came back in 1966-67.

“They played for a time in Culross, then finally packed up again in 1972-73.

“Thanks to BwB. I certainly know where to come if I need any more queries answered.”

BEST STRIP A VALUED PIECE

George Best’s shirt, featured last week, created some interest with several readers wondering why the superstar’s jersey landed up in a local junior club’s raffle.

As related to me, it came about when Celtic striker Willie Wallace played for Scotland against Northern Ireland and, after the game, he swapped jerseys with the Irish genius.

Legendary Lisbon Lion Wallace, in later years, was to become a coach at Dundee FC and, as any coach would, kept an eye on the junior game locally.

It was through this connection that Stobswell acquired the Best jersey.

And, just this week, a national newspaper revealed that an identical Northern Ireland international jersey of Best’s would fetch at least £5000 at auctioneers Christie’s and, more probably, very much more.

This particular shirt was grabbed at the end of a Scotland-Northern Ireland encounter by his Manchester United team-mate Willie Morgan.

CELTS BEAT GERS 43-0

KENNY BOYLAN, a former junior footballer with Lochee United, East Craigie, Violet, Harp and North End, to name some of his clubs, also has a unique claim to fame much earlier in his football career.

You see, he was part of a Celtic team which beat Rangers by a proverbial cricket score — a feat which can’t have happened often.

“It was around 1975-76 and I was part of the Celtic Boys U/11 team,” explained Kenny, who currently lives in Craigiebank.

“We had a really good side and played a team called West Park Rangers.

“The game was at Caird Park and we beat them 43-0.

“We were managed by Jim McCord and I remember the headline in the People’s Journal the following week . . . ‘Celtic beat Rangers 43-0’.”

WHERE DID “ROOKIE” COME FROM?

M. SMALL, Hilltown, Dundee, asks if BwB can find out why the term “rookie” is used for new or relatively untried players in sport.

My recollection of this is that it is nothing to do with the crow-like bird, the rook.

The term, as explained to me by one of my peers many years ago, comes from the chess piece, the rook, which, I was led to believe, is under-used and is usually one of the last pieces to be brought into action.

But, as ever, if you have a different take on that, let me know.