DYNAMIC OUTSIDE-LEFT . . . JIMMY CAMERON “WAS BIG, STRONG, FAST AND POWERFULLY-BUILT”
FRED WATERS, of Kintillo, Bridge of Earn, responded to Steve Gracie’s appeal (BwB, May 12) for information on the career of former Dundee United man Jimmy Cameron.
“I get great pleasure from your weekly column and never more so than on May 12,” said Fred.
“Jimmy Cameron was a dynamic outside-left with Arbroath for just one season and it was a great surprise and disappointment when he left to join Forfar Athletic.
“Tragically, he died in December 1935 during his first season at Forfar.
“While at Gayfield, he played on the left-wing in a great Arbroath forward line at Gayfield comprising Jack Lowe, George Mutch, Alec Brand and Willie Carver.
“He was big, strong, fast and powerfully- built, like Jack Lowe on the right, and they used to pound down the wings at Gayfield to great effect.
“Many goals resulted from the talented inside two. Jimmy Cameron had a powerful left foot.
“Jack Quaskley, then principal of physical education at Dundee University, was trainer with Celtic during Jimmy Cameron’s brief stay and he also expressed surprise when he was released, Jack having a high opinion of his abilities.
“Jack ran a course for football trainers which I attended during the early 1960s.
“It finished up with a “question time” and, when the queries dried up, Jack used to take a stroll down Memory Lane, which everyone enjoyed.
“Arbroath just missed promotion during Jim Cameron’s season, but won it the next term under Colin McNab’s captaincy.
“The former Dundee internationalist became a legend at Arbroath, and they remained in the First Division until the outbreak of the Second World War.
“The Red Lichties goalkeeper as they went into the First Division was David Cumming, who was later transferred to Middlesbrough and played for Scotland.
“His place was taken by Peter Robertson, formerly Dundee, Dundee United and Charlton, and he was still with Arbroath until the outbreak of war in 1939.
“Many clubs folded for the duration of hostilities, but a league of sorts was still maintained with many guest players.
“However, everything depended on availability while the war waged on.
“Regarding Steve’s query on Central FC, it could have been Lochee Central.
“They played in the old Dundee Junior League and they wore maroon jerseys.
“Their secretary was a newsagent in Lochee, but I cannot now remember his name.
“Central were still playing in March 1940, but probably folded soon after as the Midlands League came into being for the duration of the war.
“In the mid-1930s, legendary former Lochee Harp centre-forward Hector Duncan (a Scottish junior cap) played for them along with the brothers Paterson from Arbroath.”
Another to respond to the Cameron query was FRED McINTOSH (senior), of Douglas, Dundee.
Fred handed me a quite brilliant handwritten diary, which recorded all details of Dundee United’s matches between August 1925 and January 1933.
Dates, scores, scorers, teams, referees . . . they are all listed.
Steve’s offering that Jimmy’s debut for United against Bathgate on December 28, 1928, was expunged as Bathgate resigned soon after, making the game void, is confirmed in the book.
This record book shows that he made his first appearance for the Tannadice side (see photo at foot of column) on January 2, 1929, in a 4-0 home win over King’s Park.
United lined up — McGregor; Taylor, McClure; Deuchar, Cunningham, Bain; Henderson, Hart, Hutchison, Kay, Cameron. Scorers — Hutchison (2), Kay, Henderson.
And where did Fred get this book?
From none other than from the then Tannadice board member William Robertson.
“William was my boss and I worked for him for 46 years,” revealed Fred, now retired.
“I started with his firm — William Robertson & Co. — in 1946.
“We did tile-laying, ironmongery, blacksmith jobs and even undertaking . . . it was that sort of firm.
“We would put our hand to anything.
“We also did a lot of work on the old Dundee United stand, tarring it and the like, and also raised the terracing behind one of the goals.
“In fact, one of my young apprentices was Peter McKay, who was to leave United to sign for Burnley.
“William was a director at Tannadice and he is not to be confused with the legendary Ernest S. Robertson, who was also on the board.
“Other directors at the time included George F. Fox, James Littlejohn and J. Denys Carnegie.”
Fred intimated that the diary was gifted to him by his boss around the mid-1950s, and he has kept it in pristine condition.
Motty winds us up
I’ve been amused by all the debates and correspondence regarding whether or not Scots would or should support England in the World Cup in Germany.
From my own view, I won’t, simply because I regard the English football team as my country’s greatest football rivals, much the same way as very few Dundee United fans support Dundee (and vice-versa) and Celtic and Rangers fans don’t cheer on each other’s teams.
But the radio and TV commentators don’t help, do they?
Fair enough, England are there . . . but there is nothing to suggest form-wise that they are the super-duper odds-on favourites to win the cup, as portrayed by many of the presenters on my once-favourite radio station TalkSport.
And, as for the TV guys . . . how can Brazil be playing Croatia, Germany tackling Costa Rica, Japan meeting Australia and Argentina v. Ivory Coast merit a mention of England several times during the commen-taries these tasty encounters.
The BBC’s John Motson, though, takes the biscuit.
It should be said, firstly, that he’s a pretty intelligent cookie and I’ve always had the feeling that he just winds up the Scots, Welsh and Irish — in effect, playing to the crowd.
“Motty”, as he is affectionately known, has picked up awards in the last few years such as commentator of the year from the FHM awards, Zoo magazine, Four Four Two, Variety Club and the Royal Television Society during his 1000-plus commentaries since taking over on Match of the Day from the legendary Kenneth Wolstenholme in 1971.
However, like many of his counterparts, he has had some “classic moments” on the microphone.
Here is a selection . . .
“Nearly all the Brazilian supporters are wearing yellow shirts — it’s a fabulous kaleido-scope of colour!”
“If David Beckham claims that goal, it will be only the second goal he has scored for England . . . well, no, it won’t be, it’ll be the fourth or fifth free-kick, I think.”
“And what a time to score — 22 minutes gone!”
“The World Cup is a truly international event.”
“And that’s England’s finest victory over the Germans since the war!”
“Hold on to your cups and glasses . . . you can smash them now, David Beckham has scored!” (v. Argentina).
“I was about to say, before something far more interesting interrupted . . .”
“And Seaman, just like a falling oak, manages to change direction.”
“I can’t fault Mark Palios too highly.”
“The unexpected is always likely to happen.”
When ex-Gowfer Joe met ‘Caesar’
JENNIFER NICOLL, of Lyndhurst Avenue, Dundee, sent in the photo (at foot of column) of her husband JAMES and son JOE when they met Parkhead legend BILLY McNEILL at the recent Celtic Supporters’ Convention in Benidorm, Spain.
Others who made the trip were Grant Nicoll, Paul Goodman, Jimmy Goodman, Ashley Goodman, Nick Maylor and Pamela Donaldson.
Joe, of course, is a well-known figure in local football circles, playing for a number of clubs, including the successful Carnoustie Panmure JFC side of the late 1970s/early 1980s.
|
