BRADY’S FOUR BOUTS WITH LYNCH

ANDY WALKER, our regular contributor and champion of all things Lochee, gives further input to his own contribution in BwB on February 17.

“In the photograph of Jim Brady at the weigh-in with Benny Lynch, right behind the young boy is his manager, Skipton-born Joe Miller,” said Andy.

“Joe (pictured at foot of column) moved to Dundee as a youngster and his first venture into business was when he opened a stall in the Greenmarket.

“As his business grew, he opened a stall for flooring in the arcade below the Caird Hall.

“Joe came into boxing only after he heard Edinburgh promoter Nat Dresner making despairing remarks in a shop in Leith.

“He was cursing the Dundee public, citing the venues as wash-outs — and generally blackened the name of anything connected with the city.

“Joe told him he was completely wrong and he would prove it.

“He came back to Dundee and contacted three Dundee business men — Tom Miller, Archie McAllister and Charles Black.

“They all agreed that boxing could be a good promotion in Dundee — and so the Dundee Boxing Syndicate was formed.

“Their first bill at the Caird Hall included W. White (Leith), feather and lightweight amateur champion of Scotland, who fought J. C. Cater. Cater went on to become welterweight champion of Scotland later in his career. Cater emerged victorious over White on points.

“Topping the bill that opening evening was a bout between Steve McCall and Jack Quiskley, and it was promoted as the “Great Army Heavyweight” contest, because both boxers had been in the Irish Guards. McCall knocked out Quiskley in the sixth round.

“Other results that night included J. Gallacher (Dundee) beating J. Ingram (Aberdeen) and A. Kemp (Aberdeen) getting the better of Jim Stewart (Dundee).

“Joe put more shows on and every one was a sell-out. A problem which kept cropping up was available dates for putting on the promotions.

“An idea to build a boxing venue was put to Joe by local builder Albert Evans, and the biggest boxing booth in Britain opened on September 7, 1932, Premierland in William Lane.

“Alistair McInroy (Broughty Ferry) topped the bill that night, winning by a second-round KO over Tom Carter (Durham).

“At Premierland, not only Jim Brady but Jim Cowie, Douglas Parker, Steve McCall, Mickey Summers, Jake Kilrain, Gilbert and Willie Johnstone, Deaf Burke, Benny Lynch, Kid Socks and a whole host of others appeared.

“Joe became ‘Ol Joe’ throughout the boxing world. He gave local lads such as Frankie Parks and R. Boag their chance.

“Joe first saw Brady box at the Dundee Amateur Boxing Club when he was under the care of Webb Thomson.

“Brady fought at the Caird Hall while still a schoolboy, his opponent being W. Corrigan.

“As schoolboys they could not be paid, Joe got permission from the newly-formed BBB of Scotland (boxing board) for the boys to fight six two-minute rounds for the Dundee Syndicate Boxing Gold Medal. Brady won easily on points.

“Brady was asked to turn professional. He was given £5 when beating Willie Vogan on points over 10 rounds.

“After a few local fights, an up-and-coming boxer from Glasgow called Tommy Steel fancied himself as the next flyweight champion of Scotland.

“He took on Brady in Glasgow and lost.

“Joe and trainer Tommy Leddie accompanied Brady and it was after this fight that Benny Lynch said he wanted to box him.

“The first of their four epic meetings was at the ‘Ring’ in Glasgow on April 26, 1933. It was close, but Lynch edged it on points.

“They fought again a week later in the Premierland, the bout ending in a draw.

“The third fight took place in Edinburgh on January 30, 1934. Both boxers gave their all and, at the end, Lynch was declared the winner. This match was the final eliminator for the flyweight title of Scotland.

“When Brady met Lynch for the fourth time, Lynch was champion.

“The venue for this epic battle was Celtic’s Parkhead Stadium, but it was also the venue for one of the worst decisions in boxing.

“Brady out-boxed Lynch for the entire fight and, indeed, according to eyewitnesses, Lynch never won a round.

“There was total outrage when the referee raised Lynch’s arm as winner.

“It must have been embarrassing when, after the fight, Lynch declared he would never fight Brady again.

“A promise he kept.

“Two fights at the Premierland involved Brady and Lynch against Jimmy Knowles and both bouts were won by Knowles.

“Knowles made the fights brutal encounters and won each on points.

“Joe was the promoter of the Bobby Boland/Peter Keenan fight. He also advised Bobby Boland not to go to South Africa to fight there. This advice went unheeded and Boland took a severe hammering.

“The development of boxing in Scotland owes a debt to Joe Miller.

“Boxers from all over the globe wanted to fight the best Scotland had to offer. They got their chance at Premierland here in Dundee.”

IT WAS NORTH END

An UNKNOWN READER gives a slightly different take on Harp’s Forfarshire Cup Final of 1956-57 (BwB, April 14).

“I and some others believe the team Harp played was North End not Violet,” he writes.

“The game was played at Glenesk.

“Also in the North End team was young Jimmy Gabriel, and the Harp team included U. Mulholland and J. McGuire.

“The score was 1-0 with P. Craig scoring Harp’s winner.”

STEIN DID PLAY

PAT KELLY, current match-day announcer for Dundee United at Tannadice, feels he can, at last, establish the truth of a query.

“In 1998, I published a book, “Dundee United Who’s Who”, which featured players past and present,” said Pat.

“One of the entries which caused a lot of debate among United supporters was if Jock Stein ever played for United.

“Unfortunately, I did not keep the source date or where I got the information from, but I’m sure the story came from The Sporting Post.

“Most correspondents were of the opinion that Stein had never played for United.

“However, recently, I received information that conclusively proves that the Celtic managerial legend did, indeed, play for the Tannadice outfit.

“My source told me that Jock Stein turned out for Dundee United on Saturday, April 17, 1943 in a 4-3 win over Raith Rovers at Tannadice.

“The Sporting Post from that date confirms this information. Indeed, a paragraph from the SP that day, which covered the game, stated, ‘Johnny Stein, of Albion Rovers, who assisted Dundee United in their cup-tie, had a busy day watching Joe Payne’.

“I trust that will end arguments regarding Stein and United once and for all.”

GREAT PLAYER . . . AND CHARMING, TOO

This column’s old friend TOM McGOVERN, from Manchester, had the pleasure of meeting Denis Law recently.

“His personal charm and kindness impressed me as much as his prodigious talent did in the past,” said Tom, late of Dundee.

“He is a modest, kindly gentleman. In my view, Denis had it all — quick legs allied to a very sharp football brain. These gifts seldom come together in your average player.”

Tom revealed he may be back in the Dundee area for a short holiday, continuing, “I have several football friends in the area.

“On past visits, I could not find time to visit them as family affairs took up most of my time.

“One of them is, of course, Bob Griffin, whom you have featured in previous columns.

“Bob is still associated with the NCR amateur football team in Dundee. He is an unforgettable character, who still loves the game.

“Football owes much to men like Bob. He is respected in the highest circles.

“I spent many happy times in his company with the ‘real’ NCR team (circa mid-1960s) in Dundee.

“Currently, the World Cup dominates football news. England had the players to do well, but what is questionable was the ability to use them to good effect.

“Two examples in the past spring to mind.

“Jock Stein won the European Cup with 11 Glaswegians. Alf Ramsey won the World Cup with a selection of players who were severely criticised before their great victory.

“In both cases, the ability to pick a balanced side was prominent.

“Bob Shankly had that ability, too.”