NELSON (92) STILL KICKING
ELAINE SMITH, the deputy manager of Forebank Care Home in Dundee, got in touch regarding Nelson Black, who has featured a few times in BwB.
“Nelson is currently resident in Forebank Care Home,” she said.
“I let him see the picture of Lochee Harp juniors from 1946 without offering any information, and he promptly pointed himself out.
“He was also able to name some of the other players.
“Nelson was, indeed, from the west coast, although he is unsure if he worked as a slater.
“Even at 92, Nelson will still kick a ball about the corridors when we give him one. He is still very fit.
“If any of your readers have any pictures featuring Nelson, we would be extremely grateful if they could contact us so we could perhaps have copies for Nelson.”
The Forebank phone number is 01382 206161.
SEVEN WENT SENIOR
Staying with Lochee Harp and, after reading Andy Hughes’ piece on October 13, Beechwood Park official JIM KELLY delved into the club’s archives.
“I checked out the minutes from that 1946-47 season and found that Andy, indeed, is correct,” revealed Jim.
“There was an Andy Hughes playing for Harp at that time, so it was a good spot by Andy.”
It was while Jim was perusing through documents of that era that he came across some quite astonishing statistics.
“Do you know that Harp, in the two years of 1947 and 1948, had no fewer than seven players going senior,” he continued. “I find that quite astonishing when you think that, nowadays, not many players go senior from the junior ranks, and those who do usually end up at some of the smaller senior sides.
“However, in that two-year period, two Harp players signed for Sheffield Wednesday, with a further two setting off for Parkhead to play for Celtic. In addition, another trio of Beechwood players joined Hearts, Aberdeen and Raith.”
LINES WERE MARKED FOR FIVE BOB
ALEX ROBB, of Ballantrae Place, Dundee, recalls how he used to assist his father in helping football teams in the 1940s and early 1950s.
“I was brought up at Caird Park in Dundee and we used to stay in the cottages, which are now the Hawkhill Harriers’ clubrooms,” said Alex.
“In the late 1940s to early 50s the pitches, at the ‘Cairdie’ Mains Loan end were numbered 2-5.
“At that time, the local parks department did not mark the pitches, so clubs had to organise it themselves. Whitening had to be used, and not until after a noon deadline.
“My father (Jim Robb) was approached by a number of clubs, including Midlands AFA clubs Balgay Amateurs, Maryfield Amateurs and Lawside FP, and also D&D Juvenile clubs such as Ashgrove and Maitland Thistle.
“We found out who was playing each week from the fixtures in the Evening Telegraph and on which pitch.
“During the winter months, the kick-offs were at 2 pm, and some weeks it was a real rush to mark the lines on all the pitches, with myself helping my father.
“For each pitch we marked, my father was paid five bob (five shillings or 25p nowadays).
“Teams who used to regularly visit these pitches included YM Anchorage in the amateurs, and Lochee United and Alhambra Hibs in the juvenile league.
“I remember Ashgrove being managed by Willie Hill. Maitland Thistle had a centre called Willie Lowden, who, I think, went junior.
“If memory serves me correctly, Maitland Thistle folded soon after their manager was killed when, tragically, his car crushed him in a lock-up in Mains Loan.”
CONFIRMED . . . IAN URE WAS IN FREWS BAR
Just as I was sitting down for my tea last Friday evening, the phone went.
“Ian Ure was in Dundee for the United v. Killie match,” proclaimed DAVE FORBES, who runs the newsagent’s shop on Clepington Road, Dundee (beside Clep Bar), and who does voluntary work behind the scenes at Dens Park.
This, of course, was in reply to Downfield resident Tommy Bell’s article last week.
Dave continued, “On reading your article, I phoned him and left a message on his answering machine.
“He then got back to me to confirm he was at that match and was, indeed, in Frews.
“The first thing he said, though, was that he hoped he hadn’t done anything wrong, and that he hadn’t upset any Dundee supporters for coming up and going to Tannadice to watch United.
“I reassured him that he will always be top man as far as Dark Blues fans are concerned.”
JIM KIDD, mine host of Frews Bar in Strathmartine Road, also confirmed that the former Scotland centre-half was on his premises on that day.
“He often pops in here when he’s in Dundee,” said Jim. “I acknowledged Ian, but didn’t go over to speak as I didn’t want to bother him.
“He was with a group of Killie fans, one of which was Malky McCormick, the Scottish cartoonist.
“Malky is well known as being a die-hard fan of the Rugby Park side. He also comes into the pub when he’s in the city.
“Indeed, many former legends and personalities are known to come into Frews. They know they will be left alone and that no-one would bother them.”
Jim’s last statement was then confirmed by ANDY HUTT, well-known in local football circles for his involvement in the Tayside Works Fives League..
“I can confirm that Ian Ure was, indeed, in Frews before — and after — the Killie match,” said Andy.
“He was with friends (Killie fans) and what first drew my attention to him was that, while ordering a round of drinks, he asked the barmaid for ‘an ingin ane an’ a’.
“I thought at the time it was an odd (Dundee) expression to hear from Ayrshire folk.
“After the match, also there, though not in the same company, were United chairman Eddie Thompson, Radio Scotland's Jim Spence and Billy Kay, well-known media person and Arab.”
CARNOUSTIE’S JOHN YOUNG
Legendary Carnoustie Panmure junior John Young sadly passed away in August.
John skippered the Angus side in the early 1940s and 1950s — and was capped three times for Scotland.
His friend DANNY BRADY (52), of Dundee, on behalf of John’s wife AGNES and family, sent in these delightful photos, which feature a Gowfers’ team he played in, an action shot of the man himself (middle photo, below), and his coveted international caps (bottom photo).
Danny played for amateur teams in the 1970s such as Doc Stewart’s and Rosemount.
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