WHEN DUNDEE SCOTTISH CUP WINNERS MET

JIMMY BORLAND, of Marryat Terrace, Dundee, sent in a photo (see foot of column) of STOBSWELL BOYS U/14 from the 1960s.

“The photo was taken when we beat Rockwell 4-3 in the semi-final of the Sports Cup at Balfield.

“In the final, after a 2-2 draw, we lost 2-1 against Logie Secondary in the replay.

“Charlie Love and Norrie Thain went on to play for Osborne Juniors for a number of years, while Jim Callaghan was part of the Lochee Renton team which won the Scottish Juvenile Cup in 1966.

“Ian Sharp went on to have quite a number of senior trials down south, but eventually ended up at North End juniors.

“Alex Foster also had quite a few trials for English clubs.

“I played in juniors and amateurs for over 30 years, finishing up with the NCR amateur side in the Midlands AFA.

“Jimmy Young was part of the Cash side which won the Scottish Amateur Cup in 1966.

“I also remember that Cash side playing Renton in a friendly at North End Park and the game between two Scottish Cup winners finished 2-2.”

NOT JUST FUN TO STAY . . . IT WAS FUN TO TRY TO BEAT YMCA

“Thanks for a great piece on the Anchorage,” was GEORGE JOHNSTON’S opening remarks, referring to BILL ROBERTSON’S November 3 piece on legendary Midlands AFA outfit YM Anchorage.

“It wasn’t just fun to stay at the YMCA, it was fun trying to beat this team of 1950-51.

“The old building at Constitution Road had great facilities for the time and I can well imagine the BB from up the road taking advantage of that.

“Given the fact that the Boys’ Brigade badge is an anchor, Bill Robertson’s theory is probably right, but may I offer him a couple of other possibilities.

“I remember a former player of RNAS, Arbroath, writing to say that he used to play against YM Anchorage (I think in the late 40s-50s) and that the Anchorage clubrooms were on the Unicorn in Dundee docks.

“This was a good Anchorage and there might have been a connection with the sea cadets, whose badge is also an anchor.

“My other theory was that the amateur side was an off-shoot of the old junior club called Anchorage, who had no facilities of their own, and I think used to share North End’s ground.

“However, others may put me right on this.

“YM Anchorage, of course, shared the YM grounds off the Kingsway at Strathmartine Road end, with Dundee YMCA FC.

“This must have been the best BB side of all time.

“There was also a 3rd BB ex-members team and they also played in the Midlands and were pretty good, too.”

BILLY McGANN

Football followers in the city will be saddened to hear of the recent death of Billy McGann, whose name appeared frequently in this column.

Billy played in goal for East Fife, Cowdenbeath and Forfar. He also turned out for amateur outfit Maryfield and junior side Lochee Harp, and had a spell managing Stobswell juniors in the early 80s.

“He always enjoyed reading Blether with Brown and would point out teams he’d played for and lads he’d played alongside,” said Billy’s partner Emily Mackay.

EX-DEES ENJOY SUN

Pictured below is JOHN SIME, who featured in this column on December 22, displaying the Dundee United and Dundee jerseys which will be a feature of the Queensland Roar football museum in Brisbane, Australia.

As the rest of us shiver, John obviously thought it would also be a good idea to send us a photo of him and Queensland striker SIMON LYNCH (ex-Dundee, as is John) basking by a pool in the Aussie sunshine.