Middle man as two Harp legends meet

The occasion was Dundee Football Club’s sportsman’s dinner in the Hilton Hotel, Dundee, last November.

I was chaperoning the Evening Telegraph competition winner HARRY GRIEVE and his party at the event.

Harry’s father of the same name attended and he, of course, is a LOCHEE HARP legend, having played in their very successful side of the 1960s and also into the 1970s.

And who should we meet at the dinner but another former Beechwood Park favourite, MIKE “MICK” McMANUS.

Within seconds, one of the others in the company produced a camera and paired the two together for the photo at the foot of this column.

They insisted I was in it, too, and I felt humble to be sandwiched by such legendary junior greats.

They said that they played briefly together in the 1970s, Harry nearing the end of his career, and Mick signing up after a short spell at Celtic.

Back at the sports desk, I dug deep into our files and, bingo, I unearthed a photo of both together in the same Beechwood Park team.

This one (also at the foot of this column) appeared in the Tele on May 31, 1974.

JACK BROKE HIS ANKLE, BUT HARRY AND THE DUNDEE EX-PATS PLAYED ON

Harry Rose came on from Canada and proclaimed, “Wow . . . the emails keep coming — 37 to date!”

This was after Harry featured in a recent BwB article.

“I know I’m gone from your shores, but it’s nice to know I’m not forgotten.

“Also, you recently had in a piece about Billy Wilson emigrating with his brother Alfie to Vancouver many years ago.

“Well, both are alive ’n’ kickin’ in Vancouver.

“I played with them around 1970 for a Dundee ex-pat team with guest players no less than Jack Cowan and Gerry Follon.

“The game is remembered here well mainly because Jack Dorward broke his ankle.

“We just got on with the game, allowing our unhappy wives to carry him off to hospital. Marty Allen also played that day.

“Give my best to everyone in Dundee.”

CHARLIE WON THE MATCH ON HIS OWN

DAVID PATTERSON, of Riverside Place, Dundee, remembered the October 13 article on Charlie Cooke.

“I was also at the Airdrie match and rates with me as the best individual performance I have witnessed in a football match,” said David.

“Cooke won the match on his own and, as you said, set up Alex Harley’s hat-trick. I enjoyed watching his skills during his stay at Dens.

“It would also be good to get an insight on Harley’s football career.”