MIGHT NOT BE DENIS AFTER ALL

Lochee’s ANDY WALKER bounced back after a period of inactivity (Tele-wise) with his latest take on local schools football in times gone by.

“Last year, I wrote asking if Denis Law ever played on Lochee Park?” he opened.

“There seems to be views now that he did not.

“I recently found out that selection for the national schoolboy teams at that time was done on a select regional basis.

“On February 7, 1956, two teams for the U/14 and U/15 North of Forth region played trial matches against the South of Forth region.

“This was the second eliminator.

“The U/14 Select was — Finnie (Markinch), Sneddon (Stirling), Martin (Stirling), McCallum (Dundee), Caswell (Dundee), Dunn (Dundee), Oliver (Stirling), Duff (Dundee), Clemenson (Clackmannan), Henderson (Kincardine), Fleming (Clackmannan).

“The U/15 Select was — Davie (Stirling), Provan (Stirling) or Sjoberg (Aberdeen), Leslie (Aberdeen), Grant (Stirling), Folan (Dundee), Markie (Dundee), Gow (Stirling), McGregor (Dundee), Conway (Stirling), Robertson (Stirling), Wood (Aberdeen).

“One or two of the Dundee names stand out, but I can’t help wondering how far any of the rest went in their football careers.

“The same week, Lawside went into the next round of the U/15 Schoolboys Scottish Cup, the furthest any team from Dundee had ever been.

“In that season, Dundee Schools U/15 League was being fought out between Rockwell and Lawside.

“Lawside also went pretty far in the later stages of the Scottish Cup, further than any Dundee school previously.”

Could they be?

Going on surnames and positions, I’ll throw a few of the Select names back at Andy.

Could Davie (Stirling) be Sandy Davie, who had a lengthy career as Dundee United goalkeeper?

Could Provan (Stirling) be Davie Provan, who went on to star for Rangers and Scotland?

Can Aberdeen’s Wood be Wilson Wood, again of Rangers and Dundee United?

Is Dundee’s Dunn one Charlie Dunn who starred for Brechin City in the 1960s and 1970s?

Is Clackmannan’s Fleming the same Ian who starred for Aberdeen, then had a spell with Dundee?

If you know for sure, or have any other take on this, get in touch.

n Jimmy Aberdein identified the ‘unknown’ player in last week’s Lochee Harp photo as Ronnie Wilson.

BILL A-HEAD OF HIS TIME

Doug Spence of Dundee got in touch after reading an article in a Sunday newspaper regarding the ‘scrum cap’ worn by Chelsea’s Petr Cech during last Saturday’s Premiership clash against Liverpool.

The big goalie was making his return after a lengthy lay-off due to a fractured skull.

The paper suggested this was the first time a keeper had worn one, although it mentioned Paul Gascoigne using a similar cap.

However, Doug remembered former Dundee, Spurs and Scotland keeper Bill Brown wearing protective headgear almost 50 years ago.

“I’m sure he wore it for two or three games after an ear injury,” recalled Doug.

And, as our picture at the foot of this column shows, Bill did indeed use a “scrum cap” during his time at Dens following an ear injury picked up after a challenge by Aberdeen forward Norman Davidson at Pittodrie.

LOGIE SCHOOL TEAM OF 1956

GEORGE VEITCH, of Swinton, Manchester, sent in the photo below of the Logie Secondary School team from December 15, 1956.

“I was a proud member of this team, which won the Dundee United Cup on Tannadice Park,” wrote George.

“I can’t remember all of my team-mates names, so perhaps some of your readers may help to fill in the blanks.”

George, who played centre-half for the team, also sent in a cutting from “The Peoples Journal”, which highlighted the final.

It documented that ‘Logie’s victory over Harris was a triumph of superior teamwork and football skill against speed and strength as Harris were the bigger team.

‘Harris centre-half Valentine scored an own goal for Logie to lead, but it was level when Birse scored in the second half.

‘Thomson, who gave a grand exhibition of inside-forward play, then put Logie ahead with an 18-yard gem, only for Duff to level things up again.

‘Minutes from the end, Bell, who reminded those present of Billy Steel with his dribbling and bursts of speed, notched the winner.

‘Other outstanding players for Logie were Veitch, Malcolm and Tosh.’

George continued, “As this is the 50th anniversary season, it would be nice to meet up again with any of the team members.

“If anyone is interested, they can call me on 0161 794 8800.”