Alec didn’t believe in holding ball long

BRIAN SHARP, of Fleming Gardens West, Dundee, brought an album of his dad’s football career to me.

I have to say that I hadn’t heard of ALEXANDER (ALEC) SHARP, but, on reading through the impressive scrapbook, it turns out he was some player.

Indeed, he could be well up in the list of Dundee’s famous football sons.

Brian has proudly displayed many photos of his dad, in addition to copies of his contracts when he signed for various clubs, which are listed below.

In addition, he also has his dad’s passport, which he was issued with for a trip to Denmark with one of his teams.

Born in 1910, he played local junior football for North End (see picture at foot of column) and Violet, and was a reserve for Junior Scotland against Wales at the age of 17.

An inside-forward or half-back, he then turned senior with East Fife.

From there, it was on to Blackburn Rovers, Hull City, Falkirk (where a team-mate was a certain Bill Shankley) and Raith Rovers in a 12-year career from 1927.

In one of the cuttings, Alec is described as a “strong and forcing type, who doesn’t believe in holding the ball long”.

DOKENS WITHDREW TRAINING FACILITIES TO OTHER PLAYERS

The article about John Young and Carnoustie Panmure (December 1) was of particular interest to RON WATSON, of Aberdour Place, Broughty Ferry.

Ron, who has responded to BwB articles in the past, said, “My father was on the North End committee for a lot of years and I went to most of North End’s games.

“John Young was a North End player at that time and, in my opinion, was the best centre-half I ever saw in junior football.

“Round about 1947, the Dokens received a request from a Carnoustie player named George Webster asking if he could train at North End Park as he lived close to the ground.

“He was duly given permission and, at the end of that season, four of North End’s best players signed for Carnoustie, namely the aforementioned John Young, left-half Chic Gardiner, centre-forward Walter Smith and another, possibly George Bennett, but I’m not too sure.

“The Gowfers at that time had a president, Mr Mudie, with, reputedly, plenty of money and it was rumoured he paid large amounts of money to secure the North End players. As a result of North End losing their best players, the committee then passed a rule that no junior players from other clubs would be permitted to train at North End Park.

“I believe that rule still stands.

“Incidentally, I think Smith, who had a spell at Hibs, was the best centre-forward I ever saw in junior football. Gardiner was also one of the best wing-halves in the junior grade. Dave Small was another one who played for North End, went senior and was then reinstated to Carnoustie.

“In that December 1 photo, right-back Reid played for Dundee.

“Regarding the article by Alex Robb, he mentioned that Willie Hill managed Ashgrove Juveniles.

“I played for Ashgrove and the manager was Willie Hill’s brother Bertie, both of whom were brothers of George ‘Pud’ Hill of Dundee fame.”

My son, also John Brown, who is commercial manager at North End, informs he that the “no training” rule does not currently apply.

“UNKNOWNS” NAMED

Billy Gowans and Dave Thomson named the “unknowns” in last week’s picture of Logie School footballers from 1956.

Billy said, “Back left was Graeme Martin, who went on to play for East Craigie.

“Beside him was Lindsay Chrichton and sitting front right was Jim Malcolm. He was a left-winger and I think he played amateur football with Shamrock,” added Billy, who was in the same year as the trio at Logie.

JOEYS WON SIX TROPHIES IN ONE SEASON

VINCE McNALLY came on from his current home in Ajax, just outside Toronto in Canada.

“I’ve come across a cutting from your article which is dated July 13, 2001,” said Vince.

“In it, you wrote about various Dundee junior football teams, and who was most successful and so on. I reckon the record of the team I played with in the early 1960s would take some beating.

“It was the St Joseph’s team from season 1961-62 and we won six trophies that season.

“The only two to elude us were the Forfarshire Cup and the Scottish Cup. We won the league title and the Forfarshire Consolation Cup.

“Also picked up were the Courier Cup and the Telegraph Cup, in addition to the Kiddie Cup and the Loftus Cup.

“In the Scottish, we were beaten 3-1 away from home in the third round by Maryhill.”

DONALD WORE CAP

Andy Hutt emailed regarding last week’s article about Dundee keeper Bill Brown and Chelsea goalie Petr Cech wearing “scrum caps”.

“I have a ‘tangerine’ memory of Donald Mackay wearing a similar cap in a derby versus Dundee. This would be around 1969/70,” said Andy. “As I recall, he was carried off with a head wound playing in the Fairs Cup match against Newcastle United and Jed Reilly came on. I think he had stiches inserted and wore the cap for protection in the next game.”

Our archives can’t confirm this tale, but maybe some BwB readers can help?

SPORTING STAN dropped a line on the same subject, pointing out that when Bill Brown played for Dundee in the 50s, ‘most goalies wore bonnets’.

He said, “The bonnet gave protection from the sun and limited protection from knocks. It surprises me so few goalies nowadays wear headgear.