NIGHT WEMYSSIE SILENCED HIS CRITICS

On Sunday, at The M arquee, Dundee, top local amateur side RIVERSIDE ATHLETIC will host their sportsman’s dinner.

The event — a sell-out — has been billed “11 Not Out”, and this is a reference to the fact the Midlands AFA kingpins have won the coveted North of Tay Trophy no fewer than 11 occasions (so far!) — surpassing YM Anchorage’s 10 wins (1929-59).

It promises to be a great night and I, along with my sports desk colleague Graeme Finnan, have been invited to attend.

Over the years, there have been many great players pulling on the yellow jersey of River, and some equally legendary committee men.

But I’m sure most would stand one pace back and acknowledge that the “Mr Riverside” tag can go to only one person — DAVIE WEMYSS.

A founder member, he has been player, coach, manager, secretary and chief cook and bottle washer of this proud club, and all tasks have been taken on with a passion that I haven’t seen in any other individual.

And it has to be said that Davie could easily rub people up the wrong way.

But there is another side to the likeable Hilltown resident that those close to him know well — and I’ll relate two of those tales to you.

The first was when I was with Douglas Amateurs as a player.

We were neck-and-neck with reigning champions River at the top of the old Angus Amateur FA First Division all season, but had sneaked ahead by a couple of points going into the final game.

Douglas then had to beat SS Peter and Paul on a sunny midweek night at Claypotts to clinch the title in front of a big crowd.

Now, as anyone who knows anything about the Paulies can testify, they just don’t turn up and go through the motions.

They were highly competitive and certainly wanted to win that night. Soon, we found ourselves one down. Although we levelled, going into the final few minutes there was no sign of a winner coming.

I had been taken off with a pulled muscle and watched from the sidelines as the Paulies rearguard comfortably gobbled up everything we could throw at them.

If we were to win the title, something extraordinary had to happen — and it did!

Norrie Vannart, formerly of Dundee United, picked up the ball, cut inside and unleashed a tremendous 30-yarder (it goes up 10 yards every time you speak to Norrie!) into the net, which had SSPP keeper Jocky Mitchell pawing at thin air.

Party time!

Back at our clubrooms, the celebrations started, and a few of the young players, in their excitement, were saying things like, “We stuffed the River,” “We showed Wemyssie who is best” — and you’ll appreciate I’ve toned down original comments.

Then came a knock on the front door of our social club — and there stood Davie, along with another committee man, offering his congratulations.

He also had the League Shield with him, which he handed over, saying, “You’ll need this for your celebrations.”

Not many would have done that — and Davie immediately grew in stature among many in our team.

My other tale concerning Davie is when my Sunday amateur team at the time (Bank Street Athletic) were in difficulty at the foot of the First Division and badly needed points — and players — to get out of the precarious relegation position.

Davie heard of our plight and promptly offered his services “just until the end of the season”. He also promised to bring a few more players, including the legendary (in his own eyes) JIMMY MARTIN.

With Davie’s experience at the back and Jimmy’s goals up front, we won most of our remaining league games and ended up comfortably in mid-table.

So, ‘don’t judge a book, etc.’ . . . that’s the real Wemyssie who all his family, friends, team-mates and colleagues know.

The speakers on Sunday (7 pm for 7.30) are Bill Barclay, Bruce Fummey and MC Tom Dymock.

FANS PRICED OUT

BwB’s “Manchester correspondent” TOM McGOVERN has been quiet of late and that, he informs in his latest letter, has been because of heart surgery.

The fact that he has started penning once again would suggest he is on the mend — and I sincerely hope so.

He writes, “I am always mindful of the service given freely to the youth of Dundee by the men who ran football and boxing clubs.

“In my area in Dundee (Lochee), the obvious names spring to mind — Dennis Gilfeather, Ned Lynch and Frank Hendry at St Francis parish.

“We also had the late Joe McInally.

“As young lads, we cherished our clubs, which developed many sporting stars of the future.

“The recent takeovers of English football clubs by foreign business men may benefit shareholders, but it’s doubtful if this trend benefits the development of British footballers.

“In the last two decades, Alex Ferguson at Manchester United has been one of the few to successfully bring through young British stars at a high level.

“By contrast, Arsenal have very few.

“Will the rich Americans restore the pride in Liverpool which was created by Bill Shankly?

“Bill cared about the British game and also the fans.

“Today’s fans are being priced out of watching the game live.

“I hope there are some potential young footballers emerging in Tayside.

“Sadly, though, the big clubs don’t seem interested in finding and developing them.”

WHY IS IT CALLED “THE DERRY”?

Dundee FC fan ALISON LESSLIE, of Peddie Street, requires assistance with a query.

“Why is Dundee’s south enclosure nicknamed ‘The Derry’?” she asked.

Well, I haven’t a clue, and no-one I’ve spoken to at the club has an inkling either.

It just seemed to appear in a song (“Derry Rumba”) in the 1970s — and it has stuck ever since.

However, if you have a more knowledgable take on this, let me (and Alison) know.