DANNY DID A “BESTIE” ON GEORGE

The recent stories regarding Logie Harp and their talented striker Danny Markie and relations prompted a response from yet another of his relatives.

This time it was his nephew, JOHN MARKIE, JUN., who got in touch, first reminding me that we had met not so long ago.

“Following our recent meeting at the Dundee North End sportsman’s dinner, I write to you with two stories about my late uncle Danny Markie,” said John, well-known as a goalkeeping coach in the Tayside football scene.

“Danny was well known in the Saturday amateur and Sunday Welfare footballing circles, playing for both Logie Harp and GJ’s. Indeed, he went on the win the Scottish Cup with GJ’s.

“However, it was while playing for Logie Harp that Danny produced a piece of individual skill that will live with me forever.

“My dad (John Markie, Sen.) and I went to watch Logie Harp playing at Claypotts against Douglas Amateurs.

“At the time, dad was manager of Broughty Athletic Juniors.

“Now, anyone who either played with or against Danny would agree that he had talent in abundance, but work-rate was not in his vocabulary.

“In other words, on the park, he was lazy.

“As the half-time whistle blew, dad went over to him to offer advice along the lines of, ‘See you, you are a lazy so-and-so’ (other words might have been offered!).

“Danny replied, ‘Aw shut up, you take it too seriously,’ and, with that, he joined his team-mates at the sidelines for the half-time team talk.

“With the second half just minutes old, a pass was played to Danny, who had his back to the opposition goal and was standing inside his own centre circle.

“He turned and beat two defenders and, with the goalkeeper off his line, Danny looked up and decided to chip him, the ball ending up in the back of the net.

“He then turned to dad and proceeded to stick two fingers up at him.

“Dad, though, could do nothing but admire the quality of goal he had witnessed.

“Never mind David Beckham, Danny Markie did it years before him. That was just Danny, pure brilliant but lazy.

“My second story involves Danny playing over the border.

“Danny enjoyed travelling, and during one of his many visits to England began playing football again.

“Before long, his talent was being recognised, this time by a scout of Stockport County. He was asked to attend on the Wednesday evening for a reserve game.

“Danny failed to attend. I don’t know if it was nerves or whatever, but, as many of his friends know, Danny enjoyed a ‘shandy’. I reckon he may have had too many on this occasion.

“So Danny never turned up — and I felt he always regretted it. More so, because playing for Stockport reserves that night was the late great former Manchester United and Northen Ireland internationalist George Best.

REPLY WAS SWIFT AND NEAR TO HOME

My rant last week about Junior Follower not giving his proper name didn’t stop one of the swiftest replies winging back to me.

If you recall, JF asked, “Who are Tayside’s Junior toppers?” — and this prompted a quick response by my sports desk colleague GRAEME FINNAN, who, you are probably aware, is our Junior Football expert and, indeed, a former Junior internationalist.

“What about the DOWNFIELD team of the late 1980s and early 1990s and the LOCHEE UNITED team which preceded them?” asked Graeme, who then proceeded to rattle off a few more team names.

You’ll get his full view on the matter on this page next week.

There have already been other responses, too, from readers, and I’ll highlight their views in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, pictured at the foot of the column are the Spiders in 1990, with the Zamoyski Cup — just one of the many trophies picked up around that time.

NOT FREDDIE, IT’S BROTHER NORRIE

The boxing photo we featured on March 23, captioned “Freddie Tennant”, was, in fact, NORMAN TENNANT, according to a number of readers.

Responding to Dave Cuthill’s article, first on was Norman’s (Norrie’s) son, also called Norrie.

“I live in Harrogate and was sent a copy of your page,” said Norrie. “The boxer in the photograph is, in fact, my father Norman Tennant — Freddie’s younger brother — who held the Scottish flyweight title for three-and-a-half years. Freddie had retired by this time, having held the title for five years. Freddie became my dad’s trainer.

“I believe the other boxer is Terry Allen, of London, and this was the final eliminator for the British Championship.”

Broughty Ferry’s CATH CAITHNESS also knew it was Norrie. She said, “My sister is married to Freddie’s son, and when she took home her Tele, he immediately said that it was not his dad but his uncle Norrie. Your story was correct, but just the wrong photo.”

BILLY RITCHIE came up with the same information, and added, “The fight was a 12-round eliminator bout for the world fly championship.

“Allen beat Norman on points over 12 rounds and went on to win the world title. I am sure others will verify my remarks.”

ROBERT BOAG had a more detailed response. He offered, “In listing Dundee boxers that fought the legendary Benny Lynch, Dave left out Joe Boag, the first Dundee (Lochee) lad to enter the ring with Benny in September 1931.

“This was a six-rounder at Glasgow Green and ended in a draw.

“Freddie Tennant was the only Dundee fighter to beat Benny. In fact, Freddie is one of only 13 boxers to have that honour — this is out of 111 fights that Lynch fought in his illustrious boxing career.

“On May 2, 1933, Jim Brady and Benny drew in Dundee.

“The next night, Freddie lost to Benny in Glasgow. It is interesting to note that Freddie and Tut Whalley — he came from the “Pottery District” — fought another Glaswegian in 1939, Jackie Paterson, the then British flyweight champion.

“If we are to recognise Freddie as a great boxer, then we must also give a tip of the cap to his wee brother Norman; better known as Norrie. In 1949, Norrie fought and lost in Dundee to Terry Allen. Several months later, Terry Allen beat Rinty Monaghan to become the flyweight champion of the world.”

CALLING ALL KIRKTON KINGPINS

For the forthcoming Kirkton Festival, BILL McCABE, of the Kirkton Partnership in Dundee, is putting together a display of footballers from the Kirkton area of Dundee who have played at senior level.

He has asked me to ask BwB readers to verify if ex-Dundee United full-back JIMMY BRIGGS and former Dundee and Everton half-back JIMMY GABRIEL came from Kirkton, and also asked for other names.

I verified Briggs as hailing from Kirkton, and was also able to rattle off many players from the estate who had played senior for the Angus and Fife clubs, along with IAN BRITTON, who played for Chelsea.

Bill replied that he would rather restrict it to players who have played in the top division in Scotland and England.

So, if you know of any from the Kirkton/West March/ Downfield area, who played in these lofty grades, get in touch with me and I’ll pass the info on, in addition to featuring the same on this page.