McANEARNEYS: THE FINAL WORD
The saga surrounding the McAnearney brothers being born anywhere other than Lochee was laid firmly to rest by Birkhill reader PETER QUINN . . . or so he thought!
What you read below must now surely be the final word on the matter.
“They were born and brought up with me in Balgay Street, Lochee,” said Peter, a regular contributor to BwB.
“Balgay Street at that time was known as ‘The Braehead’ to locals. The three brothers — Tommy, Jimmy and Jackie — along with the rest of us, played football in Granny Gardy’s backies. This was opposite Maloney’s Park in Tipperary. Our area was usually Balgay, Atholl Street and Lewis Square.
“As everyone knows, all three brothers eventually signed for Sheffield Wednesday.”
Peter then tried to rewrite history when he offered, “Tommy was a regular for Sheffield Wednesday at half-back and played in the 1966 FA Cup Final when they lost 3-2 to Everton after being 2-0 up.”
I have to disappoint Peter, though, as the Owls team for the FA Cup final that day at Wembley didn’t contain Tommy as he left Hillsborough a year or so earlier.
The Wednesday line-up on that day at Wembley when they squandered a 2-0 lead, was — Springett; Smith, Megson; Eustace, Ellis, Young; Pugh, Fantham, McCalliog, Ford, Quinn.
Answer
Moving back to the original query and JAMES “ANDO” ANDERSON reckons he has the answer to the Kirkton mystery.
“I’m a cousin of the McAnearneys and can state categorically they were born in Lochee,” said James, a regular (he says) in the Dee Club and Logie Club in Lochee.
“Where the confusion may have arisen is that the family briefly moved to Kirkton when the housing estate there first sprung up. However, they didn’t stay for too long and soon came back to Lochee.”
Lochee’s ANDY WALKER, who, by the way, has not been quiet of late as my drawer is bulging with some of his contributions (seven!), gives his take on the matter, no doubt after consulting his buddy Stan McAnearney, the youngest of the brothers (see also below).
“Tommy, Jimmy and the late Norman were born in Braehead, Lochee, with John (Jackie) and Patricia coming into this world in Kessock Place, Kirkton, when the family briefly moved there. The youngest brother Stan was born in Dryburgh.”
TOM MOFFAT, whose father Willie played for Arnot, offered, “The McAnearneys were related to us and I can confirm the family did live in Kirkton for a while.”
From our files we are able to ascertain that Tommy is, perhaps, the best-known football-wise of the three brothers and he was born in Lochee on January 10, 1933.
In a 12-year Hillsborough career, the wing-half made his first-team debut for the Owls against Liverpool on September 3, 1952, going on to make 382 appearances and scoring 22 goals. A calm and cultured player, he was a good passer and fine reader of the game.
After playing for local teams such as Dunkeld (where he won a Scottish Cup winners’ medal) and North End, Tommy was recruited from Dundee side St Stephen’s in 1950 along with his younger brother Jimmy, who also made the Wednesday first team, Tom became a Wednesday regular in 1955-56, the season in which the Owls won the English Second Division.
Having made his top team debut in 1952, he was in and out of the team until establishing himself in that promotion-winning season.
Another Second Division title followed in 1958-59 and he was in the Wednesday side which made it to the FA Cup semis in 1960.
In 1960-61, Wednesday were Division One runners-up, with Tom missing only three of their games, and he also became club captain in the early 1960s.
His Wednesday career came to an end in 1965 when Peterborough secured his signature and he later played for Aldershot before hanging up his boots.
He also had spells as manager of the ’Shots, in addition to Crewe and Bury, and also had a coaching spell with Chelsea.
Jimmy also played with Plymouth and his later career saw him return to Wednesday as coach.
In the top photo at the foot of this column, the brothers are pictured together when at Hillsborough — (from left) JACKIE, JIMMY and TOMMY McANEARNEY.
. . . AND STAN (OF THAT ILK) MET DODE
My good friends CAROLINE and ALAN PETERS, of Monifieth, recently hosted a barbeque to welcome relatives PAM and GEORGE “DODE” watt, who are currently holidaying from their home in Canada.
Some of Dode’s former team-mates from his days with Lochee Boys Club and Lochee United juniors were also present, along with myself, and, as you can imagine, there were countless tales recalled as Caroline and Alan put on a good spread for their hungry and thirsty guests.
Stan McAnearney was also present and he was able to verify most of what is printed in our lead article.
Dode and Pam are still here for a few weeks and will, no doubt, get around to seeing many more family and friends, some of whom are shown in the bottom photo below.
From left — Jimmy Gowans, Billy Ross, Willie Gowans, main man Dode Watt, Jim Taylor, Frankie Hopper (holidaying from Australia), Stan McAnearney, the famous Andy Walker, John Brown.
ARMY CADETS FROM 1953
ANGUS FRASER is back in Dundee for a few weeks from his home in Ontario Canada — and he is currently staying with his brother Hugh in the west end.
He’s a regular BwB reader online and has supplied the middle photo below of the ARMY CADET football team of 1953. The players were with the 4th Co. Black Watch.
Back row (from left) — John Mason (ACF captain and coach), John Speed, MacKenzie, Ron Wilkie, Unknown, Angus Fraser, Jim Davidson.
Front row — Doug Johnston, Ed “Nipper” Rae, Harry Morrison, Tom Wilkie, Jack “Happy” Harper.
Angus can be contacted on 01382 668809 until mid-September.
WILSON HOGGAN’S IN LINLITHGOW
Gordon Strachan's plea of August 24 to find the whereabouts of his former Dundee FC team-mate WILSON HOGGAN was immediately answered by ANDREW CAMERON.
"Hoggie is living in Linlithgow, staying in the town's High Street," said the Dundee resident.
"I'm originally from Linlithgow, but have been in Dundee for the last 32 years. I played BB football with Hoggie in Polmont on Saturday mornings."
So, the Celtic boss knows where to go if he wants to look up his old buddy.
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