Referee recommended Stuart to Stobbie

Former Stobswell Junior footballer STUART MARLEY got in touch to say, “I really enjoy the Tele’s spotlight on the Junior football scene in Tayside and also look forward to reading your section every Friday.

“I played for Stobswell around 1968 (finished bottom of the league) as a raw 16-year-old.

“My position was inside-right and I was recommended to Stobswell by local referee Mr Henderson, who was the brother of Albert (the manager of Arbroath at the time).

“After a season, I moved away from the Dundee area for some time, returning for a spell in the 1990s for about seven years.

Stuart, now residing in Perth, continued, “I was saddened to discover that my old club was now defunct and was wondering if you have any background to this?

“We had one or two veterans in the team like Bobby Clarke at centre-half and a hardened inside-forward whose name I can’t remember.

“However, he was well-known in junior football circles at that time. Any insight or memories from that time would be greatly appreciated.”

Stobswell JFC went into abeyance in August 1990 just after they clinched promotion to the top division. Unfortunately, they didn’t return.

They gave up the lease on their East End Park ground in 1986 and had been effectively homeless since.

Our files don’t have any Stobswell team groups with either Stuart or Bobby in them.

However, the two at the bottom of this column may prompt former Stobbie players and followers to recount some tales and possible even supply photos which feature the aforementioned duo.

JIMMY, NOT FRANKIE

Dundonian EDDIE DUGUID, from Perth, Australia, reacted to the photo of the over-18 Lochee Boys team (BwB, August 10).

“I sent an email to F. (Frankie) Hopper to let him know he was in the photo and got an immediate reply from Mrs Hopper to let me know it was actually Jimmy Hopper,” said Eddie.

“It was also good to see Johnny Bertie, as he was a real tanner ba’ player, but he drove me insane with his antics.

“However, the more I shouted at him the more he would play up, but what a great player.

“It’s great to read your articles every week and see players I played against.”

I was at a barbecue in August when Dode Watt (ex-Lochee United) came back from Canada for a holiday. Frankie Hopper was also there, having turned up from Australia.

TAM WELSH, of Northolt in Middlesex, responded when he saw a photo and article on FRANK CROSSAN (BwB, Aug. 3).

“On reading your excellent piece on Kirkton footballers, I noticed Frank Crossan, who is a relative of mine through marriage.

“After leaving Dundee, I believe Frank went on to play for Sheffield Wednesday. Did he make any first-team appearances for the Owls?

“Sadly, Frank is no longer with us, having passed away a few years ago.”