FOOTBALLERS TOOK TO WATER

The Tele’s water polo correspondent FRANK JORDAN has noticed from the various football team photographs which have appeared in BwB over the years that quite a number of players have also been involved in water polo.

“In my teenage days, I remember Red Forbes, the Arsenal player and Scottish internationalist, appearing at the Shorers (Central Baths) for a game during various club practices in his summer break,” recalls Frank.

“Dundee FC legend Bobby Cox was a member of the Whitehall club, while Ian Inglis (Carnoustie Panmure) and Dundee United’s Jimmy Knight played for Belmont.

“Bob Laird (Harp), Alec Campbell (Grimsby Town), Ronnie Selway (Dundee), St Joseph’s duo Dave Golan and Jimmy Wilson were in various NCR teams.

“Mark Fotheringham (Dundee, Celtic and Norwich) and Simon Ferry (Celtic) played for Menzieshill.

“I also had a go at the footie and had trials for Dunkeld and Alhambra Hibs, and also played for St Joseph’s U/18 and St John’s FP.

However, the legs began to seize up between the swimming and the football and I was advised to select one.

“So I took to the water.

“Ever since, I’ve been involved in swimming and water polo.

“I met many footballers when I played for Bootle in Lancashire and was introduced to great players such as Billy Liddell (Liverpool), Leeds United and Wales legend John Charles and his brother Mel.

“While in Malta, I also met Stanley Matthews, then of Blackpool.

“Other outstanding players I’ve met through my travels are Billy Steel (Dundee), Peter Mackay (Dundee United and Burnley) and the Celtic trio of Tommy Gemmell, Willie Wallace and Jock Stein.

“When I was in Moscow with the Scottish team, I teamed up with Peter McGonnigle, whose father played for Celtic for 17 season.

“Peter himself was on the fringe of a breakthrough into football, but he broke his leg and was told to take up swimming and water polo.

“He then went on to captain Scotland and Great Britain in the sport.

“Also in Russia, I met one of the most pleasant personalities of sport, Fred Perry.

“He was there when the Scottish polo team were in Moscow taking part in a world tournament.

“He was there as an advisor to promote tennis in Russia and I always remember his remark . . . “It’s only a matter of time before the Russians make their mark in this sport.”

See photos foot of column.

ST MARY’S ROOF POSE RE-ENACTED 50 YEARS ON

When the young footballers of ST MARY’S LOCHEE PRIMARY SCHOOL won the Sports Cup last season — in addition to the league title and a couple of other cups — it was noted that it was 50 years exactly when the school had another Sports Cup success.

A photo was taken to celebrate the occasion then and it shows (foot of column) the team with the late Matt Smith (left) and Ged Gourlay.

School headmaster NICK MARRA said, “When we saw the photo of the 1957 team, we noticed it was taken on the roof of the school.

“We decided it would be fitting to have the current team’s photo taken also on the roof.

“Although the 1957 team are displaying just the Sports Cup, it would be interesting to know which other trophies — if any — they won that season.

“Also, the player on the immediate left at the front of the old photo is Jimmy Gallacher. His grandson Connor Mackay is currently a P7 pupil at the school.”

The latest photo (foot of column) shows team captain Aarron Dyer with the old photo, with his team-mates displaying last season’s silverware haul.

Back row (from left) — Nicholas Leck, Cameron Deuchars, Liam Dailly, James Fitzpatrick, Ciaran Richardson, Lee Moir, Liam Harper, Ryan Watt. Front row — Christopher Burke, Jack McDonald, Calvin Colquhoun, Jordan Cownie, Bradley Harper, Sam Grace.

TROPHY PLEA

The family of the late ALEX WALLACE have asked me to try to locate The Alex Wallace Trophy.

I sincerely hope this trophy is not just gathering dust somewhere.

The family have intimated that, if the trophy is currently settled somewhere out of sight and out of mind, they would like to look after it.

Mr Wallace, as many called him, served Windsor AFC in the Angus AFA for many decades.

He also owned the John Doig printing works in Stirling Street, and some of his main work was printing and selling sweepie tickets, such as the old “pontoons” and “football cards”.

Indeed, Alex — the true gentleman that he was — gave many clubs a financial lift by giving them a box of sweepies to be paid for only when they were all sold.

Where is the trophy?