You see, MARTIN CLARK, in his own words, lives, eats and sleeps all things Brechin City.
He, perhaps, could be called the ‘Sye Webster of Glebe Park’!
His firm British Metrics, of which he is president, have even sponsored the Angus side in recent years.
“Your article in the Tele brought back many happy memories,” said Martin. “I live, eat and sleep Brechin City.
“My uncle was Jack Sunter, and he was trainer for many years at Brechin, so I was never away from the Glebe.”
Martin recalled a time when he travelled to a game and ended up dicing with death.
“Brechin were playing Ross County in the Scottish Cup and I drove my then fiancee up to Dingwall,” he said. The weather was awful, but Brechin were worse and we were beaten 2-0.
“Brechin players John Weir, Brian McNicoll and Doug Clark — all Dundonians — asked if they could come home with me so they could catch a pub before closing time.
“On the way back down the A9, it was icy and another car hit me. I ended up breaking my hand, but everybody else was OK. The aforementioned trio never did make it to the pub in time!
“Weir was a very good player and I think he was playing amateur football when manager Charlie Dunn brought him to the club.
“He was a hard man with a quick temper, but was a great player and an entertainer.
“Former Dundee United and Newcastle player Ian Mitchell also played for Brechin around that time.
“Although past his prime, he could still play, and his enthusiasm for the game never waned.
“I remember him scoring a late penalty equaliser at Stirling Albion and you had thought he had just scored the winner in a cup final.
“Kirkie Jack’s tale (BwB, Feb. 15) recalled Willie Lawson and I remember sitting in the stand at the old Hamilton Accies ground (Douglas Park) watching Willie score the winner in a 2-1 victory.
“Celtic manager Jock Stein was in the stand that day. Shortly after, Willie was signed by Sheffield Wednesday.”
WEAVED, DOUBLED FEINTED, PASSED
Following the John Gallacher piece on February 29 (“All Aboard The Harp Special”), Carnoustie Panmure official DOUG MITCHELL dug into his files.
He unearthed the cutting . . .
In connection with the Scottish Cup-tie between Carnoustie Panmure and Harp, a special train will run from Lochee to Carnoustie on Saturday.
The train will leave Lochee at one o’clock. The fare is 2s.”
Now to the game itself. The match report read . . .
Score stands at Carnoustie 2, Harp 1, with five minutes to go. Harp carry the ball harmlessly between Carnoustie goal and touch-line.
Gardiner tackles, Glen turns quickly and falls over Gardiner’s feet.
Then consternation! The referee blows for a foul, and finds Glen lying in the penalty box and points to the dreaded spot.
Black, experienced general of the Harp team, takes the kick and rolls a canny shot past Wallace — it is 2-2.
It was a great break for Harp, for even many of their supporters admitted it was no penalty.
This was the climax to a thrilling 90 minutes in which 3000 folk saw the game take a crazy course.
In the first half, Harp were superb.
They tore into the game, weaved, doubled, feinted and passed with deadly accuracy — but Carnoustie got the goals.
In the second half, the locals dictated the game, and for two-thirds of the time battered the visiting defence -— but Harp got the goals.
It was against the run of play when Carnoustie took the lead.
Smith heading home a Brough corner. Harp fought back and only the brilliance of Young and Garrigan kept them at bay.
Carnoustie snapped out of it and Kinder headed home a second goal.
The second half had not long begun when Harp got a simple-looking goal.
Rennett tapped the ball half-heartedly and it ran across the goal.
It looked as if Wallace thought it was going behind, but it curled in between his leg and the post.
Then came that late Harp penalty, and it’s on to Beechwood next week.
Doug offers, “An amazing footnote to this game was that Carnoustie were banned from giving referees a post-match ‘cuppie’, following Harp’s complaints to the Forfarshire Junior Association.
“May I now correct John when he says this was the first game at Westfield.
“In actual fact it was the fourth, but was the first cup-tie.
“The park was opened on October 16, 1948, with a game against a Manchester City select which the Gowfers won 6-2.
“Then on October 23 they beat Anchorage 7-2 and followed this on October 30 with a 8-2 win over Osborne, before tackling the Harp on November 6 in the third round of the Scottish.
“In the same column, Ally Martin took issue with FIFA calling part of the footballer’s kit stockings.
“I have always considered socks to be ankle-length, and anything longer, i.e. knee-length, to be stockings.
“My dictionary would seem to confirm this: sock — a short stocking; stocking — a close covering for the feet and lower leg.
“So I reckon FIFA have it right on this occasion.”
GILLIE’S GOAL SALVO
Cupar reader WILLIAM DUNCAN was tickled to see Alan Gilzean’s four-goal salvo against Hibs in 1963 being highlighted on January 25.
“I was at that game. Gillie was injured in the build-up and the word was he might not make it,” recalled William, of the town’s Skinners Steps. “How Hibs must have wished he didn’t. I’m postitive he scored all four goals with his head.
“I also have a programme from that game (William sent me a copy).
“You were a month out on the date.
“As you can see from the front of the programme, the game was played on Saturday, October 19, not November 19 as stated.”
MEDAL HELP WANTED
ALMA CARGILL, of Lorraine Road, Dundee, has come across this medal (see foot of column) belonging to her father.
“The inscription tells it is from 1922-23, but I don’t know which team or association,” she said.
“Perhaps some of your readers may help identify it.
“On the front seems to be the initials WBK, while the back is inscribed ETJ FA 1922-23.”
As ever, it’s over to you . . .
LES DYER
BRIAN RUSSELL remembers a BwB feature on Friday, June 3, 2005, titled “Day Les met Billy Steel”.
Brian, his brother-in-law, came on to bear the sad news that Les passed away on Tuesday in Liff Hospital, Dundee.
“As his son Roderick is in Canada at present, he asked me to contact you,” said Brian.
“Mentioning the passing of Les in your column may alert some of the old football cronies.”
GEORGE WAS PART OF FIVE-STAR DOKENS
SCOT DONALDSON was the bearer of sad news.
“My father George Donaldson died in February this year,” said Scot.
“He was a member of the 1956-57 Dundee North End team that won, I think, about five trophies in that season. I believe some of his friends still go to the social club.”
“He used to talk to me about the good old days at North End, and tell me about Jimmy Gabriel and Alex Forbes.”
Scot sent in some cuttings about his father, which revealed he signed for Leeds United as a 22-year-old.
After a few years at Elland Road, he returned to Dundee and was re-instated as an amateur.
He then emigrated to New Zealand, where he turned out for the Nomads team in Canterbury.
The North End “five trophy” team is shown below with their silverware.
COCA-COLA REUNION
Below — The COCA-COLA football team from the 1970s — as featured last week — held their 30-year reunion in GJ’s Bar, Dundee. The get-together was the brainchild of MICKY DUTHIE (back left).
