“We thought we were the first shop to have 11 paper boys, so we formed a football team, of course,” said Tam, who, for many years, assisted local journalist legend Dick Donnelly on match days at Dens and Tannadice.
“This would be about 1953 or 54. This photo was in the People’s Journal — and that is about all the good news.
“We arranged a match with some team from Lochee to be played at Lawside grounds in Macalpine Road on a Sunday. Unfortunately, we did not book a referee!
“I can’t remember how long we actually played, but the game erupted into a (as Arthur Montford would say) stramash, with fights going on all over the pitch.
“So that was the one and only game this team ‘nearly’ played.
“The players’ names (as far as I can remember) are listed with the photo. The guy Mitchell (can’t remember his first name, maybe Billy) is one of the family of brothers/relations who run the Midlands AFA side SS Peter and Paul. Frank Larg later worked with me as an insurance man, but I don’t have any contact with any of them now.
“Of course, Sandy’s may have had a team since.
“I don’t know why I was so tall, because we were all the same age. That was my height at 14 and, thankfully, I never grew any taller.
NO ‘HAIRDRYER’ AT SPRINGERS
ELLIOT DAVIE, recently-retired headmaster of Glebelands Primary School in Dundee, was tickled to see himself featured recently in BwB.
“ I saw the photo of SPRINGFIELD UNITED in the March 14 edition as DAVE McNICOLL (former Dunfermline skipper and now Carnoustie golf guru) and I religiously trawl through your column over a Friday pint,” said Elliot, who modestly failed to mention he was a Dundee United goalkeeper for a few seasons in the 1960s/70s.
“I am fairly certain that photo was from 1978/79 because I played with them for only one season.
“I went to Blairgowrie juniors for a few games at the end of that season as they were short of a keeper.
“You might get a story out of Dennis Elder about that particular relegation dogfight.
“The Springers players were a great bunch of lads and I have fond memories of Bob (Lamberton) and ‘Rosie’ (Iain McDonald), who both had a great passion for the club.
“Their approach was a far cry from Alex ‘Hairdryer’ Ferguson.
“If the team hadn’t played very well in the first half, the team talk was something like, ‘That wasn’t very good, was it?’ It still worked!
“I was also delighted to see a photo of me where I only have one chin!”
WHO IS OLDEST?
Midlands AFA secretary ALLY MARTIN got in touch to say that 2009 sees the centenary of the Scottish Amateur FA.
“I wonder if your readers can unearth the oldest local amateur side still in existence,” he said.
“I am aware that Harris Academy FP, Morgan Academy FP, Newport and Wormit, from the Midlands AFA, were founder members of that association (established in 1926) and may have been in existence before that.
“Also, I am sure Newtyle Hearts of the Perthshire AFA celebrated their centenary earlier this year and that would make them the oldest team in the area, to my knowledge.
“However, can anyone confirm these details or come up with other teams?”
BRIGGS’ QUICKIE
Lochee’s ANDY WALKER wants to know if DUNDEE VIOLET still hold the record for the quickest goal in the Scottish Junior Cup.
“In the 1968 competition, Violet were playing Yoker away.
“Billy Britton kicked off and passed the ball to Dennis Briggs. Dennis ran on, beating a couple of men, and blasted home. This was timed at 28 seconds.”
Over the years, there will certainly have been goals scored in the Scottish Junior Cup straight from the kick-off, but whether somebody is standing watching with a stop-watch is another story.
Even referees have other immediate duties such as keeping an eye on players, looking across at linesmen and so on, so, in normal circumstances, can’t really be sure in which second the goal was scored.
UNITED’S FAMOUS FIVE
When former Cowdenbeath goalkeeper SANDY HENDERSON saw the photo of Dennis Gillespie in BwB on February 1, it brought back many memories — and thoughts turned to one game in particular.
“Seeing Dennis Gillespie’s photo in your column brought back great memories of just how good a player he was,” said Sandy, of Rankine Street, Dundee.
“I saw him play many times with Dundee United.
“But it was when I was with Cowdenbeath that I saw just how good a player he was — and to my cost!
“In the late 1950s, we played Alloa Athletic at Recreation Park and were leading 2-0 at half-time.
“Just before the interval, the Alloa goalkeeper Devaney was carried off, and couldn’t continue.
“As there were no subs in those days, an outfield player went in goal and they had to play with 10 men.
“As we sat in the dressing-room at half-time, we were rubbing our hands with glee.
“Two goals up, Alloa are a man down, outfield player in goal and we were playing down the Recreation Park slope with a wee wind at our backs.
“We couldn’t fail . . . or so we thought.
“In the second half, Gillespie and the Alloa players were brilliant and he pulled all the strings as Alloa scored four to run out 4-2 winners.”
Sandy, a Dundee United fan in his early days, changed the subject.
“We keep on hearing about Hibs’ ‘Famous Five’ forward line,” he continued.
“What about United’s version?
“In the 1950s, the United forward line of Frankie Quinn, George Grant, Peter Mackay, Andy Dunsmore and George Cruickshanks were known locally as ‘The Famous Five’.
“They were absolutely brilliant to watch — and deserved their nickname.”
ALEXANDER ROWLANDS
“A FAITHFUL READER” wrote requesting info on a player from late 70s/80s called Alexander Rowlands, who signed with Dundee United as a school signing.
“I also believe he played for Forfar, signed with St Johnstone and also played with many teams in the Sunday amateur leagues,” he says.
“Alexander was a good footballer, but never really made it.
“He passed away at 34 years of age from cancer.
“He lived in Kirkton and went to Kirkton High.”
SCOTT NAMES PHOTO
Scone Thistle JFC official SCOTT FARQUHARSON was quick off the mark to identify the mystery team of April 4, as sent in by Ross Forbes, of Elgin.
“That is an ASHDALE U/18 team,” said Scott emphatically.
And he was able to name a number of the players.
“Memory for names is not really my forte, but, in the back row, the goalkeeper is JIM MELVILLE.
“CLEM MANN, who is now in Australia, is next to him, then it’s FERGUS ‘FEZ’ YOUNG.
“In the front row is ‘POODLE’ RITCHIE and I think fourth from left is BOB KERR.
“I’m surprised Jimmy Melville hasn’t come on.
“He’s sure to give you all the names.”
