“These particular players — Frankie Quinn, George Grant, Peter McKay, Andy Dunsmore and George Cruickshank — were great players and very talented,” said George, a United fan, but who (like many at the time) used to go to Dens one week and Tannadice the next to watch games.
“In the early 1950s, they went on a run of 11 games undefeated.
“One game — on October 13, 1951 — saw them travel to play Forfar in a game that ended 3-3.
“There was a massive crowd at Station Park that day, and I travelled up by train.
“The train — a football special — was absolutely packed and they had to put on a couple of extra carriages, then put on an engine at the back as well as the front to take the strain.
“Such was the crowd, I didn’t get in until 15 minutes after the match had started.
“Peter McKay was a brilliant goalscorer and my lasting memory of him is that he seemed to always be scoring hat-tricks.
“I also remember George Grant scoring three goals in around three minutes.”
Our files reveal that Mackay scored two against Forfar, with the other counter coming from Mitchell.
The Forfar scorers were Lawrence (2) and Brown.
United lined up — Wyllie; Smart, Ormond; Mitchell, Ross, G. McMillan; Quinn, Grant, McKay, Fleck, Cruickshank.
Forfar’s XI. were — Ingram; McNellis, McCluskey; McLean, McKenzie, Hamilton; Currie, Lawrence, Brown, Cunningham, Mechan.
YOUNG DUNDEE FOOTBALLERS MET GERRY BURRELL
During the recent Easter holidays, EAMONN MALONE took his DUNDEE UNITED SPORTS CLUB U/15 team on a trip to Belfast.
They toured Linfield FC’s Windsor Park and met 81-year-old scout Gerry Burrell, who played for Dundee at one time.
Eamonn explained, “After a long hilarious discussion about his career, we found out he started out with St Mirren from 1947-51 and scored 26 goals.
“Then he went to Dundee from 1951-53, scoring six goals and playing in their 4-0 Scottish Cup Final defeat by Motherwell.
“After that, he moved to Huddersfield 1953-56, scoring nine goals, where none other than the great Denis Law was his apprentice.
“He finished his career with Grimsby Town (1956-58), scoring four goals.
He moved back to Belfast and has been a scout for Linfield FC ever since.
“Gerry (right) mentioned he still keeps a look out for Dundee’s score and clearly remembers his time there with great delight.
“Playing in the final was the pinnacle of his career.
“It was a pleasure speaking to him and our young players listened eagerly to the tales of his career.”
REMEMBER ROSELEA?
ERIC DARGIE, from Australia (ericdargie1 @optusnet.com.au), wants “to test the memories of Lochee’s Junior followers.
“My father Bill Dargie and his brother-in-law Chic Anderson used to tell tales about playing for Lochee Roselea.
“Can anybody remember this team?”
OSBORNE JFC WITH UNKNOWN TROPHY
Dundee FC’s DAVE FORBES sent in this photo (below) on behalf of Dundee taxi driver CHARLIE DUTHIE, who features.
It’s not the best photo in the world, but it’s the DUNDEE OSBORNE JFC team from the early to mid-1970s, and one I played against many times.
Such are the names, the photo is worth featuring.
However, I don’t know which trophy they are displaying, but cups won around that time included the Telegraph Cup in 1970-71 and Currie Cup in 73-74.
I’m sure some of my chums pictured below — from here and abroad — will soon be on to reveal just what particular piece of silverware this is.
Back (from left) — Ian Brown, Sam Samson, Michael Milne, Bobby Milne, Davie Nicoll, Davie Reilly, Joe Tront, George Selway. Front row — Charlie Duthie, Billy Cooper, Charlie Love, Jim Murphy, David Brogan.
