“Wellbank AFC has to be up there with one of the oldest clubs,” said Craig.
“So far, the club has been traced as far back as 1913, but we still think the club is older.
“I’ve sent in a photo (see foot of column) from the 1913-14 season.”
Craig, still donning the boots every Saturday afternoon, then told me of his concern for the future of the Angus club, and continued, “It’s now a struggle to get committee men and players,” before taking to the pitch in a recent Midlands AFA encounter.
Since, the early 1930s, Weller were members of the now-defunct Angus Amateur AFA, before joining the Midlands a few years back.
Craig went on, “The guys we have here at the moment are great, but there is just not enough of us.
“We have a brilliant set-up with our own park and new pavilion. It would be a real shame if this club had to fold.
“We’ll certainly soldier on as best as we can, but, if there is anyone out there — especially ex-players — who would like to become involved, then get in touch.”
SCOTTISH CUP GOAL IN JUST 13 SECONDS
Carnoustie JFC official DOUGIE MITCHELL reckons he has unearthed a goal which is faster than DENNIS BRIGGS’ 28-second goal for Violet in the 1968 Scottish Junior Cup, as highlighted by ANDY WALKER.
“We have one in under half that time,” confirmed Dougie.
“On December 3, 1994, Carnoustie travelled to play Lochore Welfare in a Scottish Cup third-round tie down at Central Park.
“The home side kicked off, but our Gary Christie (the Wellbank one) intercepted and pushed the ball through to Mark Kelly (the current East Craigie manager).
“Mark fired in a shot and, although the keeper got a hand to it, he couldn’t prevent it crossing the line.
“Time — 13 seconds.
“I do the match reports for our local newspaper and have a stopwatch with me every time.
“Incidentally, Lochore equalised in 18 minutes, then we scored a second in 83 minutes, when Stephen Kydd scored from Stewart Forsyth’s cross.
“The home side equalised again with just three minutes to go to earn a 2-2 draw.
“In the replay at Westfield the following week, Mark scored all three of our goals (18, 40 and 89 minutes), to give us a comfortable 3-0 win.”
BRIAN KELLY sent in an extract from Scone Thistle JFC’s official programme of April 29, 2006.
East Craigie were the visitors and it read:
“East Craigie can claim one Scottish Junior Cup record through their assistant manager MARK KELLY, whose 13-second opening goal in an OVD Scottish Junior Cup tie is the earliest goal ever recorded in the national competition.”
SANDY PLAYED FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TEAM
RON McINTOSH (ronald840@bt internet.com) responded to the piece on ALEXANDER ROWLANDS.
“Jim Skelly and I were two founder members of Auchterhouse Hearts Football Club, which formed in 1971,” said Ron.
“I used to play for them quite regularly during that era.
“I was also working as a gardener with Dundee Parks Department and Alexander (Sandy) Rowlands worked with me on numerous occasions.
“Sandy was playing for Forfar Athletic at that time.
“He used to joke that I was just a mediocre amateur player, while he was, of course, a professional.
“Before he turned senior, he played for the parks department football team whenever we played friendlies.
“He was an outstanding player.
“I feel very fortunate to have crossed paths with him on so many occasions.
“Thanks for stirring so many memories for me in your terrific page.”
DOLPHIN REUNION
Former Sunday Scottish Cup winners Dolphin are marking the 20th anniversary of their great achievement with a reunion in Lyrics, Dundee, on Friday, October 17.
DAVIE SIMPSON (504644) and DAVIE FOGGARTY are the organisers.
If there is a photo out there of this famous team, let’s have it.
LAWSIDE SCOTTISH CUP-WINNING TEAM REUNION
JOE TRONT was back in his native Dundee recently from Australia, and soon proved he hadn’t forgotten his fractions when at Lawside Academy, saying, “This photo (above) is 4.4% of the LAWSIDE ACADEMY Scottish Cup-winning team, plus, in my opinion the man that made it all possible, Joe Hart.
“It's hard to believe that it's 40 years since we won it. I'm sure Joe would be delighted to get a mention in the Tele.”
Pictured (see below) at the mini-reunion at the Fort Hotel are (from left) — Davie Alexander, Joe Tront, Frankie Campbell, Joe Hart and Mikey Kolacz.
More on this in the coming weeks.
NEXT WEEK . . . The former Dundee Osborne JFC player who is now a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order- receiving his medal from the Queen.
