First to confirm was former Dundee FC goalkeeper ALLY DONALDSON, a resident of Carnoustie for a number of decades.
“I remember playing in this tournament for Dundee, and suffering bruising to my hips and elbows from the concrete floor,” recalled Ally, who had two spells with Dundee in between a stint with Falkirk.
“Sport Goofy rings a bell, as I remember bringing home a Goofy trophy in the dark blue colours, which I still have in my loft at home.
“I’m sure some of the ice hockey stalwarts might be able to shed more light on this.”
Original contributor GORDON GURVAN, of Gloucester, came on again.
“Many thanks for publishing my “Ice rink five-a-side event” inquiry,” he opened. “I have had a reply from MIKE GALLACHER, who was there and, like me, has a hazy memory of it.
“Like Mike, I, too, have a vague memory of John Duncan being involved for Dundee FC, as well as Duncan Lambie and possibly Dave Johnston, which would, indeed, date it around the mid-70s.
“I mentioned in my original letter that I thought DFC may have won it, but I could be confused with them being finalists.”
Mike commented, “I was at that five-a-side tournament and think it must have been 74/75. My recollection is that Dundee got to the final, but lost on penalties to (and this is where my memory fails me) St Johnstone or Arbroath or Dundee United.
“What I do remember is John Duncan missing the crucial penalty-kick.”
IAN DAVIDSON, of Dundee’s west end, remembers the event, too, because he won the half-time draw!
“I remember the tournament being played and so does my father,” said Ian, perhaps better known as a long-serving manager and official with Invergowrie AFC. “I stayed in the Sherbrook area of Downfield and was a regular at many events at the old Dundee Ice Rink in my early years.
“I was at Downfield Primary School at the time, aged 10-11, so would put the year down as 1972 or 73. I was delighted when my ticket came up at the half-time draw and I won a signed Dundee FC football.
“It was real leather — rare in those days for a young boy to have — and it was on display in my parents’ house for many years before I actually got to kick about with it.
West Kirkton’s ANGUS ROURKE also recalls the tournament, saying, “I think it was played over two days. I used to go to the ice rink with two of my St John’s HS schoolmates, and I was there at that time with them, so I reckon it must have been in the early 1970s. Dundee definitely played, and I seem to recall players such as Ian Scott and Ronnie Selway taking part.
SANDY “SY” THOMSON, still playing 11-a-side football at the age of 56, for Harris FP’s second team in the Midlands AFA in Dundee, also played in the tournament.
“I played for Dunfermilne in that tournament at the ice rink, but my memory is a bit hazy,” said Sy.
“We played in the first game of this knock-out competition and were beaten 2-1 by the eventual winners, Dundee. John Duncan got both Dundee goals, the second being a lucky deflection in the last minute.
“I can’t remember who organised the competition, but do remember the Dunfermline officials Jimmy Thomson and Andy Stevenson unhappy with the format as they had travelled a long way for only 15 minutes of football.
“Dunfermline’s team was made up of mainly young, local reserve players with only Dundonian Dave McNicoll a recognised first-team player.
“The rest of the team included Dundonians such as myself and Peter Brown, along with Fifers Gordon Pate, Jim Patterson and Jim Leishman.
BRIAN CHRISTIE (1brianchristie@blue yonder.co.uk) was also in attendance.
“It was in the 1970s and it was a Sunday,” said Brian. “The ice rink was full and among the teams taking part were Dundee, Dundee United, Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, Hearts and Stirling Albion.
“Stirling were managed by Bob Shankly and I think they beat Dundee in the final.
“As I say, the place was full, so there must be others out there who can remember this event.”
Edinburgh-born last-liner Ally Donaldson first signed for Dundee in May 1961.
He joined Falkirk in January 1972 and played 176 games in four years for the Brockville outfit.
Then it was back to Dens under Davie White in January 1976, initially playing second fiddle to Thomson Allan, but soon making the jersey his own.
Before he left for Hibs in 1981, he had racked up 386 first-team games for the Dark Blues.
DJ — THE BOOK
When “DJ — THE DEREK JOHNSTONE STORY” (Black & White) landed on my desk, it brought back many memories.
You see, Derek was a chum in the 1970s, and we had some good times together. There was quite a crowd of us at that time, mostly made up of local senior and junior footballers and we used to meet up on a Saturday evening after games and relay tales of the day’s matches, then head out for whatever lay in store in the nightspots of Bonnie Dundee.
Derek’s book tells of his time growing up in Fintry, before turning down a host of top English clubs to sign for Rangers — admitting the signing-on fee offered had a lot to do with it.
He quickly made his mark, netting the winner in an Old Firm cup final, then going on to win many domestic honours and, of course, the European Cup-Winners’ Cup.
Derek also reveals his Argentina 1978 World Cup hell, the reason why he turned his back on Scotland, the inside story of his managerial spell at Partick Thistle and his take on his reputation today in the eyes of the Rangers faithful.
CHARLIE LOVE COLLECTION : PART IX.
One of another two of Charlie’s collection features a team from 1933.
KILMARON FC (below, top) look as if they were a five-a-side team, juding by the placard in front of them, which states they were part of the Broughty Ferry Carnival (the forerunner to the current gala week, perhaps?).
Charlie was able to name two of the players at the front as Willie Cochrane (left) and Joe Brodie.
Joe is also featured in the photo (below, middle), which is of the DOWNFIELD JFC committee around 1975.
The first three (from left) are Joe, Sammy Barnes and Alex Connolly. Unfortunately, we don’t have names for the others.
