“My colleagues have badgered me into contacting you re the all-Dundee Scottish Cup Finals (BwB, August 22),” said Bill, a sterling servant to youth football over many decades.
“CELTIC BOYS won by beating us 3-0 after extra time.
“We had a great bunch of guys in that team.
“The lads put up a great show and we felt just a bit unlucky not to snatch the game in normal time.
“However, we were far from favourites for the game, having reached the final after nearly being knocked out in the first round by Arbroath Lads Club.
“Players in the team included PAUL MORDENTE, JIMMY SAMSON (who is now an official of Celtic BC), BOBBY CAIRD, GORDON MUIR and CRAIG ROGER.
“I was ably assisted on the day by GORDON DEUCHARS (still with Douglas LC) and JIM DELANEY.
“All together a lot of great memories.”
WHEN ROYALTY PLAYED FOR HARP
ANDY WALKER has been unusually quiet of late, but he has bounced back eager to inform BwB readers the time “Royalty played for Lochee Harp”.
“In the early days of football, teams sprung up all over the country, none more so than the epicentre of universal football, Lochee,” opened Andy in his usual style.
“In 1863, the only family called O’Neil living in the Hilltown had a son James who played for Lochee Harp, and he was the youngest of three.
“He did not play for long as he died aged 23 years old.
“The Royal connection was the family’s claim to be direct descendants of Hugo O’Neil, the Irish King.
“This, as always, can be taken lightly, but, if you visit the monument at the family grave in Balgay Cemetery, the heraldic insignia that is there would only be allowed if genuine.
“I can already hear the seasonal Harp old-timers screeching that ‘Harp were founded in 1903’.
“However, this was Lochee Harp Amateur Football Club, the forerunner of the junior team we know today.”
CAN’T MATCH ARCHIE
In boxing, TOM McGOVERN, of Manchester, reckons no-one can yet match the record of the late, great Archie Moore, the former undefeated light heavyweight world champion.
“At 46-years-old, Archie defended his title twice against Yvon Durelle in Canada,” stated Tom.
“Durelle was almost 20 years his junior.
“He knocked his opponent out twice.
“Some years on, he fought the two greatest heavyweights on the planet, Cassius Clay and Rocky Marciano.
“He was defeated by both, but he was only the second boxer to put Marciano on the canvas.
“The other was Jersey Joe Walcott.
“Marciano retired after fighting Archie.
“He said, ‘If an old man can give me so much trouble, it is time I hung my gloves up.’
“I never heard of any other boxer who continued fighting at the top level into middle age.
“Archie also starred in some great movies.
“Two examples were Huckleberry Finn and The Carpetbaggers.
“His personal discipline was tremendous.
“He copied the eating habits of the Aboriginal people in Australia.
“They did not swallow meat, they chewed it then spat it out.
“The world’s Press talked about Archie’s secret diet, but he never divulged the secret.”
AND FINALLY . . . THE CHARLIE LOVE COLLECTION : PART XI.
Concluding Charlie’s collection is the OSBORNE team on Scottish Cup duty in 1973 (bottom picture of four at the foot of column).
“We were playing Maryhill, but the game was changed to Petershill’s ground as our opponents’ pitch was being repaired,” recalled Charlie.
“They were expected to win quite easily, but we beat them 2-0.”
Back row (from left) — Charlie Love, Dave Nicoll, Willie Cooper, Ian Brown, Dave Reilly (in the middle is Donnie Mackay).
Front row — Graham Dandie, Jim Murphy, Alec Jamieson, George Selway, Bobby Milne, Alan King. Crouching at front is Cliff Wasiak
