Prominent Dundee solicitor BILLY BOYLE read the October 10 piece in which I revealed I got a medal for the Angus Amateur Select side’s Black Trophy success in 1970, despite missing out on the final.
“I played in the final and scored in the final, yet I didn’t get a medal,” Billy revealed.
“As I headed in our second goal in the 3-1 win over Glasgow YM, I was clattered by their goalkeeper and centre-half and was carried off with concussion.
“I then spent two days in hospital.
“Goodness, I was even top scorer for the whole tournament.
“Seriously, though, I think Frankie Campbell, who came on for me, got a medal and, as the authorities had just cut 11 gongs, I lost out.”
Of course, Billy’s conversation was light-hearted and his voice was then filled with emotion as he continued, “You know, on the very same BwB page was a photo of the North End team from 1950-51.
“And my father, also Billy, was sitting in the right-wing position.
“He would have been around 21 at the time and was also part of the legendary Dunkeld Amateurs side.”
READERS IDENTIFY WITH BUILDERS UNITED SIDE
DIANE RHYND, of Dundee, was first to identify the photo sent in by ALAN “BASIL FAWLTY” KERR (BwB, Oct. 10).
“The picture is of BUILDERS UNITED FC, from 1951-1952,” she said.
“My mother has a picture similar to the one in BwB, but her copy does not have the men in the suits in it.
“My late father A. RAEBURN was the second player from left at the back (for the other names, read on).
“The trophies on show in the original photo are the Dundee & District Consolation Cup, Forfarshire Consolation Cup and The Samuel Trophy,” which would suggest the team played in the Dundee and District Juvenile League.
Diane continued, “My mother has a small silver trophy that my dad was presented with. It has on one side ‘Builders Utd. FC A. Raeburn’, and on the other side it has ‘Samuel Trophy, Forfarshire Cons Cup, D and D Cons Cup 1951-52’.
“I don’t have any information for Alan Kerr regarding his father-in-law George Mitchell, or if he had anything to do with the club.”
BETTE CONNOR also confirmed the identity of the team, saying, “They were a successful team. My brothers — PETER and ALF CRAIG — played for them and they went on to play senior football.”
DOUG MUNRO, of Broughty Ferry, recognised the goalkeeper.
“That’s TAM STURROCK,” said Doug. “He’ll be well into his 70s now and the last I heard he was staying in Douglas, Dundee.”
ROD STURROCK, Tam’s son, also confirmed his dad in the photo, offering, “He played in many local junior and amateur teams in Dundee in the 40s and 50s. He still has trophies and medals from these days.
“BILL WATSON and TAMMY MUIR ran the team, then Willie (surname unknown) — a joiner — came in from North End to take over.
“Also, many of the team were employed by ‘Cleggie’s’ Mill in the city.”
Dundee’s KEN ROONEY picked out his late dad NORRIE BLAKE — “He’s the tanned fellow in the suit second left in the back row.
“I have the same photo at home and it looks like it was taken when my dad was back from Tripoli, where he was stationed with the army.
“Sadly, he passed away last year, but I know he played in goal for Lochee Harp and Builders United, so it may be one of those teams.”
CHARLIE HASTIE, of Loftus Road, Dundee, also produced the same copy of the photo, like Diane’s mother, without the gentlemen in suits. The reason he had the photo is that his wife IRENE’S father is the trainer, JAMES ANNAN.
“Speaking to other people recently since the photo appeared in BwB, there’s a school of thought that the team had their dressing-rooms in Fairfield Street, not far from North End Park,” commented Charlie, who also confirmed the identity of the three trophies.
So, from little bits from all the aforementioned contributors, we can now put names to all the faces (as in the October 10 photo).
Back row (from left) — Charlie Mulvie, Norrie Blake, Jimmy Martin, Alex Raeburn, Tam Sturrock, Jim “Shug” Jenkins, Peter Craig, Jimmy Reid, Bill Watson, Jim “Pop” Annan, Benny McPhee.
Front row — Jim McEwan, Tommy Muir, Les Bell, George Livingstone (capt.), Richard Walker, Billy Watson, Willie (surname unknown) and Charlie Robertson.
FORFARSHIRE COUNTY JUNIOR SELECT 1928
This wonderful photo (below) was sent in by JOHN LEDDIE, of Piperdam, by Dundee.
It features the players and officials of the FORFARSHIRE JUNIOR SELECT SIDE which took on GLASGOW in the Scottish Junior Counties Cup Final at Dens Park, on May 12, 1928.
Unfortunately, there is no record of the score.
Back row (from left) — Treasurer D. Stirling (North End), trainer A. Duguid (Osborne), reserve G. Robertson (Violet), D. Smith (North End), T. McCarthy (Lochee United), captain S. Davidson (Lochee United), R. Patton (Forthill Athletic), J. Orchison (Kirriemuir), A. Stewart (Harp), D. Kidd (Anchorage), C. S. McLean (Violet), A. Macdonald (Logie), D. Boath (Kirriemuir).
Front — J. Mauchline, Jun. (Arbroath Ardenlea), secretary J. H. Townsend (neutral), J. Adamson (Violet), G. Moon (Brechin Vic.), J. Fernie (North End), D. Kilgour (Violet), president W. R. Lindsay (Arnot), J. Robertson (Logie), C. Smith (Arbroath Ardenlea), vice-president T. Watson (Lochee United), D. Russell (Osborne), J. D. Walker (St Joseph's).
