“It was the dreaded Paulies!” he exclaimed.
“I played in that A. C. Little Cup final in 1956 for Butterburn PS and I think I cried all night after losing.
“I was a year younger than my team-mates and lived on Strathmartine Road in the Moncur Crescent area.
“All my pals attended SS Peter and Paul PS, so I just stayed in for a few days because I was gutted at them winning the cup.
“However, players from both teams remain pals to this day — Cookie, Harry Harwood, Dode Edgar, Bertie Irvine, John Cushnie . . . the list goes on.”
Davie sent in a photo (at foot of column). It’s a bit faded, but a good one, nevertheless. It’s the BUTTERBURN PRIMARY SCHOOL football team from 1956. Unfortunately, Davie has missed out one name. Here’s how he gave it . . . Back row (from left) — Chick McDonald, Joe Barton, Davie Watson, Dode Edgar, John Cushnie. Front — Jimmy Jack, Ernie Thomson, Davie Fisher, Billy Lamb, Chic McDowell.
WILLIE NAMES FED LINE-UP
The photo of BROUGHTY EX-SERVICE (BwB, Sept. 26) brought back many memories of bygone years for St Andrews reader WILLIE SAMUEL.
“I am fairly sure I can name most players in the picture,” said Willie.
“Firstly, the trainer was Peem Robertson, the next to him in the back row are Alan Bell, Willie Soutar, Willie Whyte, Andy Keay, Dave Dempster and Clem Dempster.
“In front are John McLaren, Stewart Kennedy, Ron Ferguson, Ralph Watt and Norman Davie.
“The two doubts in my mind are Ferguson and Watt, as I may have their first names wrong.
“The two Dempsters are cousins from my home town Tayport.
“I was also saddened a few months ago to read of the death of GEORGE NIVEN, a former Rangers goalkeeper.
“George played against the Fed on Broughty Esplanade when he was with Coupar Angus.”
TRAGIC END TO YOUNG LOCHEE HARP PLAYER’S LIFE
NORRIE MCBRIDE, of Naughton Place, Dundee, referred to one of ANDY WALKER’S recent contributions.
“Andy linked JAMES O’NEILL, whose death in 1886 is recorded on a gravestone in Balgay Cemetery (‘left half-back Harp FC’) with ‘Lochee Harp Amateur Football Club’,” said Norrie.
“At the time of his death, he was, in fact, a regular player for the Dundee club Harp FC.
“He was born in Dundee in May 1864 of Irish parents and died on December 13, 1886, at the age of 22 in tragic circumstances.
“He had moved from the shipyards a few days previously to work as a riveter alongside his brother John on the construction of the second (replacement) Tay Bridge, where the wages were bigger.
“He lost his balance, fell into the river and drowned without resurfacing.
“His body was recovered several days later by his brother and father, who had searched in a small boat with grappling irons until they eventually hooked his working jacket and thus his body.
“On the Saturday before, James had played for Harp FC in a friendly against Ayrshire club Hurlford at Harp’s home ground at East Dock Street, which Harp won 2-1.
“Press articles on his death tell how he was an accomplished player and had won a Forfarshire Cup medal with Harp the previous year.
“On the Saturday after his death , Harp played Strathmore at East Dock Street and the players wore black and white armbands in remembrance of their late comrade.
“His place at left-half was filled by ‘Doctor’ Smith, whose vacant right-half slot was occupied by D’Arcy Senior, who was known as ‘Black Mick’.
“With regard to James’s suggested descent from Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone, there is no mention of this on the gravestone in question, although his father John, living in Lilybank Road at the time, did come from County Tyrone.
“A similar gravestone two rows to the west on Balgay Hill lays out such lineage for Professor Patrick O’Neill, who died in 1880.”
GEORGE WANTS CAP INFO
DAVE FORBES, who has a newsagents shop in Clepington Road, Dundee (next to the Clep Bar), gave me this cap (pictured).
“It’s from one of my customers, GEORGE ROGERS,” said Dave.
“It belonged to his late father and is from the 1904-05 season.
“The initials on it look like FJFA, which we’re presuming means either Forfarshire Junior Football Association or Juvenile.
“George would like this confirmed and would welcome any other info re the cap.”
