“I love reading your column on Fridays,” he opened.
Flattery always puts you to the top of the list — and now to the real reason he got in touch.
“I would like to wish Lochee United well in tomorrow’s Scottish Cup third-round tie against Ayr United,” he said.
In case anyone out there doesn’t know, by virtue of winning the Scottish Junior FA East Super League title last season, Lochee are included in the senior Scottish Cup this year, in addition to still being able to play in the junior version (which they are still in).
Kenneth continued, “I was at the first and second-round games against Bathgate and Buckie and was delighted by Lochee’s performances, but very disappointed at the attendances at both matches.
“I was a member of the Lochee United Social Club (which burnt down some time ago) for many years.
“Lochee United got only 202 paying customers against Buckie, but much more than that used to attend their social club on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays!
“So I’d like the people of Lochee (and Dundee and District) to turn up in much larger numbers for tomorrow’s game against Ayr to watch a local club try to make history.
“When I was aged about 12 (I might be a year or two out either way — around about 1970), Lochee United played Dunipace at Thomson Park in the Scottish Junior Cup.
“About 3500 turned up and paid to watch that match — the biggest crowd I ever saw at Thomson Park.
“My father Jackie, who once played for Arnot and Carnoustie Panmure, told me that Lochee United’s Colin ‘Chippy’ Lowe and Willie Ross had signed provisional forms for Dundee FC just before the match.
“Both played that day and, if my memory is right, I think Willie Ross scored the only goal of the match near the end, with hundreds of people invading the pitch to celebrate.
“I think Lochee United’s Scottish Cup run that season ended against Ashfield.”
So, it was into the files and I unearthed a team photo (see foot of column) of the day (Kenneth’s year of 1970 confirmed) and I was gobsmacked to see the line-up. You see, I can all but count a couple as personal friends.
DAVIE BRUCE, one of life’s really nice guys, was a former Dundee FC signing, and we were at Butterburn Youth Club, but him in an older age group, at the same time. However, he always found time to give words of encouragement to young players.
Later in life, I’ve come across him a couple of times in his role as a brewer’s rep., and, indeed, he’s phoned me about several BwB instances.
GORDON DALY’S claim to fame (as far as I am concerned) is he taught me to drink! Seriously, Gordon was another older Burn player who took time out with younger players. One of my first “illegal” pub visits for a sarsaparilla was in his company. Enough said!
Gordon is still seen often at Thomson Park. I can’t say for certain if he is a committee man, but he certainly is there more often than not.
Striker GEORGE CHRISTISON is, sadly, no longer with us as he passed away at a young age. I knew his family well and played for several years with his young brother BILLY. His father, also GEORGE, was also my mentor for many years at Broughty Athletic.
On another theme, George showed me the ropes on a milk round when I was “poached” from DPM by Sherritt’s Dairy. He was giving it up and I was taking over.
Kenneth was correct when he said “Chippy” Lowe and WILLIE ROSS signed for Dundee FC.
Chippy has since put decades of work back into local youth football and is a very popular and dedicated committee member within the Dundee and District Youth FA.
Billy, I think, is now based down south (Manchester?) and I spoke to him a year or so ago when he was home.
I see and speak to goalkeeper JOHNNY ROBERTSON and EDDIE BRUCE on a regular basis and, indeed, have discussed tomorrow’s game with them.
Both, of course, are right behind their former team’s bid to enter the “big” draw.
GEORGE WATT — always known as “Dode” — must have left the country around that time and emigrated to Canada and then South Africa — or it may be vice-versa. He was home with his family last year and we shared a few sarsaparillas in a party hosted by mutual friends ALAN and CAROLINE PETERS, of Monifieth.
JIMMY GOWANS has always been around the local football scene and stayed in the next close to my grannie ANNIE BIRD in Lundie Place, Beechwood.
I was briefly his team-mate, along with taxi driver DANNY McALPINE, in the Bank Street team which played in the D. C. Thomson inter-departmental league on Tuesday evenings in the 1960s and 70s.
Teams were allowed to play guests, and Jimmy and Danny were Bank Street’s chosen pair.
The only two in the photo I have never really spoken to at length are PHILLIP PRAIN and BILLY CASWELL.
I remember Phillip as a really strong player in schools football, just a year ahead of me, and he played for quite a while in Lochee United colours.
“Cassie”, as Willie is known, is a legend around Thomson Park way — and I’m told he was also a slick mover on the dance floor of the old aforementioned Lochee United Social Club.
It’s just a pity Dundee FC have rescheduled their game with St Johnstone at Dens Park tomorrow as I’m sure a bumper crowd would have turned up.
However, to my other good friends — secretary LARRY DUNCAN, president TOM McMILLAN and assistant manager ERNIE SCRIMGEOUR — good luck to you and to manager Ray McKinnon and the boys tomorrow.
NISSAN HUT
Carnoustie’s IAIN KENNEDY responded to the article on St Clement’s football team (October 31).
“My father, the late Syd Kennedy, was a goalkeeper in the team in, I think, the early 1950s.
“Their clubrooms, I believe, were a nissan hut through the arch at Victoria Dock.
“His brother, Peem, played for the Caledon Engineers.
“You’ll know Peem as father to Stuart and Scott Kennedy, friends of yours, who have also featured in your page from time to time.”
