Davie was a bit scant with names.
“In the front row (from left) is myself, Alec McCarle, Peter Lorimer, Jimmy Finlayson and the lad with the mop of hair is Sunday Post football writer Ronnie Scott.
“John Leddie, who also contributes to BwB, is third from right in the back row.”
He said, “As I’ve said before, I played with BUTTERBURN YOUTH CLUB around the time NCR won the Scottish Amateur Cup in the 1960s.
“A few weeks later, my Butterburn team lost to Drumchapel in the U/18 Scottish Cup Final, and Lochee Renton also won the Scottish Cup that same season.
“I don’t think that’s too bad a record . . . three Dundee teams contesting three Scottish Cup Finals at amatuer, juvenile and U/18 level a matter of weeks apart.”
Davie was also tickled to see Danny McAlpine featured in the recent Lochee United story (Dec. 5) and he has a query which he wants BwB readers to assist with.
“A Butterburn U/18 team won their way to the final of the North End Fives, losing to a corner by The Cash, who played under a pub team name from Lochee.
“On our way to the final, we also beat The Five Giants, made up of other Butterburn players such as Danny McAlpine and Jimmy Rooney (now, of course, in Australia), but, for the life of me, I can’t remember the other three players in their team.
“Maybe some of your readers might know?
“If anyone wants to get in touch with me, I can be reached at mctavish@rogers.com”
Judging by previous correspondence and comments, I know both Danny and Jimmy read this column. So, if you can help Davie, get in touch with him.
But remember to tell me, too, so that I can share the answer with other readers.
MIDLANDS AFA SEEK WHEREABOUTS OF TWO PRESTIGIOUS TROPHIES
The MIDLANDS AFA have enlisted BwB’s help in tracing two missing cups — the Alliance Cup and Lunan Trophy — both of which are played for by clubs’ “second teams”.
Officials have no idea how or when they went missing.
Secretary ALLY MARTIN is baffled.
He said, “The teams who won them last time out say they returned them to a meeting, but they were not picked up from there from any of our committee, so we just don’t know where they have ended up.
“These are trophies we are keen to hold on to as they have quite a bit of history.
“The Alliance Cup was first played for in 1930, while the Lunan Trophy first started in 1948.
“Mr A. S. Lunan was a former president and treasurer of the association, and was connected to Harris FP, one of the founder members of MAFA in 1926.
“The association purchased the Alliance Cup in 1930 when the competition was inaugurated.”
Our photo (top pic at foot of column)) shows the BROUGHTY UNITED team from 1972 with both trophies — Lunan on left and Alliance on right
Back row (from left) — Roger Murphy, Jack McMinn, Bruce Milne, Gordon Bell, Bob Blacklaws, Harry Lawson, Nom Fraser, Doug Jolly and John Whyte.
Front — Craig Knight, Dave Stibbles, Ian Lamb, Bill Ferrier, Neil Cargill, Jack Robertson, Barry Toner.
Ally continued, “Sadly, Jack McMinn and John Whyte are both deceased, Bruce Milne had a junior career after leaving the club, while Harry Lawson is well known as a local haulage contractor.
“Neil Cargill only recently stopped playing local amateur football, and Barry Toner is son of former Dens Park favourite Jimmy Toner.
“Jack Robertson is currently chairman of Thorntons WS, who are, of course, the sponsors of the North of Tay Cup.”
Indeed, Bruce Milne did have a junior career and he was my team-mate at Broughty Athletic, a hard-tackling full-back.
By the way, nice hairstyle, Bruce!
GILLIE JUST COULDN’T SOP SCORING HAT-TRICKS
Dundee reader JOHN MELVILLE is looking for info regarding an Alan Gilzean (inset) hat-trick at Stark’s Park in a League Cup tie.
“I’m sure it was the 1959/60 season in the old League Cup sections,” said John.
It was the 1960-61 season and Gillie, indeed, scored all three in the 3-0 victory in Kirkcaldy. However, he netted three hat-tricks in that six-game section.
He also scored a hat-trick when the teams met earlier at Dens in the season-opener.
His third treble came in the final game against Aberdeen at Dens — a 6-0 win for the Dark Blues.
For the record, he scored in all six matches — one in a 2-1 away win at Ayr, a double against Aberdeen at Pittodrie (4-1) and a single in the 3-0 success over Ayr at Dens.
Coincidentally, John Webster, of Leven, contacted me with a view on Gillie.
“I remember Alan Gilzean playing for Dundee and watched him in nearly all his games for the Dens Parkers,” he said.
“I was also lucky enough to see him play some junior games for Coupar Angus before he joined Dundee.
“He was a phenomenal goalscorer, and proved that when he went to Tottenham Hotspur and also on the international stage for Scotland.
“The reason I am getting in touch is that I believe his international goals ratio could stand up against anyone.
“Can you confirm this.”
I have to agree with John on that one.
Indeed, I read somewhere just recently that Gilzean’s goals ratio for Scotland is exactly the same as the legendary Denis Law.
And a quick delve into the record books show that Gillie’s 12 goals in 22 games gives a .55 ratio, the same as The Lawman’s 30 strikes in his 55-cap career.
when eisenhower presented cup
Serial querier CHARLIE WALKER, of Lochee, Dundee, wants info on a Harp game he reckons was played on Lochee Park in the early 1930s.
“Harp apparently won 15-0 and their centre-forward scored a quadruple hat-trick — 12 goals,” he offered.
“I believe it was a cup game and the striker may have been called Ferguson.
“Can any of your readers confirm this?”
Charlie goes to the start of the Second World War for his next query, and wants info on Arsenal player Bryn Jones.
“I’m sure Bryn Jones was at one time the most-expensive player in the world when the Gunners bought him for £14,000,” he said.
When the legendary Alex James retired in 1937, Arsenal manager George Allison began looking for a replacement and, the following year, he purchased Bryn Jones from Wolves for a world record fee of £14,000 (£6.9 million in today’s money).
Politicians were outraged by the money spent on Jones and the subject was debated in the House of Commons.
Jones, who had played 163 times for Wolves, scoring 52 goals, managed just eight goals in his 71 appearances for the Highbury outfit.
Capped 17 times for Wales, scoring five goals, he finished his career as a player-coach with Norwich.
He died in 1985, aged 73.
Charlie was also given some old newspaper cuttings from a friend of the family and, although tattered and torn and not dated, they made very interesting football facts.
He wants to share these anecdotes with BwB readers.
He said, “A final at Wembley in the 1943-44 season saw 85,000 turn up to see Charlton Rovers beat Chelsea 3-1.
“General Eisenhower presented the cup.
“However, what I would like to know is who was the player named Chris Duffy (Leith Athletic) who played for Charlton Rovers in this final?
“On September 26, 1942, Wolves fielded a Scots lad aged 14 years, 57 days.
“His name was Cameron Campbell Buchanan. They beat West Brom. 2-0 at Leicester’s ground.
“Stanley Mathews played for Airdrie in a Wartime Cup semi-final against Dundee United. United won 1-0.
“He also played for Glasgow Rangers and Morton, while Stan Mortensen turned out for Aberdeen and Frank Swift played for Hamilton Accies.”
