“My dad Danny Urquhart, from Lochee, came across this recently,” he said.
“It is a photograph of LOCHEE UNITED AMATEUR TEAM which won the Angus Amateur League in season 1946-47.
“The team was run by my uncle George Rennie (front, second left) and Martin Gormley, the grandad of the Logie Club Gormleys (front, right).
“My dad is the ballboy (front left) and he must have been the biggest ballboy in Dundee.
“Dad remembers most of the players, but a couple of people who may be of interest are in the middle row behind my dad — Ned Lynch, and next to him was Billy Kidd, who went on to to play for Southampton.
“Although the photo is not the best, the shirts had the LU logo on them.
“Dad says the shirts were put in a hamper before the war, were found after the war and then used for that season.”
BILL AND ALEC’S MEMORIES ARE “SHROUDED IN THE MISTS OF TIME”
Information regarding the now-defunct junior team STOBSWELL is being sought by BILL DONALDSON, of Sutherland Crescent, Dundee.
“I attend a weekly exercise class at Dundee University and one of my regular companions is ALEC KIDDIE, formerly of Celtic and Aberdeen, and we have talked about the old Stobbie,” said Bill.
“Alec was a former Stobbie player and left the club the year I joined them from Butterburn YC and our memories are shrouded in the mists of time.
“Alec played with such notables as Chic Coull and Bert Lamb, who became my goalkeeping mentor, and also George Merchant.
“My career with Stobbie was cut short by illness.
“However, I do have some memories of notable games I played in.
“For instance, there was a Forfarshire Cup Final at Tannadice where we, unfortunately, lost 4-1 in a replay against Violet.
“There was also a memorable Scottish Cup tie against Auchinleck Talbot, again losing 2-1 in the last 10 minutes.
“From there, the Ayrshire side went on to win the cup.
“However, most notable was a league decider against Carnoustie Panmure at Beechwood Park (I think in season 1947-48), where we ran out 7-3 winners.
“Among those in the Stobbie team were J. Taylor and G. Livie at full-back, with Tommy Hope at centre-half.
“Up front were Willie Strachan, who scored a hat-trick, and ‘Doodles’ Robertson.
“In the Panmure team were two guest players — Jack Kinder and Ernie Toseland.
“Unfortunately, I have no mementoes of my brief time at Stobbie and wondered if your archives could throw up photographs of that era and also that of Alec’s era.
“I had a happy time in my brief spell at the club and it would be great to have a belated memento.
“My time with the club was matched only with my spell with NCR AFC, which I believe were the finest amateur team of its time and, perhaps, since.”
While our files yield quite a few Stobswell JFC photos, none are from Bill’s time with the team.
BILL SENDS BOB INFO DOWN SOUTH TO AUTHOR STEVE
Downfield reader BILL GREIG responded with information on BOB WYLIE, as asked for in this column by Hants author STEVE RHODES (BwB, Dec. 5).
“I was quite friendly with Bob in the 1950s during his time with Dundee United, and actually spent a holiday with him in London when he was with West Ham United,” said Bill, who has forwarded this info to Steve.
“Bob played with local amateur side Builders United. He signed for Dundee United about 1951-52, and was a Tannadice regular until transferred to Blackpool in 1954-55.
“He was then understudy at Bloomfield Road to the then Scottish international goalkeeper George Farm, so didn’t get too many first team chances.
“Bob then joined West Ham United at the start of season 1956-57.
“By one of those strange coincidences in life, just a few weeks ago, while searching through some old memorabilia for another Dundee United player, I came across a cutting from a London paper reporting on the West Ham trial match pre-season 1956, which gave Bob a glowing report.
“I quote, ‘Ernie Gregory will have to be on top form to keep his place in the senior team’.
“I also came across a Millwall reserve team programme dated September 8, 1956, when they played West Ham reserves. I attended the game when I was there on holiday.
“For the record, the Hammers team was — Wylie; Bond, Cooper; Johnstone, Brown, Lansdowne, Grice, J. Smith, Blackburn, R. Smith and Tucker.
“A friend of mine has the programme of Swansea Town v. West Ham on September 14, 1957, when Bob played against the likes of Ivor and Len Allchurch, Mel Nurse and Cliff Jones.
“By an amazing coincidence, the reason my friend was at the game was that the Swansea Town (now City) goalkeeper was also a Dundonian and was a friend from his schooldays.
“Bob, unfortunately, died quite young in his 50s from heart problems.”
DOUGLAS JUVENILES DENY BUILDERS UNITED THE TITLE
Doug Crumley responded to some of the recent replies regarding the Builders United.
“They were a formidable team,” recalls Doug.
“The 1958-59 season was my introduction to the U/27 Juvenile League with Douglas Juveniles.
“We took three points from a possible four from Builders and they were not amused as we were the new kids on the block.
“I think their goalkeeper was Billy Flood, centre-half was Brown, and full-backs were Eddie Bell and Kenny Clark.
“On the wings were Bill Brady (right-wing) and Jim Jackson, and in the centre was the gentle giant Willie Lees.
“In the first game, we beat them 2-0 and I scored from a free-kick from outside the box.
“Then Jimmy Donachie scored when, after a great solo run, he chipped the goalkeeper.
“After I scored, Kenny Clark expressed doubt that I had parents and kicked me at every chance, saying I had no right to score against Builders.
“The second game at the end of the season saw Builders having to win to force a play-off with Elliot Albion for the league title.
“The game ended 3-3.
“The following week saw Douglas having to field several players carrying injuries in two cup finals against Elliot Albion — and we were defeated in both games.
“That was a good season for Elliot.
“Our team was Jock Finnie in goal, with full-backs Alec Howie and Ritchie Robertson. The half-back line was Doug Crumley, Peter Sharples and Ronnie Thow. Up front we had Alec Bunce, Jimmy Sharples, David Donaldson, Gibby Petrie and Jimmy Donachie.
“At the end of the season, Alec Howie had signed for Kirrie Thistle and Jackie Burnett came to the side.
“As Douglas played only one season, some readers may reckon I am wrong and that the team was Douglas Amateurs.
“Not so, though.”
IT WAS SHANKLY, NOT ANCELL, SAYS JOCKY
Dundee FC boss JOCKY SCOTT pointed out to me that Bob Shankly was the Dark Blues manager when he made his debut for the Dens Park side in the 6-0 win over Motherwell in 1964.
I had Bobby Ancell in charge in the December 5 article.
ALAN REMEMBERS A YOUNG GILZEAN TURNING OUT FOR COUPAR ANGUS JUNIORS
Perth’s ALAN SMITH responded to the Alan Gilzean story of December 19.
“I remember a young Gillie 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 JUNIORS before he joined up at Dens Park with Dundee.
“I’ve enclosed a photo cutting of a Coupar Angus team (bottom photo, below) he played in. It’s from January 1957.
Back row (from left) — Caldwell, Hynd, Fiddes, Rodger, Lundie, Ryan.
Front row (from left) — Forbes, Simpson, Weir, Gilzean, Cobb.
DAVIE DIPPIE
The funeral took place yesterday of my former Broughty Athletic team-mate DAVIE DIPPIE (pictured below), who died on Hogmanay.
“Dipper” was a whole-hearted full-back who served The Fed well for several seasons in the 1970s.
Indeed, he won at least two Player-of-the-Year awards in my time with him at the club.
Davie was a real fun-loving guy and the dressing-room was never a quiet place when he was around.
My thoughts are with his wife Marlene and family.
