Marshall, though, was quick to pick up on last week’s article.
“I thoroughly enjoyed your article about The Rockets in last week’s BwB,” he opened.
“Just one thing, though, 1969 was when the Rockets were REFORMED!
“Rockets were originally formed at the start of the 1947-48 season as the reserve/junior team (no age limit, as in junior football) of the then senior Dundee Tigers, which consisted at that time of 10 Canadian players and two locals.
“The Scottish Ice Hockey Association had insisted at that time that all ice rinks running a professional team must form a junior team — to bring on home talent and to feed the senior teams in case of injuries and the like.
“A committee was formed and the team was to be called The Buffaloes.
“The Tigers coach at that time was a Canadian called LAURIE MARCHANT and he agreed to coach for no fee — provided the team would be called after his home town junior team in Canada where he had many happy memories — and they were called the Rockets.
“This was duly agreed and the Dundee Rockets played in the Scottish Junior League until all ice hockey was abandoned in May 1955.
“In 1969, a bunch of enthusianists, including Malcolm (Molly) and George Reid, Tom Stewart and others succeeded in renting the rink for hockey.
“They actually wanted to call the team Tigers, but the rink directors would not allow this.
“However, they agreed to the name Rockets. So, thanks to these guys, the Rockets were reformed and re-born.
“I was very proud to play for the original Rockets and to get my chance through them to go on and play for the Tigers and also to play and coach the reformed Rockets.
“I enjoy reading your column every week.
“In those past days, I was a keen football fan and a good pal of Alex ‘Red’ Forbes, who went on to play for Arsenal and Scotland.
“Alex, incidentally, was an excellent ice hockey player who would no doubt have gone on to play for Tigers if he had not signed for Sheffield United from North End.
“However, that’s another story.”
FIVE GIANTS ARE FOUND
Junior legend DANNY McALPINE, a tricky right-winger in his days with Lochee United, responded to the “Five Giants” story on December 19, as posed by DAVE WATSON.
“The Five Giants team was myself, Jimmy Rooney, Eddie Reid, Kenny Stewart and Jimmy Smith,” said Danny, a taxi driver in Dundee.
“We played as the Five Giants twice, but I think the team Dave is referring to is that team, although none of the Giants can remember Dave’s team beating us.
“Jimmy Rooney was also a member of a team called Niven’s Five, which included a few NCR players, and they, in fact, won the North End Fives one year.
“Maybe that was the pub-named team Dave referred to who beat them in the final.
“I, like many others, have some great memories of the fives.
“There were great teams and players such as Slim Jim’s Five, with Henny O’Shea, Pat Devlin and other Marryat area players who won the tournament.
“Another team I remember was five NCR players who called themselves “The Winners” and, would you believe it, they won it.
“How’s that for confidence.”
“MATCH OF THE TAY”
Regular contributor GORDON GURVAN remembers a special local sporting event.
“According to Wikipedia, beach football began in Brazil in 1992,” he said.
“This, of course, is the official definition of beach football, with specific rules set down, rather than it just being a kick-about in the sand.
“It reminded me, however, approximately 50 years before, properly organised beach football — as a spectator sport — was actually being played on the Tay, quite literally!
“There was an annual football match between two local teams — members of the Dundee Corinthian Boating Cub and the Wormit Boating Club — with the game played on Balmerino sandbank.
“They stuck oars in the sand for goalposts, and were cheered on by locals, also in boats, as well as along the shore front.
“It may not have been professional by today’s standards, but it definitely was ‘organised’ beach football.
“Health and safety regulations would probably ban it these days, but, perhaps, if it was resurrected, and shown on TV, they could call the programme “Match of the Tay!”.
