Quite simply, he said the mercurial inside-forward was a genius with an explosive shot — and the best player he had ever witnessed wearing the dark blue jersey of Dundee FC.
So, when I was asked which five players I would like to see inducted in the Dens Park club’s first-ever Hall Of Fame, the Denny-born player (pictured at foot of column) was first on my list, purely on my dad’s say-so.
My other four are DOUG COWIE, ALAN GILZEAN, BOBBY COX and CHARLIE COOKE, but I was well aware that scores more ex-Dens Parkers could have easily been nominated.
So, it was with a little sense of pride that four of my votes have actually made it into the Hall Of Fame, which will be confirmed tonight at the inaugural dinner at the Invercarse Hotel in the city.
I’ll be at the dinner this evening, in the company of three lucky winners from our Evening Telegraph competition.
Each bringing a guest with them, they are ANN ANDREW, STEVEN FYANS and NORMAN CLEMENT.
Despite supporters being given the opportunity of nominating five players, there are actually eight being inducted this evening.
Such was the volume of votes, it was decided six would be entered into the Hall Of Fame. There is also an Overseas Award and a Heritage Award — making up the Great Eight!
From the Championship-winning side of 1961-62 (really, you could have nominated any of the famous XI.) comes skipper BOBBY COX (pictured at foot of column) and goalscorer supreme ALAN GILZEAN.
I’m very fortunate in that I can call Bobby a friend, while I’ve also been lucky to interview Gillie — doing so at the Hotel Broughty Ferry quite a number of years ago.
I’ve since been told I was a very lucky man as one of his associates later said, “He just DOESN’T do interviews!”
However, I found him pleasant and very humble regarding his football achievements with Dundee, Tottenham and Scotland.
Steel, who died in California in 1982, was in the Dundee sides which won the League Cup in 1951 and 1952, as was DOUG COWIE. Aberdeen-born Doug was capped 20 times for Scotland and was an elegant wing-half in his 300-plus games for the Dark Blues.
The remaining two are back at Dens Park and some reckon that, if they cut themselves, they would bleed dark blue.
JOCKY SCOTT returned recently for his third stint as manager and has steadied the ship in recent months.
Of course, he was also a player for many, many seasons, and was in the side which won the 1973-74 Scottish League Cup. He was also a coach at Dens when he finished playing.
BARRY SMITH is one of the latter-day heroes of Dundee fans and, after a stint in Iceland, is back at Dens as youth coach, in addition to a loan spell as a player with Brechin City.
Barry spent over a decade at Dens — many years as captain in his over-350 appearances — and he will be a popular choice with the support.
Although some of you may think I am quite old, I never saw BILL “PLUM” LONGMUIR play. Bill, who played for the club from 1893 and was part of the set-up which won the Scottish Cup in 1910, gets the Heritage vote this evening.
Finally, I was just one of many who was gobsmacked when the Tele exclusively broke the story that Dundee were to sign CLAUDIO CANIGGIA.”
“Aye, right!” (or words to that effect) was my reply when I first heard, but history now shows he did, and the Argentinian superstar is the first recipient of the Overseas Award.”
NEIGHBOURHOOD PERSONALITIES
Regular contributor TOM McGOVERN, formerly of Dundee and now of Manchester, loves recounting football and sporting tales from his home city.
“Several names spring to mind in my own neighbourhood,” opened Tom.
“There was BOB WYLIE, the former Dundee United goalkeeper, and he lived near me in Gardner Street.
“WILLIE CAMERON, trainer at Dens Park, lived in Lochee Road.
“A great Dundee schoolboy, JIMMY LOW, lived in Logie Street.
“TOM MCLAREN’S family lived in Cobden Street, and EDDIE McLAREN went south as a professional goalkeeper.
“Apart from these local acquaintances, I also knew BOBBY COX well.
“In my view, Bobby was the best left-back and captain in Scotland in his prime.
“Dundee goalkeeper from the championship-winning side PAT LINEY was another good keeper, and he attended my church (St Francis).
“I also knew JIM BRADY, who was a boxing legend. He owned a newspaper kiosk opposite Polepark, near my granny’s house in St Mary’s Place.
“Jim’s battles with Benny Lynch were famous.
“My own son TERRY was the youngest schoolboy at the time to play in competitive matches. He played for St Mary’s Lochee.
“He had trials with Plymouth Argyle, but declined the professional game.
“He is a happy family man today, and that is all important.
“Sometimes I regret leaving the city, but there was no work and my sons did well in Lancashire.
“They became well known in Burnley football circles.
“NEIL, my youngest son, also promotes a popular snooker competition at his club and some have involved Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan.”
Tom returned to football, saying, “I remember the Dark Blues of Lynch, Follon and Ancell, Gallagher, Cowie and Boyd. I also remember the elegant Reggy Smith. Did Cowie not win a European Golden Boot award?
“During my RAF career, I recall Dundonian Jackie Mudie starring in a Blackpool team which boasted six internationals including Stan Mathews.
“I saw them in Liverpool.
“Later on, the last line of defence at Dens Park started with Liney, Hamilton and Cox.
“I recall one occasion when Dundee lost a cup-tie they had dominated.
“It was against Rangers and they had them penned in at the T.C. Keay end.
“Then, a high ball emerged from the Rangers defence, and inside-right Ian McMillan tamed it in a flash before sending a raking pass to Alex. Scott on the right-wing.
“Scott outstripped the Dundee defence and sent an accurate cross into Dundee’s penalty area.
“It resulted in a goal and Dundee lost a game they should have won.
“Dundee, at that time, were never a defensive team.
“They played great football from back to front. At their peak, they were as good as any team on the planet.”
Tom concluded with a view on football today.
He said, “After Everton’s recent victory over Liverpool, my heart was glad because David Moyes showed faith in two British teenagers.
“They both acquitted themselves very well. The killer goal was a masterful stroke from an 18-year-old player.
“In the present football culture, the development of young British players appears to be forgotten.
“Instant success is demanded. It is sought by buying expensive foreign players and managers.”
NOBODY HAS TWIGGED CONNECTION
BILLY DOCHERTY, of Ravensby Road, Carnoustie, has been reading the Glentoran articles with interest and reckons he knows why Herbie Armstrong (also in photo top of page) gave the team that particular name.
“The Armstrong family, my late father told me, was the only east Belfast Unionist family to live in old Whorterbank, which was completely Irish Nationalist,” said Billy.
“Herbie was an outstanding inside-left, playing for Lochee Hibs Juveniles, the Dundee and District’s most prolific trophy-winning team in the late 1940s, and even more in the 1950s.
“That was a time when everyone wanted to play all levels of football, but, later, television put an end to this enthusiasm, with many clubs folding.
“Herbie’s brother Freddie also played juvenile football, but was not a patch on Herbie.
“After Lochee Hibs were forced out of juvenile football in controversial circumstances in 1958, Herbie formed Glentoran.
“He named the team after the highly-Loyalist east Belfast team.
“The Glentoran (the real version) ground was called The Oval and, when they play at home, their fans need to be escorted away from the Republican enclave of Short Strand.
“I’m surprised that nobody twigged this connection.
After the late 1950s, the D&D Juveniles was never as competitive again with many good clubs folding.”
THE JOHN McINALLY COLLECTION : Part 2
At lot has been spoken of LOCHEE HIBS AFC in recent weeks, and John is pictured as part of this 1950-51 team (below), who, judging by the silverware on show, were very successful.
Back row (from left) — A. Wright, J. Christie, B. Reilly, J. Quinn, J. McInally, F. Donnelly, F. Thomas, T. Smith.
Front row — J. Cord, J. Duncan, J. Slammon, H. Armstrong, J. McLean.
