“This team won the Dundee United Cup at Tannadice in May 1969,” said Eddie, who was part of the team.
“The photo was given to me by teacher/manager at the time John Hoskins, who I still see often in and around Monifieth.
“On that sunny night in 1969, we played St John’s Secondary and ran out 6-3 winners, with hat-tricks coming from Derek Johnstone and Jim Jardine.
“Big Derek led the line, playing up against the late great MEL HOLDEN, who was also a brilliant player. Mel went on to play down south professionally for Sunderland.
“Much was made before the match about the battle that was to ensue between them both.
“However, Derek being the absolutely outstanding player he was — even at that age — nabbed three goals along with Jim Jardine, who played alongside big Derek.
“I cannot recall how many goals Derek scored for us that year, but it seemed at the time like hundreds.
“We went on to play St John’s again in a league decider a week later at Caird Park, which, if I recall correctly, ended up being abandoned after a fight broke out with us winning 2-1 at the time.
“I don’t think the league winners were ever confirmed.
“Perhaps a BwB reader can remember that outcome.
“Derek, as history now shows, went on to be a legend at Rangers — as we knew he would — scoring the winner in the League Cup Final against Celtic at Hampden in 1970 at the tender age of 16.
“In the semi-final of that Dundee United Cup, we played against Lawside at Lochee Park, and were shocked to find ourselves 1-0 down at half-time.
“However, we needn’t have worried as DJ turned in a masterclass in the second half and scored seven goals and we ran out 7-1 winners.
“Although a very good team as a unit and all decent players, another exceptionally good player in that Linlathen side of ’69 who springs to mind was Ian Palmer, who played junior.
“John Jenkins, along with Brian Baird, who was an apprentice with me in the NCR, played together for the NCR team in the Midlands AFA for a while.
“I’ve now lost touch with all of them as the years have passed.
“That Linlathen team also reached the late stages of the Scottish Cup, losing 4-3 to Kingsbridge playing on a blaise pitch only to lose to an unfiortunate late own goal scored by Ian in the dying seconds.
“That was after DJ again netted another hat-trick to make the score 3-3.
“All in all, these were happy days and Fintry has produced some great players over the years, but none could ever come close to ‘our Derek’, who was, and still is, Fintry’s top legend.
“Wish I was young again.”
BLAIR AND STAR ARE THE INSEPARABLES
The BwB piece (April 10) on Perth keeper CHIC THOMSON — who won FA Cup and English League titles with Chelsea and Nottingham Forest — was picked up by DENNIS ELDER, of Americanmuir Road, Dundee.
“Your story failed to mention that he was a former goalie with Blairgowrie Juniors,” said Dennis, a former full-back with the Berrypickers at Davie Park.
“Indeed, Chic was mentioned in a recent Blair match programme (March 28).”
Dennis sent in a copy of the programme to me.
It focused mainly on the meeting of Blair and Newtongrange Star in the Scottish Junior Cup 60 years ago.
Chic was the Blairgowrie goalkeeper when the teams were paired together in the fifth round.
They then embarked on a marathon of five matches during February and March 1949 before Star finally won through.
The tie caught the imagination of the wider footballing public and the Press labelled the teams as “The Inseparables”.
It is believed that this may be the longest cup-tie ever played in Scotland.
On February 19, 1949, the teams drew 1-1 at Newtongrange, then shared four goals a week later at Davie Park.
On March 5, Central Park, Cowdenbeath, was the venue and it was 2-2 yet again, with the third replay being postponed on March 12 because of snow.
When that replay finally went ahead on the 19th of that month, it ended 1-1 at Central Park.
A winner emerged seven days later at the same Fife venue, Star triumphing 2-1 with goals by Haughney and Allan to progress to play Cambuslang, whom they beat 2-1.
Star eventually lost to Auchinleck Talbot in the semi-final — and again that tie went to a replay.
A total of almost 26,000 spectators watched the matches, which stretched to over eight hours of play, and over 9000 attended the deciding match.
The first replay at Blair was watched by 3476, and that figure included over 1000 from Newtongrange, who had travelled by a football special train.
The gate was £174 and was a record for Blair, who were in only their third season.
The eventual 2-1 defeat was Chic’s last game for the Davie Parkers as he signed for Clyde, before going on to Chelsea and Nottingham Forest (and you know the rest from there!).
Mike Haughney, a prolific scorer for Star, signed for Celtic, although he stayed at Newtongrange for the remainder of a very long season.
ANDY NAMES THE NCR GOALKEEPER
Dundee’s ANDY CONWAY got in touch to confirm that the NCR goalkeeper we couldn’t name (BwB, May 1) is JOHN McMAHON, from Glasgow, and who also played in the D&D Juveniles.
