JACK JOHNSON LOVED HIS DUNDEE TREATMENT

TOM McGOVERN’S latest sporting tit-bit from Dundee’s past involves boxing.

“I was once told that the former black heavyweight champion of the world JACK JOHNSON (pictured at foot of column) was welcomed in Dundee and made a freemason in the city,” recalled Tom, now of Manchester.

“Johnson said Dundee treated him more humanely than his own country.

“He once told a young JOE LOUIS never to get angry.

“He told him to always smile at opponents.

“If you get angry, you will lose. It was very good advice.

“Perhaps a BwB reader can confirm these facts for me.

“I met a few boxers when I lived in Dundee and knew JIM BRADY very well.

“I also met GILBERT JOHNSON at CAMPERDOWN BOXING CLUB, which was run by the late DENNIS GILFEATHER.

“I was a member there. It was situated in an old part of Cox’s Mill in Methven Street, Lochee.

It is now the cafe in Tesco’s!

“Dennis was a great boxing trainer, one of the great men who ran youth clubs in Dundee.

“I also remember the BELMONT CLUB and there was also a club situated in Dudhope Castle.

“I got interested in boxing because my pal DAN GILFEATHER took me to his dad’s club.

“I was never a champion at the sport, but retained a lifelong interest in the game.

“My favourite boxer was probably the late ARCHIE MOORE.

“He challenged CASSIUS CLAY and ROCKY MARCIANO at 50 years of age.

“Four years earlier, he defended his title twice in Canada, knocking out YVON DURELLE, the British Empire champion boxer.

“I know boxers will appreciate the standard of discipline necessary to continue fighting at that age.”

SUPER SUCCESSFUL SAINTS GET SHIRTY AT REUNION

In season 1958-59, St Andrews Swifts, a Secondary Juvenile League U/21 outfit, won everything open to them including the Scottish Cup.

Now that team are holding a 50th anniversary reunion at the St Andrews United Social club on June 26.

And team member John Nicholson, now based in Perth, has had specially printed T-shirts made with the club badge on the front and the trophies won that momentous season listed on the back.

John explained, “We won the Scottish Secondary Juvenile Cup, the Dow, Fife, East of Fife and Summer League cups and the East Fife League.

“Each player will be presented with a T-shirt on the night and proceeds from the event will go towards combating motor neurone disease.”

Inside-right John was only 15 when he joined Swifts and he was in good company as the team included Bobby Waddell, who went to Dundee, Tom Carmichael, who signed for Celtic, Jim Smith, who went to Raith and Danny Danskin who was signed by East Fife.

That famous season, and many other memories, will be recalled on what is sure to be a great night.

John is pictured below with the T-shirts.

WRONG NAME

My buddy JOHN ANDERSON pointed out that the Andy Geoghie named in the FINLATHEN SCHOOL U/15 football team (BwB, June 12) is actually Andy “Drew” Geekie, who is a lift engineer alongside John with Dundee City Council.

AUCHTERHOUSE/GLENDALE GET TOGETHER AGAIN

Below (bottom photo) - I’m pictured (extreme left) with my former AUCHTERHOUSE team-mates, along with players of the Sunday friendly team GLENDALE, as we held the latest of our reunions with a day at Alyth Golf Course and an evening at Lyrics in Dundee.

Auchterhouse won the North of Tay Cup a record five times in succession in the 1970s.

Thanks to Dennis Elder (front, fourth from right) and the boys for putting together a great day (and evening!).

TEAM WERE 6-0 DOWN, BUT FORCED A DRAW

ANDY WALKER revealed he was recently in the company of JOE OGILVIE, of St Clement’s, Builders United and NCR fame.

“We were discussing an anniversary that was coming up,” said Lochee’s Andy.

“The year we were talking about was 1958-59, and Joe revealed he won his second league medal that year with Builders.

“He said he played in just four matches, but got a winner’s medal (see foot of column).

“His season with St Clement’s had just finished and he was sitting in the house when there was a knock at the door.

“On answering, Joe found ALEX “SANDY” DRUMMOND, manager of Builders, waiting.

“On inviting him in, Joe was asked if he would sign for his team.

“However, before he did, Joe asked what about the player who was already there, Johnny Squires, and was informed that he was going Junior with Lochee United the following season.

“Joe recalled Builders and Lochee United were neck-and-neck for the league and both had four league games left.

“Lochee also played three matches in a cup-tie, two draws and a third match.

“This was a lot of football at the end of a season that started in August and you have to take into account that most men also worked Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and also Saturday mornings.

“Builders eventually won the title by a point and Joe got his second winner’s trophy.

“Joe won the league with St Clement’s the same year.

“As Joe was leaving my company, an elderly gentleman, who had been in and out of our discussion, told me of the greatest match he ever saw — a FORFAR WEST END v. DOWNFIELD match around 50 years ago and was played on the April holiday weekend.

“Downfield were 6-0 down at half-time, but fought back amazingly to force an 8-8 draw!

“The game was fast and furious, with no quarter given.

“The tackling was scary, and there were also some fisticuffs thrown in.

“However, no player was booked or sent off as two teams gave their all — and the fans — at least 2000 — lapped it up. Nothing he has ever watched since has matched it.

“He wonders if any other BwB reader remembers that game.”

JOHN BLACK WAS A REAL LEGEND

As far as local legends go, they don’t come any bigger than JOHN BLACK, who died this week.

There are many stories regarding John, mine host of The Fort Hotel in Broughty Ferry and a former Dundee FC director.

Most, I have no doubt, are true, as he lived life to the full.

But there was also the other side to him which I got to know quite well over the years.

Such as the hundreds of thousands of pounds he raised for charity over the years, with quite a substantial percentage coming out of his own pocket.

And, just a couple of weeks ago, as we were together on a golf holiday in Magaluf, he once again relayed the tale that Dundee FC were half-an-hour from having the Dens Park doors closed during the final days of Ron Dixon’s reign.

John, along with fellow-directors such as Malcolm Reid, stumped up the cash necessary to stave off creditors.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS’ DUNDEE VISITS

Canada resident ROB BOAG reveals that his wife Hilda was with a basketball team that played against the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters at the Dundee Ice Rink in 1961.

“Don’t ask the score, I don’t know, but the team trained at Stobswell School,” said Rob.

“We are curious if any of your readers have memories of the team, or photos of that game.

“Hilda (nee McConnachie) can remember just a few players on the team, such as Betty Rae (nee Ireland) and Isabel Brown (nee Duncan). Peter Kane was coach.”

The Globetrotters were, indeed, in Dundee in 1961 and our files reveal they were also in the city in 1957 and 1963.

Their line-up for the 1961 tour was Meadowlark Lemon, who stood 6 ft. 2 in., Tony Wilcox, J. C. Gipson, and Joe Buckhalter, who were all a towering 6 ft. 8 in., Willie Thomas (6 ft. 4 in.), Charles “Tex” Harrison (6 ft. 4 in.), Murphy Summons (6 ft. 3 in.).

The little ’un Clarence Wilson was a mere 5 ft. 11 in.

At Dundee Ice Rink, they took on another touring side — The American League Stars — and beat them 42-30.

THE JOHN McINALLY COLLECTION : PART V.

In previous weeks, John McInally told of the time his LAWSIDE FP team had their North of Tay Cup success snatched away from them after a protest.

Below (bottom) is a photo of that team, with the fruits of that season’s labour.

Back row (from left) — Gerry Wilson, John McInally, Reggie Parr, Gerry Laing, Billy Miller, Gordon Drummond.

Front row — Alex Fox, Ricky Bain, Eddie Kelly, Paul Berrie, Willie Tully (who has a twin called Ian).

Top photo – The LAWSIDE FP team (see above). Second top – Harlem Globetrotter J. C. GIPSON, with an amazing 10 ft. 2 in. reach. Second bottom – Harlem Globetrotters playing against US Stars at Dundee Ice Rink in 1957. Bottom photo – Joe Ogilvie’s two league trophies for 1958-59 with St Clement’s and Builders.

Write to:

John Brown, Sports Desk, Evening Telegraph,
80 Kingway East, Dundee, DD4 8SL.
Phone 01382 575251 Fax 01382 454590.