“I read with enormous interest the story about the football match between Forfar West End and Downfield Juniors played at Forfar,” said John, of Fintry, Dundee.
“I played in that game and I still have the ‘Sporting Post’ report of the match, which details the goalscorers.
John, who revealed he was the son of the Dundee Olympic athlete J. Suttie Smith, continued, “I played on the wing for Downfield and my brother ARTHUR was on the opposite wing — and we scored five of the eight goals between us.
“Your article mentions fast and furious play, scary tackling and fisticuffs, but no bookings or sending-offs.
“That was a very accurate account, but I put a lot of credit for this down to a young up-and-coming referee — JOHN GORDON, from Newport-on-Tay.
“John played a large part in making this a memorable game.
“I treasure this ‘Sporting Post’ cutting, which is headlined, ‘Downfield net eight in second half’.”
See photo at foot of column
BUILDERS MIGHT HAVE WON LEAGUE AT CAMPIE
Dundee’s JIMMY BORLAND, (right) a well-known correspondent in letter columns and radio phone-ins, replied to JOHN SQUIRES’ query of September 4 when he asked at which park did BUILDERS UNITED clinch the league title.
“I played in goal for LOCHEE UNITED against Builders at Camperdown Park,” revealed Jimmy.
“They won 1-0, and the goal was scored by big Billy Lees.
“I am sure that was the game that won the league.
“John Squires played for the Builders that Saturday.
“When Lochee United went Junior, the opening of Thomson Park was a Friday night in 1959 in a game against Lochee Harp.
“John had signed for Lochee United by that time. Harp won 3-2 thanks to a hat-trick by GORDON TAYLOR.
“John Squires scored one for us, Edwards scored the other.
“I believe the attendance was over 1000.”
DANNY WAS KNOWN AS “MR ARNOT” . . . THE DANNY CLINK COLLECTION : PART I.
The request for a photo of Arnot FC’s JACKIE BRANNAN (BwB, Aug. 28) brought an immediate response from Mrs MARI CLINK BENEDICTUS, of Glamis Street, Dundee.
Mari is the daughter of the legendary DANNY CLINK, who ran the Arnot football team in the city for many years and, indeed, was known by many as “Mr Arnot”.
She has supplied quite a number of photos, of which just a few are captioned.
However, over the coming months, “THE DANNY CLINK COLLECTION” will continue with or without captions and, as usual, readers are invited to send in any information and names they have for photos used.
Before they folded in 1960 after around 80 years of existence, Arnot’s clubrooms were situated in Crescent Lane for 20 years.
Danny was a centre-half with the team before the Second World War, before taking on the role of match secretary, in addition to looking after the club’s business affairs, along with other committee members such as his brother ROBERT, ALBERT ROBERTSON, CYRIL SMITH and JOE ANDERSON.
Danny then went on the well-known ST FRANCIS BOYS CLUB in the 1960s, with continued success.
Although, sadly, Danny is no longer with us, the football link still continues at a high level in Mari’s family.
Her niece Debbie’s son is none other that KYLE BENEDICTUS, who currently stars for Dundee FC and was recently chosen for the Scotland U/19 squad.
The bottom photo (below) shows the Arnot team from season 1931-32, with an un-named trophy.
As scribbled on the photo, it reads (back row, from left) — Clink, Breen, Stewart, Robertson, J. Robertson, McIntosh.
Middle row — Trainer, G. Souter, Unknown, Abe Angus, Bobby Wilson, Andy Old, George Smith, John Quinn.
Unfortunately, no names were given for the dapper gentlemen seated in the front row.
It’s a fair assumption, though, that they were the club’s office-bearers.
