“Since discovering your BwB page in the Evening Telegraph every Friday, I have been an avid follower,” he said.
“It never ceases to amaze me the number of guys I remember through your column.
“I have been up in Aberdeenshire for over 25 years and it is great to see the photos and read the articles relating to guys that I have played alongside or crossed swords with in my time in Dundee.
“The photo of the Morgan team (BwB, August 21) also brought back memories as a few of the guys in the photo also played for the 33rd Boys Brigade in the early to mid-60s.
“DRUMMY ROBERTSON made a great job of rounding up some of the best young talent from the local schools in Fintry, Linlathen, Kirkton, Stobswell, Hilltown and other areas.
“I think Drummy’s mission was to have the best BB football team in Dundee.
“However, I don’t think he realised, at the time, that he would soon have the ‘two’ best BB teams in Dundee.
“You see, we had so many players that we eventually entered two teams into the Dundee Battalion league.
“Indeed, there were so many new entries from within the Dundee area that a decision was made by the Battalion to have two leagues. There were, I think, 12 teams in each league.
“The winners of each league had to play off to decide the eventual champions and, yes, you’ve guessed it already, the 33rd A and B teams were the winners of their respective leagues and had to play off for the league.
“The B won the game 3-1 to lift the silverware.
“Most of the players played for their school in the morning and, in the afternoon, turned out for the BB.
“It wasn’t uncommon for some of us to play against the same players in the afternoon as we had just played against in the morning.
“As you can imagine, it could be very interesting facing the same players twice in the same day.
“Some of the players I remember were Colin ‘Tush’ Macdonald, Graeme Macdonald, Doug Butchart, Jackie Fyffe, Gordon Deuchars, John Summers, Ally Ballantine, Angus Souter, Neil Grant, Neil Wilson, Allan Wilson, George Low and many more.
“It would be great if some of your readers could add to the list and maybe a recollection of games.”
However, back to Riverside Athletic and the club are celebrating their 40th anniversary with a sportsman’s dinner tomorrow evening in the Dundee Indoor Bowling Club, Miln Street.
The club has been contacting former players, officials and supporters looking for previously-unearthed photos or memorabilia from the 40 years.
What they have gathered — along with the club’s history — will be displayed at the dinner.
Speakers tomorrow are Bill Leckie, Clem Dane and local poet Gary Robertson, with local business man Dave Young as MC.
Some tickets are still available and can be obtained from Keith McKenzie (227549) or Frank Wemyss (862891 or 07732 482102).
ALLAN PETRIE was reading Keith’s previous article when he said he couldn’t remember the name of one player.
“Keith said one player he knew only as Candy.
“Well, that chap goes by the name of James Grant.
“I enjoy BwB and thanks for your different sporting news.”
The photo at the foot of this column is of an early RIVERSIDE ATHLETIC team when they first started in the Dundee Sunday Welfare AFA.
Back row (from left) — Dave Wemyss, Colin Walker, James “Candy” Grant, Colin McMahon, Stewart Gibson, Marcus Duffy, Peter Wilson, Tommy Flynn, Jim Tierney.
Front row — Peter McCann, Keith Ballantine, Gavin Johnston, Benny Juckwiez, Grant McLean, John McIlreavy.
It looks like they had an ultra successful season that term, and the Welfare AFA trophies on show are (from left) — League Cup, H. Samuel Shield, League Shield, Livingston Shield and Rosebowl.
JESSIE’S BOY LOOKS TO HAVE BEEN AN EAST ENDER
The photo directly below was sent in by family friend JESSIE HALLIDAY, of Balunie Street, Douglas, Dundee, but she doesn’t know much about it other than it features son IAN.
The coach certainly has EAST END ATHLETIC FC printed on the front of his tracksuit, and the back of the photo gives the date as “1980 approximately”.
The only names on the photo were (back) NEIL McPHEE (second from left), IAN HALLIDAY (third from right) and GEORGE (surname unknown, second from right).
The front row reads — Coach unknown, TOM SKELLY, AARON HOOLICHAN, Unknown and JOHN JOHNSTON.
