It wasn’t quite an “I’m Spartacus” moment, but the opening lines of the email to me were, “While searching the web for something else, I, by chance, came across a BwB article.
“I am the missing PETER DILLON.”
To refresh, Bob was able to contact Phil McGovern, Watson “Wally” Thom and Ian McKenna, but said Peter still eluded them at that point.
Peter (pndillon@hotmail.com) continued, “The article brought back a lot of memories.
“Milton Rangers’ home pitch was in Douglas and I think it was called Grove Park.
“The lasting memory is when playing games on The Coup (Riverside Park) and Caird Park.
“Riverside was so exposed and it always seemed to be freezing cold, blowing a gale and teeming with rain, while Caird Park was like playing sideways on a mountain.
“In the early days, there were very few changing facilities, so we had to strip and pile our clothes pitchside in all weathers.
“We would play for Morgan in the morning and Milton Rangers in the afternoon.
“As we only had the basic 11 players registered, we had to, on a few occassions, play the game with less than a full team or would have players starting the game already injured.
“Saturday nights would then be spent in the Hap (Haparanda Coffee Bar) or in the Bread (Breadalbane Arms) when we got older.
“Bobby (Bob) played either centre-half or centre-forward where he would score goals for fun.
“He was also a very talented basketball player and captained us when we won the Scottish U/18 Cup for Morgan Academy.
“Ian was as hard as nails, a great header of a ball and, for such a big lad, a supreme dribbler.
“Phil was the classy wing-half with a fearsome tackle.
“Wally was the cultured full-back, who was also an exceptional cricketer.
“I am recently retired and am currently a season ticket holder as a supporter of Sutton United.
“Many of your readers will remember them as the team who put First Division (then the top flight in England) Coventry City out of the FA Cup 15 or so years ago.
“I stay just a few minutes’ walk from the ground.
“As a lifelong Dundee United supporter, I keep closely in touch with how they are doing through newspapers and even get to see (with the Gaelic commentary turned down) some of their games and other SPL games on BBC ALBA on Freesat.
“SPL football is not as bad as often reported. The problem is the number of times they all play each other.
“I attach old photos (below) of the cup-winning Morgan Academy basketball team and Milton Rangers FC.”
