“In 1977, I got a phone call from Frank Gilfeather, then of Grampian TV, asking if I would be interested in appearing in a special televised darts match,” Joe recalled.
“Frank asked if I would like to represent Dundee FC in a darts match to be screened on their Sportscall programme (is there anybody out there who remembers that programme?).
“The format was to be a recognised dart player and a professional footballer.
“I was picked to play with the prolific goalscorer and Dens Park legend Billy Pirie.
“He must have been an all-round sportsman because he surprised many by playing some great darts that night.
“I can’t remember the footballers, but we did play against some of the top darts players in Scotland.
“We played in three matches and, in the semi-final, we beat Scotland captain and twice Scottish Singles champion, the late GEORGE NICOLL, from Arbroath.
“That lined up a place in the final against Dom Sullivan, of Aberdeen FC, and darts international George Bowman.
“We lost the first leg, then I got off to a good start in the second with a maximum 180 and, just like in his football career, Billy got a sniff of double 10 and hit it with his first dart.
“It was on to the final leg, which we won, and that meant Dundee FC were winners of the one and only Grampian Sportscall Trophy.
“However, after 32 years, I feel it is now time for one for two wee secrets to come out!
“First of all, Billy was a regular signing in the Montrose Darts League, and, secondly, I’m a Dundee United fan, a dyed-in-the-wool Arab.
“Frank Gilfeather found out about this, but told me that, under no circumstances, was I to let anyone know.
“However, I got the feeling that Frank was hoping for a Dundee win.
“What wasn’t a secret, though, is that, around that time, Billy Pirie was the top goalscorer in Britain.
“He was such a natural at darts that I wonder if any of your readers have any knowledge of any other games or sports that Billy was good at.”
DOUGLAS AMATEURS AFC AND POSTAL FC REUNION
JOHN McNAUGHTON, of Greenlee Drive, Dundee, sent in several photos.
“I found a photo of the the Douglas Amateurs FC side from 1966/67, who played in the old Angus Amateur FA,” said John.
“I actually found it as I was looking for a picture of the Dundee Postal FC team which played in the Dundee Half-Holiday League in the mid-1960s.
“We recently enjoyed a reunion of the Dundee ex-Telegraph boys in Frews Bar.
“Lots of good times were remembered, including the Posties football team in which there were nine former messengers.
“Brian Alderson, a Douglas lad who went on to play for Coventry and Leicester also played in that team, but that was two years later.”
