Allan and my colleague James Masson have almost daily blethers about all grades of football, and Allan unearthed the following tale which came about when he was in charge of Kinnoull.
“We were playing Tayport in a cup game at Tulloch Park and the weather was awful, with snow cascading out of the sky,” Allan recalled.
“We were 6-0 down when I shouted to the ref, the late Graeme Cowper, ‘You’ll have to call it off, no-one can see the lines.’
“Graeme replied he was doing no such thing and, seeing how woeful my players were, I answered back, ‘Aye, you’re not the only one who can’t see the lines, ref.
“My players are obviously having difficulty seeing them, too’. And we went on to lose another five goals.”
Allan added, “Remarkably, we drew with Tayport on two other occasions that season, despite that 11-0 battering.
“One was a scoreless game at Perth and the other was a 4-4 cup divide at Tayport, with Tayport winning the tie on spot-kicks.”
Allan also recalled a Scottish Cup game against an Aberdeen side in the year he led Stanley to Scottish Juvenile Cup success.
“That success was around 26 years ago and I remember this particular tie, played at Stanley.
“To say it was cold was an understatement. One of my players, Colin Brown, was taken off with hypothermia.
“However, we won the game and went on to win the cup.”
And, even further back in his career, Allan recalls another day when he played in conditions less than perfect.
“I was still a pupil at Goodlyburn secondary when I lined up for Tay Thistle in a City Boys’ game against Kinnoull on Perth’s North Inch.
“I was about 15 at the time and the pitch was in a right state.
“Davie Allan, well known in Perth sporting circles, was the referee and had a reputation for hardly ever putting matches off.
“Somebody suggested to Davie that the match be postponed, but back came the reply, ‘No chance. As long as the ball is rolling, the game goes on’. And it did.”
WHO IS THE MYSTERY JAMBO?
The “OLD TIMERS”, who patronise the Inchture Hotel, have sent in a photo, looking to identify a player.
“While checking out and naming some of the many sporting photographs adorning the walls of the bar in the hotel, I enclose one which has us beaten,” said FRANK MILNE, one of the “OT”.
“It’s a Dundee United v. Hearts match at Tannadice, and we can identify United players Andy Gray and Paul Sturrock.
“However, the identity of the Hearts player has stumped us.
“Wee JIMMY CHALMERS and myself haven’t a clue, Dundee FC legendary goalkeeper PAT LINEY is non-commital, while STEF BARTON thinks it could be ALAN ANDERSON.
“Can BwB help?”
I’ll also plump for Anderson, who played over 500 times for the Edinburgh outfit, but would be less than 100% on this. I’ve dug a confirmed photo of Anderson out of our files (with Dixie Deans of Celtic in October 1975).
You can make up your own mind and, if not, then I’d welcome any BwB readers giving a positive ID.
See photos at foot of page.
GOTHENBURG INTEREST
The recent ice hockey articles caught the attention of a Swedish reader.
“I saw your article about the Dundee Rockets 1969 team and the gathering after 40 years,” said Pelle Magnusson, of Gothenburg (pmg@sonum.se).
“I was over in Dundee a couple of times in the mid-1980s with junior teams from Gothenburg and met the guys at the old Dundee Ice Rink, especially Tom Stewart.
“I’ve mislaid his phone number and email address and would be happy if BwB could assist in putting me back in touch with him.”
HERO JIBE IN SNUG
My former colleague and buddy in my early days with this company DOUGIE FISHER is doing quite well in the golfing stakes, and has sent in the above photo to prove it.
Late last year, BwB showed a photo of Dougie with one of his heroes, former Dundee FC player ALEX STUART.
“I particularly liked the fact you stated that Alex was a ‘hero’ of mine,” responded Dougie, who spent his early years in Bridgefoot on the outskirts of Dundee.
“My drinking buddies in The Snug wound me up for about a month after that.
“Incidentally, I happened to play Alex in the match-play final of the seniors at Ballumbie in September and emerged victorious, also winning the club handicap singles championship the same week.
“Hopefully, Dundee FC can get promoted this season and we can get back to the derbies again next term.
“They are sadly missed.”
See photo at foot of column.
JOSEPH JURION BACK AS CRAIG LEVEIN
Coupar Angus reader WILLIE SMITH was at the Dundee v. Anderlecht games in season 1962-63, and responded to the Joseph Jurion story (BwB, Jan. 15).
“These were great days for Dundee fans, and to see players of the quality of Jurion and Paul van Himst was amazing — even more so when we beat them,” said Willie.
“However, after seeing Jurion’s photo in BwB, I can’t help thinking he is back in football under the guise of CRAIG LEVEIN!”
Broughty Ferry’s STEVE CLENAGHAN and Ardler’s JOHN WATT also commented on the similarity.
You can make up your own mind from the photos below.
