“One of my great boxing heroes was the late Archie, a light-heavyweight,” said Manchester resident Tom, formerly of Dundee.
“He had two successful title defences against Yvon Durelle in Canada at age 46.
“To fight good heavyweights at that age remains a superb sporting achievement in my eyes. It required self-discipline of a very high standard.
“Without discipline, you cannot be a great champion at any sport.
“In football, the greatest example of discipline was Stanley Matthews. He played well into middle age. He was a fanatical trainer.
“On the local front, I was taught the basics at Camperdown Boxing Club by the late Dennis Gilfeather.
“It left me with a love for the sport.
“I knew several protagonists and they included Dick McTaggart and Jim Brady, whose epic battles with Benny Lynch were the stuff of legend.
“The toughest battle in a British ring was the one between Dundonian Bobby Boland (pictured at foot of column) and Glaswegian Peter Keenan.
“Jim Brady managed Bobby for a time. He also ran a newsagent’s shop at Polepark.
“I retain many happy memories of my time in Dundee.
“These include my school days in Lochee, and a class photograph in 1946 at Lawside Academy is a poignant souvenir.
“My love for tatties and mince, and Jimmy Shand still remains. I will always be a Dundonian.”
WHICH OLDIES ARE STILL PLAYING?
My colleague ALAN WILSON recently turned out for Saturday amateur team Harris XI. in Dundee at the ripe old age of 53.
He took some light-hearted jibes from friends along the lines of “the oldest guy ever to play in an amateur match in the town”.
Of course, he is not by any means the oldest.
Indeed, my chum SANDY “SY” THOMSON is still turning out regularly in goal for the Kelso second team in the Midlands AFA Alliance League and he’s 58!
However, it got me thinking . . . “Who IS the oldest player to play regularly in amateur football locally?”
I’m sure BwB can find him.
Send me your nominations, and some information on the player. In addition, a photo would be welcomed.
A POOCH OF A GOAL!
ANDY WALKER points out that, every week, whether at home or abroad, a referee somewhere has a howler.
“As most mistakes are now shown and dissected by the TV and radio pundits — not to mention the newspapers — I thought BwB might like to know of a match where the referee should have got the VC!” said Andy, of Lochee, Dundee.
“In November 1985, in the Staffordshire and District League Cup quarter-final, Newcastle Town were playing Knave of Hearts.
“With 11 minutes left and the score tied at 2-2, a free-kick was awarded to Newcastle.
“As the ball was floated into the box, a dog ran from the crowd and outjumped the centre-forward and centre-half to bullet in a 12-yard header, leaving the keeper ‘pawing’ for air.
“For a split second, as shouts of ‘drop ball’ were heard, and everybody looked at the referee, the man in black turned and pointed to the centre circle.
“Total mayhem broke out, abusive language, jostling and, indeed, manhandling of the referee might be more descriptive.
“The match eventually finished with a scoreline of 3-2 for Newcastle Town.
“It was noted that, during the mayhem, both managers were not to be seen.
“It was revealed later that they went in search of the dog to sign it!
“Those witnessing this incident did all agree . . . it was ‘a pooch of a goal’.”
STRATHMORE REACHED SCOTTISH CUP LAST EIGHT
My former school chum and team-mate RICKY McCORMACK came across the photograph, shown at the foot of this column, and thought it would be of interest to BwB readers.
“The team is STRATHMORE, who played in the Dundee Juvenile League,” revealed Ricky, a painter in Dundee.
“I think this photograph was taken around 1972-73 when the team got to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.
“The manager was GEORGE DUNN.
“Sadly, PAUL CLARK is no longer with us, while EDDIE NICHOL went on to have some success as manager of SMT in the Midlands AFA.”
