“Recently, the name of Dundee boxer BOBBY BOLAND popped up in BwB, and brought to mind a story I was told many years ago,” said Doug, a Carnoustie resident and Gowfers’ official.
“In the late 1960s, I was in charge of a section in the office of Sidlaw Industries’ Camperdown Works (perhaps better known in Dundee as ‘Cox’s Mull’), and we were joined by a chap who had previously been working in the ‘Buroo’ offices in Gellatly Street.
“He told us that one day the place had been ticking over reasonably well, with each queue gradually moving forward, until suddenly the bloke at the head of one of them, who didn’t like what he was being told, started to shout and swear and give the girl who was attending to him a great deal of hassle.
“Bobby, who was in one of the other queues, stepped forward and tapped the bloke on the shoulder.
“When the chap turned round, Bobby, without saying a word, smacked him one and laid him out with one punch, then returned to his original place.
“The police had been called when the commotion started.
“However, by the time they arrived, the bloke had recovered somewhat.
“They asked what had happened, but, despite there being around 40 people in the room at the time, nobody had seen anything.
“The police left, taking the bloke with them, no doubt giving him some time in the cells to cool down.”
HARRY WAS ON HMS AMBROSE
The recent BwB piece about legendary boxing commentator HARRY CARPENTER being stationed in Dundee for part of the Second World War has sparked a bit of interest.
My colleague JAMES MASSON was sure Harry served at HMS Cochrane in the city, but Kelty reader RON HOGG offered that HMS Cochrane was a shore-based establishment, which was part of the Rosyth naval base and not in Dundee.
However, James this week received a call from another legendary boxing figure, Frank Hendry, the Dundonian who has, for many years, been a leading figure in world amateur boxing.
And he backed up James’ claim that Harry was, in fact, based in Dundee, although it was on HMS Ambrose.
“I knew Harry very well and we often talked about his time in Dundee during the last war.
“And it was clear he was fond of Dundee as he spoke well of his time in the city,” said Frank.
ARTHUR McINTOSH
I’m looking to get in touch with Arthur, formerly of Logie Harp and GJs football teams.
Arthur can contact me by return email or 01382 575251.
JOHN NAMES MIKEY’S GOALKEEPER
Former BUTTERBURN YC club-mate JOHN McGUIRE gave the missing name of the St Michael’s Secondary school goalkeeper as RONNIE MATTHEW.
John, who was also in the photo, is “60 years young”, is nicknamed “Silver Fox” and is a caretaker at Dundee College in Melrose Terrace.
WIN A COPY OF STEVE GRACIE’S THIRD BOOK . . . “THE SHED GO MARCHING ON”
After eight years of in-depth research, the series of books which has become known as “The Tannadice Trilogy” by Steve Gracie is now complete.
These three books provide the most detailed account ever of the history of Dundee United from its foundation as Dundee Hibernian in 1909 up to the end of season 2008-09.
Steve has been a Dundee United fan since childhood and is well known to Arabs through his involvement in various capacities with the club.
After a career in the finance industry, which took him all over Scotland he retired through ill health in 2001, returning to Dundee to live. He began working for Dundee United in 2003 and is currently a match-day ambassador with the commercial department.
In 2008, the first book, A PASSION FOR SURVIVAL, covering the years 1909 to 1945, was released. It chronicled the early years of the club from the humble beginnings of Dundee Hibernian in 1909 through the troubled 1920s and 1930s, and the years of two World Wars.
A year later, THE RISE OF THE TERRORS — 1945-1979 was published, carrying on the story through the late 1940s and 1950s. Events were to take a turn for the better with the arrival of Jerry Kerr and then Jim McLean as United achieved stability in the top flight and regular European football.
The latest book — THE SHED GO MARCHING ON — picks up in 1979 and relates the story from the first League Cup Final win, through the 1982-83 Championship season, the Scottish Cup success of 1994 and the rapid change in football and its effects on Dundee United in the most recent decade. The highs and lows are all there.
The Tannadice Trilogy is published by Arabest Publishing, and all three books are available through the usual outlets.
Each book is in three sections. The first section gives a season-by-season review of United and, in the second section, again chronicled season-by-season, readers will find a detailed profile of every player who has made a first-team debut. The final section contains a short statistical chart detailing the appearances and goals for each player.
BwB has six copies to be won. All you have to do is answer the question:
WHO IS THE CURRENT MANAGER OF DUNDEE UNITED?
Then phone 09010 300 017. Leave your answer, name, address and telephone number. Calls should cost no more than 25p. Competition closes at 8 am on Monday.
Employees of D. C. Thomson and their families are not eligible to enter.
MALTA MINI OLYMPICS
Some more photos from the programme of the “Malta Mini Olympics” in the summer of 1980.
Top photo - BROUGHTY UNITED AFC. Bottom photo - MENZIESHILL BASKETBALL CLUB.
The other photo pictured is of St Michael’s school goalkeeper RONNIE MATTHEW.
