The photo (at foot of column) was taken exactly 50 years ago this month in season 1959-60, and commemorates reaching the quarter-finals of the U/18 Scottish Schools Cup.
“That was not a remarkable feat in itself,” says Bill, who continued, “but our success brought great reward in that our team were given tickets for the schoolboys enclosure at Hampden Park for the European Cup Final between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt on May 18, 1960.
“As most football fans will be aware, Real Madrid won the final 7-3, and this game goes down in history as one of the greatest football matches of all time.
“I was only 17 years old and remember to this day how overawed the 135,000 crowd were by the magical skills of these players.
“They had exotic names like Canario, del Sol, Gento, &c., but not forgetting, of course, those amazing strikers Alfredo di Stefano, who scored a hat-trick, and Ferenc Puskas, who went one better and scored four.
“At the final whistle, it was very noticeable that not only did the huge crowd applaud both teams from the field, but also, not one person made a move for the exits.
“It seemed that we were all disappointed that the game had ended and maybe they would give us extra time anyway.
“I noted in a recent story that an interested spectator at the game was a certain 19-year-old Alex Ferguson — clearly he learned a lot!
“Of course, in more recent times, I have heard cynics say that Eintracht must have been a rather poor side.
“However, I always remind them that Eintracht won the home leg of their semi-final 6-1 and the away leg 6-3.
“Their opponents were none other than the mighty Glasgow Rangers.
“A story in newspapers of the time recorded that when then Rangers manager Scot Symon, on disembarking in Frankfurt before the first leg, was asked what he thought about Eintracht, he replied to all those around him with ‘Who are Eintracht?’
“Oops!
“Anyway, happy 50th anniversary to Real — and thanks for the memory.”
CELTIC WON TWO GAMES IN A DAY
It’s been some time since he wrote to BwB, but TERENCE O’FEE, of St Mary’s Road, Dundee, assures me he is still an avid reader this column.
“I think BwB makes up, in some small measure, for the loss of the Sporting Post,” Terry reminisced.
“How I wish for its return and the matches all to be played on Saturdays with a 3 pm kick-off.
“Ah, well, it’s good to have dreams and hopes.
“There are many interesting facts about the beautiful game which come to light on your page.
“For instance, the amount of games Dundee played in April 1910 when they were the first team to bring the Scottish Cup north of the Forth.
“I know they had two replays with Clyde before lifting the trophy, but that still left nine league games to play in that month.
“Some sort of record, surely.
“However, I then discovered a record made by Celtic a few years later in April 1916, which must stand unique in British, if not world, football.
“Owing to congestion of fixtures, they were forced to play two games on the same day.
“On April 15, they beat Raith Rovers 6-0 at Celtic Park in the afternoon with goals from Gallagher (3), O’Kane (2) and Dodds.
“In the evening, they played Motherwell at Fir Park and won 3-1, McMenemy, P. Dodds and Browning netting.
“The attendance at both fixtures was 10,000.
“Celtic then went on to clinch the title with three home games, against Hearts (April 22), Third Lanark (24th) and Partick Thistle (29th).
“The fixture congestion must have resulted through winter postponements. No undersoil heating in those far-off days.”
“HELLO, BOB”?
I hadn’t heard from Vancouver’s HARRY ROSE for a while, then an email arrives.
Not a good start, though, as his first line was “Hello Bob”!
Oh well, I suppose I’ve been called much worse!
However, to the purpose of his email, and he wrote, “Re TOM McGOVERN, both my sisters Mary and Joan Rose went to school with him and wish him well.
“Re NORRIE TENNANT, in the early 1950s, Norrie lived in the Kinghorne Road area and used to pass our house daily.
“He often joined in the football games in the street.”
Co-incidentally, Tom also came on from his home in Manchester.
“Legendary Liverpool manager BILL SHANKLY once stated, ‘Give me a player with heart and I will make him a star.’
“He proved his point at Anfield, and his brother BOB did the same at Dens Park.
“In those days, Dundee had several talented scouts who gave boys their chance of achieving stardom. Many did.
“Qualities like loyalty, dedication, integrity, etc., are non-existent in our game today.
“It used to be a great thrill to watch Scottish players defeating Europe’s best.
“If justice had prevailed, the European Cup would have nestled at Dens as Dundee were robbed in Italy against AC Milan in the first leg.”
BOBBY’S ONLY SLIP CAME AT THE START
Dundee FC historian NORRIE PRICE added to GRAHAM DYER’S tale of when “Bobby Cox fell flat on his face” (BwB, March 19).
“The game in question was a Dundee 2-1 win over Airdrie in the League Cup at Dens,” said Norrie, who has written a few fine books about the Dens Park club.
“It was played before 15,000 fans on a Wednesday evening in August 1963 and it just happened to be the first match I attended on my own.
“Bobby led the team down the old ramp — sadly now replaced by the current steps — with ball in hand, only to slip and fall headlong on the track as he turned towards the Provie Road end
“In the next day’s Courier, legendary football writer Tommy Gallacher — himself a former Dens Park player — commented, ‘That, though, was the only slip Bobby made all evening!’
“Dundee were to score goals galore that season with a truly memorable run to the final of the Scottish Cup at Hampden.”
