And, while they were sitting suffering in the dressing-room afterwards, little did they realise that six of them would go onto a career in senior football — and one would even play for Scotland!
Ken Drummond, supremo of Perth’s multi-team Letham FC, has forwarded the Perthshire squad from that game to BwB.
The six who went senior were goalkeepers Jim Blyth (Roselea) and Jake Findlay (Letham), plus midfield man Bobby Smeaton (Tayside) and forwards Dave Cochrane and Brian Sampson (both Tayside) and Ross Jenkins (Letham).
“Jake played in England’s top league, then the First Division, and also in Europe for Aston Villa, and also had spells at Luton and Swindon,” said Ken.
“Bobby went to Dundee, while Dave, Brian and Ross signed for St Johnstone.
“And Jim? Well, he moved to Preston, then Coventry and would have set a British record fee for a goalkeeper had he not failed a medical at Manchester United.
“However, he went on to continue to have a great career in the game, won Scotland caps, and, just recently, was a goalkeeper coach at Celtic.
“The full Perthshire squad that day also included defenders Hutchison (Perth City Boys’ Club), Mason (Letham) and Miller (Stanley/Murthly).
“Midfielders were W. Falconer, Mailer (both Tayside) and Whytock (Letham), while R. Falconer (Letham), Heenan (Roselea) and Cameron (Stanley/Murthly) made up the forwards.”
Of the outfield players who went senior, Bobby Smeaton later became a school janitor, and Dave Cochrane moved into the Highland League after leaving St Johnstone.
Brian Sampson emigrated to Australia soon after leaving Saints.
Ross Jenkins’ brother Grant later joined Saints and also had a fine spell at Dunfermline.
Ken also recalled an engrossing encounter when Messrs Blyth and Findlay came up against each other.
“In the late 1960s, we had Jake in goal and Roselea had Jim,” he continued.
“In January 1969, we were neck-and-neck with Roselea in a League Cup section.
“Previous results were 5-5 and two Roselea wins, 4-3 and 5-4.
“We met for the fourth time, with Roselea giving a debut at left-back to Arthur Hughes, a very good and well-known player in Perthshire football circles.
“Letham became the first team to beat Roselea that season by recording a 4-2 win — and they ended up winning the section, too.”
FINAL VIEW
Overall, the general consensus seems to be that the best team won the World Cup, but I would class Germany alongside Spain in that category.
Hosts South Africa certainly silenced doubters who questioned whether the Rainbow nation had the resources, ability and infracstructure to handle such an event.
They did, but, sadly, didn’t have a team to match their enthusiasm.
But the tourney may always be remembered for the fact a lot of the pre-tournament fancied nations ended up firing blanks.
France, who really had no right to be there (ask any Irishman!), were confirmed to be the moody and petulant lot we all know they are, completely self-destructing when things didn’t go to plan.
The inept, over-rated and under-achieving England were sent home with their tails between their legs — showing they don’t have a true “world-class” player in their ranks.
World champions Italy looked to lack leadership and were a massive disappointment.
Brazil and Argentina looked OK in the early games against some of the minnows, but were woefully found out when it came to stand up and be counted.
Then there was the “Hand of Luis” (Suarez), Frank Lampard’s goal that never was, and the Dutch blaming the referee for their final woe.
In my book, Howard Webb did them a couple of favours . . . they should have finished with eight men!
JOE TRONT LOSES BATTLE
BwB revealed last August that Dundonian JOE TRONT, now living in Melbourne, Australia, had undergone surgery for a malignant brain tumour.
Sadly, Joe lost his battle earlier this week.
Joe was a tremendously-talented footballer and was one of the main stars in the very successful Lawside Academy and St Columba BC teams when he was a teenager.
Joe’s talents alerted a host of Junior clubs when he left boys football and he spurned many offers to sign for Osborne.
After a succesful period at East End Park in the early 1970s, he was picked up by Forfar Athletic, before eventually joining many other Dundonians of that time in emigrating to Australia.
Long-serving Forfar Athletic official David McGregor said, “I’m very sorry to hear about Joe’s death.
“I remember him very well. He was one of our better players in the time he was here.”
DUNDEE TEAMS WHICH HAVE WON THE SCOTTISH CUP
JIM MASON, of Mill o’ Mains, Dundee, wants to compile a list of all the “minor” teams from Dundee which have won a Scottish Cup in their grade.
By “minor”, Jim means every grade below Dundee and Dundee United seniors.
He wrote, “It may be asking a lot, but I would be grateful if you could, through your splendid column, which I never miss, try and list all the teams from Dundee (except the two seniors) who have won Scottish Cups.
“To start the ball rolling, there have been the likes of Lochee Renton, Fairfield, St Vincent’s, Glentonoy and Lochrae from the U/27 juveniles, and NCR in the amateurs.
“I would be grateful for your help.”
HARRY EVANS, from Blairgowrie, responded to the photo of FAIRFIELD JUVENILES from the 1960s, which appeared in BWB on June 25.
“The general perception I get about the Fairfield club is that they were formed around the late 1950s,” said Harry.
“That, however, is not the case.
“Just under a century ago, members of my family were involved with Fairfield FC, and I enclose a cutting of a photo of one of their successful teams from 1920-21 with a couple of un-named trophies.”
Our files revealed the same photo (below) , and the trophies are the Dundee and District Juvenile League Shield and the Forfarshire Cup.
