Billy Thomson asked on July 12 if Ron Yeats had any Scottish League or Scottish U/23 caps to go with his full international caps.

Billy felt ‘positive’ that he had but I could trace none.

However, Arabzone’s Andy Boyd may have come up with something with links into Billy’s school of thought — an array of ‘representative’ games in which the towering centre-half took part.

Said Andy: “I can’t find any Scottish League teams that involve Ron Yeats but I hope the following helps.

“At Brockville Park, home of Falkirk, on April 11, 1960, he played for a Second Division Select against the Scotland U/23 side, the latter winning 3-1.

“He is listed in an Army team in the programme for a friendly at Plymouth Argyle on September 28, 1960.

“Ron is also mentioned as having faced an FA XI at Hillsborough on October 21, 1960 (FA won 2-1), and again listed in the programme for a game against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on October 24, 1960.

“On February 13, 1961, he was in the British Army Select team, along with Jim Baxter and Alex Young, which lost 3-2 to the Scotland U/23 side (Law 2, St John) at Fir Park, Motherwell.

“Sketchy details have him appearing for ‘Scotland’ in a trial match against the Scottish League in February 1964.

“He also appeared for a Scottish XI in the John White Memorial Match in November 1964.”

Andy, forever helpful to this column, concluded with an interesting line.

He offered: “Ron Yeats said in The Topical Times (an annual football book from DC Thomson) that if a Celtic scout, very keen to sign him for the Parkhead side, hadn’t been killed in a fatal car crash, he wouldn’t have signed for Dundee United.

“United plunged him straight into the first team.

“From there, he never looked back and started on a journey which eventually took him to Anfield and Liverpool.

“Astonishingly, it seems that Yeats never once played a reserve game.”

Brothers Jim and Tommy McLean were well known throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s for their footballing exploits.

Jim, of course, as a player and coach with Dundee before crossing the road to Tannadice.

There, he scaled great heights with Dundee United, with a league title, two League Cups and a European Cup semi-final achievement.

Tommy won the league as a player with Kilmarnock, then won umpteen trophies with Rangers during his years at Ibrox.

However, as most of you may be aware, there is a third brother — and he is the subject of a pub debate involving reader Dan Watson.

“My argument is that Willie McLean played with or managed more clubs than his brothers Jim and Tommy put together,” he stated.

“Can you list them all to settle this argument, please?.

“My friends are really adamant about this.”

Jim played for four clubs — Hamilton Accies, Clyde, Dundee and Kilmarnock, before coming back to Dens Park as a coach. He then joined Dundee United as manager.

Jim’s tally is five clubs.

Tommy played for just two — the aforementioned Killie and Gers.

He then went into management with Greenock Morton, Motherwell, Hearts and Raith Rovers, before joining Dundee United, where Jim was chairman at the time.

Tommy’s tally is seven clubs.

Willie played just one game for Hamilton, then joined Airdrie, Sheffield Wednesday, Alloa, QOS, Clyde, Alloa again, then Raith Rovers.

In management, he ran Queen of the South, Motherwell, Raith Rovers, Ayr United and Morton.

Willie’s tally is 13 clubs.

So, it would seem for argument’s sake that Jim/Tommy amassed 12 clubs to Willie’s 13.

However, Willie being employed on two occasions each by Alloa, Raith and QOS may provide fuel for Dan’s argumentative friends.

A couple of wee snippets emerged during research.

Willie spent two years at Hillsborough with Sheffield Wednesday but didn’t make one first-team appearance for the Owls.

Tommy’s time as manager of Raith Rovers lasted just six days. Reports at that time suggested the move to United came “amidst substantial acrimony”.

Willie and Tommy also had spells with other clubs as youth coaches and trainers.

* AT the end of a piece on Jerry Kerr (BwB, July 19), I gave out a further snippet of information I had ‘come across’.

That bit of info from an internet site suggested the legendary Dundee United manager’s real Christian name was Jasper, with Jerald being his middle name.

My source for the ‘latest piece’ on Jerry was his son Gil, with me just adding Jasper at the end after I came across it on the internet.

I did suggest I was dumbfounded that I hadn’t heard of it before . . . and it turns out that is because it is not true!

When we recently met, Gil completely rubbished the Jasper theory.

“I don’t know where you got that from?” said Gil. “His real first name is actually John, with Jerry just a nickname.

“He didn’t even have a middle name.”

With no greater reference than a member of family, I am delighted to stand corrected.

“I’m sure you have a photo in your files of a Dundee game at Dens Park in which a good part of the ground is flooded,” stated James Ferguson, of Dryburgh, Dundee.

“I’ve seen it before over the years.

“What were the circumstances behind the game and why was it allowed to be played when the photo obviously shows the pitch under water.”

I’m sure the game James refers to is a Dundee v Hibs League Cup tie on August 26, 1950.

The match was abandoned after 68 minutes with the Edinburgh side leading 2-0.

The photo must have been taken at a time when the water started to gather around that corner at the old TC Keay end of the ground and the referee called things to a halt.

I believe the game was not replayed and that the result stood but I could stand corrected on that.

Dundee lined up that day — Rennie; Follon, Cowan; Gallacher, Cowie, Boyd; McIlhattan, Rattray, Copland, Gerrie, Hill.

BwB’s recent tales of sporting life at Menzieshill High School prompted one former pupil to get in touch.

“I was one of the team who competed in ‘We Are The Champions’ in the late 1970s,” said Amanda McLeod.

“I was Amanda Scott back then, and competed along with Fiona Gordon, who is still one of my closest friends, and Elizabeth Letford.

“One of the boys was Stuart Cuthill. The other two boys’ names I can’t remember but think one was called Robert.”

* ALLY Fortheringham, of Arbroath, wants to know how many different goalkeepers Scotland used in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s decade.

“I followed Scotland quite a bit around that time and it always seemed as if we had a different goalkeeper every other match,” said Ally (68), a retired toolmaker.

“Can you list them?”

The first international in 1968 was in February in a 1-1 home draw against England.

Ronnie Simpson was the goalkeeper in that international, and keepers who followed him were Bobby Clark (Aberdeen), Jim Herriot (Birmingham), Tommy Lawrence (Liverpool), Ernie McGarr (Aberdeen), Jim Cruickshank (Hearts), Bob Wilson (Arsenal), Ally Hunter (Kilmarnock), David Harvey (Leeds), Peter McCloy (Rangers), Thomson Allan (Dundee), Stewart Kennedy (Rangers), Jim Brown (Sheffield United).

Alan Rough (Partick Thistle) was first capped in 1976, and was the No 1 custodian for the next three years, with fleeting appearances from David Stewart (Leeds), Jim Blyth (Coventry), Jim Stewart (Middlesbrough), George Wood (Everton).

* CHARLIE Wilson, of Kirkton, Dundee, asks for the names of Danish players Aberdeen signed in the mid-1960s.

“There were at least two, I’m sure, but they didn’t last long at Pittodrie,” he stated.

“What were their names?”

The Dons signed the Danish trio of Lief Mortensen, Jorgen Ravn and Jens Petersen in January 1965.

Mortensen and Ravn were released in May 1966.

Petersen went on to play more than 140 games for the Pittodrie side before joining SK Rapid Wien in Austria in 1970.

Lifelong Dundee United fan Bert Millar asks for information of former Tannadice favourite Andy Rolland.

“Andy was a real go-getter player who gave his all in every game he played,” said Bert, of Coldside, Dundee.

“He was sent off a few times in his career and I remember one being in a friendly. Can you give details of that friendly?”

Rolland, nicknamed The Major, was actually sent off in two friendlies. He was sent off during United’s summer tour of Norway in 1968, and also in a USA tour against Juventus.

Details are scant about other sendings-off but I did find that, on at least three occasions, he served bans for accumulating three bookings.

Rolland moved to the United States to play in the North American Soccer League, featuring for Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Los Angeles Aztecs.

I believe the latter move involved a swap deal which included George Best.

Rolland signed on at Tannadice from Cowdenbeath and actually had three spells with the Central Park side. After playing in 1961-62, he returned to the juniors with Dundonald Bluebell before joining Cowden again from 64-67. His final spell was from 80-82.

* ELLEN Kerr asked BwB to furnish information regarding Oliver Hamilton.

Oliver, known to friends as ‘Vic’, was mine host of The Scout public-house in Dundee, and also scouted for Blackpool FC.

We highlighted this and other information for Ellen in our July 5 issue.

Terry Hamilton, a clubmate of mine at Broughty Athletic JFC in the 1970s, is Oliver’s son.

Terry said: “Oliver was my father and he passed away suddenly with a heart attack while on business in Largs on the west coast of Scotland.

“The date was October 8, 1971.”

Terry was a committee man at The Fed in the 1970s and went on to be secretary and also vice-president of Tayside Region Juniors.

He has also held the office of president with one of the Dundee United Supporters Clubs.

Charlie Walker’s latest offering concerns a Scotland friendly match.

It was in 1977 that Sweden visited Hampden, a game the Scots won 3-1.

Charlie’s poser is: “Which Scottish internationalist scored on his debut before he even kicked a ball?”

Forever the gentleman, he saved me a lot of research by giving the answer.

Charlie, of Lochee, Dundee, said: “It was Celtic’s Joe Craig (above), who scored with a header with his first touch when he came on as a substitute on April 27, 1977.”

Craig replaced Kenny Burns in the 76th minute and netted Scotland’s final goal three minute later.

Scotland’s other goals came from a Ronnie Hellstrom own goal in 15 minutes and a Kenny Dalglish counter in 56 minutes.

Benny Wendt had earlier levelled for the Scandinavian country after 51 minutes.

Scotland’s team was — Alan Rough; Danny McGrain, Willie Donachie, Tom Forsyth, John Blackley (Dave Narey 56), Ronnie Glavin (Sandy Jardine 58), Kenny Burns (Joe Craig 76), Asa Hartford, Willie Johnston, Kenny Dalglish, Willie Pettigrew.

The attendance was 22,659.

Ken MacDougall, on behalf of his eldest brother Allan, is on the lookout for information about an old football team.

Said Ken: “My eldest brother Allan, is 82, and has had football in his blood since he was a boy.

“I wonder if you could give a wee mention to him some time soon.

“I am the black sheep of the family and hated sports day.

“I used to forget my gym shoes on purpose but our ‘tyrant’ of a PE teacher Tom Hermiston (featured recently in BwB) made us do it in bare feet (circa 1958).

“However, my other brothers, who all also went to Morgan Academy, were all football daft — three of them.

“So much so that Allan started his own football team called Parkdale, around early 1947.

“They played on pitches at Caird Park and I wonder if you or your readers may have old photos or bits of copy relating to the team.

“Allan now lives in Bridge of Allan but grew up in Kirkton, Dundee.

“He used to do sports reports for various papers and has been a lifelong supporter of Dundee FC, although recently has a yen for Liverpool FC.”

Ken sent in this photo (above) of Allan, who was captain, with his Parkdale team-mates. Unfortunately, there are no names with the photo but Allan is in the centre of the front row.

Ken also let me peruse Allan’s Parkdale notebook, which he started for the 1949-50 season, a couple of years on from when they were founded on January 8, 1947.

Their first game, according to the notebook, was an U/16 friendly against Lawton Victoria, which they won 4-0, with goals by Logie, Livie and Hegarty (2).

Parkdale lined up — Drummond Bowman; Fred Drurie, William Nicoll; Robert Robb, Allan MacDougall, Fulton Inglis; David Logie, Livie, Pat Hegarty, Wilson, Robert Fernie.

Around the same time, they were trying to start an U/18 side and their first outing was a 6-5 loss to their own U/16 outfit.

The U/18 team, on August 29 that year, also then recorded a 4-0 win over Lawton Vics, with goals by Keith (2), Gormley and Fagan.

The line-up for that match was — Gibson; Fagan, Ross; Gormley, Soutar, Black; Martin, Brown, Keith, Borland, William Hegarty.

At the end of that 49-50 season, the U/16 team won just six of their 27 games, conceding 94 goals.

The U/18s also just emerged victorious in six encounters out of 28 games played, letting in 104 goals in the process.

Allan noted in the book . . . “we are finishing in poor light and are on the downgrade.”

At the back of the book were several full names of the players and their addresses.

This even included one John Brown, who resided at 17 William Street.

As far as I am aware, he is no relative of mine, with most of the players staying in the Coldside, Beechwood and Glens areas of the city.

I can’t find any other info on this Parkdale team. If any reader knows anything about this team, or recognises a relative in one of the line-ups, then get in touch.

Ken concluded on another theme.

He said: “As a schoolboy, I went to the match when Manchester United played an evening game at Dens.

“This was when their fifth team was supposed to be as good as Dundee, who won 5-1. Do you remember that one?”

Indeed, I do, and this game was highlighted recently in BwB as it was Bobby Charlton’s first-team debut for Man U.

Arthur Allan asks if it was true that Dundee legend Gordon Smith signed for Hibs after playing against them in a friendly.

Arthur also asks if Smith was born in Dundee due to him playing for a Dundee junior side at the time.

I don’t know why Edinburgh-born Smith spent much of his youth resident in Angus.

However, he was a junior player with Dundee North End when he played for a Dundee Junior Select side against a Hibs-Hearts Select side.

The juniors won the game at Beechwood Park 3-2 on April 14, 1941 — with Smith netting a hat-trick.

Hibs snapped him up after the game and he went on to become one of the legendary Famous Five at Easter Road alongside Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Willie Ormond and Eddie Turnbull.

He also played for Hearts after he left Easter Road.

Of course, Smith is better known in these parts as a member of the Dundee team which won the league in 1961-62 and reached the semi-finals of the European Cup the following season.

His other claim to fame is that he won the Scottish Division One title — the top league in this country at the time — with three different clubs, the aforementioned Edinburgh pair and the Dark Blues.

Our story on June 7 about Dicky Boag created interest from a family member in England.

To refresh, an active member of Dundee Stars junior development Michelle Dye, whose partner is Richy Boag, wanted to know more details about a newspaper cutting she had come across after the death of a relative.

The cutting included a photo and featured Dicky with Harp team-mates and their Scotland Junior caps.

We were able to give Michelle quite a bit of information after I enlisted help from BwB’s ‘North American correspondent’ Rob Boag, who is Dicky’s nephew.

Norfolk resident Leslie Reilly was alerted to this by a relative.

“Dicky Boag was my grandad but, unfortunately, I never met him,” said Leslie (48), who moved south from Dundee over 20 years ago.

“He was my mum’s dad and he died after the war.

“I don’t know where these caps are now as I was told they were lost during the ‘flit’ when the family moved from Hawkhill.

“I think that is a real shame.

“Some family members, I believe, inquired if other caps could be manufactured — and we would have been willing to pay for them — but have been told that couldn’t happen.

“That’s a real shame.”

Leslie, who was brought up in Whitfield and attended both the primary and secondary school in the Dundee suburb, continued: “My other grandad was a bit of a player, too. He was Paddy Reilly and he was in the Dundee Violet side which won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1928–29.

“The Pansies beat Denny Hibs 4-0 at Dens Park after a second replay.”

I could not find a ‘glossy’ photo of the Violet Scottish Cup-winning side but Barry Sullivan of our archives department came up with this cutting, which features Paddy.

He is second from right in the front row, in the old inside-left position.

* DURING a discussion with friends, Willie Johnston’s name came up in the conversation.

The former Rangers and Scotland left-winger is, perhaps, best known for being sent home from the World Cup in Argentina in 1978 after failing a drugs test. One of those in the discussion — he doesn’t want his name mentioned, shy boy — also said he was one of the few to score three penalties in a game.

Now, I’ve researched such feats in the past and couldn’t remember ‘Bud’s’ name coming up. So, delving into the files, I eventually found the answer.

On November 6, 1971, against St Johnstone at Muirton Park, Johnston did, indeed, take three penalties and net three times in the game.

However, he scored only two directly from the spot, with his third counter coming from the rebound after he missed the penalty-kick.

He netted his hat-trick after coming on as a substitute — and all his goals were scored in the second half.

Back in May, Stevie Petrie gave his take on some key football matches in the 1970s between Dundee schools St John’s HS and Linlathen Secondary.

Wullie Tracey took to Facebook after reading it.

“I just had to have a laugh when I read Stevie Petrie’s piece in a Blether With Brown article,” he opened.

“He was writing about a game between Linlathen and the Johnnies in 1970, over in Linlathen, which was a league decider.

“It really was a crazy day.

“We all got the afternoon off to go over there to ‘support’ the team.

“Clarkie, who ran the team, told Brother Bede that he wanted as many of us over there as possible because he knew it was going to be a tough game and he didn’t want the team being intimidated by the locals.

“Stevie says the game was abandoned because of a dodgy penalty decision but I always thought it was because of all the fighting that was going on between us and the Linlathen mob!

“That’s all we did from the minute we arrived there.

“It was crazy and the best thing was the teachers seemed to be right behind us egging us on.

“Most Celtic supporters couldn’t stand Derek Johnstone after he scored against Celtic in the League Cup Final.

“I didn’t like him long before that! Brilliant memories, though, Stevie.”

* JOSEPH Johnstone, of Monifieth, asks me to settle an argument.

“I claim Partick Thistle were the first or one of the first Scottish teams to have floodlights installed,” he said.

“I grew up in Maryhill and remember being at the match which took place to officially open the lights at Firhill.

“It was against Tottenham and it was a game Thistle won.

“Can you confirm any of this.”

Partick beat visiting Spurs 1-0 (Kerr) on November 15, 1955, in front of 18,000 spectators.

As far as being the first in Scotland to play under lights, Stenhousemuir FC seem to have that distinction when they entertained Hibernian in a floodlit friendly on November 7, 1951, the Hibees winning 5-3.

We featured the East Craigie photo (above) on September 10, and again last week, originally sent in by Derek McCombie.

Derek’s dad played in this 1949-50 team.

Now it features in this column for a third time as East Craigie historian Andy Malone pointed out a very unusual aspect of the photo.

“I don’t remember who told me but I was advised that this photo was an early attempt by East Craigie at advanced level photography,” said Andy.

“Willie Hennesey (back row in the suit) was added into the photo after it was taken as he wasn’t available for the original photocall.

“If you look closely, you can see a straight line down his left hand side.

“The Shipbuilders’ first time attempt at ‘photoshopping’ was some years earlier when they added big Jim Gilligan to a picture (below), which you have already used in BwB.

“It was just his head and shoulders put in (back row, second left).”

The ‘Unknown’ person featured playing dominoes in our June 14 edition has been identified.

Regular readers will recall it was a tale from Rob Boag regarding Frankie Davie’s pub in Lochee, which he offered as ‘the first real sports bar in Dundee’.

John McNaughton got in touch, saying: “The unknown gent sitting with George Gallacher, Peem McCoul and Henry McFadyen is my father Bert McNaughton.”

John then offered more information on his dad.

“He was born in 1916 in Lochee at 1 Flights Lane.

“He attended St Mary’s Lochee school until age 14 and went to work in the Post Office as a telegram boy and postman until he was called up and served in the Royal Navy.

“He played for both Lochee Harp and Dundee Violet before and after the war.

My dad was a regular in Frankie Davie’s bar and played junior football for both Lochee Harp and the Violet in the 1940s.

“He used to get slagged off by both sets of supporters but always in a friendly manner.

“He favoured Harp slightly and only signed for the Violet because the signing-on fee was a £5 provie (provident) cheque.

“That was a great deal back then.

“After the war, he rejoined the Post Office and worked there until he retired in 1961 through ill health.

“He worked part-time in Binnie’s Bar in Lochee and also socialised in the Logie Club and also Frankie Davie’s pub.”

John remembers these times, too, and he continued: “Your story on Davie’s pub stirred memories of when I used to go in there to see him.

“He was usually playing dominoes and I would sit and listen to the older regulars talk about the good old days when junior football was very well attended.

“They also spoke of many of the characters who my dad played against, along with some of his own team-mates.

“There was always lots of good banter flying around.

“I also had a few pints of their delicous heavy beer — the best pint of heavy in Lochee.

“Happy memories, indeed, of the good old days.”

I asked John for some information on himself, and he said: “I also worked in the Post Office as a telegram boy and postman.

“I played for Douglas Amateurs from 1964-66 before I received a bad injury, suffering a broken leg playing at Alyth.

“I played with some good players like Brian Alderson, John Wilkie and Mike Boyle with Douglas Amateurs.

“I was only 22 and really disappointed at having to stop playing.

“I am now retired after working in BT until 2004.

“My main interest in football now is going to watch my grandsons Greig (18), who is with St Mirren, and Ross (13), who plays for Dryburgh Boys Club U/15.

The photo of the domino-playing pub regulars also attracted comment on the various social media sides on the worldwide web.

Alexander Dunn said: “Just look at that pint of heavy (or 80 Shilling). Lots of pints with Bert — the best Postie in Tealing!”

Scott Laing commented: “I remember this photo when it was in the museum.”

Willie Chalmers wants to know the reason why Scotland changed their line-up quite drastically after an amazing victory.

The “amazing victory” he refers to is an incredible and unexpected 6-2 success over Spain in June 1963.

“My query is really trying to find out the reason that only a couple of players who played in that amazing victory were then left in for the next international,” said Willie.

“Can you print the line-ups of the team that played Spain and the XI who represented Scotland in their next international?”

I remember this game vividly and it is often been referred to as a “makeshift” Scotland side which played in Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium on that June 13, 1963, evening. However, I would dispute this as Scotland played three away friendlies that month as part of a mini-European tour. I reckon boss Ian McColl was just giving everyone who travelled some game time.

Their first game was a 4-3 defeat to hosts Norway.

Scotland lined up — Adam Blacklaw (Burnley); Alex Hamilton (Dundee), Davie Holt (Hearts); Dave Mackay (Hearts) (capt), Ian Ure (Dundee), Jim Baxter (Rangers); Willie Henderson (Rangers), Davie Gibson (Leicester), Ian St John (Liverpool), Denis Law (Manchester United), Davie Wilson (Rangers). Frank McLintock (Leicester) replaced Mackay after 78 minutes.

Denis Law hit a hat-trick for Scotland.

Five days later, they unexpectedly went down 1-0 to the Republic of Ireland at Dalymount Park, Dublin.

Scotland made several changes and those who pulled on the jersey were — Tommy Lawrence (Liverpool); Alex Hamilton (Dundee), Davie Holt (Hearts); Frank McLintock (Leicester), Billy McNeill (Celtic), Jim Baxter (Rangers); Willie Henderson (Rangers), Davie Gibson (Leicester), Jimmy Millar (Rangers), Denis Law (Manchester United) (capt), Davie Wilson (Rangers). Ian St John (Liverpool) replaced Millar after 44 minutes.

For the Bernabeu international, manager McColl selected — Adam Blacklaw (Burnley); Billy McNeill (Celtic), Davie Holt (Hearts); Frank McLintock (Leicester), Ian Ure (Dundee), Jim Baxter (Rangers); Willie Henderson (Rangers), Davie Gibson (Leicester), Ian St John (Liverpool), Denis Law (Manchester United) (capt), Davie Wilson (Rangers).

Six different players scored for Scotland against Spain — Law, Gibson, McLintock, Wilson, Henderson and St John.

Scotland’s next international was not until four months later on October 12, going down 2-1 to Northern Ireland in the Home International Championship at Windsor Park, Belfast.

Taking on the Irish — Bill Brown (Spurs); Alex Hamilton (Dundee), Davie Provan (Rangers); Pat Crerand (Celtic), Ian Ure (Dundee), Dave Mackay (Spurs) (capt); Willie Henderson (Rangers), John White (Spurs), Ian St John (Liverpool), Davie Gibson (Leicester), George Mulhall (Sunderland).

St John hit Scotland’s counter.

Brothers Ken and Allan MacDougall featured on October 8 in a story about a team called Parkdale, which Allan founded.

They sent in a photo and we highlighted where he was in the team group but gave no other names for his team-mates.

Since then, Allan has come back on to name a few.

“The little fellow on the end of the right of the back row is called Tam Shearer, who went on to play for junior side St Joseph’s,” said Allan, of Bridge of Allan, but who grew up in Kirkton, Dundee.

“In the front row, Davie Logie on the extreme left, played for Dundee North End and was capped by Junior Scotland.

“Next to him is Eddie Stewart, who went on to play for Dundee United.

“In those days, there was an annual end-of-season fixture between the Dundee Schoolboys and an U/16 League Select.

“For a league dominated by the then big Ashdale and Butterburn youth clubs, Parkdale had three representatives in the select XI.

“They were goalkeeper Tam Downie, who was the best keeper in the league. Davie Logie played outside-right, and also myself at centre-forward.

“We beat the schoolboys 3-2 and I was lucky enough to score twice.

“The date was November 26, 1949, and the game was played at North End Park.”

Also living in Kirkton at the time was Jimmy Briggs, who, of course, went on to become a legend at Dundee United.

Ken said: “The Briggs family lived at 9 Forres Avenue.

“My family, mum, dad, one sister and four brothers were at No 5.

“Dad had been in the army in India and the Middle East — 21 years in the KOSB — and mum was a Dundee weaver.

“Mr Briggs was killed in Burma, I think, and I remember their family as Jimmy, Doreen, Margaret, Dennis (Cootsie), George (Dode), Billy (Bunzer).

“Jimmy married Bob Shankly’s daughter, who was manager of Dundee

“The mother Mrs Briggs, who was originally a Rosscraig (a baker’s family), remarried and had further children called John, Arlene and Ronnie.

All the Briggs boys were footballers, and were also in the building trade.

“When they went out at the weekend, they looked like film stars.”

Ken continued: “There was also the Rice family with Tommy, Francis and Pat and a daughter or two.

“This does not seem to be a lot for a Roman Catholic family in those days, so I may have forgotten someone.

“As a matter of fact, in about 10 houses round about us, there lived at least 100 people!”

Cammy Bell’s three first-half penalty saves for Dundee United at Dunfermline in September had plenty scurrying to the record books to see if it had been achieved before.

Myself included, and we all came up with a blank.

However, Carnoustie’s Jock Myles said it reminded him of another great goalkeeping show from the spot.

“Grant Clark once saved every penalty in a shoot-out for Dundee junior side Downfield,” said Jock, a former match secretary and all-round supremo of the junior game in Tayside.

Jock is pictured in this photo (above) from 1998.

He was secretary of the Tayside Region Junior FA at the time and also in the photo is Graeme Finnan, captain and goalkeeper of North End FC, and Lochee Harp skipper Mike Kelly.

The occasion was the Albert Herschell Trophy match, which was a curtain-raiser at the time to the local junior season, with all proceeds going to charity.

Another bit of trivia is that Graeme played for the Scotland international football team, and is also the current Evening Telegraph sports editor.

Dundonian Tommy Allan has been living in Tenerife for the last near-18 years and was recently ‘home’ for a few weeks to visit his son.

At his son’s home in Fintry, Dundee, we had a chat about his uncle Jimmy and Tommy’s early life as a schoolboy footballer.

Tommy’s uncle is Jimmy Allan, the Dundee United manager of the early 40s.

“Bobby McKay stepped down and Jimmy was appointed team boss on a part-time basis, with wages of £2 a week,” opened Tommy, who was brought up in Lochee, and also stayed for many years in the Blackshade prefabs.

“Originally from Cowdenbeath, Jimmy was a former Falkirk and Dundee player, and also he ran a barber’s shop in Lochee called Maison Allan.

“Player registration, as we know it, was different in the war years as clubs looked to pick up players from other clubs who were stationed with the forces in the area.

“Regulations at the time allowed them to do so

“Along with club secretary Arthur Cram, the Mighty Midgets — Arthur Milne and Bobby Gardiner — came in from Hibs and Bristol Rovers respectively, along with former player Tommy Adamson (Forfar).

“Other signings included goalie Charlie Thomson (Exeter), Alex Miller (Bristol City), ex-Dundee Arthur Baxter (Barnsley), Jimmy Littlejohn (Cowdenbeath) and Alec Glen (Raith).

“They joined players already at the club such as Jerry Kerr, Norman Fraser and Jimmy Robertson.”

Tommy, who served his time as a baker with Beattie’s in Dundee, continued: “Even though Jimmy was signing all these players, I’ve heard through the family that at the time he was a bit miffed when Airdrie, their War Cup semi-final opponents, signed the famous Stanley Matthews,

“Although this was entirely within the guidelines laid down at the time, many looked upon this as ‘sharp practice’.

“So much so that most of the neutrals in the crowd, according to the People’s Journal report of the match, ‘roared themselves hoarse spurring on United as Airdrie found themselves friendless in Edinburgh’.

United won the semi-final 3-1, then lost 1-0 to Rangers in the Hampden final in front of an officially reported 75,000 but many observers reckoned it was nearer the 90,000 mark.

Jimmy, who was also a former Powderhall sprinter, died aged 85 when living in Lansdowne Court in Lochee, Dundee.

Tommy now has Jimmy’s runners-up medal and has offered it to the new Dundee United museum, which has its home at Tannadice.

Tommy, who also played football locally for Lawside Rangers, Butterburn Youth Club and Downfield Juniors, in addition to becoming Downfield JFC president in later years, went on: “I enjoyed playing football as a young man and played with some great players such as Charlie Dunn, Charlie Love and Dick Donnelly, among others.

“Perhaps the biggest tragedy of all was striker Jimmy Duff, who went to Harris Academy and played with me in various schoolboys and representative teams. At just 18 years of age, he died of leukemia. A very sad loss.”

Tommy’s enjoying life in the Canary Islands and regularly meets up with another Dundonian Davie Dye, who has contributed in the past to BwB.

No details of the sender was in an envelope sent to me. Inside was a grand photo of a reunion, with a note.

It said: This was a reunion at the North End Social Club in Dundee for Billy Murray, home from Australia on holiday.

“From left — H Timmons, B Vance, J Nicoll, G Anderson, J Thomson, G Sinclair, L O’Kane, I Cook. Billy Murray is in the front.”

I recognise several of those in the photo such as Joe Nicoll, Geordie Anderson and Ian Cook.

If the sender wants the photo returned, get in touch with details.

Each week, BwB will give a sample from the Readers’ Queries file in the old Sporting Post.

SP query (from January 1995) — Hilltown Old-Timer asked: Watching Motherwell recently lose six at Tannadice brought to mind the time they lost six at Dens in the 1960s. I also think Dundee fielded an under-strength side in that game. Can you detail?

SP answer — Dundee had won just one of their League Cup section games and could not qualify for the later stages.

Manager Bobby Ancell decided to try out new faces against Motherwell, who had beaten the Dark Blues 3-0 at Fir Park a week earlier. He introduced youngsters Ally Donaldson, John Phillips, Alex Totten and Jocky Scott to the team.

The youngsters rose to the occasion and played well in the 6-0 win on Wednesday, August 26, 1964.

The Dundee goals on the night came from Bobby Waddell (3), Andy Penman (2, 1 pen) and Alan Cousin.

Dundee — Donaldson; Hamilton, Totten; Phillips, Ryden, Stuart; Penman, Scott, Waddell, Cousin, Robertson.

Motherwell — Wyllie; Thomson, McCallum; McCann, Delaney, Murray; Coakley, Lindsay, McBride, Hunter, Weir.

Mark Ritchie featured in a previous BwB article, as he acknowledged in his opening statement.

“I know that you’ve featured in the past the Hillside BC U/18 team that won the North of Tay Cup at the “Tinnies” (old nickname of Broughty Athletic’s ground) in season 71-72 when you referred to me as Geronimo.” said Mark.

“I’ve come across another gem from even earlier in 1968-69 that I think would be interesting and a good challenge for your readers.

“Billy Kerr, the former East Craigie player and coach, came to Hillside when we were U/17-18 and made history with that North of Tay team.

“An U/18 team had never before won this cup and never will again, I suspect.

“The club was originally called Hillside Rangers and was started by Jack Watson and Jim Phillips, both now, sadly, passed on.

“Jack stayed at Hillside Court multi in Menzieshill, giving the team its name, which has since been demolished.

“They were two top guys and took us all over Scotland and also down south, including Whitley Bay, for various tournaments.

“Neil Phillips, our keeper, is Jim’s son.

“Even in these early U/15 days, we were a successful team and used to winning the league and cups.

“Our main opponents were Charleston Boys, Lochee Boys and, latterly, the St Columbus Boys Club that you featured on August 20.”

Mark, who also played for Forfar Athletic and Carnoustie Panmure juniors, sent in this photo (right), and continued: “When you look at the photo, what is most unusual is there are only 10 players.

“The space top left was reserved for Ian Britton (missing) but he was off to Chelsea by that time!

“The names of the players are (back row, from left) — Brian ‘Cec’ Leslie, Brian ‘Skitcher’ Russell, Neil Phillips, Derek Watson, George Reid.

Front row — Dougie ‘Gabby’ Gall, Brian Bell, Mel Holden, Mark Ritchie, Alan Piggot.

“Sadly, Melville Holden contracted meningitis and died at an early age of 28.

“You may recall he played for Chelsea, Dundee United and Twente Enschede.

“Brian Bell, from Douglas, was also a cracking player.”

Dundee taxi driver Paul Cooper alerted me to some sad news.

“I’ve just seen an intimation in the Death Notices in the Tele that a George McKimmie has died,” said Paul, a former referee.

“This person has died in South Africa.

“Do you think it could be ‘Beef’ (his nickname), who played for Lochee Boys and Dunfermline Athletic in the 60s and 70s?”

I contacted Billy Grier, one of the legendary team of brothers who ran the football side of Lochee Boys Club, along with siblings George and Lewis.

“Yes, sadly, it is ‘Beef’,” confirmed Billy.

“He was a great player for Lochee Boys and it was no surprise when he went senior with Dunfermline.

“One of his traits was that he was like quicksilver.

“As soon as the ball came into the box, he was on to it… bang… it was in the net.

“Just recently, I was at a function and Jim Leishman was there.

“I spoke to Jim about Beef and he replied: ‘Yes, he was a braw, braw player’ in his legendary Fife accent.”

Billy continued: “We had a great team at Lochee Boys at that time, with Dode Watt, Skip Wright, Billy Hackney and others.

“All great players.

“There’s a story, too, about when Beef signed for the Pars.

“In those days, you had to sign for a senior club before you went professional.

“This was to safeguard a route back into juniors if it didn’t work out in the senior game.

“Beef signed for Dundee Violet and actually played in a game for them.

“Did he not go and score a hat-trick on his debut.

“That was Beef, never one to disappoint.”