“The recent publicity about a possible new venue for the Dundee junior football side Lochee Harp brings to mind how they got Beechwood Park as their home venue,” opened Andy Walker, a regular contributor to these pages.

“At a corporation (old word for town council) meeting in 1920, Labour councillor Alex ‘Sandy’ Aimer asked that a ground be built for a junior football club to play on in the Lochee area.

“He announced it was for any side as the corporation had never done anything for the Lochee people since the last century.

“Folklore reveals the Lord Provost nearly collapsed in his chair at this statement.

“Year after year, he probed the corporation about nothing being done.

“It actually took 20 years for his request to be granted.

“Lochee Harp’s last match on Lochee Park was against St Joseph’s JFC on Saturday, March 11, 1939.

“The game was a thriller and finished in a 3-3 draw.

“Harp lined up — Mauchland; McWalter, Chaplain; Nicol, Duncan, Farquharson; Fleming, Pacione, Nicoll, Nicholson and Ryan.

“The St Joseph’s starting XI was — Reid; Mill, Pennycook; Bennett, Martin, Lavery; Clark, McKenzie, Donald, Fitzimmons and Hutchison.

“Harp scorers were Nicol, Pacione and Fleming, while Donald (2) and Hutchison hit the net for the Joeys.”

Andy, from Lochee, concluded: “When the official opening took place at Beechwood Park, the two teams were a Dundee Junior Select v Scottish First Division Select. The score was 8-2 in favour of the Dundee Juniors.

“The Man of the Match scored five goals and he went on to be a Scotland ‘legend’.

“He was none other than Gordon Smith.”

Smith, of course, went on to become part of the Hibs ‘Famous Five’ forward-line.

He also ended up with top league championship medals with Hibs, Hearts and Dundee — as we highlighted in our October 15 issue.

Were Rangers shares sold in the Rowantree pub in Dundee?

That is the basis of the latest offering to BwB from regular contributor Andy Walker.

He said: “I was wandering through the streets of Camperdown when I found myself passing the Rowantree Bar — an old haunt of mine.

“It is now a dental practice.

“I had a wee giggle to myself when I remembered when you got your teeth ‘altered’ for free in there.

“Anyway, I walked down to the corner of Pitalpin Street where the old piggery used to be.

“Then I remembered . . .

“It was the Monday of the second week of the ‘Dundee Fortnight’ in 1969.

“I was on my own as my friends were still in Blackpool.

“When I walked into the Rowantree Bar, a friend of mine Jimmy Blackwood was standing at the bar.

“John Houston, the bar manager, said ‘Hello, Andy’ but he had a smirk on his face, and so did his chief barman Brian ‘Smudger’ Smith.

“I asked why the smug looks, and the three of them motioned to me to look to my right.

“I did, and sitting there was Andy McConnachie Sn, who had the cement works in Pitalpin Street behind the White Rose chip shop.

“Sitting next to him was a gentleman, who was dapperly dressed in bowler hat, three-piece suit and fabulous brogues on his feet.

“It took me a few seconds to recognise the man and I could not believe who it was.”

Revealing who it was, Andy continued: “He was ‘Peem’ McLeish, who owned the piggery on Pitalpin Street.

“Peem held thousands of Rangers shares.

“He never ever missed an AGM but he had missed this one because of gout.

“Peem was in the bar as he was meeting, as John the manager described, a ‘God’!

“Just on 2pm, a black Bentley drew up outside the pub.

“John went to open the lounge for them to conduct their business.

“Out of the back seat and up the stairs appeared Scot Symon, legendary manager of Rangers FC.

“Peem was escorted into the lounge by Andy McConnachie.

“The meeting lasted approximately 15 minutes.

“Symon was through to try to buy Peem’s shares.

“We never found out if he actually sold any to Symon. In later years, when he passed away, rumour had it that his shares went to his sister.”

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.

Dundee club East Craigie lay claim — along with a couple of other junior clubs from the west coast — to be Scotland’s oldest junior club.

The team is currently doing well but, off the park, they are a club in crisis.

Massive renovations have to be undertaken at the Craigie Park ground and, of course, this costs money.

Many of the club’s former personnel have rallied round to help with the fund-raising campaign, and also some ‘outsiders’.

One such is Along Came Kirsty, who, according to their Facebook page, “is a Community Interest Company that supports individuals, projects, groups, small/medium sized charities and social enterprises.

“We take your time and stress away carrying out the following services — fund-raising, searches and producing reports, writing grant applications, monitoring projects, developing and completing evaluations and consultations.”

Even then, fund-raising is a hard job and ACK’s Fiona Kennedy Harper contacted BwB.

She said: “We (Along Came Kirsty) are working with East Craigie JFC on a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money necessary to renovate their clubhouse, which has major water damage after recent storms and is partially condemned as a result.

“The club have been operating out of portacabins since December last year and need to get back in their clubhouse for the sake of the players and supporters.

“Other reasons they are desperate to get back quickly is also so they can move forward with plans to start a women’s football team, walking football and more community use of their facilities.”

A hefty sum is required to be raised, and Fiona continued: “The target on the crowdfunding platform is £40,000 and, although the campaign has been running for a couple of weeks, we are nowhere near to achieving the target.

“The crowdfunding launch has had a lot of media coverage and we have shared it far and wide on the internet.

“However, we suspect there is a whole host of potential donators who are simply not on the internet and do not use Twitter and Facebook.

“We do, however, believe they are reading your column and listening to local radio.

“I thought, if you can highlight the club address — East Craigie JFC, Craigie Park, Old Craigie Road, Dundee. DD4 7HX — it might be useful if someone wants to donate on a match day or, perhaps, by post.”

Fiona went on: “There are some unique rewards for fans and locals alike, and also for businesses including sponsorship and hospitality offers.

“You can even name the new clubhouse for £3,000!”

Fiona sent in some images of the damage to the clubhouse and a couple of others, including the present clubhouse and pitch.

Staying with East Craigie — and their claim to be Scotland’s oldest Junior club — Linlathen’s Tom Regan attempted to take me to task.

“East Craigie ARE the oldest club in Scotland and you, as the local paper, should be supporting that claim,” he phoned to say.

I say Tom ‘attempted’ because in my many articles on the subject, I have never disputed the Shipbuilders’ claim.

What I have done is print the many replies I have received from representatives and fans of other junior clubs in Scotland, who are giving out information and ‘proof’ that their particular club is the oldest.

As far as I am concerned, the jury is still out. Unless some other BwB reader can enlighten us.

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

SP query — West Ender asked: In 1951-1952, Osborne won the Consolation Cup Final against Montrose Roselea and the Laing Cup Final against Lochee Harp.

Could you give the teams and scorers in these games?

Also, did Osborne reach any other final in that time?

SP answer — Osborne 2 (Murphy, Balfour), Montrose Roselea 1 (Cook) at Tannadice on June 2, 1951.

Osborne — Dorward; Clark, Armstrong; Murphy, Dunlop, McGoldrick; Balfour, Reid, Selway, Keenan, Burns.

Montrose Roselea — Wood; Findlay, Inglis; Robertson, Wallace, Grant; Davie, Russell, Dutch, Cook, Matthews.

Osborne 3 (Turbyne, Balfour, Burns), Lochee Harp 1 (Glen) in the Loftus Cup Final, not Laing Cup.

Osborne — Dorward; Webster, Armstrong; Murphy, Dunlop, Clark; Balfour, Turbyne, McDonald, Keenan, Burns.

Lochee Harp — Mackie; Jack, Cant; Britton, Duffy, Connor; Glen, Fagan, Pacione, Grant, Gibb.

Osborne didn’t reach any other finals during that time.

Just coincidentally, Bob Hamilton (69), of Downfield, sent in a query to me just a day before it was highlighted in our look back at the old Sporting Post Queries page.

He wanted to know the names of two English guys signed by Dundee manager Bob Shankly in the early 1960s.

I’ve given out their names over the past few weeks but I’ll now give more information on how the transfers unfolded.

“I’m sure I read that a former Dundee player recommended the players to Bob Shankly,” said Bob, a retired joiner.

“My father Robert used to know Shankly on a social basis and he often came in with Dundee’s match day line-up after chatting to Bob.

“I’m also sure Shankly’s brother Bill had a hand in the transfers.”

The two players Bob mentions, I reckon, are actually Scottish but were with English teams.

In fact, they were with the two Merseyside teams, Everton and Liverpool.

Records suggest they were signed within a day of each other in early May 1964.

First to join up at Dens Park was wing-half John Phillips (18), of Everton.

Former Dark Blue Jimmy Gabriel was his senior clubmate at Goodison Park and recommended Phillips to Shankly.

He even quipped: ‘Phillips plays so well in practice games that at times I’m worried about my first-team place’.

The cutting I located offered two other pieces of trivia.

First, the recommendation came from Gabriel, who was the first player Shankly transferred when he took up the reins at Dens.

Second, the last teenager to join Dundee from the Toffeemen was Andy Penman — and he certainly turned out to be not too bad a player!

One day after securing Phillips, Shankly headed across Stanley Park to Anfield to sign left-winger Phil Tinney.

Tinney was a Dundonian who previously attended St Stephen’s and St John’s schools in the city.

As you might expect, it was Bob’s brother Bill who alerted the Dens boss after agreeing to release him.

The September 26 issue of this column featured (yet) another call and plea for greater city recognition for Dundee’s greatest-ever Olympian.

Several family and friends rallied round to support my cause and there were a few replies from readers, too.

Moira Buchanan said she knew the McTaggart family and they were all very proud of Dick when he won his Olympic and Commonwealth medals.

“There should be a statue of him right in the middle of the city square,” she said.

Peter Morgan, of Kirkton, phoned to say: “If someone from Dundee won an Olympic gold medal these days, the place would go ‘ape’.

“My family were all boxing fans and often spoke of Dick’s achievements.

“We were all happy at the time to see a sports centre — the Dick McTaggart Centre on Old Glamis Road — named after him but, as you pointed out, it is now used for gymnastics.

“Some other formal note of recognition must be found, and his legacy must be there for generations of Dundonians to enjoy.”

Billy Donaldson was also forthright in his call, saying: “It seems every Tom, Dick and Harry has got a stone, slab or a corner on the new Waterfront.

“I think they have missed a trick with Dick.”

Then came an email from our Canadian friend Rob Boag.

Being very complimentary, he offered: “I just caught up with your excellent column from September 26 on Dick McTaggart.

“I say it is the most profound article you have created in all the years I have been a follower of your work.

“Politicians are, of course, impervious to their shallowness and lack of embarrassment.

“However, you must have made a few of them uncomfortable with your layout of the many Dundee councils’ dereliction of responsibility to honour an Olympian and citizen of their city.”

Graham Stewart, of Carnoustie, wrote regarding Davie Paris.

“I read a letter in one of the local papers bemoaning the fact that Davie Paris was not inducted into the Brechin City Hall of Fame,” said Graham.

“I’m only 39 years old but don’t know anything about him.

“Can BwB print a photo?”

First of all, I may defend Brechin in as much as the Hall of Fame at the club is a relatively new initiative.

I’m sure there are many other players and officials deserving of inclusion, and that the Glebe Park people responsible for this will get around to including Davie in future years.

This is a photo from a 1950 Angus edition of the People’s Journal.

The caption reads: “Brechin City FC v Duns FC in the Qualifying Cup on Saturday, November 11, 1950. Paterson, the captain of Brechin FC on right, shares the cup with hero of the game “five-goal Davie Paris”.

Doug Crumley’s recent reminiscing of his time with Lochrae U/27 Juveniles prompted an author to write to BwB.

Norrie Price said: “I read with interest your recent article about the successful Dundee U/27 Juvenile side Lochrae between 1959 and 1961.

“That was a real blast from the past as I, too, played for Lochrae.

“My time with the club was during the late 1960s.

“By then, two of the players pictured — Davie Pullar and ‘Peem’ Dyer (I’m sure his brother was also there) were on their committee — with wee Davie, their former keeper, the driving force.

“I was at Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College and had inquired at David Low’s Sports Shop in the Seagate, Dundee, whether they knew of a team looking for a left-back.

“In no time, Davie Pullar was on the case and soon I was wearing the royal blue of Lochrae.”

Norrie, a staunch Dundee FC fan, continued: “Each week, a plain postcard would arrive instructing me to report to the ‘clubrooms’, which turned out to be a near derelict first-floor tenement flat.

“This flat was complete with old sofas and long disused bikes and was situated on the lower Hilltown.

“It was later demolished and replaced by flats, and we moved to other premises in the city’s Dura Street.

“One of my first games was against Arbroath SC, with whom I had enjoyed many a Sunday morning training session.

“They were an excellent team and, although it rankled that they had never given me a chance, I was more than happy to participate in a battling 2-1 Lochrae win against them at a muddy Fairmuir Park!

“My recollection was of an inspirational, hard-as-nails Lochrae centre-half called Sonny Crerar, with other talented team-mates like goalkeeper Billy McMaster, right-back Davie Craig and Stuart Allison.

“There was also the tenacious Gordon Pullar, Davie’s bother, in midfield, with Dave Barrie and Davie Mitchell up front.”

Remembering the venues, Norrie, also a Dundee FC historian, went on: “We played on public parks all over the city, including Riverside, Lochee Park and Claypotts, but on occasion we also got to sample junior pitches like North End Park and Dundee Violet’s Glenesk Park.

“Results were nothing spectacular but there was certainly a memorable ‘smoker’ or two, which were great for team morale.

“At least one was in the Breadalbane Arms (known locally as The Bread or The Bothy) and league secretary Jimmy Johnstone always put in an appearance.

“Davie always gave us great encouragement and I also recall him lending me a set of strips for use in a College Cup Final at Beechwood Park, a venue which he had arranged.

“This was a smashing gesture, which I will never forget.”

Norrie, whose publications include ‘They Wore The Dark Blue’, ‘Up Wi’ The Bonnets’ and ‘Gritty, Gallant, Glorious (Hearts)’, concluded: However, then came a split in the committee, which led to Davie Puller forming a new Juvenile side, Albion Rangers.

“As a youngster, I wasn’t aware of the politics but, although most of us joined him at Albion, Davie’s influence was diminished.

“A few months afterwards, I was on the move, later moving to Aberdeen for work.

“I think, however, that both Pullars remained at Albion for a number of years, with Davie going on to achieve prominence as secretary of the very successful Dundee Sunday Boys League.

“That allowed him to once again watch his beloved Dundee FC on a regular basis from his front row seat in the main stand at Dens Park, a habit he much enjoyed until his and Gordon’s untimely passing within a short time of each other just a few years ago.”