City on the map’

‘The gold medal raised Dundee’s entire profile’

But over and above that amazing sporting achievement, Dundee boxer Dick McTaggart also put Dundee firmly on the map

In November 1956, McTaggart beat Germany’s Harry Kurschat to win the lightweight Olympic gold medal at the Summer Games in Melbourne, Australia.

He was also awarded the Val Barker Trophy for the most stylish pugilist at the Games.

On the anniversary of the outstanding feat, local figureheads and sportsmen today said that the city — not just in sporting terms — was still benefiting from Dick’s achievement.

Thousands of people lined city streets to welcome the world beater off the train on his return from Melbourne.

Dick today told the Tele that the scenes were “the biggest surprise” of his life .

He said: “It was a great time — it was fantastic. I am Dundee through and through and it meant so much to me to be able to bring that medal back to the city.”

City Lord Provost Bob Duncan said that Dick’s gold medal win had been a boost for Dundee during the 60 years since — and he expects the city to keep benefiting from it.

Mr Duncan added: “The Gold medal win was fantastic at the time — it raised the profile of the city and it continues to do so for this day.

“I am sure that his legacy will go on for many more years to come and inspire people in the same way that it has done for the last 60 years.”

Joe Duffy, of St Francis Amateur Boxing Club, said that his “hero” Dick had “put Dundee on the map”.

He said: “He is the best boxer to come out of the city and the youngsters coming through still know who he is and look up to him.

“He definitely put the city on the map.

“Other than Liz McColgan, there aren’t many people who can say that they have done what did for the city in winning that Olympic Gold medal.”

St Francis is hosting a Scotland versus England boxing event at the Caird Hall in memory of Mike Towell on December 10 and Dick is set to be an honorary attendee.

Joe added: “The two local lads — Charlie Doig and Sam Hickey — who are in the Scotland team are starting their international careers and have ambitions to emulate Dick.

“Despite his age, Dick didn’t hesitate when I asked him to attend the event to raise money for the family of Mike Towell — that is the kind of man he is.”

Local professional boxer Paul Kean said Dick was a “legend” and “paved the way” for up and coming fighters right through to the present day.

He said: “When you even mention boxing and Dundee in a sentence it all comes back to Dick McTaggart.

“Even when you are away from the city, the first person that people mention is Dick McTaggart.

“When I was an amateur, I boxed for the same club as he did. He is a boxing legend in the city and he paved the way for local people like me to ply their trade.

“What he did by winning that gold medal is unparalleled in terms of boxing and also in terms of what it did for Dundee.” Alan Rae, lead trustee for Leisure and Sport, said that locals still derived inspiration from the medal winning effort and said: “Dick has been revered as a sporting icon ever since then and he is held in great respect by everyone who has ever met him — he’s a wonderful ambassador for Dundee.”

IT’S 60 years since he brought Olympic gold back to Dundee.