World champ’s family perfect hosts but who is The Ghost?

“I also mentioned that I had known and played snooker with Ronnie’s grandfather Mickey O’Sullivan (Danny’s brother) – a former professional boxer (39 fights, nine defeats).

“I received a nice reply from Ronnie, thanking me for filling in parts of family history he never knew.”

Rob, formerly of

Lochee, and now resident in Vancouver, Canada, continued: “One Friday evening in December 1960, with a 48-hour pass from my army camp, I was in London for a weekend.

“An open invitation from the O’Sullivan family saw me staying over with Danny, his wife Lilian and two young daughters.

“My trip to London was motivated by the opportunity to see the Tottenham v Burnley game the following day at White Hart Lane.

“This was an encounter between two teams battling for first place in the English First Division.

“Danny had business to attend to on that particular day and couldn’t make the game, but a phone call to his brother Mickey meant I had a chaperone.

“I was to meet up with him and others in a pub on Seven Sisters Road and, on entering, I saw Mickey leaning over a snooker table as he rifled the pink into a side pocket.

“The white spun back in perfect position for Mickey.

“A glance at the black, a lean over the table behind the white, the cue positioned on his left hand, a slow back and forth of the cue – once – twice, then the chalk tip of the cue tapped the white low on the ball circumference. It sped and kissed the black, and the last colour on the table was hastened home into a corner pocket.

“A sprinkle of lads were spectators to the game, pound notes were handed from one punter to another, with Mickey shoving a fistful of notes into his ‘hipper’.

“This was part of the build-up to me seeing ‘The Ghost’ for the first time.” n

WHO IS ‘THE GHOST’? READ PART 2 NEXT WEEK!

Ally Hume recalled his late dad, also Ally, playing in the old Midlands Amateur FA with Lawside FP. He said: “He won the league title with Lawside and later had a spell with Auchterhouse. “I know Lawside used Dudhope Castle as changing facilities back in early 1970s. “I vaguely remember going to the training with my dad. “They trained on Dudhope Park slopes and, on dark nights, used car headlights as floodlighting. “I also remember, in the changing-rooms, there was gym gear and a full-size snooker table. “I would be very grateful if you or any of your readers have any information on this team.” Ally (Sr) is featured in this Lawside FP AFC league-winning side (right) from 1972-73, which is riddled with talent. Back row (from left) – Reg Parr, Gerry Wilson, Denis McPhail, Davy Henderson, Gordon Clark, Brian Nolan, Bobby Marr, Jim Scott. Middle row – George Johnstone, Bill Doyle, Chris Cardosi, Freddie McCulloch, George McGeachie, Ronnie Adams, Ally Hume (capt), Joe Shearer, George Sinclair, Willie Millar. Front row – Charlie McInally, Nigel McInally, John Jackson, Bobby Falconer, Jake McDonough, Willie Campbell, Bobby Vance, Gerry Laing. If anyone else has any other photos or information regarding Lawside and any info re success during Ally’s time, then please get in touch.