Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘Cummon Lochee’ might have been the cry at Downfield semi
from the field of play tonight, perhaps you will excuse the confusion among some of the Downfield players.
“Graeme Irons, Colin Craigie, David Baikie and Raymond Conway all signed for the club from Lochee United.
“The Grier brothers, who comprise the Downfield training and coaching staff, also enjoyed many years, and no little success, with Lochee United.”
Davie Martin shared some Billy Grier tales a few weeks ago, and there is more, as he shared: “Billy was never really in trouble with match officials, but one time he was red-carded and had to go up before the local junior committee.
“I won’t name any names, but some on that committee weren’t known for their sense of humour and were very stern. On this occasion, because of Billy’s ‘clean’ record, he was let off with just a warning.
“The meeting was held in a social club and, on the way out, Billy noticed a Santa suit and hat lying on a chair.
“Billy put on the jacket and hat and went back into the room and said to a couple of them: ‘I’m going to bring you a train set and you a bicycle, and so on. It’s fair to say they didn’t find it funny.”
A day at the races prompted another story from Davie, who went on: “Billy, myself and others had a day out at Perth races. Billy always liked to speak to everybody, and one time went to talk to the owner of a horse he fancied.
“The owner was known to be a bit snobby and actually had the title of ‘lord’. But Billy, undaunted, approached the lord and asked what he thought his horse’s chances were.
The lord replied that it would definitely be in the first three.
“Billy was delighted with that bit of ‘inside’ information, but was soon deflated when he found out that horse’s particular race only had three runners!
“He had a good laugh about it, though. That was just Billy, a great man and great company.”
Yet more ‘Billy Grier’ replies will be shared in the coming weeks.