The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Burns and blisters
“The story behind Dundee United’s historic game against West Ham United in America has raised interest from younger followers of the Tannadice club,” writes Fraser Elder. “The game was part of the experimental League in America with five UK teams adopting US city names.
“The artificial surface, manufactured by the 3M company and named Tartan Astro-Turf, was housed in the Portland Municipal Baseball Stadium in Oregon. The Hammers, managed by Ron Greenwood and including World Cup stars Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, along with Harry Rednapp and Scottish international keeper Bobby Ferguson, scored an 8-2 win over Jerry Kerr’s United side.
“Both sides later reported aftereffects, principally burns and blisters, and United’s Davy Wilson, facing the media in ‘the locker-room’ caused consternation for the manufacturers and sponsors by saying: ‘The cartilage injury rate will soar if this surface is ever used on a wide scale and, as flat-soled footware will only be practical, I hardly think the boot companies worldwide will welcome this innovation.’ Nearly 50 years later, prophetic words, Davy!”
Cheery Chicks
Susan Grant (nee Mackie), of Colinsburgh, sent in the photograph on the right and says: “The recent Courier article about ladies football sent me to my archive. I had to turn back 56 years to find this report. That was when Fraser Elder and Sandy McGregor were young reporters under the hawkish gaze of Chief Reporter Ed Peters.
“The article contains a report on the match between the Cheery Chicks and the Timex Tickers which took place in 1962. I was one of the Chicks.
The report stated that it was: “the most unusual and enthralling football match seen in Dundee for many years – and Tommy Gallacher is in New York. What could the Courier do but send a woman to cover this epic battle, fought over the turf of east End Park.”
The Tickers, as their name implies, were all employees of Timex, while the Chicks came from the Meadowside office of DC Thomson. Artists, typists, members of the editorial staff and others took part in front of a crowd of 300 spectators.
The report went on: “They kicked at the ball, sometimes making contact with it, sometimes with an opponent, and sometimes with the air, they ran madly in all directions and eventually someone scored.”
The game ended as a 1-1 draw with the scorers being Alison Robertson for the Tickers and Anne Blair for the Chicks. The £8 10s collected during the match was donated to the King George VI Memorial Club.
Fond of the theatre
After the postcard of The Great Lafayette appeared in the column, we heard from retired drama teacher John Whitehead of Broughty Ferry. He was delighted to see the card and the name brought back memories of all the stories he used to hear from his late father.
“My father was very fond of the theatre and of music hall,” says John. “He worked for a brewery and was often sent on jobs which took him down south to Newcastle, London and Bristol. He used to say that he went to watch a football match in the afternoon and then a theatre show at night while he was away on these trips.
“He saw many of the great magicians including Houdini and The Great Lafayette, so the card is a marvellous addition to my collection. I am indebted to your reader for passing it on.”
Regular visitors
“It’s been interesting reading the contributions about Meldrums in Reform Street, Dundee,” emails Sandy Thornton of Carnoustie.
“My mother, May Thornton, worked on the ground floor of Meldrums in the 1960s selling luggage and umbrellas and I remember visiting the shop and speaking to Bert Mill, the owner, Miss Ella Fraser and Jeff Moffat.
“Football players frequented the shop and Jerry Kerr, then manager of Dundee United, was a regular visitor. After my mother retired, she and my father (Harold Thornton) shared a few overseas holidays with Bert and Jean Mill, with whom they were friendly.”
Crofter crossed
“The rescuing of people stranded by the storm reminds me of a similar tale,” writes a Craigie regular.
“A rescue helicopter team were scanning remote Highland glens looking for crofters in need of help. They spotted a wisp of smoke and discovered it was coming from the chimney of a tiny cottage buried in the snow.
“The helicopter landed on the roof and the team leader called down the chimney: ‘Are you there, Donald?’ No answer. He called twice more. Still no reply. Finally he shouted: ‘Are you there, Donald? We’re from the Red Cross!’
“At last, a voice came up from below. It was Donald saying angrily: ‘Go away. I gave to you last year.’”