Grant Millar’s plea for a schools cup final football photo on August 18 was answered by one of the players who played in that game.
Grant had asked BwB to locate or put out a plea for a photo of the Dundee U/18 Schoolboys select, who were beaten finalists in the 1983 Scottish Cup final.
Rabbie Ogg remembered the game.
He said: “I played in the team which got to the final of the Scottish Cup in 1983.
“We reached the final after a great run of wins in the early rounds.
“In fact, on the road to the final, we never lost a goal!
“We played Ayrshire schoolboys in the semi-final down in Kilmarnock on the same day Dundee United were playing Dundee at Dens to win the league.
“The game had a 10am KO and we were due to be picked up by the bus at 6am.
“Unfortunately, I managed to sleep in, but, luckily for me, the bus turned up at my door to pick me up.”
Rabbie, who has lived in Luncarty for the past 16 years, continued: “We got to Kilmarnock and won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Gary Page.
“It was a quick turn-around, then on the bus up to Dens for the big match. Unfortunately, United’s win didn’t make it the perfect day for me.
“The final was played at Arbroath Vics JFC ground against Aberdeen schools.
“We, unfortunately, lost a breakaway goal in the first half, the first we’d lost in the tournament.
“Despite pretty much playing whole game in their half, we couldn’t get a goal, so lost out 1-0.”
Rabbie remembered some of the personnel from that day, continuing: “Dave Beattie managed the team and it included players (in addition to original contributor Grant Millar) such as myself, Craig Brewster, John Young, Roy Price, Colin Blackley, Jim Buttar, Steve Foy, Gary Page and Mike Smith.
“Unfortunately, I do not have a team photo and I can’t remember one being taken at the game.
“However, there was a civic reception held for us at the Caird Hall and I’m sure there was a photo taken and which appeared in the Sporting Post.”
Rabbie included some personal background.
He revealed: “At the time, I was playing for quite a few teams that season.
“I led the school team (Craigie High School) to the league title, then would play for Forfar Athletic reserves on a Monday night.
“This would be followed by playing junior with Broughty Athletic on a Saturday afternoon, sometimes following a morning school game, as I was loaned out for season from Forfar.
“All that, along with playing for the schoolboys, players these days don’t know how easy they’ve got it!”
Rabbie, who runs his own training and consultancy business, also has a bee in his bonnet about how other events unfolded around that time.
He went on: “Despite being the best schoolboys team in Scotland, not one Dundee player got into the national schoolboys team.
“It was the usual central belt bias.
“Myself, Craig Brewster and Colin Blackley went to the final trials at Largs, playing for the North of Scotland select.
“We managed to win the round-robin tournament against Glasgow, Edinburgh and South of Scotland, but none of us got into the squad.
“In fact, only three guys from the North team got into a 30-man squad.
“Amazing!”
Rabbie also revealed he got injured not long after and missed around three years of playing time.
When he did recover, he came back to enjoy junior seasons with Lochee United, Broughty Athletic and Downfield.
Indeed, Rabbie’s son Marc currently plays for the Spiders.
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