Dundonian Jim McLaren has lived in Selkirk for around 30 years.
However, it’s only recently he has started to follow BwB.
“A pal told me about your website and I have spent hours going through all the ‘Blethers’,” said Jim, who went to school and played for several teams in Dundee.
“I felt I had to comment on the headline ‘Drew fortunate to play with Peter Lorimer’.”
This was a previous story about Drew Peters’ time at Stobswell when he was a team-mate of Peter Lorimer.
Jim continued: “Drew was a pal and I remember when he went to Canada the first time, around 1966/67.
“I haven’t seen him since but I do remember I was told that, when he was asked to go to Leeds at the same time as Peter Lorimer, his dad refused to let him go as he wanted him to stay at the Stobbie to get some qualifications.
“Who knows what would have happened?”
Jim started life on the Hilltown and went Rosebank School.
He then moved to Gillburn Road in Kirkton and went to Kirkton High School.
He continued: “Drew stayed near the Copper Beech public-house and he was two years older.
“He went to Stobswell with Brian Millar, who was his best pal, and they both went to Canada together. I still remember waving them off at the Taybridge Railway Station.
“I was best pals with Brian’s younger brother Roger, along with Ally Harris, who became a referee, and also Wullie Simpson.
“Other pals brought up in Kirkton were Mitch Goodall and Keith Donnell, who were both Butterburn Youth Club players and signed for Dundee.
“My first proper team was Craigmore Boys Club and I played alongside Brian Knight, who was another Dundee recruit before going to Rotherham.
“There was also Philip and Graeme Martin (brothers who went to play at Grimsby), Jim Oliver, Frankie Low and Davie Low, who were all brought up in the Kirkton and St Mary’s areas and went to Kirkton High School.
“Craigmore’s big opponents at U/16 level were Butterburn, with Goodall, John Duncan, Graham Irons and Ian Brown.
“Although we lost the league, we beat them 2-1 in the John Davie Cup Final at North End Park in front a good crowd.
“I represented Dundee Schoolboys at U/16 and U/18 at right-back.
“Unfortunately, I was too slow to go any further and the comment ‘turns as if he has a wardrobe on his back’ comes to mind.”
Jim went on: “I played amateur football for Windsor and Ferranti Thistle before going to Forfar Celtic in the juniors, playing our home games on Station Park.
“It was then back to Dundee with YMCA for many years.
“I turned out for a few games for Elliott Albion because my pal John Summers was in goal.
“John was the ‘pal’ who told me about your column. He is not happy about all the publicity surrounding the 50-year anniversary of England winning the World Cup in 1966.
“That’s because that was also the year his school team Morgan Academy won the Dundee United Cup at Tannadice — and there was no mention anywhere!”
Jim concluded: “In my working life, I worked for a finance company called North West Securities in Panmure Street, Dundee, which changed to Capital Bank, part of Bank of Scotland.
“I moved up from office to sales to management and ended up working in Galashiels before taking over an area job which covered Scotland and Northern Ireland.
“With my wife and three children, we eventually moved to Perth, then back to West Ferry, and then down to Selkirk due to my job.”
“Drew, Brian, Roger and I liked dancing and were regulars at the JM Ballroom and the Hubara.
“Brian and Drew were very successful with the ladies and called themselves the ‘Nippy Sweeties’. I met Roger, who now lives near Doncaster, a few years ago.”
John Summers should get in touch with me and give his recollection of that Dundee United Cup win.
I was at that game at Tannadice (possibly against St Michael’s) and remember his team-mates included Dave McNicoll, Stan Martin, Alfie Smith, Neil Wilson, Graeme Smith, Davie Landsman, Harry Tait, Bruce Scott, Johnny Patterson and George Low.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned this in the past but it may be worth resurrecting, given such a prestigious anniversary date.
This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.