Sandy ‘Sy’ Thomson has featured periodically in BwB.
To refresh, over the years, Sy has compiled a personal match report of every game he has played — at all levels.
He got in touch and opened: “I have been reading with interest, being a former East Craigie player, the recent debate about Scotland’s oldest junior football club.
“I recall playing in a match to celebrate the centenary of Vale of Clyde FC.
“It took place on Sunday, October 20, 1974, at Greenfield Park, Glasgow, home of Shettleston Juniors, between a Scottish Junior XI and a Central Region select.”
Sy, who also recently informed me he is to be married to fiance Linda in June, continued: “I was playing for Blairgowrie Juniors at the time and three other players from the Midlands were selected for the Scottish select.
“They were Andy Dott (Kinnoull), Billy O’Rourke (Stobswell) and Joe Tront (Osborne).
“The full Scottish team was — S Thomson (Blairgowrie), H McCann (Linlithgow Rose), A Dott (Kinnoull), L Frew (Linlithgow Rose), E Bashford (Meadow X1), P Dunn (Fauldhouse Utd), P Smith (Lewis Utd), W O’Rourke (Stobswell), A Johnstone (Meadow X1), D McIlroy (Ardrossan Winton Rovers), J Tront (Osborne).
“Travelling reserves were R Tolmie (Dalkeith), J Fleeting (Kilbirnie), R Stevenson (Sauchie), F Clark (Saltcoats).
“Paddy Winton, of Jeanfield Swifts, was the manager.”
Sy, who played for Alloa, Dunfermline and Dundee United among others, went on: “The teams were introduced to Celtic manager Jock Stein before the match. Each player also received the book called ‘A Hundred Years Of Scottish Football’ signed by the great man.
“In a closely-contested, entertaining match, the Central Region won 4-3. Joe Tront and Billy O’Rourke both scored, with the other Scottish scorer being D McIlroy.”
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