Dundee schoolteacher Andy Hutt was very complimentary in his opening line.
“Still love the column on a Tuesday, especially the pictures,” he enthused.
“In your Bobby Clark story, regarding the Scotland team training photo on November 24, I’m sure the player bottom row immediate left is Jim McCalliog.
“Between Davie Hay and Archie Gemmill, would that be John Brownlie?
“Still not sure who the assistant coach (top left) is.”
Andy, who teaches English at St John’s High School, Dundee, still plays indoor fives.
He concluded: “Keep up the good work. Many of us in the local pub have a chat about your page at the weekend.”
Unusually, there was not a great uptake on this, other than Andy.
Researching players who played for Scotland in those years (71-72), I put forward Tony Green as a possibility for the player between Hay and Gemmill.
Some players, other than those named in the photo, who played at that time for their country with Clark include Alex Forsyth, Davie Robb, Tony Green, Peter Cormack, Ian Munro, Billy Dickson, Willie Donachie, Willie Morgan, Asa Hartford.
However, there are times when you just have to go to a ‘higher authority’.
And, for me, that is Sunday Post sports editor David Walker.
David didn’t come up for breath as he immediately rattled off the names.
“The coach is Tom McNiven, and the player immediate left in the front row is Jim McCalliog.
“Between Hay and Gemmill, I’m 99% sure that is Tony Green.”
Problem solved from the ‘heid nib’!
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