Blether with Brown: It’s testimony to Doug Wilkie that they came from the east and west to play for him

In our October 20 issue, we gave details of testimonial games for Dundee United legends Doug Smith and Dennis Gillespie.

Also mentioned was scant details of another testimonial for Doug Wilkie.

A reader has sent in a programme from Wilkie’s testimonial, which gives a bit more insight to the occasion.

He was badly injured in the Invergowrie train crash and had to give up football.

In his programme notes, he said: “Football has always been part of my life since my school days right to the time I turned professional with Dundee United.

“One of my first teams was Eastercraigs, and team-mates in those early days included Tommy Burns, Alex O’Hara and Joe Sweeney, who also eventually became professional footballers.

“When with Eastercraigs, I had several senior trials with Wolves, Manchester City and Bristol City — and this made me even more determined to make football my career.

“My next team was Fernhill and I played in the same side as Steve Archibald before I moved on to Queen’s Park.

“I had five happy seasons at Hampden.

“During my period with Queen’s, I was voted Player of the Year — an award which meant much and one I was proud to hold.

“I was also chosen to play in a Scotland Select side. There is no greater honour than to be chosen for your country — at any level!

“I then fulfilled my lifelong ambition by signing professional forms and went to further my playing career with Dundee United.

“Then came the train crash which left me paralysed from the waist down and shattered my dreams of a football career.

“The day I was told I would never play football again I thought the world had come to an end. I was brokenhearted.”

Wilkie’s testimonial went ahead at Tannadice on Sunday, October 4, 1981, and featured an East Select v West Select, the latter winning 4-2.

I don’t have actual line-ups but the East Select was made up of players from Dundee United, Dundee, Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts.

All Dundee United players were available to play, with Dundee supplying Bobby Geddes, Eric Sinclair, Ian Fleming and Ian McDonald.

Gordon Strachan, Willie Miller and Mark McGhee came down from Aberdeen, with Stuart McLaren (Hearts) and Hibs duo Ally McLeod and Ralph Callachan completing the squad.

There were just 12 players listed in the progamme for West. These were Allan Rough, Alex O’Hara (Partick Thistle), Tom McAdam (Celtic), Neil Orr, Andy Ritchie (Morton), Pat McCluskey, Sandy Clark, Tommy Walker (Airdie), Ally Dawson (Rangers) and the St Mirren trio of Jimmy Bone, Jackie Copland and Billy Thomson.

Dougie Yeats was referee and Bill Miller and Ally Douglas ran the line.

Finally, as most of you know, I’m not adverse to a quiz question or two.

So test your knowledge with . . . Who were the managers of these afore-mentioned 11 clubs at the time of Doug’s testimonial (4/10/81)? Scroll down for answers below.

Answers . . .

BobbyWatson (Airdrie), Jim McLean (Dundee United), Donald Mackay (Dundee), Alex Ferguson (Aberdeen), Bertie Auld (Hibs), Tony Ford (Hearts), Rikki McFarlane (St Mirren), John Greig (Rangers), Benny Rooney (Morton), Billy McNeill (Celtic), Peter Cormack (Partick Thistle).

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