Throughout the years in BwB, we have highlighted NCR AFC’s great achievement in winning the Scottish Amateur Cup.
Now a regular reader has come in with information regarding another Scottish Cup success for NCR —this time at water polo.
“I was not long working in the NCR in October 1956 and I was asked if I would like to form a swimming club,” said Frank Jordan, of Lochee, Dundee.
“At that time, I was a member of the Whitehall Swimming Club and I got in touch with two Whitehall committee members, who were employees at the NCR factory at Kingsway West, Dundee.
“Fred Wood and Bill Fowler were the employees and we arranged the NCR’s first club night at the Dundee Central Baths in the ladies pool.
“There was a big turnout of employees and their families. However, that was just a stop-gap night and we were looking for a regular weekly date.
“We managed to get a move to the Lochee Swimming Baths, where we formed the first NCR swimming and water polo teams and played our games at Lochee.
“The first swimming and polo teams were formed from past employees as a number of them had been members of various Dundee swimming clubs.
“Willie Inglis (Belmont), John Deans (Dundee Scouts), Dennis Smith, Forrie Madden and John McGeoghie (all Arnhall), Bob Low (Blairgowrie) and yours truly.
“Parents, youngsters and volunteers helped with the coaching and both disciplines within the club and the coaches turned out to be very good.
“Indeed, some ended up as the best in the country. They started out with no coaching experience but just progressed as the club moved on.
“Frank Osborne, Jim Fraser, Archie Manson, Eddie Foster, Forrie Madden and a number of swimmers and polo players went on to represent Midlands, Scotland and Great Britain.
“The swimming team took part in a British inter club competition at Southend and finished third.
“Polo teams were beginning to make their mark at the district and national level. The juniors won in the district and Scottish U/15, U/18 and U/21 Championships and in 1965 the senior men beat Whitehall 6-5 in the final of the Corporation Cup and this was Whitehall’s first defeat since World War II.
“In 1971, I was made redundant and I took the post as a physical training assistant at Menzieshill High and any pupil showing signs of talent for aquatics I hallmarked them to join the NCR.
“Ross Elder took over as polo coach and, in 1977, the team won the Scottish Senior Men’s trophy at Inverness defeating the much-fancied Portobello 3-2 after extra time to become the first Dundee and Midlands team to win the trophy, and that record still stands. Alan Elder was the first Midlands player to be chosen for Great Britain and every player in the photo has represented Scotland at senior or junior level.”
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This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.