Rob Boag has fallen in love with a new book… Brian McColl’s ‘Scottish Football Historical Results Volume 1 1873-1900’.
“This is a labour of love for Brian and is an encyclopaedic compilation of senior Scottish teams, geographic leagues and tables,” he said.
“It tracks the journey of teams through to the final of the Scottish Cup, regional cups and regional trophies, with match results from that period in football history.
“There are brilliant team pictures.
“For instance, I didn’t know the original Celtic strip was green-and-white vertical stripes. The hoop design was introduced in 1903.
“In an anecdote, it illustrates the SFA didn’t have the same power back then that it currently has — or teams then had no respect, or possibly contempt, for the governing body.
“The 1879 Scottish Cup Final saw Rangers meet Vale of Leven, the game finishing in a draw.
“Rangers had a goal disallowed.
“Incensed by the referee’s decision to disallow their goal, Rangers refused to turn up the following week for the replay.
“Vale of Leven were then awarded the Scottish Cup.
The entry on the trophy for that season reads ‘Vale of Leven’. Rangers’ name does not appear.”
Rob, a regular contributor to this page, continued: “My main interest, however, was in Dundee teams during that period of football activity, searching for the ancestors and DNA of Dundee senior football history.
“The name jumped off the page. I had not heard or seen it in a long time — Our Boys. A team name that provides no clue or connotation to a city, town, district or religion.
“I believe Our Boys came from the Baxter Park area, where they played on a ground called West Craigie.
“In 1893, a game between Dundee and Rangers took place on West Craigie. Where was that pitch?
“In the latter part of the 19th century, Dundee teams were formed and then, for unknown reasons, folded.
“The prominent Dundee teams at that time with great rivalry were Dundee Strathmore, Dundee Harp, East End, Johnstone Wanderers, Lochee United, Our Boys and
St Clement’s.
“Then there are the grounds where these teams turned out.
“I am familiar with Balgay Park, Magdalen Green and Lochee Park but where are the locations of these grounds from the past where Dundee teams played?
“Can any BwB readers provide a location for Boghead, Carolina Port, East Dock Street, Logie Park, Morgan Park, Pitkerro Road, Rollo’s Pier, St Margaret’s Park and Viewforth Park?
“Football had been played for decades before the SFA became the governing body but, in the latter quarter century of the 1800s, there were now workers from mills, foundries, shipyards, offices, trades apprentices and journeymen who participated in this game called football.”
Canadian resident Rob concluded: “A tip of the cap must go to behind-the-scenes pioneers who created, organised and established new clubs, learned the rules and found an area of green space that met the regulated dimensions of the sport. All this without phones and texting!
“Also, a nod of recognition to the unsung heroines, mothers, wives and sisters of players who hand washed heavy muddy strips and had them dry — even in wet dreich weather — for the next game.”
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