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Blether with Brown: Dundee referee shared cordial and music with a ‘world great’

Blether with Brown: Dundee referee shared cordial and music with a ‘world great’

There are many readers who have contributed to BwB more than a couple of times.

Local referee Frankie Campbell is one.

Frankie, a great friend of mine when we were growing up as youngsters in Balerno Street, Dundee, has shared many a tale.

I thought his storyline locker was now bare until he came up with an absolute gem.

“I thought I’d share another story from the past with you and the Tele readers,” opened Frankie, who retired from working in Michelin a few years ago.

“When Jimmy Kyles and I were signed for Celtic on S-forms (schoolboy forms), we had to go to Parkhead every summer holidays for short spells training with the senior team.

“This was the European Cup-winning team, so playing with guys like Jimmy Johnstone was a great thrill.

“One day, we were on our way back to our digs, accompanied by the late Ian Hall, a reserve player, along with a young third-team player who was causing a bit of a stir.

“This young player was a very friendly lad and he invited us into his house for a drink and to listen to his new LP.

“I remember his house as being similar to the ones in The Glens area of Dundee, with one family living above another.

“We were offered a choice of blackcurrant or raspberry cordial by his dad and dutifully listened to his album, ‘Tamla Motown Chartbusters Volume 2’.

“I was more of a Beatles fan but the young lad was very enthusiastic about his purchase.

“That young lad turned out to be Kenny Dalglish — who went on to be a true world great in the game — and I’ve been boasting about having been in his house ever since!

“Most of my mates are bored to death with this story, so I figured it was time to share it with you.”

After I chastised Frankie for keeping this brilliant tale from BwB, we quietly went through his former teams other than Celtic.

He laughed: “A full list of my ex-teams would fill the Tele but here goes.

“I played for St Pius primary, then Lawside Academy, who were Scottish Cup winners in 1968.

“I was also with St Francis Amateurs, playing alongside Derek Johnstone.

“I had a spell with Dundee United before being released by Jim McLean, then it was on to short stints in the juniors at Downfield, Harp and Violet.

“I have to confess I was never a great success at junior level.

“Then it was on to Albion Rangers, a juvenile team ran by the late Dave Pullar, whose son Steve gave me my referee training.

“I was also two years at Alyth United, in which we never got off the bottom of the Second Division before folding.

“Then followed a 12-year break until, at 42, I began playing amateur at Second X1 level for Midlands AFA clubs Monifieth Tayside, Kelso, Michelin, Morgan and Magdalen Green.

“I then gave up but took up refereeing.”

Frankie, who has lived in the same house in Strips of Craigie Road for 35 years, concluded: “I’m still refereeing Midlands, Saturday Morning, Sunday Amateurs and school games.”

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This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.