The May 12 issue of BwB featured Thomson Park in Lochee, Dundee, being officially opened by legendary Glasgow Rangers captain George Young.
I asked at the end of the article if anyone was at the opening to get in touch with their take on the event.
Dunc Erskine went one better… he actually helped to ‘build’ the ground, which was then gifted to Lochee United Junior Football Club.
“Thomson Park was originally an old quarry and the ground was owned by the legendary Napper Thomson,” said Dunc, formerly of Lochee, but who now lives in the town centre.
“Napper ran a bus company and one of his drivers Spike Rennie, who was very well known in the area, was given the task of overseeing the filling in of the quarry and levelling it off to eventually form a football pitch.
“I was just 13-years-old at the time and, outwith school hours, helped with the project.
“I was paid thruppence an hour getting all the lumpy earth together and shaking it out to become loose earth.
“It was very hard work and sometimes I thought my back would be nearly broken. Nevertheless, despite it being 56 years ago, I remember it all as being happy days and I was just glad to be involved.
“Little did I know as a young teenager then that I would be coming back to play on it.
“Although I never played for them, I played on the ground against Lochee United for Elmwood, Carnoustie, Harp and Downfield.
“I also went on to become great friends with those who ran the club such as the Traynor brothers and the legendary Davie Mitchell.”
Dunc’s working life was mainly spent as a bondsman in the spirit trade.
He concluded: “I worked in George Morton’s OVD in Dock Street in Dundee.
“When they moved to Montrose, I then went to work for James Watson’s in Candle Lane.
“Norman Mather, who played with Violet, was my boss in Watson’s.”
Dunc is featured in this Lochee Harp FC photo from May 1970.
Back row (from left) — Bannon, Erskine, Hay, Grieve, Buchan, Jamieson. Front row — Taylor, Markie, Brown, Phinn, Ogilvie, Strachan.
Jimmy Borland, a well-known friend to this column and to the Tele letters page, remembers the opening occasion well.
“Lochee United played Lochee Harp on the day of the official opening,” said Jimmy.
“I was only 16 and played in goal for Lochee United. There was a large crowd of about 1,500 in attendance.
“Harp won that game 3-2 and their centre-forward Gordon Taylor scored all three goals.
“For that feat, he received a set of kitchen towels!
“I also met George Young, as did all the players in both teams.
“I will always remember that day as a cherished memory.”
Maureen Reilly also had a take on this and remembers Napper Thomson being a very good friend of her late mother Ann Dougan.
She reckons the first match played was a charity one for her late grandfather Johnny Dougan the boxer.
“The money collected went to my mother to buy furniture for her and her sisters and brothers.
“When grandad died, nearly all of old Tipperary in Lochee came out of their houses.
“There were no funeral cars in those days and the family walked to St Mary’s Lochee chapel for his funeral, then walked to Balgay Hill Cemetery.
“His gravestone is still there and I still visit.”
Have you got a story to share with John? Email: jbrown@dcthomson.co.uk
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