Blether with Brown: Bob Shankly signed mate’s son

“Settle an argument, please,” said George White, of Carnoustie.

“In the 1960s, I say Dundee FC signed Steve Murray after a public trial game, and that his father was a former team-mate of Bob Shankly.”

Steve Murray was, indeed, signed by Shankly for Dundee in August 1963 after impressing in a public trial match at Dens Park a few days previously.

These public trial matches were very popular at the time and I seem to remember Jocky Scott being recruited after one.

Steve Murray Sr was Bob Shankly’s team-mate at Falkirk in the 1930s, and they even shared digs together.

But, when Bob journeyed through to Dumbarton to invite young Steve to play, he had no idea his father was his former team-mate.

If you’ve got a story to share with John, email: jbrown@dcthomson.co.uk.