One of the last trophies I won in my old Angus Amateur Football Association days came when I skippered the Douglas Amateurs side to the league title at the tail-end of my playing career.
Sore knees, then speedier and more-gifted youngsters keen to take my place soon saw me on the scrapheap.
However, if one BwB reader gets his way, another space on my mantelpiece may have to be found.
“I don’t know what the criteria is for journalism awards but I propose the BwB edition on Tuesday, March 24, be nominated for whatever awards are available to the Tele,” said Rob Boag, a regular contributor from Canada.
However, before we continue, I do acknowledge that Rob always says pleasant things about this column but his reasons are well worth a read.
He continued: “BwB is a belief by its contributors and readers that journalism has an obligation to Dundee life an obligation that goes beyond just telling the news, unloading lots of gossip from other countries, or scurrying for exploitive photographs.
“That particular BwB edition contained humour, human interest, sports history, and a great blether about Dundee sportsmen by Dundee readers who knew what they were talking about.
“What a treat and delight it was to read that edition.
“It was 1960 when I bumped into Jimmy Croll in the Murraygate, Dundee.
“After the initial ‘how are you doing’ etc., Jimmy told me he was retiring from boxing and applying for a job in England.
“I recall being surprised that, after 10 years of professional boxing, Jimmy was applying for a job!
“At that time, I thought all retired sportsmen went into a small business, like opening a pub.
“Not long after talking with Jimmy, I received a letter from the Queen as she implored me to spend two years under her command.
“I accepted, and off I went to complete my National Service.
“While stationed in England, before a posting to Cyprus, a 48-hour pass came my way.
“I decided I would head to London as in those days travel to Dundee and back in 48 hours wasn’t on.
“In London, I stayed with family friends, the O’Sullivans.
“Danny O’Sullivan had won the British, European and Commonwealth bantamweight championships, and Danny’s brothers Dickie and Mick were ex-professional fighters.
“They took me under their wing, which meant visits to boxing gyms, snooker halls and pubs… in no particular order.
“I met some great characters from the London fight game.
“Over a pint in a Finsbury pub, I mentioned Jimmy Croll and how surprised I was at Jimmy retiring and applying for a job.
“The O’Sullivan brothers looked at me and shook their heads at my naivety.
“All of them recognised Jimmy Croll as a good lad, a ring craftsman, and then came the stories of misappropriation (this is a very diplomatic word) of professional boxers’ career purses.
“Danny told me he was short-changed for thousands of pounds when he finally retired.
“Dickie and Mick not only had the same story but threw out household names of boxers at that time who had been financially exploited.
“It was a sad story of the dark underside of professional boxing that has inspired movies to be made and books to be written.
“On a positive note, the next day, the O’Sullivans took me to a south London gym and introduced me to Dave Charnley, who had just finished a work-out.
“Any boxing fan from my generation will recognise that name as he was one of the best lightweight British boxers ever.
“I was introduced to Dave and, when he heard I was from Dundee, he took an interest in me.
“He said his mum and dad were Scottish and had moved to England, where he was born.
“He also said that Dundee produced good boxers.
“I knew he had beaten Dick McTaggart in an ABA title bout, and had also defeated Jimmy Croll but he never mentioned that.
“Dave Charnley was a class act who was blessed with a manager who wisely invested every penny Dave earned.
“I heard that, after retirement, Dave went on to be a very successful and wealthy businessman.”
If you’ve got a story to share with John, email: jbrown@dcthomson.co.uk.
This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.