Former Dundee United player Tommy McLeod was prompted to get in touch after seeing articles on Tommy Neilson.
“Your article takes me back to when I played for Dundee United in 1960,” said Tommy.
“My first game was against Stenhousemuir in a League Cup tie.
“It finished 3-3 and I’d scored a hat-trick.
“I thought I was going to have a great season but was hit with a bad injury.
“I have great memories, though, of my time at Tannadice.
“Dennis Gillespie was the greatest player I ever saw, then, of course, we had big Ron Yeats, Doug Smith and Jimmy Briggs.
“They were all great players.
“I am now 77. living in Toronto, Canada.
“When United freed me, I was contacted by the Toronto team, Polish White Eagles.
“At that time, the National Soccer League was the only professional league in Canada.
“My brother Eddy had gone there after being freed from Stoke City and he asked me to go there, too, so I agreed.”
Tommy revealed he is returning to these shores.
He continued: “I’m coming back to Scotland in August for our 50th anniversary party.
“We have booked a lounge in Ibrox Stadium (if it is still there!) and it’s going to be just a big party with family and friends.
“It’s always great reading your columns.”
Tommy did, indeed, deliver a spectacular hat-trick debut against Stenhousemuir on August 20, 1960.
He is the last United player to do so on a debut.
An inside-forward, he played just 10 games in total scoring in United’s opening league win of the season against Hibs (3-1) their first back in the top division since 1932.
His other goal came in a 2-0 win at Raith Rovers in October 1960.
Born in Glasgow in 1937, he played for the junior team Ardeer Thistle.
Tommy continued: “That Thistle team did not lose a game that year and our centre-forward Tommy Duffy is still in the Guinness Book Of Records for scoring 97 goals that year.
“At United, I suffered a groin injury and, as you know, a groin injury can only be cured by rest.
“I did not heed trainer Andy Dickson, and kept trying to play with it and, as there were no subs at that time, by half-time I could hardly walk.
“Jerry Kerr finally lost patience with me and I was let go.
“It was a pity as I was having a great season, even being tipped for a cap in some circles.
“Just before I went to Canada, I had quite an adventure, playing one game for Bath City, three for Cheltenham Town, one for Inverness Caley and one for Morton all within a few months.
However, I had every intention of going to Canada and to Polish White Eagles.
“Believe it or not. I was making twice as much money in Canada, 70 dollars a week, which, at that time, was about £35. After getting £20 plus bonuses with United, it was unbelievable.
“After a couple of years with the Eagles, they folded and myself and Ted Purdon, who also played with Eagles, went to New York and played for New York Ukrainians in the American Soccer League for one season.
“I then came back to Canada and signed for Hamilton Steelers, while Ted went to Toronto City.
“By then, it was the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League, and ‘soccer’ in North America was starting to take off.
“After a few years with the Steelers, I retired and had to find a ‘real’ job as, in between all this, I had met and married my wife Christine.”
If you’ve got a story to share with John, email: jbrown@dcthomson.co.uk or phone 01382 575251.
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