Blether with Brown: North End winner on wind-up

The tale about the North End Fives and the Westclox alarm clock continues to provoke response.

Original contributor Danny Brady, of Caird Avenue, Dundee, sent in further information.

“Pandel (Pat Craig), an old classmate of mine, phoned me regarding my story,” said Danny.

“He was with his dad ‘Scrapper Craig’ who stated that his team was the side who beat my dad’s Coldside Rangers in that final.

“Scrapper also states the game was the longest-ever known to have taken place at the North End Fives.

“He said there were two different periods of extra-time and, as the teams still could not be separated, a penalty shoot-out eventually decided the outcome.

“Scrapper said the name of his team who won the title was Maitland Street Thistle FC. He also said that one of the players in his team was one of the well-known McAnearnay brothers.”

Staying in Livingston means Steven Prevost cannot get BwB in paper form.

However, Dundee-based members of his family alerted him to the April 8 and May 6 story about the North End Fives, as sent in by Danny, with a follow-up by John Carlin.

Steven’s father James, who passed away in 1989, was featured in the article.

Steven said his dad, born in 1928, often relayed tales of his football, which he played until his late 20s.

“The Westclox alarm clock, which dad won in the North End Fives, stayed with him for many years,” revealed Steven.

“He used to wind it up every night for a 6.30am start for work the next day. I never knew until I read the BwB article that he had actually won it.

Dad continued going to the North End Social Club and the Dundee Club (or Dee Club) as he played snooker/pool and also sang.

“I also remember him speaking about the Fairmuir Club.”

Ian penned a very nice letter, which he asked me to pass on to Danny (which I duly did).

Unfortunately, Steven never mentioned exactly where his dad was in the photo.

So far, as we have it, with one player still to be identified, the line-up is (right, from left) James Prevost or Unknown, Danny Brady, John Carlin, Alec Wright, James Prevost or Unknown.