Tom Alexander was prompted to get in touch when he read about Westgrove Albion.
“I read your story about Westgrove Albion and thought I’d pen you about Westgrove when I played with Angus Amateur FA side SS Peter and Paul when all the Mitchell brothers came and played,” said Tom, who also gave sterling service to Logie Harp.
“Only Eddie Mitchell was there when I went.
“We won the Second Division in 1966-67 and played against Westgrove in the First Division.
“There are a couple of good stories from these matches.”
Tom’s first story concerns the Paulies’ first year back in the top flight in 1967-68.
He continued: “It was a Wednesday night at Fairmuir Park when we hosted Westgrove. The score was 2-2 when the stitching burst on the ball and the inside tube burst through.
“I was standing next to their right-back Willie Soutar.
“When the ball came to him, he picked the ball up and burst the tube that was sticking out of the leather with his fingernails.
“He then shouted to the referee . . . ‘the ba’s burst!’
“In those days, every team had just one ball.
“The referee shouted for another ball but the one thrown on wasn’t up to scratch, according to the official.
“There was no other ball available, so the referee abandoned the game at 2-2.
“Maybe that’s where the famous Dundee saying came from . . . “Twos up and the ba’s burst’’!
“Season 1968-69 saw us take on Westgrove at The Coup (Riverside) in muddy conditions and freezing wind.
“We were 3-0 up at half-time, playing with very strong wind.
“In the second half, we were leading 3-2 when one of their players hit a screamer.
“Our goalkeeper at that time was Jimmy Mitchell, a cousin of the Mitchell brothers.
“It was going straight at Jimmy when all of a sudden he ducked and the ball screamed into the net for 3-3.
“Patty Mitchell shouted at Jimmy: ‘Why didn’t you stop that?’ Jimmy shouted back: ‘Patty, my hands are freezing’.”
“We lost the game 5-3.”
Jim Jefferies, of Menzieshill, said the photograph of Westgrove Albion brought back fond memories for him.
“As a young amateur footballer looking for a game on a Saturday afternoon, I was directed along to The Coup as I was told Westgrove Albion were looking for players.
“This was around the time (1970-72) when they were struggling to put a team on the park just before they folded.
“On arriving at the park, I remember meeting George Reilly, of the famous Reilly brothers footballing family, who came from the same Kirkton estate as me.
“He had brought with him some players from his Sunday team, Gillburn Rangers, to make up the numbers.
“They happened to be none other than Tom Stewart, Willie Murray and Derek Sheridan from the local Dundee Rockets ice hockey team.
“Well, I was thrilled.
“In those days, I was a regular visitor to the ice rink on a Sunday night and I could not believe I was playing in the same football team as the Rockets ice hockey players.
“A case of one sport helping out the other.
“I played just a couple of games before succumbing to injury which finished my amateur career.
“However, I can look back with pride and happy memories on my short time with this famous amateur football team.
“Players I remember from the photograph are Hugh Cox (brother of Bobby), Arthur Smith and the goalie Davie Carmichael.
“It would really be interesting to hear from any other playing members of that time, and some of their stories.”
Jim closed with a plea: “Can someone list Westgrove’s winning achievements, and when they last played?”
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