Andi Lothian, probably better known for his time in the entertainment industry in Dundee, sent in this photo of Lawside Academy U/15 from season 1954-55.
“This Lawside team were coached by Gerry Follon (Dundee FC) and Alec Kiddie (Aberdeen FC).
Back row (from left) Welsh, Carlin, Timlin, Chaplain, Lothian, Simpson. Front row Fitzpatrick, Conway, Whytock, Unknown, Unknown.
Andi continued: “It was great to see the picture of the high-flying Dundee U/15 schoolboys (BwB, March 4).
“Kenny Swan mentions playing against the legendary Denis Law, and renowned Scottish international Jimmy Gabriel.
“Jimmy was educated at the former Lawside Academy, as was Lawside U/15 captain David Whytock, pictured with Kenny in the 1954 Dundee Schoolboys team.
“Dave became an outstanding part-time footballer, and top academic.
“Dave married his school sweetheart Val, and combined a brief professional football career with his studies, gaining a PhD.
“They moved to England and Dave entered politics. As an emerging politician, David Whytock was adopted as a Dundee Parliamentary Labour candidate as a relatively young man. Sadly, he did not live to contest an election.
“When driving north on a visit to meet his constituency association, he was killed in a road accident.
“Dundee lost what would have become a powerful voice in Westminster.
“What might interest Dundee United fans is Dave’s legacy to the club’s goalscoring record.
“Midfielder Dave signed for United from Brechin City in his late teens, and went straight into the first team.
“A number of his former school pals were at the first game, which was a very cold evening, warmed only by Dave scoring three goals.
“Has Dave Whytock’s hat-trick ever been repeated by a new signing on a first-team club debut anywhere else in Scotland?”
It was, indeed, a great feat but there have been others, most notably Colin Stein netting a hat-trick on his Rangers debut against Arbroath at Gayfield on November 2, 1968.
The following week, Stein even repeated the feat at Ibrox, ironically against his former side Hibs.
I also reckon Colin Stein is the last player to score a hat-trick for Scotland. It came when he scored four times against Cyprus in 1979 in an 8-0 victory at Hampden.
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