The recent article on Dundee’s Danny Cameron brought back memories of Linlathen for Broughty Ferry resident Kenny Gorthy.
“I read the article relating to Linlathen’s very own Danny Cameron, who came from the bottom of Pitkerro Drive (across from the shops),” said Kenny, of Morlich Gardens.
“It got me thinking of the Linlathen FC team that joined the Dundee Sunday Morning AFA in the 1980-81 season and which consisted totally of boys who were raised within a half mile radius of ‘Alec and Ella’s temporary wooden hut shop’ in Honeygreen Road, which was later replaced by the real shops.
“This might compare with Celtic’s European Cup side of 1967, who all came from a reasonable distance of Celtic Park.”
With that obvious tongue-in-cheek comparison out of the way, Kenny continued: “The original manager was Davie Murray and he emigrated to Australia.
“The 1980 team was then put together by Paul Reid (player/manager) and had a sprinkling of boys well known in the amateur and junior leagues.
“These included Stuart Samson, Grant Nisbet, Grant Gordon, Graham Gordon, Ally Gordon, Johnny Hasson and myself (goalkeeper, sometimes!).
“There were also stalwarts like wee Brucie Anderson, Dale Elder, Jim Lindsay, John ‘Kolfor’ Spink, Feep Bartholomew, Grant Inglis, Johnny Soutar, Endah Doran, Jimmy Doran, Albert Glennie, Bruce Gowans, ‘Slim’ Jim Marnie and Peem Gaffney.
“From just outside the Linlathen boundaries came Alan McGivney and Sammy Hamilton (both Midmill).
“Others who played were Bruce Gowans and the ‘original’ Davie Dodds! He was definitely NOT the one who played with United!
“The team was helped by assistant manager Bert Gordon, kitman Rab Malone and mascot and transport co-ordinator Jim Skinner.
“As was the case back then, most of Dundee’s housing schemes had at least one team and the Sunday Morning AFA in which Linlathen started out had its fair share with teams such as Nine Maidens, Admiral (later to become the West Labour Club), The Pheasant, Charleston, Menzieshill, Powrie, Birkhill and Kingsway.”
Kenny, who stayed in Honeygreen Road in those days, continued: “There was also some fine established teams around like St James, GJ’s, Strathtay, Thomson Street, Ladywell, Kinghorne, DDC, Dundee Press and Queen’s Athletic.
“Linlathen had to start by joining Division Two, which consisted of 15 teams, in the 1980-81 season and went on to win the league by a couple of points from Strathtay.
“Several teams left the league at the end of that season, so the set-up was altered to make two smaller leagues consisting of the original Division One top 10 teams and a Division Two made up of the remaining 11 teams, of which Linlathen were one.
“Linlathen duly went into season 81-82 and, once again, won the Division Two title, with Strathtay again being pipped by two points, with Thomson Street in third spot.
“However, Strathie did get revenge in the Division Two Cup Final, winning on penalties.
“Linlathen were also runners-up to a fine Admiral side in the McGuire Trophy Final.
“In the 1982-1983 season, the Division One contest was to turn into a very close-run thing, with the top four sides swapping top spot all the way through the campaign.
“A 4-2 win in the last game of the season for Linlathen against St James was not enough to stop the Jamesies taking the title as they had two games in hand.
“They subsequently won both to take the league title by one point (28) from Linlathen (27), with Charleston (24) in third and Menzieshill and Kingsway joint fourth on the same points (22).
“The Linlathen team did start the 1983-84 season but the majority of the original side had moved on and the team disbanded shortly after.
“Not a bad few years, though, from a bunch of guys who used to meet up and put the coats down beside the Dighty Burn for a kickabout and a laugh.”
Kenny concluded by saying he’s recently been in touch with many of the former players and plans are being mooted for a reunion.
Kenny can be contacted on kenneth@gorthy12.plus.com
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