George Johnston, of Berkhamsted, Herts, has been quiet of late but recent news of Craigie Park in Dundee has stirred a response.
“Like you, as a young lad I would go and watch the Juniors, and Craigie Park was very handy from Forfar Road,” said George.
“The exterior was very welcoming with a good many turnstiles down Old Craigie Road.
“Inside was space a-plenty created for the 1920s when big crowds were the norm.
“Likeable though it was, Craigie Park needed a crowd, and the best chance of this was when a Scottish Junior Cup-tie was on, preferably involving a Glasgow side.
“In contrast, up the road, East End Park was a bit of a well-kept secret, with few turnstiles, and it left you wondering where and how to get in.
“Now, long ago, in my boyhood, East Craigie did not ground-share with anybody.
“On the other hand, Stobswell did ground-share at East End Park with a team called Arnot.
“I never watched Arnot play.
“Having found your way into East End Park, it had the same compactness as North End Park and Beechwood and these places didn’t need so many people to give them atmosphere.
“I lacked a proper football education, not having played for a boys’ club or for a juvenile team from where the Juniors was the next step.
“But of those who did it the proper way were ex-Morgan acquaintances Ken Gilroy and Dave Stratton, who played for Elmwood, and Sandy Marshall, who turned out for Stobswell.
“Does anyone remember Alex ‘Red’ Forbes at North End, who went to Arsenal? What a beautiful player he was!
“Also there was a clutch of fine players with Lochee Harp, such as the Pacione boys and Jerry Follon, who became top seniors in the Scottish game.
“Who else for the Junior Hall of Fame?
“By the way, I liked your recent East Fife bit.”
George mentions Alex Forbes and, although, I never saw him play, older relatives used to tell me tales about him.
A wing-half, Sheffield United signed him from North End and he played over 60 times for the Blades.
However, he was sidelined by an attack of appendicitis midway through the 1948-49 season and could not regain his place.
Forbes signed for Arsenal after being persuaded by the Gunners’ Archie Macaulay, who was a friend, in February 1948 for £15,000.
Nicknamed ‘Red’ for the colour of his hair and known for his hard tackling, he picked up a First Division winners’ medal in his first season at Arsenal (194748), making 11 appearances that season.
He then became a regular at Highbury for seven seasons, winning a second title in 1952-53 and an FA Cup winners’ medal in 1949-50.
He also won 14 caps for Scotland.
Forbes played 240 games for Arsenal, before moving to Leyton Orient, then Fulham.
After retiring from playing, he spent some time coaching the Arsenal reserves and youth teams, and later emigrated to Johannesburg.
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