BLETHER: Is this the oldest living Aston Villa player?

Andy Boyd replied to the “oldest living Aston Villa player”, as sent in by Fergus Baird and published on December 9.

Said Andy: “In the Raith Rovers team photo you used is Willie McNaught, who was the father of Ken McNaught, who also played for Villa.

“Kirkcaldy-born Ken was part of the Villa team who were League champions in 1980-81, European Cup winners in 1981-82, Intercontinental Cup runners up 1982-83 and European Super Cup winners in 1982-83.

“Ken was captain in the second leg of the Super Cup Final against Barcelona and scored the third goal.”

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The December 2 edition of BwB had the main headline: ‘The crabbie football version saw teams slide on their backside’.

This was picked up by Douglas resident Jim Mitchell.

Jim was a team-mate of mine in the Balerno Primary School team and again nearly 20 years later with Douglas Amateurs when we were crowned Angus AFA champions under the guidance of Billy McCluskey.

Inbetween times, Jim earned himself a reputation as a great midfielder in the very successful Fairfield Juvenile and Harris FP teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s under Joe McFadzean.

In the article, I revealed crabbie football was played in the Balerno school gym but couldn’t remember if the club name was called Balerno or Douglas.

Jim opened: “I had to respond to your query, although you have got me thinking twice now.

“I always thought of it as the Balerno Club but when you mentioned the Douglas Club, you got me thinking.

“Was there also not a proper 11-a-side team that played from Balerno or was this the Douglas Club (down the road at the Douglas Primary School).

“I seem to remember going to watch Dougy Farqhuar, Ricky Bain and a big keeper called Andy (I can’t remember his surname).”

I mentioned in the original article that we played with a ball.

But not so, as Jim remembered another great aspect of the crabbie game.

He continued: “I do remember the crab (or crabbie) football well, especially the ‘ball’.

“It was made from rolled-up old socks and called a ‘clootie ba’.

“I think Bobby Balfour made the best one ever (probably his mum), and I’m sure the assembly hall clock was smashed a couple of times with a misplaced volley (not guilty, of course).

“Stewart Duffy was another fine player I remember who attended each week.

“I couldn’t play couch football now, never mind the crab style.”

Affectionately know as Mitch, Jim also played for his Stobswell school team, Craigmore Boys, DCC U/18 and DCC.

Jim is pictured above (left) with his Fairfield Juveniles team-mates at an end-of-season function in July 1977 — their Scottish Cup-winning year.

The national trophy is on display, with the other trophies being JM Trophy, D&D Challenge Cup, East of Scotland Cup, League Shield, Scottish Cup, Angus Cup, Samuel Cup and League Cup.

Back row (from left) — G McDonald, J Petty, D Foggarty, G Hayter, A McArtney, J Docherty, T Saunders.

Front row — K Mudie, J Mitchell, M McGregor, P Cassidy, J Rice, D Meldrum, R Cumming.