Three photos came my way, courtesy of a relative of Rob Boag, of Canada.
He opened: “My cousin Mary Bruce (nee Lonie) sent these photos to me.
“Mary and her husband Eddie also live in Canada, in Ontario.
“The first-team photo (above) is circa 1930, and Mary’s dad, and my uncle, Joe Lonie is front row and first player on the left.
“Even though the photo is in excellent condition, no one in our family can name the team.
“If the hoops on the jerseys are green, then it could very well be St Joseph’s JFC but that is speculation.
“I assured Mary that someone from Blether with Brown’s legion of followers may recognise a relative, and this orphan of a grand photo taken over 80 years ago will soon have a team name.”
Rob then turned his attention to the second photo (above).
He said: “Fast forward to St Mary’s Lochee school team photo (around 1948?), which is not in excellent condition.
“However, it has enough clarity among the shadows to make out a wealth of trophies and Joe Lonie’s two sons, who are my two cousins.
“In the back row, second from left, is Joe Lonie Jr.
“In the front row, smack in the middle behind the shield, is Bert Lonie.
“I don’t have the school team line-up but I hope that someone from Lochee will provide names.
“Bert Lonie is the youngest player on the team.
“He displayed so much talent as a youngster that his teacher and coach, Mr Kirkwood, brought Bert up to play alongside lads almost two years his senior.
“Some years later, in the 1950s, I watched Bert play for the Dundee Schoolboy select side at Dundee FC’s Dens Park against their Glasgow counterparts.
“I thought Bert was the best player on the pitch, and at that point I just knew my young cousin would go on to be a professional football player.
“However, over the next few years, instead of hitting a ball in training, Bert was hitting the books.
“Instead of being picked up by Dundee or Dundee United, Bert was picking up a degree in physics.
“Until his retirement, Bert Lonie taught physics — not bad for a lad from Tipperary, Lochee.”
Photo No 3 (above) concerned a Broughty Ferry school team.
Rob went on: “During my discussion with Mary on the Lonie photos, I asked Mary’s husband, Eddie Bruce, for photographs from his playing days.
“Eddie could find only one team photo, taken in 1956-57, from his days at Grove Academy, and which is the third contribution.
“Grove lined up (back row, from left) — Gus Morrison, Mike Lorimer, Dave Alexander, Angus Milton, Tom Kennedy, Graham Wise.
“Front row — Alec Patterson, Eddie Bruce, Ally Martin, Ian Collier, Alex Sturrock.
“The Grove photo is in very good condition, so good that you can’t help notice the different shorts, strips and stockings the lads are wearing.
“Perhaps football wasn’t viewed as part of the Grove curriculum at that time.”
Rob concluded: “Talent will always tell, and Mike Lorimer playing for Scotland schoolboys at Dens Park against Wales was spotted and signed by Matt Busby and went south to Manchester United.
“Tom Kennedy went on to play for the Joeys, and Eddie played for the 1957/58 Butterburn U/16s and U/18s.
Eddie also turned out for Dundee Violet, Douglas Amateurs and Grove FP.
“Amidst all the rummaging through photos and through memories, Eddie confessed to me he has been motivated again, and is considering a comeback.
“Remember folks, you read it here first in BwB.
“I should also point out that Eddie has a dry sense of humour, so it’s possible he isn’t serious.”
Feedback suggests our look back at the old Sporting Post Readers Queries is proving popular.
As ever, any views are welcome.
This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.