Blether With Brown: Local cabaret entertainer John T was in tune as a footballer, too

John Taylor is very well known around the local — and beyond — pub and club circuit as cabaret singer John T.

But what many didn’t know was that JT was a very good footballer in his younger days.

Lochee’s Andy Walker takes up the story.

“I went to visit John over the Christmas holiday period — and the visit was mind-blowing,” said Andy.

“In all the years I have known him, I never knew of his achievements in local football.

“John is originally from Perth and has had a connection with St Johnstone for over a century. His father Arthur played right-back for Saints just after the First World War into the 1920s.

“John’s winning habit in football started early when he captained the Northern District School U/12 team in the Norie-Miller Cup in 1950.

“John spent most of his playing days with Guildtown AFC in the Perthshire Amateur League. In his time with them, John won three Perthshire Amateur Cups, three Marshall Cups, a League Cup, two Division One titles, a Consolation trophy and one Ashleigh Cup.”

John also dipped his toe in the senior ranks, as Andy continued: “In the 1963-64 season, he went to see then St Johnstone manager Bobby Brown and asked for a trial.

“Brown asked why he should give him a trial?

“John replied: ‘Cause this team is rotten’!

“Brown then told John he could not give him a trial for the fear of what would happen if the team found out what he thought of them.

“John thought he would play his ace, saying: ‘Stirling Albion want me to sign for them’.

“Brown replied: ‘That’s the best place for you’.

“John duly signed for The Binos and made his debut in the reserves against Hibs.

“Stirling were trounced 7-0 and he didn’t shine, so no great professional career.

Andy revealed: “John had an uncle whose name was John ‘Jock’ Smeaton, who had a good career with Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and St Johnstone.

“This was the uncle after whom he was named, his mother’s brother.

“When John was on the road with a band, they were booked for the Blackburn Rovers Player of the Year night. That night, as the band were setting up, they were getting pelters. The crowd didn’t want tartan songs, fiddles, pipes or Annie Laurie.

“For about 40 minutes, they were harangued.

“On stage, as they were introduced, John didn’t start singing.

“Instead, he asked the audience for a few minutes. He then waxed lyrical about the venue, the fabulous attire of the committee men, the bar staff, &c.

“He then informed them that, if it had not been for the efforts of his uncle, they might not have this marvellous venue.

“A total silence descended on the hall before he was asked: ‘Who was your uncle?’

“When Jock Smeaton was mentioned, all the older members stood up, applauded and the mood turned. John was a hit and when he came off for a break, there was around 30 whiskies sitting for him.”

Andy concluded: “John said he would have loved to have seen famous successful Midlands sides such as Auchterhouse or the NCR play Guildtown.

“He reckoned that when the juniors went regional, so should have the amateurs.”