Dundee FC has unwittingly played a key role in bringing the Lady Boys of Bangkok to the city, it has emerged.
As the spectacular show prepares to return to Baxter Park for a second year, event director Neville Wilson revealed his footballer father’s history ensures the UK tour stops in Tayside.
Basil Wilson was on the books of Dundee FC for two seasons during the 1950s and, according to his son, retains a lasting love for the city and its people.
“I was always keen to bring the show to Dundee as my father played professional football here in the 1950s,” Mr Wilson said.
“My dad was a winger and joined the club during the 1950s. He was one of a number of South African players who came over to play for Dundee at that time.
“The family loved it here and they’ve visited many times since to catch-up with lifelong friends.
“It’s those ties to the city that made me determined to bring the show to Dundee and I hope we will be here for many years to come.”
Basil Wilson was just 22 when he arrived in the UK from Johannesburg in September 1951, accompanied by his “football mad” wife of just eight days, Yvonne.
The couple turned the trip to Dundee to sign for the club into their honeymoon and arrived in the city despite as The Courier reported the loss of their train tickets to Scotland.
Wilson was a “fast and lively” outside left when he signed having been brought to the attention of the two South Africans already on the books at Dens Park, Gordon Frew and Ken Ziesing.
He spent 10 months at the club, impressing in title-winning reserve sides, but was unable to push his way into a strong Dundee FC first team and returned to South Africa in 1952.
Nonetheless, he enjoyed his time in Scotland and used his experiences to become a key figure in the establishment of professional football in his home country upon his return.
The show will be at the Sabai Pavilion on Baxter Park from Friday until Saturday July 11 and tickets are available from www.dundeebox.co.uk.