FORMER DUNDEE FC League championship goalkeeper Pat Liney has spoken of his joy on hearing that he is to be reunited with his long-lost winners’ medal.

Mr Liney lost his medal during a move from Bradford to Glenshee in 1988 and had given up hope of ever finding it again until he read in The Courier last week that it had turned up in an auction in Yorkshire.

Now, after he contacted the auctioneers, they have agreed that the medal rightfully belongs to him and he is due to be reunited with it in the next few days.

He said, “I am absolutely delighted to be getting it back. I never thought I’d see it again.

“For my 60th birthday my sons contacted Dundee FC and the SFA and got me a replica as a present. Although it was wonderful it wasn’t quite the same as the real thing so I am overjoyed to be getting it back, although what happened to it seems destined to remain a mystery.”

The 1961/62 winner’s medal marks the only time the Dark Blues have won the championship.

It was due to be auctioned off by Yorkshire company Tennants Auctioneers as part of a lot of sporting and fishing memorabilia. It was expected to fetch between £200 and £300.

Mr Liney said, “I was flicking through The Courier and saw my picture and wondered what was going on. Then I read that my medal was to be auctioned off and I was astounded.

“I went straight down to Bell Street police station and explained it to them.”

Tayside Police then got in contact with police in Yorkshire and Mr Liney himself contacted Tennants.

Pat Liney made 121 appearances for Dundee between 1957 and 1963, including the day at Muirton Park, Perth, when the Dark Blues clinched the title.

On leaving Dens Park he moved to St Mirren and latterly to Yorkshire, where he played for Bradford Park Avenue and Bradford City.

He will collect his medal with Dundee FC associate director Dave Forbes to verify that he is the real Pat Liney.