Currently taking pride of place in a Broughty Ferry bar is a framed football strip which brings back memories of a very famous game in Scottish football history.
Owner Ronnie Bissell was keen to let me see it when I recently popped in for a sarsaparilla.
“It’s a framed strip depicting the famous England v Scotland game in 1967,” Ronnie beamed.
“Scotland famously won that game 3-2.
“There’s also a programme from the game.
“But the best thing is that it is signed by then Scottish manager Bobby Brown, and also three of the legends who played in the game itself — Denis Law, Bobby Lennox and Jim McCalliog.”
On hearing that, my interest definitely perked up as I was eager to know how all four came to sign the jersey.
Ronnie said the framed strip was donated by local football coach Mark Dunlop, who helps run Barnhill AFC.
I got in touch with Mark, and he revealed more information.
He said: “Recently, I was invited to a dinner in the Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen in aid of the Denis Law Legacy Trust.
“It’s a charity which tries to get kids off the streets and into playing football.
“It was celebrating its 10th birthday.
“Beforehand, I bought two retro international jerseys and was delighted when they were signed by the manager and three aforementioned players.
“One, obviously, now hangs in the Occidental, while the other one went to my friend Gordon Alexander’s father, whose hero was Denis Law.”
Mark couldn’t contain his excitement and was “star-struck”, as he revealed: “When I received the invitation, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up when I read that the main event of the evening was a question-and-answer session with the three goalscorers from the ’67 game.
“On the way into the dining-hall, I met Denis Law and shook his hand.
“He thanked me for being there, but I was just star-struck.
“There was no mention at that time that the manager would also be there.
“But he was and, Bobby Brown, now 94, was great and offered a few tales of how he came to pick the team to beat England — and thus achieve lifetime cult status.
“Earlier, I told him I had brought two jerseys with me and asked if he would be kind enough to sign them for me.
“No hesitation at all from him and we agreed to get the jersey signed after he had enjoyed his dinner.”
Mark then listened in awe as Bobby Brown told how he came about his team selection, leaving out established players such as Billy McNeill and John Clark.
I’ll share these with you in the coming weeks.
Mark concluded: “I am so pleased the 1967 jersey is on display in the Occidental, to be enjoyed by all the patrons.
“Mine host Ronnie has said it has attracted great interest.
“If Carlsberg did signed jerseys . . . I don’t think this would ever be topped!”
Mark revealed several other stories from the event which I’ll also share with you in the weeks ahead.
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