When I first featured Andy Bell in this column a few weeks ago, I mentioned the Dundee-based football physiotherapist had rubbed shoulders with a World Cup winner and a couple of European Cup winners.
Now all is revealed.
In January 1975, East Fife skipper John Martis was granted a testimonial at Bayview.
This took the form of an East Fife XI taking on a Fife Select side, with 3,079 fans attending.
John, who shot to fame as a brilliant centre-half with Motherwell, and who was also capped once for Scotland, was so popular that England 1966 World Cup winner Bobby Charlton made his way up from his then-club Preston North End, where he was manager, to take part in the game.
Charlton, of course, had also won the European Cup with Manchester United in 1968.
He was joined in the line-up by another European Cup winner Tommy Gemmell, who was with Dundee at the time.
The Fife Select won 6-2 with goals from Kinninmonth, Mackie (2), Conn (2) and Laing.
Charlton netted for East Fife XI, along with Aird.
The line-ups were:
East Fife XI — McGarr (East Fife); Mathieson (Rangers), Gemmell (Dundee); Clougherty (East Fife), Martis (East Fife), Stanton (Hibs); Aird (Hearts), Clarke (East Fife), Deans (Celtic), Charlton (Preston NE), Miller (East Fife). Subs — Martin, Gillies, Rutherford, Kinnear.
Fife Select — McDermott; Scott, Cairns; Kinninmonth, Taylor, Hamilton; Laing, Conn, Mackie, Wallace, Harrow. Subs — Karlsen, Honeyman, Ritchie.
Referee was RM Hopkins, of Markinch.
John played around 200 games for the Methil side, in addition to around 300 in a 12-year spell with Motherwell.
He also played abroad for a year in South Africa with Helenic.
John was also at Methil when I was there and, in addition to being a great player, was a gentleman who would always give a word to young players.
On another subject, Dennis Elder, who initiated proceedings in this column on Andy Bell, is also on the lookout for a rare photo of a very successful team.
Dennis, well-known for his time at North End and Blairgowrie juniors in the late 60s and 70s, was part of the Craigmore Youth Club side which won the Angus Amateurs U/16 League in season 1965-66.
“We did really well that season and full deserved to win the league,” said Dennis.
“There were a few other more fancied teams such as St Francis, Arbroath Lads Club and two very good Butterburn sides. I don’t have a photo of that particular team and wonder if any of my former team-mates do.”
Dennis kept a list of the games he played in that season, and other teams in opposition included Invergowrie BC, Central BC, Broughty YMCA, Lochee BC, Craigmore Utd, Birkhill, Findale Hearts, 34th BB and Lochee Central.
Some of Dennis’ team-mates included J Clark, P Burns, R Heary, J Ward, D Ross, J McDonald, N Pride, T McKeith, I Cassells, J Milne, I McDonald, G Conning, I McNab and D Drummond.
I would also be interested in any tales and photos of some of the above-mentioned teams.
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