The last couple of decades saw the emergence of sports bars in towns and cities.
However, in my humble opinion, most were soul-less establishments that just saturated their walls with massive TV sets and switched on satellite sports channels.
A real sports bar — again only my opinion — should be a public-house where like-minded sportspersons congregate.
It would also really be mostly football.
And there have been quite a few locally.
Regular contributor Rob Boag is like-minded, and picks up on this.
He offered: “Today’s description of a sports pub or bar would be something like this — a bar or pub featuring numerous television screens for viewing live sporting events, decorated with sports memorabilia.
“In my Dundee youth, a sports pub or bar was where sportsmen met to share stories of past glories and celebrate heroes of renown.
“In a previous article, I mentioned Frankie Davie’s 1950s pub which sat at the top of Liff Road in Lochee.
“If you had no interest in sports, or had no story to tell, then give Davie’s a bodyswerve.
“One Saturday evening, as I cautiously opened the door into Davie’s, the place was packed.
“Everyone was holding a pint of heavy, hence the caution.
“Over to my left as I eased into the crowd, I heard Peem McCoul tell a couple of disgruntled punters that: ‘Nane o’ youse could pick your nose, never mind a winner!’
“Peem was what was termed at the time a ‘bookie’s runner’.
“He had a physical disability but had a mind and tongue as sharp and dangerous as barbed wire.
“Peem caught my eye and with his good arm, waved, and said: ‘And how is young Robert this fine evening?’
“I gave Peem a thumbs-up, then watched him return to entertaining his audience with inside stories from the dodgy horse racing world.”
Other members of Rob’s family frequented the hostelry, as he went on: “I continued moving to the bar through the various sports discussions that circled and surrounded me.
“Just when I caught sight of my dad and his clique, I heard and saw Frank McGlinchey to my right.
“Frank was describing to a couple of pals how, on a boxing show at the Caird Hall decades ago, he ‘decked’ a so-called Glasgow hotshot boxer.
“And the glimpse of Frank’s footwork in that tight space, and the drop of his right shoulder as he demonstrated his right hook to the heart, told you there was a man who could handle himself in the ring — and out of it! And throughout Frank’s active re-enactment of that bout, he never spilled a drop from his glass — not a drop.
“I must admit at that time as I approached my father and his pals, I wasn’t conscious of their sports status, this was just a group of family friends in a continuous, endless and eternal debate about sports.”
Rob referred to a previous — and ongoing — topic in BwB.
“If you think the BwB article on who is Scotland’s oldest junior club is a recent topic, I was witness to that same query 60 years ago.
“I also recall seeing and listening to Hector and Alec Duncan, Patsy Coleman and Tommy Adamson, who were four Lochee Harp players and all Scottish Junior internationalists.
“In Frankie Davie’s, there were other ex-junior and senior players also former professional boxers.
“They would also tell descriptive tales about their sport, and always with a sprinkle of wit.”
Rob, now resident in Canada, continued: “When Hector was asked to describe his best backheel goal, it was not only the swagger of how the goal was scored but also the threats from the opposing centre-half and goalkeeper that came his way.
“However, it was Hector’s acerbic response to the threats that demoralised the opposing players (and delighted the Davie’s crowd) much more than his outrageous and cheeky goals.”
Boxing was heavy on the agenda, too, with Rob offering: “When pressed, Josie Boag would describe his six-round draw with Benny Lynch at Glasgow Green.
“Benny had an unorthodox boxing style, moving and dancing around the canvas, his arms and hands hanging loosely by his side daring you to come and have a go at him.
“If you were hesitant, Lynch would step forward and punish you.
“Josie described the speed of fists and footwork that allowed you to stay in the ring and stay the distance with Benny.
“However, what Josie marvelled at most was Benny’s entourage.
“Josie had travelled by himself from Dundee to meet Lynch, and a couple of Glasgow friends volunteered to be in his corner. In Benny’s corner — and in the Glasgow Green crowd — was the entire Gorbals population.
“Everyone at Davie’s knew that a draw for Benny against Josie Boag that day was a ‘hometown’ decision.
“In Frankie Davie’s, the stories swirled and settled on you, and soaked and seeped into you and became one with you.
“Tell me of another Dundee bar, another Dundee pub, another Dundee hostelry that produced stories as rich and as grand as any medieval tapestry as was woven in 1950’s Frankie Davie’s.
“The attached photo (top) is from an old Dave Phillips book in my library. It was taken in Frankie Davie’s on a slow 1950’s midweek evening.
“From left — Unknown, George Gallacher, Peem McCoul and Henry McFadyen.”
This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.