Invergowrie resident Ron McCabe was most interested in the March 8 article and photograph of Andy Irvine and George Merchant with Reggie Smith.
“I have known George for many years as my late brother Jimmy and he were close friends at Rockwell School in the 1930s,” said Ron.
“George lived at the bottom of Caird Avenue, Dundee, just around the corner from the Five Ways Club, and we lived close by in Lorimer Street. Subsequently, before I retired in 1992, I did business with him when he ran a stationery agency in this area.
“I often saw him at Tannadice as a spectator in his latter years and I understand he also attended Dens regularly.
“Regarding Andy, I first met him in the late 1950s when we were both reps in the licenced trade for the same Dundee company.
“Last year, while on a bus tour in the Trossachs, I met a fellow-passenger who just happened to be Andy’s son.
“A small world!
“As far as Reggie was concerned, being an ‘Arab’ I well remember his days as manager at Tannadice before he moved to Falkirk FC.
“When the Bairns were fighting relegation, he signed George and Andy from Dundee.
“Not only did Falkirk avoid relegation, they also won the Scottish up that season.
“If only United could have followed that example this season. Having supported them since 1942, I certainly wished they had.
“Like United, Reggie had a youth policy and, while at Tannadice, he signed four young local players — John and Jimmy Coyle, Jimmy Reid and Maurice Milne.
“Just last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Johnny Coyle when he visited Tannadice.”
Ron is pictured in the photo (left), which was: “Taken at Parkhead on the disastrous day United lost to the Perth Saints in the cup final.
“With me that day were two of my grandsons Conor McCabe and Callum Anderson, and my son Bryan, who lives in Wakefield but comes north for special games.”
Back to George Merchant, and I asked in our February 16 edition if the G Merchant pictured in an Elmwood JFC cup-winning team was THE George Merchant.
A member of his family confirmed it was.
“Just found the BwB February article on Elmwood JFC,” said Stewart Merchant.
“Both my dad and I confirm that it is George Merchant, my grandad, who played for Dundee and Falkirk, where he also won the Scottish Cup.
“He is pictured bottom left next to a trophy on the photo.”
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