Rob Boag replied to a recent article which mentioned the Duncans of Lochee Harp fame.
Rob, from Canada, opened: “Circa 1950 and there was the novelty of moving into a new house in Dryburgh, Dundee.
“Just imagine… a bathroom for one family only.
“Our previous tenement abode had one toilet that was shared with four other families.
“However, part of that novelty was making new friends, and what better way to make new pals was in organising a game of football.
“I walked up Napier Drive and, when I passed Dryburgh Crescent on that smack of empty crescent land (a school was later built on it), I slowed and watched the McAnearney brothers, along with their dad,doing stuff with a football that made you stop and admire.
“You also felt a bit envious that you didn’t have that first touch the McAnearneys had.
“There were other lads on that piece of land kicking a ball around.
“That was where we would shortly join them in a game.
“Just past Dryburgh Crescent, on my right-hand side, an old quarry was being filled in.
“It would be levelled, grass seed sown and named Thomson Park, Lochee United’s ground.”
Rob now turned his attention to the source of this reply.
He continued: “I turned into Napier Terrace and headed toward a house where the family of one of Lochee’s football dynasties lived.
“I stood at the front door of the Duncan abode and ‘chapped’ on that door.
“It opened within seconds.
“I didn’t see anyone in front of me, then noticed movement.
“I looked down and there stood Victor. I’m guessing Victor would be around three or four years old at that time.
“I asked Victor: ‘Is Alec and Peter in?’
“Victor gave my question consideration, then replied: ‘Naw, the’re no’ in. They went awa tae Tibet to be monks’, then slammed the door on me.
“With my face barely an inch from the closed door, I pondered my options, then I heard voices and the door opened again.
“This time it was Alec and Peter with a football under the latter’s arm.
“Alec said, “Sorry about that, Rob, oor Victor’s a cheeky wee chappie. Well, these are not the exact words of Alec but I think you get my drift.
“With Alec on my right and Peter on my left — and all of us carrying jackets — we almost made it to Napier Drive when a shout from behind stopped us.
“It was Brian Flynn, coming out of his front door, jacket in hand. Brian caught up with us and we went striding down to the crescent-shaped land discussing positions and who we would pick to be on our team.
“We then got a great game going.
“Some may be curious why I mention jackets.
“However, they were essential apparel for a game of fitba at that time.
“How else could you mark goalposts and other points of reference such as corner flags and the halfway line without jackets?
“We relied on the honour system to decide if it was a goal or if the ball had gone over the bar or past the post.”
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This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.