Blether with Brown: It was the Lynch brothers who founded Lochee Boys Club

A member of a well-known Lochee family is none too chuffed after reading a recent BwB tale.

Maureen Reilly’s story was in on May 12 and she mentioned that her grandfather Johnny Dougan ‘founded Lochee Boys Club before the Lynch brothers’.

Derek Lynch, though, hit back, offering: “I am an avid reader of your articles in Blether with Brown but would like to disagree with your story headed ‘Maureen Plugs Her Granddad Boxer Johnny’.

“Lochee Boys Club was founded in 1946 by the Lynch brothers and, prior to this, there was no Lochee Boys Club.

“Lochee Boys Club was founded in 1946 in the Weavers Hall in Lochee High Street by three brothers Andy, Ned and John Lynch.

“After demob, Ned Lynch heard a noise coming from the Weavers Hall and, on investigation, met a priest with a number of young seven-year-olds kicking a ball around the hall.

“He inquired what was going on and was told it was just to give the boys somewhere to go.

“Ned was persuaded to lend a hand.

“A few weeks passed and the priest never came back.

“Within a few weeks, Andy and John were also demobbed and were told by Ned that he was running a boys club.

“The three of them then set about forming Lochee Boys Club.

“Andy was made club leader, John took the post of secretary and Ned was treasurer. They scoured the streets of Lochee, recruiting teenagers and young men to build up the club.”

Well-known people locally have been members — including yours truly but I don’t consider myself ‘well-known’.

Derek continued: “Some of the first members of the club are still connected to this day such as Ernie Ross (retired MP) and Charles Farquhar (former Provost of Dundee).

“The lads in the club participated in a host of activities, including boxing, football and gymnastics.

“The club moved from the Weavers Hall to Feenie’s Hall, then the Star Ballroom for a year, before settling in the Salvation Army Hall in Marshall Street.

“The club was there for many years but the walls were falling in.

“They were then able to purchase the YWCA hall, thanks to the generosity of club chairman Mr R Ogilvy Smith.

“This was the club’s home for quite a few years.

“They then moved to their present building in Wellbank Lane.

“All these premises were in the heart of Lochee.

“Indeed, some people said we were the heart of Lochee.”

After the death of John, Andy and Ned, the running of the club was taken over by Derek in 1974. Derek is the son of Andy, and “is now in his 60th year as a Lochee Boy”.

The club has always revelled in boxing, with Derek enthusing: “Over the years, on the boxing side, we were served well in the 1960s with Jimmy Fraser and Alec Elder, then the Burns brothers Gordon, Alec and Robert in the 1970s.

“The 1980s saw the emergence of Albert and Billy Buchanan, with the Howett brothers Andy and Jerry prominent in the 1990s.

“There were hundreds more — too numerous to mention.”

The football side saw the introduction of the famous Grier brothers to the club.

Derek said: “George, Billy and Lewis ran the football side like professionals, lifting every cup at U/18 level and many more besides.

They also won the British 5-A-Side Cup.

“The years after the Griers were successful, too, under many managers like Bobby Scott, John McPake and Paul Wallace.”

Derek pointed to success at other sports, saying: “Andy Lynch Jr won the British Trampoline Championship and represented Scotland at water polo.

“As a club, LBC have been very successful in many sports over the years and pride themselves on the very good citizens they have had the good fortune to have in the club.

“There have been some great influences in the club.

“Chairman Mr R Ogilvie Smith was a true gentleman and benefactor. Angus Gourlay was treasurer, cleaner, gardener and organiser for many years. Jim Scott was the boxing coach for many years.

“Without these men and many, many more, we as a club could not have functioned.”

Have a story to share with John? Email: jbrown@dcthomson.co.uk