Andy Lynch had, perhaps, more reason than most for relishing the Rangers v Blairgowrie Scottish Cup tie story.
That was because his father Tommy was Blair’s goalkeeper that day.
“Dad often spoke about this game,” said Andy, of Lochee, who also added the scoreline was 14-2 rather than the 10-0 offered by original correspondent Charlie Walker (more on this further down the article).
“Dad also played for Lochee Harp, Dundee and Belfast Celtic, before finishing his career with Scunthorpe.
“He must have been part-time with Scunthorpe as he also worked in the local steelworks. He then joined the RAF.
“I was actually born in Scunthorpe.”
Andy, a retired bricklayer, continued: “In the Rangers v Blairgowrie tie, I’m pretty sure Dundonian Tommy McInearney (senior) also played for Blair that day.
“That Tommy, of course, is the father of the famous Lochee footballing brothers Tommy and Jimmy.
“In another coincidence, Dad played in the Dundee Schoolboys team as a youngster alongside Jimmy Simpson.
“Jimmy turned out for Rangers in that Scottish tie, with the great Jerry Dawson in goal for the Ibrox club.”
Derek Scott, currently part of the committee who run Blairgowrie Juniors, was first on to confirm Charlie Walker was way out with his story of the time Blair played Rangers.
“Re Rangers 10 Blairgowrie 0, there are many versions of this story,” he opened.
“What is fact is this that on January 20, 1934, Rangers beat Blairgowrie 14-2 in a Scottish Cup first-round tie. The tie was played at Ibrox and was not a visit to Blair by Rangers.
“The crowd was 5,000 and this remains Rangers’ record victory.
“Blairgowrie, though, were the only team to score twice against Rangers in the Scottish Cup that season.
“Blair’s scorers were Fechlie and Lynch, both late in the game as Blair’s superior fitness told!
“The club was, in fact, Blairgowrie Seniors and no connection with Blairgowrie Juniors, who were not formed until 1946. They qualified for the Scottish Cup via the Scottish Qualifying Cup in the haphazard structure of Scottish football at that time.
“Success came in 1939 when Blairgowrie defeated Dumbarton 3-2 in the Scottish Cup first round at Blairgowrie.
“As for the ‘Who for?’ part of the story, the most popular version among many is that a crowd waited at the Post Office to hear the result relayed through.
“When the score came in from Ibrox and 14-2 was announced by the operator, one comedian asked ‘who for?’
“This story is told in Blairgowrie Juniors archivist Martin Mackay’s excellent book ‘Local Heroes A History Of Football In Blairgowrie’.”
Thanks also to Dennis Elder for confirming most of the facts regarding that cup-tie.
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