Well, well, well, what do I know? I scoffed at the suggestion that the football medals featured in BwB on May 3 were linked to sponsorship by this newspaper.
To refresh, the McManus Galleries in Dundee, sought assistance to identify a medal they had come across.
The initials on the gong were “ETJFA” and it was suggested it could stand for Evening Telegraph Junior Football Association.
Nay, said I.
Yay, said Rob Boag, however, and he explained: “John Leng was a generous benefactor to arts and sports in Dundee in the early part of the 20th century.
“He was also proprietor of the Evening Telegraph in 1924, the year a medal was designed and cast to honour a sports event that took place this year.
“1924 was the year of the Olympics in Paris.
“This was what was to become the ‘Chariots of Fire’ Olympics, where Scotland’s Eric Liddell won a gold medal in the 400 metres.”
Former Dundee man Rob, now resident in Canada, continued: “The SFA tried to enter a team in the football category but was rejected by the Olympics committee.
They would allow only one team to represent Great Britain a team selection with Scots, Irish, Welsh and English players.
“Consequently, no UK football team competed in the Paris Olympics.
“However, Mr Leng, a fervent supporter of local sport, with collaboration from the Evening Telegraph and Forfarshire Junior Football Association (all Dundee junior teams played in this league at that time 44 of them), organised a competition between local junior teams to honour the 1924 Olympics.
“A one-time medal was designed and dedicated to this event.
“I don’t know which team won the 1924 ETJFA competition. Hopefully, one of your readers will provide that answer.”
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