Blantyre man wants to get in touch with former classmates

Nov 19 2009 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

A BLANTYRE man has urged former classmates at High Blantyre Primary School to get in touch – after he found a 50-year-old photograph of his school football team winning an inter-school trophy.

Willie Dickson (61), contacted the Advertiser after he dug out the old photo, 50 years after the lads won the cup.

The retired entertainment agent remembers the occasion fondly as his teammates beat Glenlee Primary, of Burnbank, 2-1 in the regional final held at the former Douglas Park in Hamilton.

The High Blantyre lads thumped David Livingstone Memorial Primary 4-0 in the previous round to progress to the final, and became only the second school team in Blantyre to win the cup.

Willie explained: “The team was run by our head teacher, David Crawford, and the school janitor John Baird, both of whom passed away a number of years ago.

“I think this picture used to hang in the school dining hall, but I don’t think it is there anymore. I remember the game well, as well as a number of the boys I played with. Some of them went on to the same high school as me, but some I never saw again. After we won the game, we took the Inter Schools cup back to High Blantyre Primary to celebrate. As we were only 11 and 12 years old, there was no champagne waiting, but we did celebrate with a glass of Coke and a Blue Riband biscuit. That was your lot!”

If you can identify the team contact reporter Chris Clements on 01698 205013.