November 1984
48-Hour-Old Club Member
The next event for the members of the Dark Blues Junior Club is a football forum, which is being held in the Dundee F.C. Social Club, Thistle Street, on Monday.
Following the outstanding success of the recent open day at Dens, Dundee director Andrew Marshall, who takes great interest in the junior club, is certain the latest event will prove a winner.He says "Manager Archie Know and several of the players will be in attendance to answer questions for the youngsters and discuss all things concerning the game. Early indications suggest the forum will draw a full house".
The Dark Blues Junior Club is already a huge success with membership increasing weekly. There are over 1000 members, who receive a regular newsletter on club affairs,
Other events are in the pipeline and officials have good reason to be happy with the response from the young supporters. Archie Know was delighted to learn that the latest member was enrolled in the juniors when just 48 hours old.
Facelift for Dundee Club
One of Dundee's newest indoor leisure and sports complexes is undergoing a major refurbishment and extension. Polysport, in Burnside Street, Lochee, is housed in a former jute warehouse and already offers four glass-backed competition class squash courts, a large, fully equipped gymnasium, sunbed, shower rooms and a large open gym suitable for keep-fit and karate classes.
The latest development is expected to be completed in December and will provide a large open-plan snooker hall with an adjoining lounge bar, club shop, reception office and a completely new entrance.
Initially, six full size snooker tables will be installed, with space available for more than double that number to cope with the expected demand for this increasingly popular game.
Mains Castle Tourist Plan?
What's to happen to Mains Castle once that mammoth job of restoration under M.S.C. is complete? Dundee now seems set to turn the ancient building into a proper tourist centre. Proposals could lead to the setting up of two or three apartment flats for tenant-custodians in the castle's east wing,
A licensed restaurant may be established alongside and the tower of the castle turned into a permanent exhibition area to cover the history of the place.
Further landscape improvements may be undertaken around the castle, which would please the many Dundonians who've felt the Den o' Mains has been sadly neglected in modern times. It was once among them city's most popular beauty spots.
These points - and possible more - will be discussed at next months meeting of the parks committee. The city council are to examine all possible areas of grant aid to offset costs. The current work is mainly carried out by M.S.C. funding, with "top up" from the council.
A Very Special Picture for Dundee
"A Royal Lady so true to her word". That's Dundee Lord Provost Tom Mitchell's impression on the Queen Mother. The story began just the other day at the Lord Roberts' Workshops, where the Queen Mother made her always-welcome autumn visit. There to greet her was L.P.
In Conversation Mr Mitchell remarked that, while City Chambers had portrait pictures of the Queen and Prince Philip, there was not one of the Queen Mother.
"Well" said Her Majesty, "I'll send you one".
In no time at all the postie was at the Town House with a large, well-wrapped package. And inside was a beautiful coloured photograph portrait of the Queen Mother - with her signature in her own hand.
To say the L.P. was thrilled was putting it mildly. And he's determined that the portrait will hang in a place where callers on the Chambers will be able to see and enjoy it.
Mosey Along, Pardners
Saturday November 17, is D-day for another fund raising event for the scanner appeal. Dundee's Country and Western Club is to host a special dance and concert in the Ambassador Lounge, Clepington Road, Dundee with all monies going to the appeal.
Ken McLeod from Radio Tay will be one of the guests and he'll be taking part in a fast-draw competition with club members and other celebrity guests. Country music bands Country Cattle, Double C and Joe McKay have volunteered their services and the fun will start a 8pm.
Tickets are £1 and they hope to raise in the region of £300 with the dance and club raffle.
Festive Fare
Now you've got more time to shop.
Spar.
Eight till Late
Now at:
301-3-5 Hilltown, Dundee.
Open Mon-Sat 8am-9pm.
Festive Fare: - Large selection of biscuits, shortbread, cake,
Continental table wines, Sherries, whisky, vodka.
All at the keenest prices
Reilly Will Not Go Cheaply
Dundee United have had only one tentative enquiry for John Reilly, available for transfer at his own request. The striker has been at Tannadice since 1977 and feels a change of club could mean regular first-team football. Although Reilly is on the transfer list he will not be leaving Tannadice at a bargain price. He grabbed 12 goals in 20 first-team appearances last season so it is not surprising that Jim McLean will not accept anything less than the sort of figure he has been asked by other clubs when he has inquired about their players.
Dundee Makes the United Decision
Dundee District Council are moving in a new promotional direction next week - by sponsoring a football match. "Its part of out strategy to create a new image for the city of Dundee the successful Dundee," said a council officer this week.
One of those success stories, of course, has taken place on the football field, where Dundee United have arisen as a force in Scottish football and carried the city's name far afield in European competition.
The next chapter in that success story is written next week when United play their second-leg U.E.F.A. cup-tie against Linz F.C Austria - and that's the match the council is sponsoring. In an approach from the home club, they city council will lend their support to United through a page advert in the club programme and the siting of advertising boards at prominent spot in the ground. These hoardings placed in TV camera range, will carry the new Dundee city logo and their slogan "Make the Dundee Decision" - aimed at attracting business men to set up in the city.
New Live Music Club
Hot on the heels of the demise of the Swamp Club comes news of another live music club for Dundee. Run each Tuesday and Thursday in Teazers disco, Union Street, the Rock Machine will cater for alternative Scottish bands as well as hard rock outfits.
First off will be Dead Neighbours from Falkirk on Tuesday November 6. They play a rockabilly, R and B type music and have been compared to the Cramps and the Meteors - they currently have an album released on an independent label.
Band to look out for over the next few Tuesday are Party Susan, Seven and Valerie and The Week of Wonders - all are up and coming Scottish outfits.
Hard buffs will have to wait until Garrison on November 15 for their regular Thursday night rock session.
Let's hope that Rock Machine is here to stay - with the Dance Factory already attracting bigger alternative names, Dundonians should have a complete musical package available each week. And who could complain about that?