Just an old photograph, all I have left apart from memories, of the Boy King of Dens Park. It's faded, torn in parts, but though the ink, too, is fast disappearing, the outlines, "Best Wishes, Andy Penman" can still be seen.
Every youngster loves to get the autographs of their heroes. I still treasure this one at the age of 51 and always will.
Those reading this now, who never had the privelege to see Andy play, will ask what was so special about the guy that I should want to write about him 40 years later.
Inside Dens Park visitors can see Andy's picture, with the simple words "The Penalty King." He was that, and much more to all who saw him in action, and I consider it an honour to make the following tribute to one of the dark blue all time greats. I hope this short resume' on his career will satisfy your curiosity.
Those reading this now, who never had the privelege to see Andy play, will ask what was so special about the guy that I should want to write about him 40 years later.
Inside Dens Park visitors can see Andy's picture, with the simple words "The Penalty King." He was that, and much more to all who saw him in action, and I consider it an honour to make the following tribute to one of the dark blue all time greats. I hope this short resume' on his career will satisfy your curiosity.
Sadly Missed |
Andy was a genius, a child prodigy in the art of football, who straight from school in Rosyth, went down to Everton where he made his debut at the age of 15 in a non-league derby against Liverpool.
But the son of a Fife miner who had never been away from home heard Scotland, with it's dreich weather and all, calling his name and he returned shortly after, joining Dundee as an amateur at the age of 15, in 1958.
In a career spanning 21 years Andy played for Scotland at schoolboy, youth, amateur, Under-23 and finally the full international team.
It was the enigmatic Willie Thornton, then Manager at Dens who brought him home, and at the time this was the equivalent of a Scottish club signing a very young Michael Owen.
Two games in the reserves was all it took to convince the Dundee management that here was a real talent and Andy Penman played his first competitive game in Scotland at the age of 15. His debut against Hearts in 1958, shortly before his 16th birthday made him one of the youngest players ever to play in the top Scottish league of the time and maybe even of all time.
How the Dundee league winning side was built has in itself a hint of Divine intervention, or if you don't want to look that high perhaps fate and destiny played their part. When your time comes around, nothing can stop it. We can all play at picking our best ever Dundee side. To have so many of different abilities arrive at exactly the right time is what made this team so special. Unlike the present squad this side was balanced, with just the right strength in the tackling department, the right striking partnerships and the suave skills of others. It was in short, the complete Dream Team.
Enter painter and decorator Alan Gilzean, from Coupar Angus of all places, Gordon Smith an ageing wing master who had already won 4 league championship medals with Hibs and Hearts, Ian Ure, who had actually played rugby for most of his school life but changed sports in time to take his place in a team destined for greatness. Alex. Hamilton, an extrovert whose party piece was playing keepie up with a sixpence before flicking it up and catching it in his pocket, Bobby Cox, the sliding tackle expert who captained his lifelong love, Dundee F.C., Bobby Seith, an elegant wing half who joined Dundee at just the right time in destiny's path after an illustrious career with Burnley, Bobby Wishart, a hard tackling left half who joined from Aberdeen. Alan Cousin, a school teacher, whose amazing double shuffle was sensational and he was to turn out to be the perfect foil for Alan Gilzean up front. Shuggy Robertson, a miner's son from Fife, deft, fast and electric down the left wing. And Pat Liney, whose vital penalty save when St Mirren could have cost us the league in the second last game of the season. All inspirational figures.
Then there was Andy Penman, the babe of the side, but so gifted that he became, in effect, the pivot around which all else eased into motion, so highly skilled, confident, a winner to have in any team. But this wasn't just any team, this was Dundee's finest ever.
And since I've mentioned the players I mustn't forget the back room boys who took this team to its greatest glories, the great Bob Shankly, brother of the legendary Bill of Liverpool fame, products of mining stock who rocked the world of football in their own unique manner. I always think it sad that the away support should have their stand called after the Manager who was Dundee's most successful boss ever. But then again maybe that's not such a big deal. Bob, the man who wore a cloth cap when giving his team talks to the best Dees side ever, was such a modest guy, though known to kick up a fuss in the changing rooms if players weren't performing, he would never have been one to make a fuss about such a trivial thing. His sidekick was Sammy Keane, another modest man who played his part in this great team's success.
The only surprise about this side winning the league was that the season before they finished in 10th position, behind United, even, and there was little to suggest they were on the verge of anything above the average.
How they won the league is a story in itself and maybe I'll get round to tackling that challenging task one day. Suffice it for the present to say that they won the league, ending with a 3-0 win at old Muirton Park, now a supermarket, in Perth, against St Johnstone, who were, sadly, relegated by our triumph.
To return briefly to my childhood again, I was hospitalised during season 1962-63 and in my boredom wrote to all my heroes. Some returned my letters, but two in particular, Andy Penman and Ian Ure, went far beyond that and visited me regularly in hospital. Andy still lived in Rosyth and used to pop in at least once a week on his way to or from training at Dens. There was no Tay Road Bridge in those days.
There are always critics who think they know everything even when they know very little. Just as the Marrs and Bonettis may be lambasted in the press and by silly individuals, Andy had that problem also. Some said he was a bighead, one male nurse did in my ward, until he saw Andy visit me regularly, and his opinions changed dramatically. I can vouch for the fact that he certainly was not a vain individual.
On his visits Andy would say very little. He didn't have to, I did enough yapping for two and he would just sit there with a wee smile on his face as I rabbitted on about the previous match and what he should have done. He was a man of few words, but he did his talking on the park in a big way with those educated feet.
He watched his team mates drift away, Gilzean to Spurs, his best mate Ure to Arsenal, then Manchester United, others get too old and retire, like Smith and Wishart. Rangers had always been after the Boy King but he remained at Dens until 1967, meaning he had given 9 years to the cause of Dundee.
In 1963 when it was widely reported he was leaving I remember a large Dundee crowd chant his name in an inspiring and emotional manner that still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Such things remain long in the memory when others fade. He stayed for 4 more years. Proof that fan power can work.
When he did eventually join Rangers in 1967 he left behind a legacy of one league championship, semi-finalists in the European Cup and one losing Final against Rangers. But he left much more than that, the feeling in all who saw him that we were watching a true great, the likes of which will seldom come again to Dens Park.
He was described in a Rangers publication as "a midfield player of class and startling vision, a fine passer of the ball who could clip balls precisely through, round and over defences to give his forwards clear, untramelled runs at goal."
He was past his best by the time he joined Rangers, and though he was lucky to play in 2 Scottish Cup Finals for them they lost them both. Against Celtic in 1971 he carved their defence apart time after time only for Colin Stein and Wullie Johnstone to miss the chances.
In 1973 he moved to Arbroath, but by then he had been diagnosed as having diabetes, and was only a shadow of the great player he had been. Having said that I had an email from an Arbroath fan who extolled his virtues as a great, great player at Gayfield. 3 years later he moved to Inverness Caley where he is remembered fondly for his 3 seasons with them as a player/coach. They loved him so much Dundee were invited to play them in a testimonial match for Andy at the end of his career.
He retired from football in 1979, at the age of 36. Sadly, he got only 3 full caps for Scotland, typically two of them coming when he joined Rangers and not when he was at his peak with Dundee.
When I saw the front page of the Courier on 20th July, 1994, and found out Andy had died the day before it was a black day for me personally, and for many Dees fans who had chanted his name all those years ago. To us he was a heroic figure in a long line of players of like stature. But I think it was his youth that endeared us to him more than any other. He was 18 when Dundee set off on that road to winning the league in 1961, and few can deny he was one of the major forces in that team of giants.
But Boy Kings never grow up and they never die. Not in the memories of those who witnessed their skills and genius. If football is an art, and I say it is, Andy Penman was a Michelangelo at his profession.
But the son of a Fife miner who had never been away from home heard Scotland, with it's dreich weather and all, calling his name and he returned shortly after, joining Dundee as an amateur at the age of 15, in 1958.
In a career spanning 21 years Andy played for Scotland at schoolboy, youth, amateur, Under-23 and finally the full international team.
It was the enigmatic Willie Thornton, then Manager at Dens who brought him home, and at the time this was the equivalent of a Scottish club signing a very young Michael Owen.
Two games in the reserves was all it took to convince the Dundee management that here was a real talent and Andy Penman played his first competitive game in Scotland at the age of 15. His debut against Hearts in 1958, shortly before his 16th birthday made him one of the youngest players ever to play in the top Scottish league of the time and maybe even of all time.
How the Dundee league winning side was built has in itself a hint of Divine intervention, or if you don't want to look that high perhaps fate and destiny played their part. When your time comes around, nothing can stop it. We can all play at picking our best ever Dundee side. To have so many of different abilities arrive at exactly the right time is what made this team so special. Unlike the present squad this side was balanced, with just the right strength in the tackling department, the right striking partnerships and the suave skills of others. It was in short, the complete Dream Team.
Enter painter and decorator Alan Gilzean, from Coupar Angus of all places, Gordon Smith an ageing wing master who had already won 4 league championship medals with Hibs and Hearts, Ian Ure, who had actually played rugby for most of his school life but changed sports in time to take his place in a team destined for greatness. Alex. Hamilton, an extrovert whose party piece was playing keepie up with a sixpence before flicking it up and catching it in his pocket, Bobby Cox, the sliding tackle expert who captained his lifelong love, Dundee F.C., Bobby Seith, an elegant wing half who joined Dundee at just the right time in destiny's path after an illustrious career with Burnley, Bobby Wishart, a hard tackling left half who joined from Aberdeen. Alan Cousin, a school teacher, whose amazing double shuffle was sensational and he was to turn out to be the perfect foil for Alan Gilzean up front. Shuggy Robertson, a miner's son from Fife, deft, fast and electric down the left wing. And Pat Liney, whose vital penalty save when St Mirren could have cost us the league in the second last game of the season. All inspirational figures.
Then there was Andy Penman, the babe of the side, but so gifted that he became, in effect, the pivot around which all else eased into motion, so highly skilled, confident, a winner to have in any team. But this wasn't just any team, this was Dundee's finest ever.
And since I've mentioned the players I mustn't forget the back room boys who took this team to its greatest glories, the great Bob Shankly, brother of the legendary Bill of Liverpool fame, products of mining stock who rocked the world of football in their own unique manner. I always think it sad that the away support should have their stand called after the Manager who was Dundee's most successful boss ever. But then again maybe that's not such a big deal. Bob, the man who wore a cloth cap when giving his team talks to the best Dees side ever, was such a modest guy, though known to kick up a fuss in the changing rooms if players weren't performing, he would never have been one to make a fuss about such a trivial thing. His sidekick was Sammy Keane, another modest man who played his part in this great team's success.
The only surprise about this side winning the league was that the season before they finished in 10th position, behind United, even, and there was little to suggest they were on the verge of anything above the average.
How they won the league is a story in itself and maybe I'll get round to tackling that challenging task one day. Suffice it for the present to say that they won the league, ending with a 3-0 win at old Muirton Park, now a supermarket, in Perth, against St Johnstone, who were, sadly, relegated by our triumph.
To return briefly to my childhood again, I was hospitalised during season 1962-63 and in my boredom wrote to all my heroes. Some returned my letters, but two in particular, Andy Penman and Ian Ure, went far beyond that and visited me regularly in hospital. Andy still lived in Rosyth and used to pop in at least once a week on his way to or from training at Dens. There was no Tay Road Bridge in those days.
There are always critics who think they know everything even when they know very little. Just as the Marrs and Bonettis may be lambasted in the press and by silly individuals, Andy had that problem also. Some said he was a bighead, one male nurse did in my ward, until he saw Andy visit me regularly, and his opinions changed dramatically. I can vouch for the fact that he certainly was not a vain individual.
On his visits Andy would say very little. He didn't have to, I did enough yapping for two and he would just sit there with a wee smile on his face as I rabbitted on about the previous match and what he should have done. He was a man of few words, but he did his talking on the park in a big way with those educated feet.
He watched his team mates drift away, Gilzean to Spurs, his best mate Ure to Arsenal, then Manchester United, others get too old and retire, like Smith and Wishart. Rangers had always been after the Boy King but he remained at Dens until 1967, meaning he had given 9 years to the cause of Dundee.
In 1963 when it was widely reported he was leaving I remember a large Dundee crowd chant his name in an inspiring and emotional manner that still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Such things remain long in the memory when others fade. He stayed for 4 more years. Proof that fan power can work.
When he did eventually join Rangers in 1967 he left behind a legacy of one league championship, semi-finalists in the European Cup and one losing Final against Rangers. But he left much more than that, the feeling in all who saw him that we were watching a true great, the likes of which will seldom come again to Dens Park.
He was described in a Rangers publication as "a midfield player of class and startling vision, a fine passer of the ball who could clip balls precisely through, round and over defences to give his forwards clear, untramelled runs at goal."
He was past his best by the time he joined Rangers, and though he was lucky to play in 2 Scottish Cup Finals for them they lost them both. Against Celtic in 1971 he carved their defence apart time after time only for Colin Stein and Wullie Johnstone to miss the chances.
In 1973 he moved to Arbroath, but by then he had been diagnosed as having diabetes, and was only a shadow of the great player he had been. Having said that I had an email from an Arbroath fan who extolled his virtues as a great, great player at Gayfield. 3 years later he moved to Inverness Caley where he is remembered fondly for his 3 seasons with them as a player/coach. They loved him so much Dundee were invited to play them in a testimonial match for Andy at the end of his career.
He retired from football in 1979, at the age of 36. Sadly, he got only 3 full caps for Scotland, typically two of them coming when he joined Rangers and not when he was at his peak with Dundee.
When I saw the front page of the Courier on 20th July, 1994, and found out Andy had died the day before it was a black day for me personally, and for many Dees fans who had chanted his name all those years ago. To us he was a heroic figure in a long line of players of like stature. But I think it was his youth that endeared us to him more than any other. He was 18 when Dundee set off on that road to winning the league in 1961, and few can deny he was one of the major forces in that team of giants.
But Boy Kings never grow up and they never die. Not in the memories of those who witnessed their skills and genius. If football is an art, and I say it is, Andy Penman was a Michelangelo at his profession.