Memories of Football on the Sandbank
Many local people still fondly remember the football and cricket matches held regularly on the sandbank out in the river.
“The original sandbank football matches were an annual one between a team from Wormit Boating Club and Dundee Corinthian Boating Club (who were based near Craig Pier). By then they were usually on the sandbank between the two bridges, while the photograph looks like it was upriver of the rail bridge (brick pillar at left of photo and the fisherman’s bothy to the right, while the hill in the background looks like Wormit Hill).
“Having taken taken part in a few matches there in the 1970’s (after DCBC went into abeyance), I can advise that the conditions were not ideal:-
- the surface is not flat like a beach, but is extremely uneven, with numerous puddles, making any skilful player no better off than a mere amateur;
- the touchline was the water’s edge and so ball boys /girls were called for on occasion – the important qualification being an ability to swim!
- as the dinghies we used to sail to the sandbank couldn’t be firmly tied to anything, someone had to keep an eye on the tide turning and coming in to the point when the dinghies started to float by themselves – time to leave (or face a swim to retrieve them!).” (Philip Owen)
“The matches I remember were between Wormit Boating Club and Dundee Corinthians. As I remember it heralded the start of the competitive rowing season. Oars from the four oars of Wormit were set up as goal posts.
“On one occasion I was amongst the first on the middle bank, the tide was roaring out when a rather overloaded Enterprise dinghy tried to make a landing. It was swept off down river. When it came back it had to make a full steam ahead run at the bank.” (Findlay McLaren)
“Must have racked up more than a dozen cricket and football games on the Tay sandbanks over the years. The one in between the bridges till it disappeared, then in front of Wormit bay. Great fun, if a little tricky. Seals were always unruffled.” ( Chris Harvey)
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