Schoolboy caps have been a feature

Cowdenbeath FC football historian, David Allan, this week looks back at some of the school stars of the past.

He said, "I thought it might be of interest to take a look back at local schoolboy football over the years. In particular, to highlight the lads from Beath High (and before that Cowdenbeath and District Schools) who have been capped as schoolboy internationalists for Scotland since these games commenced back in 1911. "The first Cowdenbeath representative to be capped was Tommy Nicholson, from Lumphinnans, who played v Wales in Glasgow in 1920. In 1925, Alf Melville and Alex King both played for the Cowdenbeath schools side which reached the Scottish Cup final. "In the international game against England that year Alex King scored a dramatic last minute goal to give Scotland a 3-2 victory. King and Melville were subsequently paraded around the streets of Crosshill at the local Gala day in a horse drawn carriage as they were feted by the crowd. "King went on to win four caps and Melville two. Alex King later played for Clyde and Dundee United".

He continued, "Jimmy Sharp was capped once in 1927 and he was to be a mainstay of Cowdenbeath Wednesday in the thirties. Arthur Barnes won one cap in 1928. Arthur later played for Lochgelly Albert and Dunfermline. Arthur was a wing-half at the Albert both before and after the war. The twenties then were brought to their conclusion with Geordie Scott adding to the Cowdenbeath cap count with three in 1929. Geordie was a provisional signing for Cowden and then featured for East Fife and Aberdeen. He died during the war, whilst serving in the RAF. His name is on the Cowdenbeath War Memorial. "Malcolm Condie, from Crossgates, and Jimmy Whyte both won representative honours in 1931. Cowdenbeath lad Whyte later played with Lochgelly Albert and Dunfermline. His son Davie Whyte later played for Leeds United.

"They were followed by Jimmy Bremner, in 1932, who won three caps including one in Scotland's 1-0 victory over Ireland at Central Park - the first schoolboy international in Scotland played outwith Glasgow, Edinburgh or Aberdeen. "David Calder, one of three footballing brothers, mirrored Bremner's achievements in 1934 and played in a 5-3 victory over Wales at Central Park.

"In 1935, Kelty's Jimmy Stenhouse won three caps and he was to go on to play for Aberdeen and St Mirren with some distinction. He was capped by Scotland at full level during the Second World War. Goalkeeper Davie Wilson won two caps in 1936 and he was followed as the last local pre-war schoolboy cap by Willie Cunningham, from Hill of Beath. Willie played later for Dunfermline and Airdrie. Subsequently, he became a legend at Preston where he made 440 league appearances and won eight Scotland caps". David then looked at the pre-war era, "A lean period then followed for local schoolboy recognition. Billy Livingston though made a big impact with six appearances (then a record number of caps) in the years 1949 to 1951 but he was the only Cowdenbeath schoolboy to be capped in a period spanning almost 30 years. Bill now lives in Dunfermline. "Dick Menzies, who was the son of ex-Cowden player Willie Menzies (and nephew of ex-Cowden skipper Alex Menzies plus cousin of Dick and Ian Campbell), was a pupil at Beath Junior High when selected to play for Scotland Schools in 1966. "Dick then played junior with Comrie Colliery before joining Hearts but was released from Tynecastle in 1968 and went back to the Fife juniors. He was followed by Ronnie Miller, from Lochgelly, in 1968. Ronnie thereafter joined Manchester United's groundstaff and then was briefly with Hibs before joining Cowdenbeath. However, he had little opportunity to shine at Central Park and it was only when he moved to Brechin City that his goalscoring prowess was demonstrated at senior level. "Three years later there were two more caps each for Beath High pupils, Gordon Pate and Jim Leishman. Both were to join Dunfermline Athletic. "Jim Leishman, of course later played for Cowden and it would be fair to say he has managed to make a bit of an impact in the football world in the intervening years.

"1976 saw Hill of Beath boy Derek Stark win two caps and he went on to enjoy a fine career with Dundee United. "Then we had another spell without much joy until the 1990's came along. In 1991, B Woods (?) and Kevin Fotheringham were both honoured. Fotheringham indeed equalled Billy Livingston's six cap haul. "Kevin of course was at Rangers along with Lee Dair, who also won a couple of caps a couple of years later. Kevin became a man of many senior clubs and now manages Lochore Welfare. Lee played for all the Fife clubs apart from the Pars and is now to be found in the ranks of Oakley United".