George Comrie

George was born in Denny, Stirlingshire.

He started his football career with Dunipace Juniors, playing alongside his elder brother James, before moving to Third Lanark and then Millwall. Celtic were very keen on bringing him back to Scotland, but Millwall increased his wage significantly to keep him in North Greenwich.

In May 1909 he signed for Dundee, the club expecting him to take on  a role as a full or half back. He initially was placed in the “A” team, before making his debut on the 23rd October against St Mirren, where it was reported that  “he played a good game”. Dundee lost the match 3-2, Comrie replaced Herbert Dainty.

He soon became a regular in the first team, garnering a good reputation. The local press reported that “he had height and build, and was able to introduce force and persistency into his play.” They also commented that “he did more headwork than has been seen on Dens Park for a very long time.”

In November his cousin, John, joined him at Dens. He found it harder to establish himself in the first team, making only a few appearances.

Not only were Dundee having a favourable league 1909-1910 season, they also had made it to the final of the Scottish Cup, where they were to play Clyde. Two weeks before the final, George was injured in a league match against Port Glasgow. There were fears that he might not recover in time, trainer “Plum” Longair said that every effort was being made to have him fit for the “big battle.” On the 6th April he had a medical assessment on his ankle in the afternoon, and played that night against Partick Thistle to test his fitness. Dundee lost the match 0-1, but, apart from George, had fielded a team of reserve players.

Comrie was selected for the Scottish Cup final on the 9th April 1910, before a 60,000 crowd at Ibrox. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, the replay was arranged to be played on the 16th April, this time playing in front of a crowd of 20,000. The conditions were particularly poor, the match played in heavy rain, but George had a good game, better in fact than in the first meeting. The replay, however ended 0-0. On their third trip to Ibrox, on the 20th April,  Dundee were successful winning 2-1 in front of 24,ooo spectators. The Ibrox pitch was said to be looking “bad” after all the rain, there were “fewer pools, but it was “sodden.” Comrie, along with team mates, Lee and Dainty, were described as being first-class, “breaking up with vigour and thrusting ahead with care.”

The 1910-1911 season carried on in the much the same way for George, he was an almost ever-present in the team, apart from when he had sustained the odd injury. His performances had, once again, brought him to the attention of the Celtic directors, and interest was shown in taking him to Parkhead. This was followed, near the end of the season, by rumours of a return to Millwall.

In March 1912, Comrie travelled, as a reserve, to Belfast with the Scotland team, for the Home Championship match against Ireland. He was aware that Dundee were prepared to release him at this time. He played his last game for the club on the the 9th March against Partick. Interest was shown from Raith Rovers, but by the end of May he was a Huddersfield player for the sum of £220. Millwall were to get half the transfer money due to an agreement between the two clubs when he joined Dundee.

When war was declared, George enlisted with the Black Watch, rising to the rank of Sergeant (Service No. S/2863). His son, Daniel, also enlisted in WW2,  he was a Guardsman in the Scots Guards. He like his father had also played for Dunipace Juniors.

George was employed as a dock labourer, after his playing days were over. He died on 15th April 1958, aged 72.