Bobby Cox

Bobby Cox, footballer, Born: 24 January, 1934, in Dundee.

Died: 20 February, 2010, aged 76.

BOBBY Cox was a local boy who did well – very well indeed. To be born within earshot of the crowd noise from Dens Park, then to grow up and lead your beloved Dundee FC to that club's greatest glory, is the stuff of legends.

From the school team of what was then St John's High School, the young Bobby Cox continued his football education with Dundee Osborne, where his talents attracted the attention of a scout from Dundee United.

Cox's heart lay at the top rather than bottom of Tannadice Street, but he went along for his trial and afterwards was advised that he was, in United's opinion, "too wee".

Back then to Osborne and off to National Service with the Royal Signals, for which he was stationed at Ripon in North Yorkshire. His displays for the regimental team earned him recognition with the Northern Command side, but more importantly, persuaded Dundee FC to listen to the entreaties of his army buddy, Dundee provisional signing Sandy Evans, and have a look at Cox.

Manager Willie Thornton liked what he saw and in 1955 Cox began what was to be a 14-year playing association with the club that he supported all his life.

He made the first of what were to be more than 400 first team appearances for the club in a 3-1 Dens Park win over Queen's Park, on 20 October, 1956.

For the remainder of his career only injury and illness would prevent him from wearing the number three shirt. Doug Cowie and Bill Brown were the mainstays of the team which Cox came into; Brown would then be sold to Tottenham Hotspur and when Cowie retired, Cox succeeded him as captain.

The club's star had waned from the halcyon early 1950 days of Billy Steel and co, but at the start of the next decade, as manager Bob Shankly introduced youngsters Alex Hamilton, Ian Ure, Andy Penman, Alan Gilzean and Hughie Robertson and brought in experience in the shape of Bobby Seith, Bobby Wishart and Gordon Smith, the Dark Blues became genuine contenders for the major prizes.

In 1962 they surpassed anything accomplished by a previous Dundee side, winning the Scottish League title by three points from Rangers – who they had the audacity to thrash 5-1 at Ibrox en route to the big prize.

Saturday, 28 April, 1962 became a date to remember for Dundee fans as Cox accepted the League Championship trophy following a 3-0 win over St Johnstone at Muirton Park. His and his side's place in Tayside legend was assured.

The following season, with Bert Slater supplanting Pat Liney in goal, Dundee set off on a memorable European odyssey.

As they took their European Cup challenge to a semi-final against AC Milan, they showed that the classic Scottish passing game which they played could work as well in Europe as in Scotland. Their campaign began with an 8-1 thumping of FC Cologne, before a bruising rematch in Germany. Sporting Lisbon and Anderlecht were also despatched before, significantly with Cox injured and unable to play, AC Milan ended the dream in the San Siro.

That team then broke up, but there was still a Scottish Cup final appearance to come in 1964 and when Cox eventually retired in 1969, Dundee were still the top team on Tayside.

Great teams do not necessarily need a great captain, but, in Cox Dundee had such a man. He led from the front, set the standard and made sure his team mates maintained it.

Of course, it is well known that the Dundee team he led was a special one – Hamilton, Ure, Penman, Gilzean, Robertson and Slater (in a non-cap "international" all played for Scotland). Gordon Smith's place in history was already secured when he pitched up at Dens Park, while Alan Cousin and Wishart won under-23 honours.

Many observers of these times will tell you that Cox was of genuine international class as a left back. Unfortunately, his career spanned the same time period as that of Eric Caldow, arguably Scotland's finest full back. Caldow's international career-ending broken leg at Wembley in 1963 ought to have opened the door for Cox: a left back with a proven track record as a team captain, but the Scottish selectors and manager Ian McColl turned instead to Hearts' David Holt to succeed Caldow – perhaps they missed a trick there.

Cox did, however, gain one representative honour, being chosen for the Scottish League XI to face "Scotland" in an international trial, at Parkhead, in 1961 – worse left backs have worn Scotland's dark blue with less assurance than he showed in Dundee's similarly coloured jersey.

In retirement from football Bobby Cox ran the appropriately-named Sliding Tackle public house in Broughty Ferry. He also had a spell with British Rail.

He was always a welcome guest at Dens Park, to which he returned on a more regular basis after chairman Angus Cook brought him back as a match day host, his presence adding to the corporate guests' enjoyment of their day at the game.

His place in Dens Park folklore was further cemented when, thanks to the SPL's requirements regarding all-seater stadia, the Provost Road end became a grandstand – the fans voting that it be named 'The Bobby Cox Stand'.

The venerable captain of the club's greatest team played down the honour, but he was secretly chuffed to bits.

The fans loved him, that's certain, referring to him as "Sir" Bobby Cox.

Bobby Cox was pre-deceased by his wife Betty and is survived by daughter Lorraine and son Graham.