Gunners chance passed Kenny to change history
Comment
Bobby Dinnie will give jags benefit of years of scouting
Dalglish had opportunity for Arsenal trial
by Bert Mitchell
HE discovered Kenny Dalglish and he's the man Partick Thistle have entrusted with finding the next outstanding young Scottish footballing talent.
But Bobby Dinnie MBE today revealed how King Kenny was almost lost to the game in Scotland.
Way back in 1965, Dalglish was one of a group of highly- talented kids starring for Dinnie's Possil YM youth team which acted as a feeder club for Arsenal.
And, after word reached then Highbury gaffer and former England skipper, the late great Billy Wright of his prowess, a Gunners super scout was soon dispatched to Glasgow to sign up the young Dalglish.
advertisementBobby recalled: "I discovered Kenny when one of my friends tipped me off that there was this fantastic kid playing for High Possil school.
"So one Saturday I went along and there he was standing out head and shoulders above the rest.
"I contacted the school and Kenny's father Bill and we took it from there and signed him to Possil YM, which was really a feeder team for Arsenal.
"Before long Billy Wright, the former England captain who was manager at Arsenal at the time, wanted him for the Gunners when word started to filter down south how good Kenny was.
"So one Saturday at Glenconner Park this very well dressed chap was standing on the sideline and he came over to me and asked me about six of our lads including Kenny.
"Well he told me his name was Joe Hill - a famous Arsenal scout back then - and said that Arsenal wanted all six of the lads and myself to go down to Highbury for a trial.
"But Kenny's father Bill said that he was his only son and he wanted to see him staying in Scotland. So he missed out and the others went.
"In fact one of them was Eddie Kelly, who went on to play for the Arsenal double- winning team of 1970/71 in midfield."
"So there you are, if Kenny's father hadn't been determined to keep him in Glasgow then he would probably have gone to Arsenal.
"Celtic would almost certainly have missed out on one of the greatest players in their history and Liverpool too."
Dinnie has spent a lifetime scouting and is embarking on a new venture with Partick Thistle.
This will be the sprightly septuagenarian's second stint in the role for the Firhill club.
Dinnie said: "I decided to get involved with scouting for Partick Thistle again because Ian McCall asked me, pure and simple.
"I previously scouted for the club between 1992 and 2000 when I worked under John Lambie, Murdo MacLeod and Tommy Bryce.
"I may be 75 but my appetite for the job is still there and I very much believe that the talent is still out there waiting to be discovered.
"Wherever I am asked to go I will go and if I get letter recommending this kid or that then I will go and have a look. That is the way I have always done things and the way I will continue to do so.
"We could be talking anything from a 10-year-old to a teenager and the manager also wants me to look at second and third division and non-league talent. So it is a wide-ranging remit."
Dinnie has little doubt that the natural resources of the Scottish game are still sufficient enough to nurse hopes of him mining some gems.
He said: "What I look for is talent, natural talent. Then it is up to the coaches to make the most of that.
"When I discovered Kenny Dalglish he was 10 years old and even although he was playing at under-12 level he was head and shoulders above everybody else.
"Kenny was not the fastest kid but he was very strong and resourceful and had a fantastic shot for his age. He had so much natural ability and that is exactly what I will be looking for.
"Believe me, the talent is still there if you look hard enough."
Kenny's dad is a legend
Comment
Bobby Dinnie will give jags benefit of years of scouting
Dalglish had opportunity for Arsenal trial
by Bert Mitchell
HE discovered Kenny Dalglish and he's the man Partick Thistle have entrusted with finding the next outstanding young Scottish footballing talent.
But Bobby Dinnie MBE today revealed how King Kenny was almost lost to the game in Scotland.
Way back in 1965, Dalglish was one of a group of highly- talented kids starring for Dinnie's Possil YM youth team which acted as a feeder club for Arsenal.
And, after word reached then Highbury gaffer and former England skipper, the late great Billy Wright of his prowess, a Gunners super scout was soon dispatched to Glasgow to sign up the young Dalglish.
advertisementBobby recalled: "I discovered Kenny when one of my friends tipped me off that there was this fantastic kid playing for High Possil school.
"So one Saturday I went along and there he was standing out head and shoulders above the rest.
"I contacted the school and Kenny's father Bill and we took it from there and signed him to Possil YM, which was really a feeder team for Arsenal.
"Before long Billy Wright, the former England captain who was manager at Arsenal at the time, wanted him for the Gunners when word started to filter down south how good Kenny was.
"So one Saturday at Glenconner Park this very well dressed chap was standing on the sideline and he came over to me and asked me about six of our lads including Kenny.
"Well he told me his name was Joe Hill - a famous Arsenal scout back then - and said that Arsenal wanted all six of the lads and myself to go down to Highbury for a trial.
"But Kenny's father Bill said that he was his only son and he wanted to see him staying in Scotland. So he missed out and the others went.
"In fact one of them was Eddie Kelly, who went on to play for the Arsenal double- winning team of 1970/71 in midfield."
"So there you are, if Kenny's father hadn't been determined to keep him in Glasgow then he would probably have gone to Arsenal.
"Celtic would almost certainly have missed out on one of the greatest players in their history and Liverpool too."
Dinnie has spent a lifetime scouting and is embarking on a new venture with Partick Thistle.
This will be the sprightly septuagenarian's second stint in the role for the Firhill club.
Dinnie said: "I decided to get involved with scouting for Partick Thistle again because Ian McCall asked me, pure and simple.
"I previously scouted for the club between 1992 and 2000 when I worked under John Lambie, Murdo MacLeod and Tommy Bryce.
"I may be 75 but my appetite for the job is still there and I very much believe that the talent is still out there waiting to be discovered.
"Wherever I am asked to go I will go and if I get letter recommending this kid or that then I will go and have a look. That is the way I have always done things and the way I will continue to do so.
"We could be talking anything from a 10-year-old to a teenager and the manager also wants me to look at second and third division and non-league talent. So it is a wide-ranging remit."
Dinnie has little doubt that the natural resources of the Scottish game are still sufficient enough to nurse hopes of him mining some gems.
He said: "What I look for is talent, natural talent. Then it is up to the coaches to make the most of that.
"When I discovered Kenny Dalglish he was 10 years old and even although he was playing at under-12 level he was head and shoulders above everybody else.
"Kenny was not the fastest kid but he was very strong and resourceful and had a fantastic shot for his age. He had so much natural ability and that is exactly what I will be looking for.
"Believe me, the talent is still there if you look hard enough."
Kenny's dad is a legend
It's thought provoking when you see that single decisions can lead to such massive differences in someones life/ career.
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