Bobby Flavell

Annathill in North Lanarkshire.

Born :- 1921 - 2005

Clubs:- Millionarios, Dundee, Hearts

Scotland Caps : - two caps

BOBBY Flavell, who won two caps for Scotland as a dashing centre-forward and scored in two cup finals for Dundee, died in a nursing home in Airdrie in the early hours of Friday morning. He was 83.

Flavell will be remembered for the adventure displayed when leaving Britain to take part in the pirate league set up in Colombia in the early 1950s.

Bank-rolled by cattle barons, this league was unrecognised by FIFA. It thus proved a controversial career advancement plan for a group of determined British players which included, along with Flavell, the Stoke City centre-half Neil Franklin and Manchester United’s Charlie Mitten. Money was the main draw for top European players, but so too was the chance to play alongside some of the best players in the world. Flavell lined up alongside Alfredo di Stefano for the Bogota-based Millionarios. The side became renowned for their artistry and were nick-named the Ballet Azul (Blue Ballet). There Flavell and Di Stefano began a friendship which was maintained throughout their careers. Flavell met with Di Stefano one last time three years ago, when Real Madrid arrived in Glasgow for the Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen.

Flavell enjoyed most success when with Dundee, winning two League Cup medals. He joined them from Hearts, the club who Flavell had shocked by walking out to begin a new career in South America. "While I liked playing alongside guys like Alfie Conn, Willie Bauld and Jimmy Wardhaugh, I never really settled at Tynecastle," he said in an interview five years ago.

He conceded that money had, however, been a prime factor in his trail-blazing move abroad. Colombia was the only place to go for players wishing to escape the strictures of the maximum wage.

"I earned fabulous money and my wife Pearl and I had a beautiful flat in Bogota," confirmed Flavell. "As an added bonus I also got to play every week with Alfredo di Stefano."

Millionarios won the league in 1950 and in December of that year Flavell returned to Tynecastle, with Colombia having opted to return to FIFA jurisdiction. The foreign players were forced to return home and Hearts still held Flavell’s registration. There was no future for him in Gorgie and he was sold to Dundee for £6,000 after having completed an SFA-imposed suspension of six months, and been fined £150.

This sum had to be set against the riches bestowed on players who had left for South America. European captures were offered a signing-on fee of £5,000, and a £5,000 yearly salary.

At Dundee, Flavell excelled. Crowds flocked to Dens to see Billy Steel and Flavell, and the pair inspired Dundee to three cup final appearances in 12 months. The Scottish Cup final in 1952 was lost to Motherwell, but Flavell scored three times in two League Cup final wins, the first over Rangers and the second against Kilmarnock.

Flavell and Steel had already been paired together up front for Scotland, with Flavell winning his two caps when a player at his first senior club, Airdrie. He made his debut against Belgium and scored twice against Luxembourg.

Airdrie were the club for whom he retained most affection. One of the tributes at today’s funeral will be delivered by Ian McMillan, another Airdrie legend and a player inspired by Flavell’s talents. "My father used to take me to the old Broomfield and tell me: ‘if you want to be a footballer, than watch that centre-forward’," recalled McMillan.

Bobby was also a manager and later a director for Albion Rovers Football Club

 

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS

• Think you know your sport? Click here to try the Sportnetwork Prize Quizzes