Junior football in Dundee has been celebrated as the family story of Dundee Culture founder is shared

Andrew Brown, the grandad of Dundee Culture founder Andrew Batchelor playing for Dundee Violets

Junior football in Dundee has been given a heartfelt spotlight after a widely shared post from Dundee Culture founder Andrew Batchelor celebrated his family’s deep connection to the grassroots game.

The post marked what would have been his grandad’s 86th birthday and reflected on a lifetime shaped by junior football.

Andrew’s grandad played for Downfield JFC and Dundee Violet JFC, representing a time when junior teams were central to everyday life in Dundee’s communities.

Rather than just being football teams, these clubs acted as social hubs, bringing people together week after week.

For many areas of the city, junior football shaped friendships, routines and local identity, long before the modern professional game took centre stage.

The post also gave a wider shoutout to junior football across Dundee, including Lochee United, and historic club Lochee Harp, recognising their lasting influence on generations of players, families and supporters.

Andrew revealed that the football connection in his family stretches back even further. His great-grandad, also named Andrew and born on the same date as him, played for Lochee Harp before earning a cap for Scotland Under-21s, a rare and proud family link to the national game.

His great-grandad moved to Dundee from Glasgow in search of opportunity, a decision that ultimately led to future generations calling the city home.

Andrew said that his own love for Dundee, and its strong sense of community, can be traced back to that moment.

The post has resonated widely online, with many people sharing their own memories of junior football in the city.