TRIBUTES have poured in for a well-known former footballer and sports reporter after his passing.
John Simpson sadly passed away on Friday, September 6 in The Orchard Care Home in Tullibody, aged 82.
A lifelong Wee County resident, John threw himself into the world of football from a very young age – going on to play for several local teams and head up the Alloa Advertiser’s sports section.
At age 15, he covered a youth football game between Forebraes and Bannockburn High School in what would be his first foray into sports reporting.
His childhood best friend Les Snaddon recounted to the Advertiser how kind John was and how much he cared about football.
“He was a great person,” Les said. “We went on holidays together across England and Isle of Man to play football most of the times.
“There were five of us who went about together and he was just a great guy, he’d have done anything for anybody.
“It didn’t matter what you asked him to do, he would do it for you. He will be sorely missed.”
In addition to being a lifelong supporter of Alloa Athletic, John also featured for his boyhood club, making one appearance in 1964-65 as a trialist.
Alongside Alloa, John made appearances for his local team Sauchie Juniors, East Stirlingshire, Clackmannan Juniors and Tulliallan Thistle, before his playing career was curtailed by injury.
Alloa historian John Glencross met John through the club connection and credited John for helping him build up his history collection, admitting he will be “sorely missed.”
“John was good,” John said. “He had a great knowledge of football and loved to talk about football.
“He was always fantastic and good to be with, we often sat at games together or in the press box.
“We helped each other learn – he knew a lot of the older players and I knew a lot of the younger ones.
“I think between us, we’ve covered every ground in Scottish football. He was fantastic and he will be sorely missed.”
After retiring from playing football, John continued to cover the match reports for Alloa, serving as the Advertiser sport reporter.
He became a household name across Clackmannanshire, with many fans still recounting his reports to this day.
Weeks before his passing, he paid a visit to the Alloa Athletic Memorabilia Exhibition, run his friend John Glencross.
The pair got to discuss various items in John Glencross' collection and reflect on a lifetime of supporting the Wasps.
John’s funeral service will be held at Sauchie & Coalsnaughton Free Church on Tuesday, September 24 at 10.30am.
All friends and family are respectfully invited.
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