Walter Smith: Clydebank figures pay tribute to former football boss

The 73-year-old died of cancer on October 26. 

A spokesperson for Drumchapel Amateurs FC, based in Duntocher, paid tribute to the club's former youth player.

They said: "Everyone at Drumchapel Amateurs is deeply saddened with the passing of Walter Smith.

"A former youth player at the Drum, he returned in 2004 to pay his respects to Drumchapel Amateurs founder Douglas Smith alongside other former Drum players including Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad time."

In a statement on social media, Wet Wet Wet founder Graeme Clark, who grew up in Clydebank, spoke of Walter's "humble demeanour and humility".

He said: "It is profoundly sad to learn about the passing of Walter Smith. We were fortunate to be in his company on numerous occasions when he came to our shows and when we attended so many football matches.

"Sometimes he invited us into the director's box at Ibrox where we felt totally out our depth but being welcomed by the man himself, with his humble demeanour and humility, it made us feel like we somehow belonged there.

"That was the man he was and it was clear to see why it would be easy for any football player to put their best foot forward for Walter.

"I have so many fantastic memories of Walter and one that never fails to bring a smile to my face takes me back to August 1994 in sunny Athens, when I remember going to the team’s hotel to collect match tickets from him.

"Our manager Dougie called Walter’s room, unfortunately waking him up and he would’ve been perfectly in his rights to send us packing, but being the man he was, he was extremely accommodating and we joked about how we were still number one in the charts as we had been when he last saw us at the end of the season in May!

"On behalf of everyone at Wet Wet Wet, our thoughts and condolences go out to all his friends and family especially his wife Ethel and sons Neil and Steven."