A FORMER Largs Thistle boss who was a close friend of former Scotland manager Craig Brown has led local tributes to the Scottish football legend.
The ex Scotland boss, who died on Monday aged 82, was a familiar face in Largs in the 1980s and 1990s through the Scotland national side and the SFA coaching courses at Inverclyde Sports Centre - and, on one occasion, appearing in the town to share a TV chat show sofa with Kylie Minogue.
He even once told the national press - though not entirely seriously - that one day he'd like to follow in the footsteps of his friend John Crawford by taking the manager's hotseat at Barrfields.
John had a long-standing 50 year friendship with Craig, the pair having first met while John was a student, and Craig a lecturer, at the then Craigie College in Ayr.
Craig even paid a visit to the Thistle dressing room to offer his congratulations after John led his Largs to Scottish Junior Cup final glory in 1994, when Pat McCurdy fired in the winning goal in the 1-0 win over Glenafton at Ibrox.
John, who hails from Prestwick, said: "I knew that Craig hadn't been keeping well, and I heard that he had gone into hospital on Saturday.
"I am very sorry to hear of his passing - he leaves an incredible legacy.
"I think back to all the good memories I had with Craig. He was always so supportive to me in my coaching.
"I remember going through my coaching badges in the 1980s and he took me up to Clyde to see some coaching sessions.
"At that point in time they had a young Pat Nevin, and I saw various drills and coaching techniques in action which I used in my management practices.
"I remember after the Scottish Cup final Craig was the first person to come into the dressing rooms and congratulate us after the final.
"He told me how he had watched us at Barrfields at training, and he remembered seeing the drill for the winning goal, with David Elliot firing in the cross and Pat McCurdy scoring.
"He had been up doing his coaching at Inverclyde Sports Centre and popped down to Barrfields to watch us."
Craig once famously joked to the national press that he would welcome the chance to manage Largs Thistle - as a wind-up to his pal.
In a 2000 interview with the News, the then Scotland chief laughed when he was asked about whether he would be interested in taking over as coach of Largs Thistle at the end of his career.
"I have said that in the past," he admitted.
"I knew John Crawford and his assistant Ossie Findlay. They were famous in Largs at that time after winning the Scottish Junior Cup, and I thought I would wind them up.
"I said that it would be a smashing job. I just did it to wind them up as they were Largs' most famous coaching pair.”
John, a lifelong Rangers supporter, also recounted how Craig arranged for the legendary Gers boss Walter Smith to give him a call in early 1994 - just a few months before that unforgettable Junior Cup final.
"Craig was in Cyprus with him on Scotland duty," John recalled, and because I was a 'true blue', Craig arranged for Walter to call me.
"Walter offered a straight player swap of Mark Hateley for Archie Halley!
"I thanked Walter for the offer but politely turned it down as Archie was doing well - and the rest is history. True story!"
John added: "Although Craig was neutral in the Scottish Cup final, I think he was pleased that Largs had won the cup as he had spent a lot of time here, and because of our friendship.
"He was also good friends with Thistle assistant boss Ossie Findlay, who was a clerk of works at Craigie.
"They also had a very long term friendship, and Craig attended Ossie's funeral last year.
"Craig has received so many warm tributes, and rightly so."
Before becoming manager of the Scotland national team, Craig coached the under-16 squad who famously reached the U16 World Cup final in 1989 in a tournament played on home soil - with the Scots missing out on glory after losing on penalties to Saudi Arabia in the final at Hampden in front of more than 50,000 supporters.
After succeeding Andy Roxburgh as Scotland manager in 1993, Craig led Scotland to the 1996 European Championships in England and the 1998 World Cup in France - the latter the last time Scotland qualified for football's global showpiece tournament.
"He even phoned me up 45 minutes before Scotland were due to take the pitch against Brazil at the World Cup in 1998, when I was headmaster at Drongan Primary," John recalled.
"That is a measure of the man - he was happy to phone for a quick chat for a few minutes before the biggest game Scotland have ever played. And they came so close that day to pulling off a famous result in front of a world audience.
"He was such a genuinely nice guy and a good friend.
"Just a few years ago he came to my 'walking football' group at Ayr United to give a presentation and was merrily chatting away to everyone. He was just the same down-to-earth person he was 50 years ago, but a very intelligent man with a brilliant memory for players.
"Craig was the type of person where nothing was too much trouble. He was involved in an anti drugs project with MP George Foulkes, as well as attending school prizegivings.
"I am eternally grateful to him.
"There is no doubting that Craig touched a lot of lives through his footballing career - but much more than that, he was a really good person, and friendly with everyone he met. It is a massive loss."
John Kent, former principal of Inverclyde Sports Centre, said Craig played a hugely influential role in coaching courses in Largs which attracted footballing greats.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Brendan Rodgers, David Moyes, Roy Hodgson, and even Jose Mourinho have all trained or taught at the coaching courses held in the town.
"Craig worked with the likes of Andy Roxburgh, Frank Coulson, Ross Mathie and Alan Hodgkinson," John recalled, "and helped to oversee the development of all the coaching courses - and played an integral part in bringing them to the town.
"The amazing thing about Craig he was as at ease dealing with famous footballers and aspiring coaches as he was coaching children's groups.
"He was also involved and supportive in disability sport.
"As well as being Scotland manager for 70 odd games, and assistant to Andy Roxburgh, he was also the SFA technical director and co-ordinated the courses which attracted coaches from the UK and around the world. They travelled to Largs because of the high quality of the courses.
"I remember being invited to the SFA headquarters in Park Gardens as Craig talked about bringing the courses to Largs.
"We were more than happy to facilitate it - and he and Andy Roxburgh set the standards.
"Everyone turned up for their meals well dressed and on time. It was all very well organised and drilled, and he fostered a professional atmosphere."
"He was also very media-savvy - and was involved in instilling the media training to the courses at Inverclyde so the managers were well prepared.
"Craig had a magical quality in that he made you feel at ease whenever you walked into a room - he was always so friendly and cheerful.
"It is a great loss for Scotland, and my condolences go to all his family and friends."
Craig even appeared alongside Kylie Minogue in Largs in 1997, when he and the Australian pop legend were invited - along with former EastEnders actor Leslie Grantham - to appear on the BBC's 'McCoist and McAulay' chat show, which was filmed at Vikingar! in the town.
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