Largs Thistle have paid tribute to their long-serving kitman, committee member, volunteer and 'wonderful friend' Tommy Scouller, who died at the weekend.
Tommy, who passed away on Saturday, June 22 at the age of 89, had been long associated with the Barrfields club in a wide variety of roles, including selecting the 'man of the match' award winner after each home game.
He received the Archie Dickie Award for voluntary service to the club at the player of the year celebration at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
A club spokesperson said: "Largs Thistle is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Tommy Scouller. Tommy was our kitman, volunteer and above all a wonderful friend to everyone.
"We share our deepest condolences to the Scouller family."
Manager Stuart Davidson said: "Condolences to Betty and the family. Barrfields just won't be the same on matchdays without him, it's a massive loss to the club and the town.
"Thanks for being so kind and welcoming to me and my family from day one. We will all miss you. RIP ma wee pal."
Thistle top scorer Will Sewell said: "Rest in peace my friend. Absolutely devastated. Thinking of Betty and the whole Scouller family. Gonna miss you Tommy."
And Will's twin brother George wrote: "A legend in every sense of the word. I won’t forget the stories you told me through lockdown. Love you forever Tommy."
Former Largs Thistle striker James Marks added: "Gutted to hear this. What a man Tommy was - one of the best around."
The club's chaplain, Reverend Graham McWilliams, said: "Tommy has always been welcoming, smiling and cheerful.
"In the dressing room at the end of each game, there would be a knock at the door and everybody would know that that was Tommy and he would reveal the man of the match.
"He was always encouraging the players, the team, and Stuart Davidson and his coaches."
Tommy grew up in Glasgow, and was a slater and plasterer to trade before doing his army service for two years.
He then went back to slating before getting a job with high street chain House of Fraser, doing maintenance work at all of their stores in Scotland and the north of England.
Tommy married the love of his life Betty in Possilpark Parish Church in Glasgow in 1959.
In his last ten years of employment, Tommy was a heating engineer at the House of Fraser base in Buchanan Street, Glasgow.
Betty worked in the Askit factory in Possil before becoming a staff member at Woolworths in Sauchiehall Street.
Tommy was a successful junior footballer with Greenock, Maryhill and Saltcoats Vics.
In his retirement Tommy became Thistle's kitman, a position he held for many years.
He sat with the management and substitutes in the Largs dugout in the Scottish Junior Cup final in 2010.
Tommy and Betty lived happily together in Woodcroft Avenue in Largs for many years, before moving to the McCarthy and Stone residential development behind Nardini's three years ago.
Son Paul said: "My father had an amazing energy and loved Betty and all his family.
"He absolutely adored everything about Largs Thistle, including players, staff and the coaches. That hour and a half every week was his favourite time of the week.
"He loved talking to everybody at the club, and he really had a special double act with his great friend Pat Rall, who passed away last year.
"It really upset him when Pat died, and it is nice that the fans are saying that they are now back together in heaven."
Tommy played with Greenock Juniors in the 1960 season, when they reached the Junior Cup final. He sadly missed out due to injury, but he did manage to get a runners-up medal.
Tommy and Pat were famously sent off during a match with Irvine Vics after they were ruled to have infringed on the field of play during their kitman duties - an incident which caused as much hilarity to the pair as it did to the club's own supporters, and which even made national newspaper headlines.
The pair were christened the 'Jack and Victor' of the junior football scene for their antics.
Paul recalled: "What made it even funnier was that the same referee was asked to pick the draw for the Largs Thistle 200 Club a few months later, and picked out Tommy's number, and he won £1,000!
"He would never watch penalty kicks or shoot-outs, and when Largs scored he would take a wee drink of his hip flask.
"I never saw him happier than when he was on the terraces at Barrfields Park."
Tommy is survived by Betty, children Paul, Tommy, and Elizabeth, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here