Tribute paid to Airdrie legend ‘JD’

Tribute has been paid to a‘larger than life’character after former Airdrie kit man John‘jd’ Donnelly passed away last week.

Airdrie director of football Stuart Millar didn’t know John from the Diamonds, but their paths crossed while Millar was playing at Clyde.

Donnelly worked for the Bully Wee for 20 years from 1977 before joining Airdrie, and provided a number of roles for the Rutherglen club at Shawfield, Firhill, Douglas Park and Broadwood.

He was at Airdrie from 1997 until retiring in 2012, and passed away on Thursday.

Millar, a winger who played at Clyde from 1986 to 1990 under managers Craig Brown and John Clark, said John was a great character to have around.

He said:“i knew John well at Clyde, he was kit-man at Clyde when I was there in the mid-to-late 80s and he was a larger than life character, and very much respected by everyone who got in contact with him.

“He was very strict like most kit men are, regarding giving out kit, but he was a good guy.

“I used to pick John up on the way to Clyde because he lived in Bellshill and I lived in Chapelhall, so there was obviously a connection there.

“When he was at Airdrie I was at Ross County for those years, so I only came across him when he was very much a rival. I last spoke to him at [former kit-man]jim Frame’s funeral and I had invited him back to the club for hospitality when fans were allowed back in.

“John said he would very much like that and would take me up on that offer and thanked me, but unfortunately that was the last time that I spoke to him, which was sad.

“He was a larger than life character, you heard him before you saw him, but he was a very genuine man who told you the truth.

“He was a good guy who always gave 100 per cent to whatever job he did, and made sure it was done to such precision. He was a heck of a nice guy who did his very best for whatever club he was associated with.”

A statement from Airdrie read:“we were honoured that he chose Airdrie as his last club before he retired from the game in 2014.

“His on-field highs at the club included the Championship win of 2003/04 and the 2008/09 Challenge Cup, but if asked he would tell you his highlights were all the people he met through the game.

“A warm and friendly man, JD will be sadly missed.

“Everyone at the club sends their condolences to the Donnelly family at this very difficult time.”

Sadly misssed John ‘JD’ Donnelly