FAMILY’S TRIBUTE TO ‘TOTAL GENT’ JOE
... and what a player he was too
Hundreds of people turned out yesterday to pay their last respects to former East Kilbride footballer and postman Joe McGurn.
The ex-St Johnstone and East Kilbride YC defender was laid to rest after losing his battle with pancreatic cancer, aged 52.
Mourners attended a service held at South Lanarkshire Crematorium.
Younger sister Sharon Nicholls, speaking on behalf of the family, told the News: “Joe was a total gentleman and his family always came first.
“He always looked out for everyone and even right to the end he was putting other people before himself.”
Joe, from West Mains, attracted many admirers early in his career, including a certain Sir Alex Ferguson when he was Aberdeen boss.
Former EKYC coach John McSherry paid a glowing tribute to Joe this week and said: “He was the player of the time.
“A harder guy you couldn’t get. He will be a big loss.”
Tributes have been paid to former St Johnstone and East Kilbride YC player Joe McGurn after he lost his battle with pancreatic cancer, aged 52.
The tough-tackling defender passed away last Tuesday and hundreds of mourners turned out to pay their respects at his funeral which was held yesterday at South Lanarkshire Crematorium.
He is survived by wife Alison and three children Erin, 20, Hannah, 22 and Dan, 31.
Joe was one of five siblings, along with brothers Mick and Thomas and sisters Sharon and Mary-Anne.
Younger sister Sharon Nicholls, speaking on behalf of the family, told the News: “Joe was a total gentleman and his family always came first.
“He always looked out for everyone and even right to the end he was putting people before himself, more concerned about how his dad was feeling than worrying about himself.
“His family were very important to him and even when he moved out of our mum and dad’s house in Falkland Drive, he only moved a few doors down the road.
“Joe was a true friend and a loving brother, husband and father.
“Football was his great love and he was always out playing football as a child. If not for his injuries and illness, he would have gone further in his football career.
“Nobody ever had a bad word to say about Joe and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”
Joe, from West Mains, started his playing career at East Kilbride Youth Club under the tutelage of coach John McSherry and his style of play attracted many admirers, including a certain Alex Ferguson.
The legendary manager stopped by the family home in 1981 to try and persuade the 16-year-old him to join Aberdeen.
However, he stayed at YC and two years later moved to Perthshire to join St Johnstone.
His no-nonsense style earned him the respect of his team-mates and opponents alike, making 75 appearances for the Saints over four seasons and scoring seven goals.
Moves to Alloa Athletic and Stenhousemuir followed but a number of serious injuries, including a broken leg, cut short his playing career.
After retiring from the game, Joe became a postman and in his spare time took up golf, playing off a three handicap.
His former coach at EKYC John, now 87, hailed him as the greatest player of his generation.
“Joe was the best centre-half I’ve ever seen,” he said. “Hard as iron and a terrific player.
He was a shining example of how to play and behave as a footballer Iain King
“He had a great attitude and gave 100 per cent in every game.
“I coached him from the age of 12 until he left for St Johnstone at 18. He was the player of the time.
“A harder guy you couldn’t get. He will be a big loss.”
Ex-East Kilbride FC manager and sports journalist Iain King played with Joe at EKYC and he recalled how he was “a shining example” to his team-mates.
King said: “Joe was an inspiration to everyone at EKYC – he was captain of a superb side that included players like Rab McKinnon who would go on to play for Scotland.
“I was a younger player who was aged up and it was intimidating at first to play with the older guys but Joe made you so welcome and protected you.
“He was a shining example of how to play and behave as a footballer and it never surprised me in the slightest that he made it pro just like Rab.
“Over the years I’d meet Joe walking through the town centre or at football events and he was always the same; humble and genuinely interested in how your life was going.
“He was a terrific footballer and person, everyone who played with him was richer for the experience.
“It’s devastating that he has been taken so young and my thoughts are with his friends and family.”
Former professional footballer and work colleague at the Royal Mail Ally Graham said: “I knew he wasn’t well but it’s still hit me like a ton of bricks.
“I joined Whitehills United when I was younger and I played against him a few times when we were about 12 or 13 years old.
“He was a winner – even at that age.
“At St Johnstone, I know they still talk about him up there. ‘He was some tackler that boy,’ they’d say.
“I got to know Joe a lot better over the last 10 years working at the Royal Mail with him and he was a good friend.
“He went through the wars with injuries but he never once complained. He just got on with it. That’s the kind of character he was.”
Meanwhile, St Johnstone FC paid their own tribute.
A spokesperson for the club said: “At a time when St Johnstone’s fortunes were pretty low, Joe was a prime example of a young player with plenty to prove and no little ability and the thoughts of everyone at the club are with his family at this sad time.”