Family’sSpanish holidayturnedto tragedy by Jags man’s heart attack

Paul Thomson

A former East Kilbride Thistle player who was a massive Rangers fan tragically died on his way to watch his beloved team on TV.

Alan McTurk from Calderwood was on a family holiday in Lanzarote when he suffered a fatal heart attack. He was 61.

The defender, who was signed by legendary Gers boss Jock Wallace in 1976, was a big bluenose and died last month en route to the Bluebells Bar to watch Rangers’ 6-1 Scottish Cup win over Ayr United.

Heartbroken widow Janice told how her husband of 38 years took ill in the back seat of a taxi as he and his sonin-law Scott Simpson made their way to the pub to catch the game.

“We were only three days into the holiday and he was feeling great,” Janice said.

“He was fantastic on the Saturday: having fun, playing with his grandkids in the pool and enjoying himself.

“Then on the Sunday he went to watch his beloved Rangers and that’s when it happened.

“He was getting a taxi to go and watch the game at the Bluebells Bar and he just passed away in the back seat.

“Alan was football-daft and his knowledge of the game was incredible. He loved to socialise and go to the pub with his mates.

“We are just so shocked and devastated.”

Alan’s son-in-law Scott added: “We had started walking to the bar but it was really hot so we decided to get a taxi.

“Alan gave me money to jump in the front to pay the driver and he went in the back.

“We weren’t that far down the road when I turned around and that was him gone.

“It’s terrible. He was such a big personality and very likeable.

“He was a massive Rangers fan but he loved watching sports from darts to cricket and he even stayed up late last month to watch the Super Bowl.”

A retired ambulance technician, Alan started his football career at EK Dynamo as a youngster before a move to East Kilbride Thistle as a teenager in 1974.

In August 1976 he signed for Rangers on a provisional form at the age of 19 before being farmed back out to Thistle.

He made a handful of appearances for the Ibrox youth side but did not break into the first team.

He went on to play for Baillieston Juniors but he returned to the Jags in 1984 as assistant manager to David Thomson.

In his later years golf played a big role in his life and he joined Langlands Golf Club in 2000. Alan was always a vocal member on the committee, willing to lend a hand for events, and he had only given up the role of club captain in January.

EK Thistle director Peter Kelsall said: “I last spoke to Alan in January at the funeral of our honorary chairman Allan Cairns so it’s terrible to have lost two big figures from the club so close together.

“We are all so sorry to hear of his passing and the thoughts of everyone at the club are with Alan’s family. He will never be forgotten.”

The McTurk family faced an agonising wait after Alan’s death on February 11 to fly his body back to Scotland but they will now be able to say their final goodbyes at his funeral on Friday.

During that period they have been touched by the outpouring of grief and good wishes they have received.

Janice said: “Everybody loved him and we’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of cards and lovely messages we’ve had.

“I went to the petrol station down the road and the guy there said it was like an earthquake had hit East Kilbride when people found out.

“So many people had spoken to him about how shocked and saddened they were.

“He was really popular and he loved his family.”

Alan is survived by Janice, daughter Alaine Simpson and his two grandsons, four-year-old Ben and twoyear-old Adam.

His funeral will be held at Linn Crematorium at 2pm on Friday and East Kilbride Thistle will hold a minute’s silence in Alan’s memory before Saturday’s match with St Roch’s.