Craggs was a character
Father succumbs to brain tumour after 10-year battle
MARK PIRIE
Much-loved football coach Dougie Craggs has been described as “a massive character” after his tragic passing last week.
The 40-year-old husband and dad-of-one had been battling with a brain tumour for the past decade.
The popular St Leonards man has been involved in coaching young players across the town at Greenhills Dynamo, EK FC and East Kilbride Rolls-Royce.
East Kilbride Rolly spokesman Craig Downs revealed that the last game Dougie coached was when the 2005 side shocked Knightswood in the Regional Cup Quarter Final on penalties – and would to have loved to bring the trophy home for him before the lockdown.
“It was a long battle for him but he never once moaned,” continued Downs.
“He was a fun-loving guy and a family man first and foremost.
“It was always a running joke that you had to allow twice the amount of time because he would stand and speak to everyone.
“He was football daft and a massive Celtic fan. He would coach for the love it and has been with us since the word go.
“He knew a lot of people and all the boys loved him. He’s been the only coach that has been ever-present through their development with the team. They looked up to him and loved his banter.
“They loved his training and always respected him. He would have done anything for the boys.
“If our game clashed with a Celtic game he would always come down for the boys. He wanted to bring the boys on to make them better players and better people.”
Former Greenhills Dynamo club secretary Gavin McCann said it was a dream tenure for Dougie as coach at the club.
He was one of the founding members of the side – bringing football and silverware to the area of town where he grew up.
Gavin told the News: “We were quite a successful team and mainly won cups, but the Holy Grail came when Dougie was part of the management team when we won the league in 2010.
“He went from manager to coach, and as a player he was strong in the tackle, robust and passionate.
“Over two years when he was in management we won four trophies out of six.
“He was so committed. He was the first on the pitch and last off; he was taking the nets down and putting the cones out.
“He had a fantastic relationship with all of the players and was a massive character. He will be sorely missed.
“Although we folded in 2011, we did a few charity matches and Dougie was an integral part of that. He was a can-do guy.
“He was a fantastic guy to have on your side. He would motivate the guys and keep their spirits up.
“It was three Greenhills boys who started the group and it was a bit of fairytale stuff that Dougie was able to enjoy the success he did.
“There is so much emotion because he is such a big loss for the whole East Kilbride football community.”