Accies gave Bert a day to remember
Ailing fan‘took it all in’during surprise visit and shirt presentation
Hamilton Accies rolled out the red and white carpet for an ailing pensioner who had stuck by the team through thick and thin since a schoolboy.
Bert Wilson, who had been suffering from cancer, went to New Douglas Park last summer and was given VIP treatment during the surprise visit.
Manager Martin Canning took the 79-year-old on a tour of the stadium and he was introduced to every member of the team before having lunch with them and to talk tactics.
Sadly, Bert, of East Scott Terrace, died in December, but his daughter Lorraine Gilfillan this week told the Advertiser she was overwhelmed by the kindness the team had shown to her dad on that special day back in June. Lorraine (55) said: “No words can express how grateful we are to Martin and all of his staff at Accies for making my dad feel like the man of the match. He was treated with great respect by everyone, a respect he had for them too.”
Bert, a former data processing manager at Terex General Motors, had experienced lows when Accies resigned from the league in the 1970s due to debt, but also highs like their return to the topflight of Scottish football three seasons ago.
During the visit last June, the team signed the very first 2016/17 strip for stalwart Bert, who was a season ticket holder all his adult life and follower of Accies at home and away.
The visit came about when Lorraine and her sisters Lesley and Gillian realised Bert would not make his 80th birthday this June.
Lorraine contacted Accies commercial manager and youth coach Shaun Fagan to ask him if the club could sign a ball for Bert.
Shaun got back in touch a few days later and asked Lorraine to bring her dad along to the stadium on June 28. Lorraine said: “When Martin asked if we wanted to sit in the dug-out and watch a training session I sat with dad and could hear him say out loud ‘Take it all in Bert’”.
But, the highlight came after lunch when Martin asked Bert back to the dressing room where the team were waiting. They had just received the strip for the new season that day and the team signed the first one out of the box for Bert, who received a round of applause.
Lorraine added: “Dad went home on a high and we could see how much this wonderful day had lifted his spirits. I can’t speak highly enough of what Accies did for dad. I’m very much indebted to them and have nothing but respect for them.”
Bert was also a keen bowler at Hamilton Caledonian Bowling Club and had been president and champion at the club in the early 1980s.
As well as leaving his three daughters to former wife May, Bert also leaves his wife Alice, five granddaughters, three great grandsons and two great granddaughters.