Charlie did ‘not bad for a Blantyre boy’
Tributes after Blantyre Celtic president passes away
Tributes have been paid to the president of Blantyre Celtic Football Club, Charlie Boyle, who passed away suddenly last week aged 59.
Charlie, along with Blantyre’s Joe Murphy, restarted Blantyre Celtic in 2010 and had been club president until his passing on February 23.
He was also instrumental in helping to set up Blantyre’s anti-knife campaign and town march following the tragic murder of Reamonn Gormley, outside the Parkville Hotel, back in 2011.
A pal of rock legend and fellow Celtic Football Club fan Rod Stewart, who he duly elected Blantyre Celtic honorary president, Charlie was delighted to be invited to bring his side – a Blantyre Celtic X1 – along to take on a Rod Stewart XI in the rocker’s very own Essex estate back garden in 2013.
Charlie also had a passionate involvement in the Justice for the 96 Hillsborough campaign and worked hard to set up a memorial game for Blantyre Celtic in Liverpool each year, as well as raising much-needed funds and awareness for MND Scotland, which led to him being thanked at a meeting with HRH Princess Anne.
Close pal John Tierney, of Blantyre, led the tributes this week.
He said: “Charlie was a larger than life character who loved and adored his wife Shirley and his family.
“He was known as a very helpful and generous guy with a huge heart.
“For me personally, I will be eternally grateful to Charlie. He was a major part in the antiknife crime work and march through Blantyre, working tirelessly to get the media on board and never once did he look for any credit for it.
“He was a man of moral fibre and a took a passionate involvement in the JFT96 Hillsborough campaign.
“He had a huge heart and always wanted to help others.
“But for me personally I will miss laughing with him more than anything.
“I can’t recall a time we spoke (even about serious matters) that we didn’t end up with tears running down our faces.
“He did so much for me in many ways and it saddens me that I’ll never get to thank him.
“His amazing, infectious energy will be missed by a massive number of people. And to quote one of his most used phrases, ‘no bad for a Blantyre boy.’
On Blantyre Celtic’s Twitter account this week it read: “Everyone at the club is devastated at the untimely passing of our club president Charlie Boyle.
“Thoughts and prayers go to Shirley and family.”
Blantyre Councillor Bert Thomson said on Facebook this week: “Sad to hear he has passed away,” while Paddy Finnigan posted: “Brilliant guy. God bless Charlie.”
Charlie is survived by his wife Shirley, son Kevin, daughters Donna Marie and Julie Ann and granddaughters Amy, Rachel and Millie.
His funeral will take place on Monday at 9.30am mass at St Mary’s Hamilton and then onto SLC Crematorium.
He was a man of moral fibre. He had a huge heart and always wanted to help others. His amazing, infectious energy will be missed by a massive number of people John Tierney