Vics family pay tribute to Andy
Blantyre Vics bosses past and present have paid tribute to former club president and secretary Andy Mcdade, following his sudden death last Friday evening.
The West of Scotland Premier Division club revealed on Saturday morning that Mr Mcdade had passed away, having served with Vics for over 40 years.
Mr Mcdade was on holiday in Malaga, Spain, with wife Margaret, when he suffered a heart attack, leaving the club shocked.
Their match at home to Cumnock on Saturday was postponed until Monday as a mark of respect.
Blantyre manager John Gibson and former gaffer Willie Harvey, who was Vics boss for seven years, have now both paid tribute to the 73-year-old who “dedicated his life” to the Vics and was “an absolute gem.”
Gibson said: “I’ve known Andy for a long time. He was involved with Blantyre for four decades, and when I was there as a player at 18, Andy was on the committee at the time, and I moved to Hamilton Accies.
“Even when I went back to watch Vics I spoke to Andy, with us both being Blantyre boys, and when I went back as manager, even with other clubs, he made you feel welcome.
“Andy gave his full life to Blantyre Vics, and the committee have done everything, washing the strips and any jobs that have to be done they’ve done it.
“It’s a massive loss, and even at the game against Cumnock on Monday night you’re looking about, expecting him to be there.
“It’s wee things like that, it’s going to take a wee bit of getting used to.”
Gibson added: “I’ve had phone-calls from a lot of people, the chairmen of other clubs like Auchinleck and Cumbernauld, people passing on their condolences to make sure they get passed on to the family, so that shows how well respected Andy is.
“The game on Saturday against Cumnock was postponed until Monday, there’s no way we could have played that game. Andy deserves that.”
Harvey, now manager at Rutherglen Glencairn, said Mcdade’s passing would leave a massive hole in West of Scotland League football.
He said: “I knew Andy very well, he was one of the committee who brought me to the club when I went to Blantyre.
“He was an absolute gem of a guy, and I was so shocked when I got the news that I had a wee tear.
“Andy was a terrific, terrific guy, and a guy I really liked, so it was really hard to get that news.
“It hurt me, it hurt me really hard. “Andy was a massive figure in Scottish junior football and was hugely respected.
“He was known by everybody, and was Mr Blantyre. He was out cutting grass in all sorts of weather, washing strips, getting things done – the type of guy you need round about clubs for them to survive.
“He’s going to be an absolutely massive loss. I can’t even put how big a loss he will be to Blantyre Victoria.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and everybody at Blantyre.”