Ex-Shotts goalkeeper Willie Whigham is remembered
Tributes have been paid to former Shotts-Bon-Accord goalkeeperWillie Whigham, who passed away aged 81.
A mechanic to trade,Whigham was a legendary figure at Falkirk and, most notably, English outfit Middlesborough.
He arrived at Falkirk in 1960 from Shotts and that was his second attempt to break into senior football.
Whigham was also a target for Celtic and Rangers while he was at Falkirk, but the club wouldn’t sell him to another Scottish club, and he instead moved to Middlesbrough in 1966 for £10,000, as goalkeeper Eddie Connachan went in the opposite direction.
Willie passed away at Monklands Hospital lastWednesday, following a bout of pneumonia.
Brother-in-law Alan Barrie described Whigham as a character and a legend, who will be sadly missed.
Alan said:“They’ve got him down as a legend, which he was. I went down to Middlesbrough with him for a do and we got to the hotel, got on the wrong tube and we were late.
“Only one person was still there, Steve
McLaren, who was then-England manager, who stayed for about 10 minutes to get a catch-up withWillie.
“The place was mobbed and they askedWillie to do the raffle.There was a wee boy standing at the front who had a heart condition, born with a hole in his heart, he was about 10 years old, and he shouted‘MrWhigham, white No.1’.
“After a whileWillie shouted out‘white No.1’and the roar that went up was unbelievable.
“The wee boy couldn’t believe it. He got a football, signed by the players, his photo and signature fromWillie, he got loads of stuff from Middlesbrough, throughWillie – and that ticket never actually came up. That’s the kind of person he was.”
Willie leaves behind sister Jean Burrie, ex-wife Joyce Campbell and sons Stephen and Stuart. Alan added:“Nothing fazed him. He had a dry sense of humour and was a character.”
Shotts posted on theirTwitter account this week:“Condolences to all family and friends of former Shotts keeperWillie Whigham who sadly passed away this week from all at Shotts Bon Accord FC.”