Football community mourns youth coach
Tributes pour in for giant who inspired generation of youngsters
Emotional tributes have been paid for a muchloved youth football coach who united communities through the sport.
John McLean inspired scores of young footballers during his time in charge of Prestwick youth clubs in the 1980s.
The Rangers-daft loving grandad-of-nine will be best known for his positive impact to football in the town and was a greyhound fanatic who often raced his dogs at Ayr.
He died after health complications at Ayr Hospital on Sunday, May 30, aged 70.
John, from Prestwick, was married to Irene, 69, for 49 years with the couple due to celebrate their Golden anniversary next year.
Son John McLean Jnr, 45, has told how his father, who has three other children, James, 46, Nicola, 42 and 41-year-old Vicky, was an inspiration to those he helped.
John Jnr said: “My dad gave a lot of boys that platform because he gave everybody a chance no matter where they were from. They all respected him – it has been unbelievable and overwhelming to see all the comments coming in since he passed.
“I must have read about 300 tributes to him online, some of the boys have even moved to Australia and they have sent such lovely messages. All that mattered to my dad was seeing players leave with a smile on their faces. He was an inspiration to us all.
John Jnr, who has followed in his dad’s footsteps to take charge of Whitletts 2009s, played under him for the Prestwick clubs he managed from youth to amateur level.
Reflecting on the experience as the “best times of his life,” John Jnr recalls times where those who couldn’t afford to travel to training would be picked up by his dad or even bought a chippy on away days.
He added: “We never had much when we were younger but my dad never left anyone out.
“If we were all getting a chippy, everyone would leave with chips, that’s just how he was.
“He was a great character, a real force of nature and people will remember that.”
Prestwick club Glenburn Miners Welfare FC shared a touching tribute to John.
A spokesperson for the club said: “Big John did so much for youth football in Prestwick.
“He spent endless hours ferrying players the length and breadth of the country to get a kick at a ball.
“Thoughts from all at the club are with the McLean family at this sad time. Rest easy big man.”
After leaving the football teams he coached, John spent time with his family and followed the Light Blues.
He will be buried in a special Rangers kit which commemorated the team’s historic 55th title this year, which John was able to watch whilst in hospital.