The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Crowds turn out in tribute to popular football fan Jimmy
Hundreds of friends filled the streets of Elgin to applaud one of the town’s favourite sons on his final journey.
Jimmy McLean died on August 22 at the age of 71.
The stalwart Elgin City and Aberdeen fan was taken into the hearts of many in the community.
Yesterday hundreds packed streets in the Moray town so people could say their final farewell to the popular loon.
The football fanatic was perhaps best known on the Borough Briggs terraces, where he cheered on Elgin City for 60 years while always clutching a radio to hear the scores from elsewhere.
And friends wearing both Elgin City and Aberdeen scarves and tops filled the pavement outside the football ground to pay their own tribute.
Despite his advancing years, friends still took Mr McLean to the matches – where he was known for often blethering with other supporters during the game.
When the cortege passed, they started to applaud in recognition of the impact he had made on life in the community.
Scarves from both Elgin City and Aberdeen were laid on his coffin for his final journey.
For years Mr McLean had been a fixture on Elgin High Street selling Evening Express and Green Final papers from a small hut.
And many knew him from when he would go to the pub with copies of the latest sports news to sell to the regulars.
His popularity in the town made his birthdays huge celebrations with Mr McLean often taking to the stage himself to sing.
He used his 70th birthday last year to raise about £2,000 for the Moray branch of the Friends of Chernobyl charity.
Friends took Mr McLean from Anderson’s care home, where he spent his final years, to visit his old haunts earlier this month.
Well-wishers stopped to share stories while cars tooted in the streets.
His death prompted an outpouring of memories from across the world with friend Lorna Whyte revealing she had received about 2,000 messages.