The last of the legendary line

Truly unique. Never smoked. Never drank. Never swore. A credit to football. A credit to himself, Lawrie Reilly. The one and only Lawrie Reilly.

They’ve asked me here to add my tuppenceworth to the richly-deserved tribute the News is printing today. Frankly, I’d have been miffed if they hadn’t. After all, and I relish writing this, as much bragging as respectful, few mourners today actually witnessed Lawrie doing his stuff as I did season after season, home and away, in the faboulous – yes, fabulous – Famous Five. My good fortune.

These past few seasons we sat close together, Lawrie in his green blzer, in the stand. He could summon a smile as naturally as he’d trap a ball, latterly tempereing the happy face with scathing critisim. Brutal but justifiable criticism of the players brazen enough to don the jersey. Still, he wouldn’t swear but the words he had in my ear for the latest crop saw him shake his head in despair.

Privilege and a pleasure to have rubbed shoulders and exchanged so much patter.

They all chorus that finest hours were at Wembley. No they weren’t. In my book his finest two hours were spent in a head-to-head over lunch at Gordon’s Trattoria in the High Street (more of that later).

My last-minute words on Lawrie are: what more can you ask of a man who used his football golden handshake on a pub in Leith where, as ever-present landlord for years, he drank only orange juice.

Aye, Lawrie Reilly . . . last of the legendary line.

On Twitter

Former Hibs striker Keith Wright @keithwright47: “A very sad day RIP Lawrie Reilly an absolute Hibs legend. I was very lucky to meet the great man and loved his goalscoring stories. #Hero”

Jamie Borthwick

@jamiekborthwick: “Reilly was a total gentleman, a fantastic ambassador for the game, a proud Hibee and the last of the Famous 5.”

Forth One DJ Boogie

@BoogsTweets: “Sad loss of #Hibs legend Lawrie Reilly today. I met him a few times and he was a nice man. He scored for Scotland at Wembley 4 times!”

Dean Ballantyne

@DeanBallantyne: “Lawrie Reilly was not just a legend to Hibs fans, but also to Scotland! Scored 5 goals at Wembley against England! RIP”

Jack Moffat @JackMoffat6: “Rip Lawrie Reilly. Hibs and Scotland legend”

Ex-Hibs star Joe Tortolano @SuperTortolano: “Sad to hear the news of Lawrie Reilly. A true Hibs Legend – a remarkable footballer and even more remarkable man!! May he Rest In Peace”

Paget @rosspaget1: “R.I.P Lawrie Reilly. True Hibs legend”

Hibernian FC

@HibernianFCClub: “As long as there is a Hibernian, Reilly’s name will be revered. He was the greatest Hibee of them all. His memory marches on . . .”

Taken from the Scotsman