Stirling mourn stalwart Mackay

Iain Mackay, who served Stirling County for more than 40 years, has passed away. He was 67.

He died on Sunday following a long battle with illness and will be remembered fondly by those who knew him at Bridgehaugh and also in wider Scottish rugby circles.

He was a tremendous servant to Stirling County and fulfilled many roles within the club as player, coach and committee member over the years following his arrival in the local area in the late 1960s.

Off the pitch, Mackay was named club captain in 1970/71 and then served as club secretary from 1972 to 1975 and grounds convener in the early 1980s.

More recently, he was the international ticket secretary, while many will also recall his long association with the mini section of the club as a coach. On the pitch, for many years Mackay was the first choice full-back for the first XV and it has been documented that “his defence under a high ball and capacity for counter-attacking gave his team mates a great deal of reassurance”.

Having played for the first XV throughout the 1970s, he continued to play into the 1980s when many young players benefited from his experience and advice.