A man who dedicated his life to an Angus football club had a stand named in his honour on Saturday.
Raymond Dyce, who died at the age of 49 in 2013, worked tirelessly as a volunteer for Kirriemuir Thistle Junior Thistle Club.
Over a 20-year period he did everything from cut the grass to wash the strips at the club.
His greatest achievement was organising the rebuilding of the club’s main stand after the previous stand blew down in fierce storms at Westview Park in 2008.
Vice president Wilson Coupar, who managed the club for 23 years, said naming the stand in Raymond’s honour was a fitting tribute.
He said: “He started off training with the club and got involved with the committee in the mid-1990s.
“If he decided something was to be done, it was done.
“Over the years he was secretary, treasurer, reserve goalkeeper and vice president. He always ran our sportsman’s dinner. He really was Mr Kirrie Thistle.
“A stand blew down in 2008 and if it wasn’t for him it would be sitting as a heap of rubble or there would be nothing there.
“He was the main force on that stand being rebuilt. He also organised floodlighting.
“We’ve always wanted to name the stand after Raymond to pay tribute to him.”
Prior to the naming ceremony there was a veteran’s game and afterwards a pre-season friendly against Dyce Juniors.
The ceremony was attended by members of Raymond’s family, including his wife Susan and children Claire and Ewan.
Raymond’s brother Norman said: “He loved the club. When the stand blew down it was his mission to build a new one bigger and better.
“It was a big undertaking. I remember that he went to Love Street, St Mirren’s ground, and gathered up as many seats as he could. I think he went down three times and rubbed them down and painted them.
“He did everything over the years. He was a goalkeeper, he put the lines on the pitch, he cut the grass, he washed the strips.
“We are honoured that Kirrie Thistle have done this for Raymond.”
Raymond worked as a grain trader for Allied Grain, which he joined in 1987.
As a member of Forfar and District Young Farmers Club, he took part in many of the activities, including speech-making and stock judging. It was there that he met his future wife Susan, who he married in 1991.
He grew up at Nether Turin, near Forfar, and he educated at Pitkennedy Primary and Forfar Academy.
Just before his 16th birthday and at the first opportunity, he left school to start farm work with David Young at Nethermuir, Rescobie.
