The whole Bannockburn Amateurs family is extremely saddened by the loss of Honorary member Roy McAlpine. Roy left us yesterday after suffering a stroke.
“Big Roy” hailed from Thornhill and with two village friends, Ian Hay and John MacPherson, met three local girls, married them and settled in Bannockburn. Roy was part of the club for nigh on 50-years as avid supporter, committee and honorary member. He would often regale up and coming players and committee men with his stories. One favourite was his walk to and from Cowie on a Saturday morning for the saw dust to line the pitch.

Here was a greatest memory he shared as part of the club’s 40th anniversary programme in 2008. “My greatest memory has to be our first Scottish Cup win in 1987. At 2:0 up and five minutes to go I remember nervously saying to Charlie McIlvenny, “We can’t get beat now?”
He firmly told me not to be so stupid. I needn’t have worried. The best Amateurs Scottish performance has to be the meeting with Dumbarton St Pats the season after they won it. We beat them 6:0. We were fantastic.”

Football is all about opinions and Roy was always ready to share in an Amateurs debate. He reveled in discussions about the best amateur players. He could be persuaded around different positions but never flinched from Harry Bruce and Jim Fowler as his best players ever. (needing to split hairs over defining amateur to force a top choice from him).
For the last few years Roy lived in Wallace View nursing home. There his signed amateurs top and numerous squad pictures took pride of place together with memorabilia of his beloved Manchester United. Visiting him, one sensed his mind could lose some of its focus but never when reminiscing about Bannockburn Amateurs.
The club sends its best wishes and support to daughters Shona, June and their families at this sad time.