FIVE HUNDRED people who yesterday paid final respects to Rangers and
Scotland legend Willie Waddell were told the new Ibrox stadium now
stands as ''a monument to a monumental man''.
Mr Waddell, 71, who died of a heart attack on Tuesday, had a fairytale
life in which almost everything he touched turned to gold, according to
Ibrox Parish minister C. Blair Gillon.
But the fairy tale had a dark hue -- the Ibrox disaster in 1971, when
66 people died and many more were injured.
Paying tribute to his vision then of a stadium to rank among the
safest and finest, Mr Gillon said: ''In the midst of darkness, Willie
Waddell did what he always did -- his best. He brought light into the
darkness -- the stadium stands as a monument to a monumental man.''
Mourners came from all walks, but mainly from football, and included
Mr Waddell's team mates Bobby Brown, Jock Shaw, Willie Woodburn, and Bob
McPhail, 86.
They also included Rangers' first team pool, Scotland coach Andy
Roxburgh, former Rangers manager Graeme Souness, reunited with manager
Walter Smith, and ex-Ibrox stars Jim Baxter, Derek Johnstone, Davie
Cooper, and Tommy McLean.
Former Dunfermline West MP Dick Douglas, comedian Andy Cameron, lawyer
Joe Beltrami, ex-Scotland manager Ally McLeod, and retired referee
''Tiny'' Wharton, also attended the service, with standing room only in
St Mungo's Chapel at Linn Crematorium.
Celtic's representatives included Celtic chairman Kevin Kelly,
directors Jack McGinn, Chris White, and James Farell, and former club
captain Billy McNeill and ex-assistant manager Sean Fallon.
Former Celtic star Alan McInally also paid his respects, accompanied
by his father, Jackie McInally, who played for Kilmarnock when Mr
Waddell was manager at Rugby Park.
Rangers chairman David Murray, whose wife is seriously ill, did not
attend. Vice-chairman Donald Findlay said later: ''You must understand
it is not easy for him. He will be with the family and friends at Ibrox
later.''
The 11-strong cortege was led by Mr Waddell's wife, Hilda, and three
children, Ronnie, Peter, and Ailsa.
Their red, white, and blue flowers on the coffin -- roses, carnations,
and irises -- carried the message: ''Always remembered. Love for ever.''
Grandchildren Gordon, Andrew, Sheila, and Shona followed, with their
floral tribute devoted to ''the best granpa in the world''.
Red carnations from Souness hinted at a special relationship with
Waddell. His card read: ''To Willie; a good friend and confidante.''
Mr Gillon recounted Mr Waddell's remarkable life from his professional
debut for Rangers in 1938 to becoming an honorary director and adviser
in retirement.
In between, Mr Waddell had managed Kilmarnock and led the side to the
Scottish championship in 1965; twice launched successful careers in
journalism, and as manager with Rangers lifted the European Cup Winners'
Cup in 1972.
Mr Waddell, known as the Deedle, was not only larger than life but a
man of inspiration, compassion, charity, and above all, high integrity.
He was also a fair man -- even if renowned for his severity,
discipline, and for striking terror into people by not suffering fools
gladly, the minister said.
He added that Mr Waddell's undoubted achievements will be told
repeatedly because his life was a fairy tale with many happy endings,
and because he was ''a rose plucked from a special garden to bring drama
to many''.
Mr Gillon acknowledged people would feel shock, grief, and loss, on
the death of a man often described as a living legend.
Despite numerous achievements elsewhere, he would always be synonymous
with Rangers, where his many roles ranged from player to manager, and
from general manager to managing director and vice-chairman.
His ''finest hour was the new stadium'' at Ibrox, planned after the
disaster which Mr Waddell vowed would never be repeated.
He said Mr Waddell, born ''with many gifts that were not allowed to
languish in obscurity but used to the full'', would be greatly missed:
''If as it is said he lived for Rangers, it should also be said that
without him Rangers would not be the club it is today -- his enthusiasm
and dedication to the club is undoubted, and it will surely remain in
his debt.''
Bob McPhail later recalled his days with Mr Waddell. ''I took him in
hand,'' he joked. ''It is very, very sad. We had great moments. It
hurts.''
Mr Findlay said: ''We will miss him very much at Ibrox. But every time
people look at Ibrox, three sides of it will be a memorial to Willie
Waddell. On a personal note, he was extremely kind to me, and I will
miss him very much.''
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