In a nod to one of Arthur Montford's favourite phrases, the sports commentator's memorial service in Glasgow could only really be called one thing: a stramash.

In a nod to one of Arthur Montford's favourite phrases, the sports commentator's memorial service in Glasgow could only really be called one thing: a stramash.

It was one last stramash for one of the most enthusiastic, colourful and popular figures in Scottish football. The minister even joked that, in this digital age, it should be called #stramash.

The service was held at Bearsden Cross Parish Church yesterday and within minutes of starting, the minister Reverend Graeme Wilson had mentioned some of the phrases and quirks Montford was known for: stramash of course as well as other phrases such as "come on Denis!" (Denis being Denis Law during a World Cup qualifier in 1973) and the jackets so garish that they would interfere with the television picture.

Around 300 people attended, including fellow broadcasters such as Sally McNair and Jim Delahunt, and friends from football including former Hibs and Partick Thistle player, pundit and president of the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association Tony Higgins. Also attending were Douglas Rae, chairman of Montford's beloved Greenock Morton and their manager Jim Duffy.

Rev Wilson told the congregation that Montford had been a kind, modest and unpretentious man and there were little details that emerged during the service that proved it, such as the fact he insisted his funeral should be held on a Monday or a Wednesday so as not to interfere with his chums' regular Tuesday game at Glasgow Golf Club. Some of those friends sang Abide With Me for the congregation.

During the speeches and tributes, it was also revealed that Montford, who died last week aged 85, had been working until just a few weeks ago, writing for Bunkered, the golf magazine, but Rev Wilson singled out his contribution to football.

"Over his 32 years presenting Scotsport," he said, "Arthur Montford was a trailblazer responsible for establishing football commentary and football on television, something we all take for granted."

In all, during his three decades with STV, Montford hosted more than 2,000 programmes.

Among the other speakers at yesterday's service was Montford's daughter Vivienne and his grandchildren Craig and Julie who revealed that the last phase of his life, when he suffered ill health, had been difficult for a man who had been so active and loved to play golf.

Montford's friend and golfing partner Ken Wallace also addressed the congregation and told them how important the broadcaster had been in mentoring young sports journalists, but also how seriously he took his role as a commentator.

"He saw himself as the twelfth man when Scotland were playing," said Wallace. And he also saw nothing wrong with being biased when Scotland was playing.

He was also biased on the one other subject: the one team he truly cared about, Greenock Morton. Montford was born in Glasgow but grew up in Greenock and loved the local team his whole life. "Arthur had a lifetime ambition to jump into the bath when Morton won the League Cup," said Wallace. "Sadly, it never happened."