An emotional balloon release was held in memory of a much-loved Ayrshire dad who tragically died in his sleep.
Hundreds of mourners gathered in New Cumnock on Saturday to pay their respects to Jack Grozier who was found dead at his home on Thursday, September 22.
A colourful display of red, white and blue was launched into the sky for Rangers-daft Jack who was set for a dream trip to follow his team to Liverpool for their Champions League crunch tie this week.
Well-wishers let off a variety of balloons at the village’s Greenhead Park, with some simply the letter 'J' as a personal tribute to the young dad to one-year-old Harris and boyfriend to Samantha Kelly, 23.
The public tribute to the popular amateur footballer was organised by best pal Jordan Nohar, 23.
Jordan grew up playing football with Jack since the pair were four for Cumnock, and the pair even shared the football pitch together again at amateur level when they lined up for New Cumnock together.
Jordan told Ayrshire Live : “Jack was probably the funniest boy you would ever meet in your life he was the heart and soul of any group.
“He’ll be a massive loss, there was never a dull moment with Jack.
“His one liners were brilliant, he would over-do a joke he would keep repeating it so many times until it became his own.
“He was a good player. I used to say he had more tracksuits than anybody else in Ayrshire.
“I first played with him at a boys club. We both played as a striker, we shared the same position.
“He was Rangers and Glenafton daft, he was a Glenafton ultra.
"I support Celtic so there was always some amount of banter between the two of us.
"We used to watch the Europa League games together every Thursday with Celtic kicking off at 5pm then Rangers for 8pm.
“At the Euros, when Scotland played England he wanted an England top, just to be different from us and to get a reaction, that is the kind of boy he was."
Amateur football clubs in East Ayrshire honoured their former player with a minutes applause at the weekend, who starred for New Cumnock, Catrine and two spells at Mauchline United AFC – his current club.
Big sister Kerry Alexander, 37, told last week how the family were inundated with flowers and cards from amateur players who paid their respects to Jack.
Mauchline United AFC posted a tribute on Facebook describing Jack as a “great character about the dressing room and will be sorely missed.”
New Cumnock Community FC said: “The full club are extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player Jack Grozier this morning. Our thoughts go to jacks family and wider circle of friends. Rest in peace mate.”
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