Tony Fitzpatrick revealed it was a “privilege” to spend time with Frank McGarvey before his sad passing at the age of 66.
And he admits he was devastated the St Mirren Hall of Famer didn’t get the opportunity to wave goodbye to the club’s supporters before his death.
The pair had been great Buddies ever since McGarvey joined the Paisley club back in December 1974 after being spotted by legendary former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
Prolific McGarvey went on to fire the Saints into the top flight in 1977 before also helping them lift the Scottish Cup ten years later, with Fitzpatrick adamant he’s one of the best strikers the side have ever had.
After a special send-off at Celtic Park, McGarvey wanted to also visit the SMiSA Stadium to bid farewell to the St Mirren faithful.
Unfortunately he wasn’t well enough when the time came to make it through to Paisley, with Fitzpatrick gutted he didn’t get the send off he deserved for his incredible career in the stripes.
Speaking exclusively to Renfrewshire Live, Fitzpatrick said: “I was absolutely shattered by the news of Frank’s death. I’ve been close with him since he first joined the club and it was a real privilege to see him over the last few months.
“I’d been going up to see him in the hospice with Graeme Sinclair, another former St Mirren and Celtic player, and the time we spent with him was lovely. He still found the strength to reminisce about our football days together and that will live with me forever.
“We saw him in the hospital at the Royal, I was with Davie Provan and Charlie Nicholas, and it was just a couple of hours of laughter and joy. He was in top form and had everyone in hysterics, the doctors and nurses were coming in to see what the laughter was all about!
“He was still very ill but that was Frank, he was such an extraordinary character with such a steely determination.
“I used to wind him up and say Frank McAvennie was the best striker St Mirren ever had, but he’s definitely up there with the best which is saying a hell of a lot.
“He was very well loved by the Saints fans and he wanted to come to the stadium and say goodbye to them, like he did at Celtic Park.
“He just wasn’t well enough, but even on the Friday when he was in a hospital bed full of morphine he still was calling me saying he’d be in Paisley on the Saturday.
“It’s my one regret for him because he desperately wanted to say goodbye to the Saints fans. He loved the club so much and even though he was a Celtic legend, he often said his best days were his first spell with us.”
After spells at Liverpool and Celtic, McGarvey returned to St Mirren to complete his legacy by helping the Paisley side seal Scottish Cup glory in 1987.
The hitman fired in the decisive winner against Hearts in the semi-finals, before putting in a experienced performance in the final against hot favourites Dundee United to lift the trophy after Ian Ferguson’s extra-time finish.
Fitzpatrick insists McGarvey helped take the club to new heights after a series of semi-final near-misses and insists he will always be remembered fondly in Paisley.
Fitzpatrick said: “I had a wonderful phone call from Alex [Ferguson] after Frank passed and we were reminiscing about when Frank joined the club.
“He came in for a reserve friendly against Reykjavík, scored a hat-trick and Alex had him in at half-time signing a contract!
“We were both part-time then, I was an apprentice painter and he was training to be a joiner. We both did work around Love Street after training.
“We always roomed together and when I moved down to Bristol City and he went to Liverpool, we would still meet up at weekends when we could. We were great pals.
“He was an extraordinary human being and fought right to the end. There were times we’d leave the hospice thinking that might be the end, but he kept on going and never gave in. That was him through and through.
“He was the absolute difference for us in 1987. We’d had a spell of getting to semi-finals and just not getting over the line, but he was immense against Hearts. His swivel and finish for the winner was typical McGarvey.
“He played a massive part in the final as well, his influence on his teammates was incredible on and off the pitch.
“He’ll always have a place in our hearts and his sons and daughter were there for him every step of the way at the end.
“They were terrific for him and did him proud.”
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