Tributes have been paid following the recent passing of one of the founding members of Bannockburn Amateurs Football Club.
John Todd – regarded as Mr Bannockburn Amateurs – died on Wednesday, April 13, at the age of 77.
John, known more commonly as Jock, grew up in Maitland Avenue then Clark Street, Bannockburn, and most recently lived in Perterswell Brae in the town.
He is survived by his wife, Maureen, and daughters Avril and Lynn.
John was one of the founder members of the football club back in 1968. He founded Bannockburn Amateurs along with John McCue and Nagie Cairney. In the early years, John worked tirelessly to lay the foundations for what was to come.
He served as goalkeeper in the first-ever game, manager, committee man, treasurer, chairman and honorary member.
Over his several decades of service he was famous for his brand of no fluff or fancy in getting things done. A trait respected by his legions of friends who called him ‘Napper’ because of his range of bunnets.
John was instrumental in the Amateurs’ rise from the Stirling league to the game’s top tier plus the first West of Scotland triumph and the three Scottish Cup wins between 1987 and 1994.
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His involvement spread to include his brothers Jim and Tommy on the committee. Nephews James, Dougie and Stuart gained glory as players with James and Dougie also driving the club forward as managers.
A club spokesperson paid tribute, saying: “John’s legacy at the club is the culture of players and committee with a mindset of action breeding success. Through this, the club continues to consistently challenge for the top honours in the amateur game.”
The current club includes John’s nephew Dougie as secretary and great-nephew Robbie in defence, proving an unbroken line of Todd’s dating back to August 1968.
The club spokesperson added: “The club committee, players past and present and supporters of football across the country rightly honoured John Todd on his passing.
“A man whose drive, passion and commitment to the club he loved will be remembered for as long as there is a Bannockburn Amateur FC.”
In a post on the club’s Facebook page, they added: ‘To this day, many people have never known just what he put into the club, both physically and financially. Only a certain few people ever knew just how many times he put his hand in his pocket for the amateurs and not a word was mentioned.
‘It was in his blood, he lived and breathed the club and would not hear a bad word said about it, and if there was, then there was a fitting response from him. He didn’t suffer fools gladly when it came to his club.’
