Tributes are paid to Murikirk football legend Danny Masterton

IT IS a reasonable argument that Glenbuck and Muirkirk have, between them, produced more outstanding locals, in different disciplines, than the rest of the district put together.

Danny Masterton, who has died following a heart attack, aged just 65, might not have the lustre of the likes of Wullie Shankly, Sandy Brown or the other Cherrypicker legends, but, his deeds on the football field demand respect.

Throughout his career, as a promising boy with Douglas Amateurs, then Muirkirk Juniors, or as a fearsome goal-scoring centre forward with Ayr United and Clyde, Danny was a parttimer.

He left Muirkirk JS School, undertook his apprenticeship at Lugar Works then, Monday to Friday, he worked down the pits, keeping the equipment running, before coming up the pit, washing and changing, then rushing off to Somerset Park or Shawfield twice a week to train for his Saturday job.

Then, of a weekend, he lifted the spirits of the fans with his wholehearted play, his goals and his assists. He enjoyed his football and life, and his team mates appreciated him.

Robert Reilly added: “Danny was a great team mate off and on the park, particularly off the park, where he was a total gentleman,” said Robert Former Scotland boss Craig Brown recruited him to Clyde from Ayr United, and was rewarded with a good few goals as Danny spearheaded the Bully Wee’s Second Division championship win in season 1982-83.

He said: “His play at Ayr always impressed me as he had outstanding ability and a great turn of pace. Both at Ayr and at Clyde, Danny formed a very effective double striker combination with Walker McCall, who said: “He scored a lot of goals himself, but his ability to take centre halves out of the game and create space for me allowed me to score a good few of my goals.”

His goals per game average is just under 0.5, which is the benchmark for a top, international-class striker Danny was, at heart, a Muirkirk man. After the local pits shut, and his senior career ended with a bad Achilles tendon injury on his debut with Queen of the South, he worked on local opencasts, while he gave back to the village in management roles with Muirkirk Amateurs and the Juniors.

He was loath to leave his native village, where he was well-liked. He had married childhood sweetheart Christine, who sadly pre-deceased him in 2010. His daughter Sarah also sadly passed away, while son Daniel, who was a serving Royal Marine, now lives and works in London.

Danny was distraught at Christine’s early death, but forged a new relationship with Janis and finally left Muirkirk, to live in Falkirk, where he suffered a massive heart attack and passed away.

He was a special player, and an even-more-special man, who will be missed and mourned beyond Muirkirk.