WITH the passing of well known local man Jim Craig last week, Sauchie Football Club has lost its best ever team captain, writes John Simpson.

Jim Craig, who for many years was a great ambassador for the club and a hard-tackling wing-half in the 1950s and 1960s, led the team to three of their four Scottish Cup victories and numerous other successful runs in the First

Class under-27 leagues, in Stirlingshire and Fife.
His death at home last week, with his loving family present, brought sadness, but also rekindled many memories of his influence in a club which, under the guidance of secretary and manager Jim Millar, was to give Sauchie a proud place in football's memorabilia at that level.

Born 83 years ago in Douglas Water, Jim moved with his father Jimmy (Bushy) who was an active NUM member, to Fishcross, then Sauchie.
Jim Millar, who at the time was building a promising team at Sauchie, quickly spostted and signed young Jim, who came from a footballing family.

Father Jimmy had played, as did Jim's brother David (Speedy), with brother Bill, a light-footed defender, also joining Sauchie. Youngest brother Dougie signed for Tulliallan Thistle in the Fife Junior League and later managed Crossgates Primrose.

But eldest son Jim had by this time carved Sauchie's name with pride in Scottish football with a run which was greatly admired throughout the country.

In the process, the club saw many of their young boys make the step-up to Senior Football, notably the Hansen brothers to Liverpool and Partick Thistle, and Jimmy Harrower years earlier to Hibernian then Liverpool.

There were so many more as a succession of top managers rated Sauchie as a great breeding ground for talent.

However, Jim Craig's leadership and love of the game saw him appointed president years later, a position he was delighted to accept.

During the earlier years he was employed in the mines, was with Donaldson Brothers in the textile trade, where he played and ran their football side. His working career finished with a spell at Clackmannanshire Council as a supervisor.

A quietly spoken man, he was much respected throughout his life, but perhaps best known for his involvement and contribution with Sauchie Football Club.

Sympathy is extended to his wife Etta and family.
The funeral is on Friday 26 February at Sauchie Parish Church at 11am, followed by interment at Sunnyside Cemetery.