A FORMER Alloa footballer who died recently has been remembered as a great family man.

Walter Cameron was born in the Wee County in 1942 and had a distinguished playing career with spells at Falkirk and Arbroath before finishing his top flight career with the Wasps.

Beginning his career with Gairdoch United, Walter then joined Falkirk before moving to Arbroath where he played more than 200 games and was a key member of the team that won promotion to the First Division – Scotland's top flight at the time.

Despite being beaten 4-0, Walter was named as man of the match when Arbroath faced Celtic in January 1967, just months before the Glasgow club would lift the European Cup.

He would then eventually leave Arbroath to join his hometown club Alloa; however, his career was effectively ended by injury.

Ewan Cameron, Walter's son, will remember his dad as a completely different person to the man he was on the football pitch.

He said: "He played in an era which was far more physical than today's game. I believe he was no shrinking violet on the football pitch.

"By contrast, off the pitch [he was] just an incredibly mild-mannered, very respectful, quiet person."

Walter's playing career ended but he was able to satisfy his competitive needs by playing golf, predominantly at Dunfermline's Pitreavie Golf Club where he had also been club captain and part of the committee.

Ewan continued: "You wouldn't know he was a competitive person, you wouldn't know from his behaviour or his demeanour.

"It allowed him to do something competitively after his football career finished."

Outside of sport, Walter loved walking, going on walking trips with his wife Dorothy and spending time with his six grandchildren.

Ewan continued: "I'll remember him as hard working, well-mannered patient guy who always had time for people.

"[He] never had a bad word to say about anybody, he was a great dad, a great family man."

Robert Cameron, Walter's younger brother who represented Scotland at the World Junior Cross Country Championships, added: "He was always there as a mentor, he grounded me.

"He would never let me get too big headed. He would talk through expectations and encourage me.

"Him and his wife Dorothy were always there as a support and to give that little bit of feel-good factor."

Walter's funeral will take place this Friday, November 26 at 1.15pm at the Dunfermline Crematorium followed by a reception at Pitreavie Golf Club.