Hundreds pack Greenock Town Hall for funeral of Allan McGraw

Hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects to 'Mr Morton' at a packed Greenock Town Hall, following a cortege procession in front of his beloved Cappielow beforehand.

Mr McGraw was not only an acclaimed player and record goalscorer but a gentleman on and off the pitch and the crowds at the service were testament to his popularity.

His coffin was piped in to the sounds of When the Battle is O'er by piper Tom Denham, Scots Guards Association Piper, then the coffin was draped with Allan's number 10 Morton jersey.

The service was introduced by Reverend Ian Miller while Allan's friend Ken MacLeod gave the eulogy.

Mr MacLeod gave a heartfelt tribute to his friend, detailing his beginnings in Ibrox as the second child of five, to his national service with the 1st Cameronians, the Scottish Rifles, based in Germany and where his career started to take off during an eventful stint.

He told the hall: "It gave him the ability to travel around post-war Germany, and he fell asleep on a train only to be woken at gunpoint in East Berlin and spent a night in the cells to be conveyed back through Checkpoint Charlie the next day."

Allan ended up playing for the army football side along such legends as Jim Baxter.

Mr MacLeod recalled that British soldiers could play for any UK team in Germany and the Scots took on the English and won 11-0, with Allan scoring all 11 of the goals.

The hall heard how he'd been spotted by English giants Spurs but Morton's Hal Stewart persauded him to play for the Ton, meaning he could come home at weekends to see his sweetheart Jean and be with his recently widowed mother.

His career at Cappielow shattered goalscoring records and placed him in the history books forever.

His love of Morton remained with him all his life.

After a spell with Hibs at Easter Road he retired in 1971 before coming back as a reserve coach at Morton two years later, then later becoming manager and winning titles in both the 80s and the 90s.

Mr MacLeod said his friend would be remembered for taking Morton into the top tier of Scottish football but also developing young players.

He then led a full life after leaving the club in 1997, enjoying his golf and charity work.

The hall laughed as Mr MacLeod recalled a jaunt with Allan to a Champions League match in 2003, where they were introduced by Rangers owner Sir David Murray to film legend Sean Connery.

He said: "Sean Connery turned round and replied 'My God, it's Allan McGraw!'. Sean had grown up in Leith and he was a Hibs supporter when was playing for his team.

"Allan asked him to sign his match programme and he said 'only if you sign mine first'.

Mr MacLeod said that while Allan took on many roles in his life, from soldier to footballer, car assembler and a politician, the overridding thread throughout his life was 'love of his family'.

He married the love of his life Jean in Govan Parish Church in 1963, and lived in Ibrox and then Kinning Park and the couple welcomed their sons Allan and Mark before settling in Gourock.

One of the young players Mr McGraw mentored was Derek McInnes and the now Kilmarnock boss was asked by the family to share his memories at the service, talking fondly of his days as a YTS at Cappielow in 1987 under Allan.

Subscribe to the Greenock Telegraph HERE

Derek said: "I loved every minute of it.

"We had to clean our own boots but also clean the dressing room and shower and bathroom. He would walk and up and down and inspect white tiles and I'd be told to get it done again.

"The boss would have said that it was character-building to instill discipline, and if one player didn't do it right them we would all suffer.

"Some footballers play for themselves, others play for the club or for the manager - we all played for him every time and we all listened to him.

"I forget the number of cups of teas in his office going over the game and how I could have done better - all development and improvement. It was always in a positive way and I always felt better when I left his office than when I arrived. You never ever wanted to let him down."

Derek told the service how Allan also provided honest advice to his players whenever they got a better offer and how they appreciated that.

Derek said: "He really knew his players, he looked after us and we looked after him.

"I was so glad to have the chance to present the honour to him at Hampden on the night when he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame, and that I got the chance to thank him.

"In the last 18 months we have lost Walter Smith, who we called gaffer, and now Allan McGraw, and they are so similar, they held similar values.

"They were solid, proper men, always supportive and encourging, brave and loyal. Just good through and through."

Mr McInnes expressed his condolences towards Mr McGraw's family.

He said: "So many of us had the chance to call him the boss but more importantly Allan and Mark had the privilege of calling him dad."

Allan passed away suddenly at Inverclyde Royal Hospital last month, at the of 83.

This was only weeks after he was able to visit the main stand in Cappielow to see it being named after him, receiving a rousing reception from adoring fans.

His son Allan junior, paid tribute to his dad, saying: "Dad was such a special man, so well respected and held in such high regard.

"We were fortunate to have him as our dad."

Allan jnr was joined by his younger brother and ex-Ton player Mark and Allan's grandchildren, Adam, Loren, Emma and Abby at yesterday's service.

Allan also leaves sister-in-law Marion and niece Allana and her children.