LAWRENCE WILLIAM MOFFAT

Glenafton Athletic was saddened to learn that former player Billy Moffat has passed away after a long illness. Our thoughts are with Billy’s wife Kathy and their son Lawrence and daughter Katrina at this sad time.

Billy joined the Glens in Season 1957-58 as a 21-year-old from his home town club of Queen of the South and scored in his debut in a 1-1 draw in a league match at Cumnock. It is no coincidence that his ten seasons at the club would encompass the ‘Golden Years of Glenafton Athletic’. In 1958-59 at Connel Park they won their first league title since 1934-35 and added the Western League Cup and Vernon Trophy for good measure while Billy finished top goal scorer with 55 goals; before he converted from inside right to right-half. The Irvine and District Cup was lifted the following season in the Glens last season at Connel Park.

In 1960 the Glens relocated to a new home at Loch Park and adopted new colours of red and white. They won Western League Section no fewer than five times and converted three of them into Western League Champions – indeed three-in-a row , the first club to do so (outwith Ardeer Recreation during the War Years). Glens progressed to Scottish Junior Cup semi-final for the first time in the club’s history in 1961/62 and went one better the following season finishing runners-up to Irvine Meadow. Glens also won the Ayrshire Cup and couple of Western League Cup during those Golden Years. In Season 1961/62 Billy was selected for the Scotland Junior side to play Perthshire. The following season he captained Scotland, scored in the 3-2 win over Ireland at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock and was acclaimed the ‘outstanding player’ of the match.

After his playing days Billy would visit Loch Park on special occasions and was with us in the Campbell Hall in 2005 to celebrate Glenafton’s 75th anniversary.