My father, Liam Toner, who has died aged 84, was an avid Celtic supporter, a committed Catholic and a father, husband, grandfather, brother and friend.
Liam was one of 12 children born to Jimmy and Bessie Toner, first-generation Irish immigrants to Glasgow. He left school at 14 and worked in a variety of jobs while playing for the Glencairn, a local amateur football team in Rutherglen. He did his national service in Trieste, Italy (1952-54), before returning to Glasgow, where he met Margaret Brannan at a dance at St Mary’s church. They married in 1956.
Liam obtained a qualification in social work through the Catholic Workers’ College in Oxford and went on to work with troubled young people at St Mary’s, a secure unit in Bishopbriggs. After moving with his family to the new town of East Kilbride in 1971, he was employed as a rent officer for Glasgow city council.
As his son, Jim, became involved in playing football, he helped run youth teams such as East Mains Thistle, and took charge of the first girls’ football team in the town. He had two jobs at times, to be able to take his family on holidays to the US, France, Italy and Spain. He became very enthused and involved in the Charismatic Renewal spiritual movement when it came to Scotland in the 1980s, and for the rest of his life ran prayer groups and retreats.
On retiring in 1993, Liam worked part-time for the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow, helping people move back into the community. He was very involved in his local parish of St Bride’s. He enjoyed a pint in the Montgomery Arms and Yeoman pubs. He and Margaret also spent time caring for their five grandchildren.
He is survived by Margaret, his children, Jim and me, his grandchildren, Katy, Daniel, Joseph, Sarah and Walter, and his siblings, Betty, Patricia, Josephine, Margaret, Monica and Edith.
