Paisley Rugby Club have unveiled plans for a fitting tribute to former president Malcolm Dodd.
The Paisley side this week announced the sad passing of Dodd, a club stalwart who played and coached at the Anchor before becoming president between 2010 and 2012.
The club are inviting all former players and everyone connected with Dodd to attend their home game against Strathaven at the Anchor tomorrow at 12.30pm.
They are also asking spectators to come dressed in Paisley jerseys to help celebrate his life.
His funeral will take place at Woodside Crematorium, in Paisley, on Friday, November 5 at 3.30pm.
A club spokesperson said: “Malcolm leaves behind a legacy at the club which can still be felt today.
“Joining the club as a player in the 80s and continuing on to coach various junior rugby teams, he helped produced some of the best players that Paisley Rugby Club has ever scene.
“Malcolm was a Paisley man through and through and there wasn’t a role he didn’t take up on the management committee, culminating in him being president between 2010 and 2012.
“If the club needed him, Malky stepped up, each and every time.
“Malcolm embodied the values of Paisley Rugby Club and he was a regular on the sideline every week watching his son David and the rest of the first team that he saw grow up from boys to men.
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“Malky had a voice and with that was well known across all rugby grounds in the west of Scotland.
“He was known for shouting words of encouragement to both home and away players without prejudice and wasn’t shy to let the referee know his opinion of his performance.
“The latter was even better as Malky was a fully qualified referee.
“The players fondly remember Malky offering guidance on their performance and pointers on how to improve, even if they were over the age of 30.”
Malcolm leaves behind his wife Kathy, son David, daughter Gillian and his grandchildren.
Former club president Gavin Newlands MP says the side may not have survived without Malcolm and Kathy’s ongoing efforts at the Anchor.
He said: “I am gutted at Malky’s passing. It can be such a cliché to say you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone, but it’s at moments like this you realise just how true it can be.
“Sometimes you don’t fully appreciate the effect someone has on your life till they’re gone, and it was definitely that way with his sad passing.
“That hit home when hearing from former teammates of mine whom he coached from a young age, and players that played before and after my time about the impact his impact on all of us.
“That impact was not just in terms of rugby - although I certainly wouldn’t have played the game without him, but as people.
“Many of us were immature and rash boys who became decent men under his leadership. Well, I’d certainly like to think so.
“Put simply, for a number of years Malky and Kathy were Paisley Rugby Club.
“It’s not an exaggeration to say that the club might not exist today without their efforts over a number of years.
“It’s a very sad time for all of those who knew him, but I hope that tomorrow’s events at the club and his funeral can be a celebration of all that he gave to the club collectively, and to all of us individually.
“Malcolm Dodd was a total one-off, and I’d like to send my sincere condolences to Kathy, Gillian and my teammate David at this difficult time.”
Club captain Euan Stuart added: “Malky was a Paisley Rugby Club great and he has well and truly left his mark at the club.
“Some people talk about being remembered when they are gone, and Malky will be remembered by many throughout our rugby club and in the wider community.
“He always had time for the players, young and old, and would always impart his thoughts from a game.
“I saw Malcolm as recently as a few weeks ago where he watched our game against Wigtownshire. After the game he came up to me, shook my hand and said ‘You made that hard work’.
“He was always right and that was just another example of it.
"Personally, Malky taught me what the values of Paisley Rugby Club are and I hope I show them every day in my leadership at the club.
"He will be sorely missed by everyone and we will make sure that we make his memory a permanent fixture at Paisley Rugby Club.”
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