WILLIE Clark, who was Hibernian's oldest surviving player, has died at the age of 90.
The full-back signed for Hibs from Bonnyrigg Rose in 1938, but was unfortunate in that he played the same position as Jock Govan, and in the days before substitutes, found himself stuck in the reserve side for most of his 15 years with the club, befo
re joining St Johnstone during the 1953-1954 season.
His career was put on hold during the Second World War when he served with the Royal Air Force, but he returned to Easter Road, playing for the first team a total of 17 times and scoring one goal.
Clark's most memorable contribution came during a match against Celtic in February 1950, when he was given a rare start in the absence of the injured Govan, only to spend 85 of the 90 minutes in goals when the Hibs goalkeeper Tommy Younger was stretchered off.
Ten-man Hibs went on to win 4-1 to stay top of the old First Division, and the match at Easter Road in front of 40,000 fans produced an amazing four penalties – a hat-trick from the spot from Eddie Turnbull and a twice-taken effort scored by Bobby Collins of Celtic. Turnbull got the other goal in open play on a remarkable afternoon. The Scotsman's match report said: "This will go down in history as the game of the penalties."
Clark's former team-mate Lawrie Reilly recalls: "It was a real shame for Willie, because with Jock Govan out of the team that was his chance to show what he could do at right back.
"But Willie ended up playing almost the whole game in goals, and then the next week Jock was fit and straight back into the team, with Willie having to drop back down to the reserves.
"But he was wonderful company. He was a great character to have in the dressing room at Easter Road, and he never once complained about his lack of opportunities with the first team."
Clark, who went on to play more than 30 games for St Johnstone, was nicknamed 'Baff' for his prowess on the golf course, and he was a keen member of the former Hibs players' golf club which was set up by Reilly.
Reilly and his former Famous Five team-mate Eddie Turnbull were guests at Clark's 90th birthday party last September in Pathhead, where the bachelor lived with family.
His funeral will take place at Seafield Crematorium, Edinburgh, at 3pm tomorrow.
The full article contains 431 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
