My Father passed away yesterday after a very short period of illness.

He was the sole reason for my obsessional support of Dundee United Football Club (some may argue a curse!).

I heard something in an interview recently from the comedian Jimmy Carr, that i have thought about, a lot. I thought it was rather profound. I will share it with you. He was talking about the death of his Mother and gave forth the theory that people die twice. Once when they die physically, and then a second time. The last time someone says their name.

So, to that end. I would like to tell you all some things about my Father, if i may.

He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. As a teenager he was moved to East Kilbride after my Grand Father found steady work in the town.

His name was Terence, but only his Mother and Father called him that. To everyone else he was simply, 'Terry' or 'Big Tel' (he was 6ft 4)..

He was a simple man, who enjoyed simple pleasures. He loved the West Coast of Scotland and Ayrshire in particular and owned two or three caravans there over the years. His last caravan was in Dundonald, near the Castle and he was never happier than when he was in Troon, Irvine, Prestwick and other sea side towns like these, walking along a beach. Looking out with his binoculars across the water. Then maybe getting a nice bit of fish from a fishmonger and putting it on his bbq outside his caravan.

He loved music and his favourites artist was Stevie Wonder. He also liked artists like Roy Orbison, Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young and Billy Joel.

He was very much a 'homebird' and had only been on a plane twice in his life. Once to Spain on his honeymoon in the 70s and once to Belgium for his 50th birthday (after much coercion). A strange dichotomy to this is that he was fascinated with geography. He had an impressive map of the World hanging on his bedroom wall and owned an even more impressive light-up globe of the World which i loved as a kid and would study for hours.

He was an avid reader and would read at least one book a week.

He owned his own small business and ran it almost single-handedly at times since 1980. It put food on the table and kept a roof over our heads growing up.

He was a hard worker. He went out every day regardless of rain, hail or shine. He worked until the morning of his last day on Earth (Monday), even when he was ill. Nothing would stop him from working. He told me would never retire until he physically couldn't anymore. He was true to his word.

He could at times be a hard man to please, and was a disciplinarian to me and my brothers growing up (this attitude mellowed in old age), but scratch under the surface and he had a wicked sense of humour. He was particularly good at impressions, and used to have me and my Brothers laughing at his impressions of friends, neighbours and other people we knew growing up. This came out best of course when he had had a few beers. He enjoyed a few beers and a nice glass of wine or two. Particularly when at his caravan, at the weekend.

He loved the poetry of Robert Burns and owned many books of his work.

He was brought up an 'Aberdeen fan', but i use the term 'fan' very tenuously as he was never an avid fan that went to games often etc. But he did enjoy watching good, attacking football. Which leads me to Dundee United.

He always said that despite Aberdeen winning more, he felt Dundee United were the better team to watch and would rave about Narey, Hegarty, Milne, Sturrock and Bannon to me. It is a big reason i ended up supporting United. That and the fact that he forbid me from supporting Rangers or Celtic (he hated all the religious stuff attached to both clubs). The fact he is called Terry (The Terror) isn't lost on me, considering his fondness for the club over my lifetime.

His interest in football waned massively over the years as the game got less attacking. To much hilarity me and my Brothers would hear him shout 'wrong way arsehole' whenever a player passed the ball backwards. We still say this phrase in jest to this day, because it became so comical. Albion Rovers could be playing Real Madrid and he would criticise them if they didn't pass it forwards.

He loved his family, particularly his grand children.

I will miss him greatly. Thanks for everything, Terry (Dad). Time to rest.