Legendary Aberdeen and Scotland goalkeeper Fred Martin, who hailed from Carnoustie, has died at the age of 84.
He played more than 200 times for the Dons between 1946 and 1960 and was part of their first league winning side in 1955. Aberdeen also won the League Cup that year.
The Pittodrie side were Mr Martin’s only professional side and he also represented the national side at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, earning six international caps in total.
Born in Carnoustie in 1929, Mr Martin supported Arbroath as a boy and began his own football career with Carnoustie Panmure.
He joined Aberdeen in 1946 though as an inside forward but tried his hand at goalkeeping during National service and took on the No 1 role on his return to Pittodrie.
He was with the club during what was then an unprecedented period of success, achieving iconic status with fans. His abilities and manner of goalkeeping also saw him mythologised within Scottish and world football.
Writer, broadcaster and football historian Bob Crampsey once wrote of him: “When the mood was upon him Fred could be very good.
“At other times, he played exactly as you would expect an inside-right to play if shoved between the posts. Whenever he came out for a high cross, you couldn’t help but shudder.”
Fans loved the big keeper and he was one of the inaugural inductees into the Aberdeen Hall of Fame in 2007 in recognition of his achievements at the club.
An Aberdeen Football Club spokesperson said: “As part of the history-making, league-winning team of 1955, Fred will always hold a special place in the hearts of all Dons supporters.”
Injury forced his retirement from the sport in 1960 and he went into the whisky trade and enjoyed a long and successful career with John Dewars, working as sales manager until his retirement in 1994.
He lived for many years in Perthshire and a memorial service will be held at Methven Parish Church on Tuesday. Mr Martin is survived by his wife of 61 years, and also by five children and seven grandchildren.